Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42715
Climate and dispersal ability limit future habitats for Gila monsters in the Mojave Desert Climate and dispersal ability limit future habitats for Gila monsters in the Mojave Desert
Describing future habitat for sensitive species can be helpful in planning conservation efforts to ensure species persistence under new climatic conditions. The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is an iconic lizard of the southwestern United States. The northernmost range of Gila monsters is the Mojave Desert, an area experiencing rapid human population growth and urban sprawl. To...
Authors
Steven J. Hromada, Jason L. Jones, Jocelyn B. Stalker, Dustin A. Wood, Amy G. Vandergast, C. Richard Tracy, C.M. Gienger, Kenneth E. Nussear
Stable C and N isotope analyses redefine cisco as pelagic piscivores in Lake Michigan Stable C and N isotope analyses redefine cisco as pelagic piscivores in Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan’s cisco (Coregonus artedi) population is in the midst of an expansion (2011-present) recovering from near extirpation levels observed in the 1970 s. Strong evidence of piscivory derived from observed diet analyses suggests the population may occupy a unique trophic position relative to typical expectations for the species. To verify these observations, cisco and their prey...
Authors
Benjamin A. Turschak, Jason Smith, Ben S Breaker, Charles R. Bronte, David Bunnell, Jory Jonas, Matthew Kornis, Chad LaFaver, Kevin Pangle, Harvey A. Bootsma
Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji
Founder-event speciation can occur when one or more organisms colonize a distant, unoccupied area via long-distance dispersal, leading to the evolution of a new species lineage. Species radiations established by long-distance, and especially transoceanic, dispersal can cause substantial shifts in regional biodiversity. Here, we investigate the occurrence and timing of the greatest known...
Authors
Simon G. Scarpetta, Robert D. Fisher, Benjamin R. Karin, Jone B. Niukula, Ammon Corl, Todd R. Jackman, Jimmy A. McGuire
Optimizing sampling across transect-based methods improves the power of agroecological monitoring data Optimizing sampling across transect-based methods improves the power of agroecological monitoring data
Transect-based monitoring has long been a valuable tool in ecosystem monitoring to measure multiple ecosystem attributes. The line-point intercept (LPI), vegetation height, and canopy gap intercept methods comprise a set of core methods, which provide indicators of ecosystem condition. However, users often struggle to design a sampling strategy that optimizes the ability to detect...
Authors
Sarah E. McCord, Nicholas P. Webb, Justin W. Van Zee, Ericha M. Courtright, Benjamin J Billings, Michael C. Duniway, Brandon L. Edwards, Emily Kachergis, Daniel N Moriasi, Brian Morra, Aleta Nafus, Beth A. Newingham, Drew A. Scott, David Toledo
Foundational science in flight—USGS bird programs support conservation, culture, and a thriving U.S. economy Foundational science in flight—USGS bird programs support conservation, culture, and a thriving U.S. economy
Birds are vital to our economy, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Investing in bird conservation benefits communities, businesses, and working lands while reinforcing our nation’s legacy of stewardship and biodiversity. By valuing birds, we ensure a richer, healthier, and more vibrant future for all Americans. The USGS leads two national bird monitoring programs Thriving bird...
Authors
David Ziolkowski, Antonio Celis-Murillo, Jenn Malpass, Keith L. Pardieck, Julien Martin, Lauren Emily Walker
Meta-analysis of a megafish: Assessing patterns and predictors of Alligator Gar movement across multiple populations Meta-analysis of a megafish: Assessing patterns and predictors of Alligator Gar movement across multiple populations
Background Freshwater megafishes are among some of the most commercially and ecologically important aquatic organisms yet are disproportionately threatened with range and population reduction. Anthropogenic alterations of rivers influencing migrations are among the most significant causes for these declines. However, migratory fishes do not always respond similarly to movement barriers...
Authors
Hayden C. Roberts, Florian Kappen, Matthew Ross Acre, Daniel J. Daugherty, Nathan G. Smith, Joshuah S. Perkin
Informing adaptive management to reduce ungulate aggregations: A case study involving winter feeding of elk Informing adaptive management to reduce ungulate aggregations: A case study involving winter feeding of elk
In the United States, wildlife managers are entrusted with preserving culturally and economically important ungulate populations in the face of the ongoing spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established an adaptive management plan to reduce the reliance of elk (Cervus canadensis) on supplemental winter feeding on the National Elk Refuge. The end...
Authors
William Michael Janousek, Eric K. Cole, Sarah R. Dewey, Tabitha A. Graves
Population trends of native and non-native forest birds on the island of Molokai, Hawaii Population trends of native and non-native forest birds on the island of Molokai, Hawaii
Hawaiʻi’s avifauna has undergone profound changes over the past 1,000 years, with many endemic bird species driven to extinction and non-native introductions reshaping forest ecosystems. On the island of Molokaʻi, habitat degradation and the introduction of mosquito-borne disease, mainly avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), have caused extinctions and severe declines in native forest...
Authors
Lauren K. Smith, Seth Judge, Ayesha Genz, Lainie Berry, Laura K Berthold, Hanna L. Mounce, Richard J. Camp
Assessing the effects of climate and visitor use on amphibian occupancy in a protected landscape with long-term data Assessing the effects of climate and visitor use on amphibian occupancy in a protected landscape with long-term data
Determining where animals are, and if they are persisting across protected landscapes, is necessary to implement appropriate management and conservation actions. For long-lived animals and those with boom-and-bust life histories, perspective across time contributes to discerning temporal trends in occupancy and persistence, and potentially in identifying mechanisms affecting those...
Authors
Amanda Marie Kissel, Mary Kay Watry, Evan Bredeweg, Erin L. Muths
U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units program U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units program
This fact sheet provides a 10-year overview of the U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units program. It highlights long term accomplishments for the program's mission of applied research, graduate education and technical assistance to the partners.
Authors
Elise R. Irwin, Tess M. McConnell, Donald E. Dennerline, Kevin L. Pope, Jonathan R. Mawdsley
UAV-derived models of vegetation characteristics do not transfer to extreme drought and wet conditions across a northern Arizona landscape UAV-derived models of vegetation characteristics do not transfer to extreme drought and wet conditions across a northern Arizona landscape
Context Shifts in precipitation regimes due to climate change are significantly impacting dryland ecosystems, including vegetation composition and structure. Unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used to monitor vegetation, but whether models built to predict changes in these characteristics are robust under extreme precipitation regimes is unclear. Objectives We aimed to predict...
Authors
Ryan C. Blackburn, Ginger R. H. Allington, Nicole Motzer, Seth Munson, Qiongyu Huang
Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century
Reports of declining insect populations have received widespread media attention, but evidence for declines has been variable across regions and taxonomic groups. Edwards et al. examined trends in the most surveyed taxon: butterflies (see the Perspective by Inouye). Combining data from 35 citizen science programs across the continental US, the authors found declines in overall butterfly...
Authors
Collin B. Edwards, Elise F. Zipkin, Erica H. Henry, Nick M. Haddad, Matthew L. Forister, Kevin J. Burls, Steven P. Campbell, Elizabeth E. Crone, Jay Diffendorfer, Margaret R. Douglas, Ryan G. Drum, Candace E. Fallon, Jeffrey Glassberg, Eliza M. Grames, Richard G. Hatfield, Shiran Hershcovich, Scott Hoffman-Black, Elise A. Larsen, Wendy Leuenberger, Mary J. Linders, Travis Longcore, Daniel A. Marschalek, James Michielini, Naresh Neupane, Leslie Ries, Arthur M. Shapiro, Ann B. Swengel, Scott R. Swengel, Douglas J. Taron, Braeden Van Deynze, Jerome Wiedmann, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Cheryl B. Schultz