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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: 42773

Tree-ring evidence of forest management moderating drought responses: Implications for dry, coniferous forests in the southwestern United States Tree-ring evidence of forest management moderating drought responses: Implications for dry, coniferous forests in the southwestern United States

Drought, coupled with rising temperatures, is an emerging threat to many forest types across the globe. At least to a degree, we expect management actions that reduce competition (e.g., thinning, prescribed fire, or both) to improve growth of residual trees during drought. The influences of management actions and drought on individual tree growth may be measured with high precision using...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Lucy P Kerhoulas, Rosemary L. Sherriff, Zachary James Wenderott

Using decision analysis to collaboratively respond to invasive species threats: A case study of Lake Erie grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Using decision analysis to collaboratively respond to invasive species threats: A case study of Lake Erie grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Decisions about invasive species control and eradication can be difficult because of uncertainty in population demographics, movement ecology, and effectiveness of potential response actions. These decisions often include multiple stakeholders and management entities with potentially different objectives, management priorities, and jurisdictional authority. We provide a case study of...
Authors
Kelly F. Robinson, Mark R. DuFour, Michael Jones, Seth Herbst, Tammy Newcomb, James C. Boase, Travis O. Brenden, Duane Chapman, John M. Dettmers, James Francis, Travis Hartman, Patrick Kocovsky, Brian Locke, Jeff Tyson, Christine Mayer

Brightness of the night sky affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle hatchling misorientation but not nest site selection Brightness of the night sky affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle hatchling misorientation but not nest site selection

Sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, which are listed as either threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, face numerous threats from many sources but are particularly susceptible to the effects of light pollution on nesting beaches. Light pollution affects the distribution, density, and placement of nests on beaches, and disrupts seafinding in hatchlings emerging from...
Authors
Thomas Stanley, Jeremy White, Susan Teel, Mark Nicholas

InFish: A professional network to promote global conservation and responsible use of inland fish InFish: A professional network to promote global conservation and responsible use of inland fish

Inland fishes and fisheries make substantial contributions to individuals, society, and the environment in a changing global landscape that includes climate, water allocations, and societal changes. However, current limitations to valuing the services provided by inland fish and their fisheries often leaves them out of key decision‐making discussions. InFish is a voluntary professional...
Authors
Abigail J Lynch, Devin M. Bartley, Beard, David Bunnell, Steve J. Cooke, Ian. G. Cowx, Simon Funge-Smith, Craig P. Paukert, Mark W. Rogers, William W. Taylor

Evaluating indicators of marsh vulnerability to sea level rise along a historical marsh loss gradient Evaluating indicators of marsh vulnerability to sea level rise along a historical marsh loss gradient

Sea level rise (SLR) is threatening coastal marshes, leading to large‐scale marsh loss in several micro‐tidal systems. Early recognition of marsh vulnerability to SLR is critical in these systems to aid managers to take appropriate restoration or mitigation measures. However, it is not clear if current marsh vulnerability indicators correctly assess long‐term stability of the marsh...
Authors
Lennert Schepers, Matt L. Kirwan, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Stijn Temmerman

Dietary patterns in black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii Leach, 1814) as indicated by observation of drift algal and seagrass capture at San Nicolas Island, California USA, 1982‒2019 Dietary patterns in black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii Leach, 1814) as indicated by observation of drift algal and seagrass capture at San Nicolas Island, California USA, 1982‒2019

Black abalone Haliotis cracherodii Leach, 1814 are known to feed on drift plant macrodetritus moved about in the intertidal zone by waves and currents. Drift capture is a trait shared by at least several other abalone species. Drift materials are entrapped beneath the anterior foot and held for ingestion. The quantitative significance of feeding on entrapped drift macrodetritus for black...
Authors
Michael C. Kenner, Glenn Van Blaricom

Some approaches to accounting for incidental carcass discoveries in non-monitored years using the Evidence of Absence model Some approaches to accounting for incidental carcass discoveries in non-monitored years using the Evidence of Absence model

Executive Summary We evaluate three approaches to accounting for incidental carcasses when estimating an upper bound on total mortality (𝑀) as 𝑀∗ using the Evidence of Absence model (EoA; Dalthorp and others, 2017) to assess compliance with an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) (Dalthorp & Huso, 2015) under a monitoring protocol that includes formal, dedicated carcass surveys that achieve an...
Authors
Daniel Dalthorp, Paul Rabie, Manuela Huso, Andrew Tredennick

Preliminary analysis to estimate the spatial distribution of benefits of P load reduction: Identifying the spatial influence of phosphorus loading from the Maumee River (USA) in western Lake Erie Preliminary analysis to estimate the spatial distribution of benefits of P load reduction: Identifying the spatial influence of phosphorus loading from the Maumee River (USA) in western Lake Erie

Since the early 2000s, Lake Erie has been experiencing annual cyanobacterial blooms that often cover large portions of the western basin and even reach into the central basin. These blooms have affected several ecosystem services provided by Lake Erie to surrounding communities (notably drinking water quality). Several modeling efforts have identified the springtime total bioavailable...
Authors
James H. Larson, Enrika Hlavacek, Nathan R. De Jager, Mary Anne Evans, Timothy Wynne

A decision framework to analyze tide-gate options for restoration of the Herring River Estuary, Massachusetts A decision framework to analyze tide-gate options for restoration of the Herring River Estuary, Massachusetts

The collective set of decisions involved with the restoration of degraded wetlands is often more complex than considering only ecological responses and outcomes. Restoration is commonly driven by a complex interaction of social, economic, and ecological factors representing the mandate of resource stewards and the values of stakeholders. The authors worked with the Herring River...
Authors
David R. Smith, Mitchell J. Eaton, Jill J. Gannon, Timothy P. Smith, Eric L. Derleth, Jonathan Katz, Kirk F. Bosma, Elise Leduc

Black bear movement and food conditioning in an exurban landscape Black bear movement and food conditioning in an exurban landscape

Conflicts between humans and wildlife have become increasingly important challenges for resource managers along the urban‐wildland interface. Food conditioning (i.e., reliance by an animal on anthropogenic foods) of American black bears (Ursus americanus ) is related to conflict behavior (i.e., being bold or aggressive toward humans, consuming human food or garbage, causing property...
Authors
Jessica Braunstein, Joseph D. Clark, Ryan H Williamson, William H Stiver

Combined effects of biological control of an invasive shrub and fluvial processes on riparian vegetation dynamics Combined effects of biological control of an invasive shrub and fluvial processes on riparian vegetation dynamics

Plant community responses to biocontrol of invasive plants are understudied, despite the strong influence of the composition of replacement vegetation on ecosystem functions and services. We studied the vegetation response to a folivore beetle (Diorhabda genus, Coleoptera) that has been introduced along southwestern US river valleys to control the invasion of non-native shrubs in the...
Authors
Eduardo Gonzalez, Patrick B. Shafroth, Steven R. Lee, Steven M. Ostoja, Matthew L. Brooks
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