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: 42876
Drift and beaching patterns of sea otter carcasses and car tire dummies Drift and beaching patterns of sea otter carcasses and car tire dummies
Enumerating and examining marine animal carcasses is important for quantifying mortality rates and determining causes of mortality. Drifter experiments are one tool for estimating at‐sea mortality and determining factors affecting carcass drift, but they require validation to confirm drifters accurately replicate the drift characteristics of the species of interest. The goal of this...
Authors
Colleen Young, Tomoharu Eguchi, Jack A. Ames, Michelle M. Staedler, Brian B. Hatfield, Mike Harris, Emily A Golson-Fisch
An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18 An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18
Approaches and techniques for control of exotic annual grasses are a high priority in sagebrush-steppe and other rangelands. Strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf) have been proposed to be selectively pathogenic to multiple species of exotic annual grasses with effects evident by the second year, and with no effect on native or desirable species including native...
Authors
Brynne E. Lazarus, Matthew J. Germino
Establishment of Salsola tragus on aeolian sands: A Southern Colorado Plateau case study Establishment of Salsola tragus on aeolian sands: A Southern Colorado Plateau case study
Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus L.), is a nonnative, C4 photosynthesizing, annual plant that infests disturbed and natural areas in the arid U.S. Southwest. Land managers of natural areas may need to decide whether a S. tragus infestation is potentially harmful and whether it should be actively managed. One factor informing that decision is an understanding of the conditions under which...
Authors
Kathryn A. Thomas, Margaret Hiza
In ovo exposure to brominated flame retardants Part II: Assessment of effects of TBBPA-BDBPE and BTBPE on hatching success, morphometric and physiological endpoints in American kestrels In ovo exposure to brominated flame retardants Part II: Assessment of effects of TBBPA-BDBPE and BTBPE on hatching success, morphometric and physiological endpoints in American kestrels
Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) (TBBPA-BDBPE) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTPBE) are both brominated flame retardants (BFRs) that have been detected in birds; however, their potential biological effects are largely unknown. We assessed the effects of embryonic exposure to TBBPA-BDBPE and BTBPE in a model avian predator, the American kestrel (Falco...
Authors
Margaret Eng, Natalie Karouna-Renier, Paula F. P. Henry, Robert J. Letcher, Sandra L. Schultz, Thomas G. Bean, Lisa E. Peters, Vince P. Palace, Tony D. Williams, John E. Elliott, Kim J. Fernie
In ovo exposure to brominated flame retardants Part I: Assessment of effects of TBBPA-BDBPE on survival, morphometric and physiological endpoints in zebra finches In ovo exposure to brominated flame retardants Part I: Assessment of effects of TBBPA-BDBPE on survival, morphometric and physiological endpoints in zebra finches
Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2,3-dibromopropyl) ether (TBBPA-BDBPE) is an additive flame retardant used in polyolefins and polymers. It has been detected in biota, including in avian eggs, yet little is known of its effects. We assessed the pattern of TBBPA-BDBPE concentrations in songbird eggs over the incubation period, and the effects of embryonic exposure to TBBPA-BDBPE in a model...
Authors
Margaret Eng, Tony D. Williams, Kim J. Fernie, Natalie Karouna-Renier, Paula F. P. Henry, Robert J. Letcher, John E. Elliott
Spatially-structured statistical network models for landscape genetics Spatially-structured statistical network models for landscape genetics
A basic understanding of how the landscape impedes, or creates resistance to, the dispersal of organisms and hence gene flow is paramount for successful conservation science and management. Spatially structured ecological networks are often used to represent spatial landscape‐genetic relationships, where nodes represent individuals or populations and resistance to movement is represented...
Authors
Mevin Hooten
Success of lake restoration depends on spatial aspects of nutrient loading and hydrology Success of lake restoration depends on spatial aspects of nutrient loading and hydrology
Many aquatic ecosystems have deteriorated due to human activities and their restoration is often troublesome. It is proposed here that the restoration success of deteriorated lakes critically depends on hitherto largely neglected spatial heterogeneity in nutrient loading and hydrology. A modelling approach is used to study this hypothesis by considering four lake types with contrasting...
Authors
Annette B. G. Janssen, Dianneke van Wijk, Luuk P.A. van Gerven, Elisabeth S. Bakker, Robert J. Brederveld, Donald L. DeAngelis, Jan H. Janse, Wolf M. Mooij
Feather mercury concentrations in North American raptors sampled at migration monitoring stations Feather mercury concentrations in North American raptors sampled at migration monitoring stations
We assessed total mercury (THg) concentrations in breast feathers of diurnal North American raptors collected at migration monitoring stations. For 9 species in the Pacific Flyway, we found species and age influenced feather THg concentrations whereas sex did not. Feather THg concentrations µg/g dry weight (dw) averaged (least-squared mean±standard error) higher for raptors that...
Authors
Ryan Baurbour, Breanna L. Martinico, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Angus C. Hull, Allen M. Fish, Joshua M. Hull
Effectiveness of fish screens in protecting lamprey (Entosphenus and Lampetra spp.) ammocoetes—Pilot testing of variable screen angle Effectiveness of fish screens in protecting lamprey (Entosphenus and Lampetra spp.) ammocoetes—Pilot testing of variable screen angle
Thousands of screened water diversions throughout the Columbia River Basin of the Pacific Northwest are sources of entrainment (unintended diversion into an unsafe passage route), injury, and mortality for a range of fish species and screening criteria have been developed to reduce and mitigate these effects. Large knowledge gaps exist concerning the potential effects of these screens on...
Authors
Theresa L. Liedtke, Daniel J. Didricksen, Lisa K. Weiland, Joshua A. Ragala, Ralph Lampman
Fire risk in revegetated bunchgrass communities Infested with Bromus tectorum Fire risk in revegetated bunchgrass communities Infested with Bromus tectorum
In rangeland ecosystems, invasive annual grass replacement of native perennials is associated with higher fire risk. Large bunchgrasses are often seeded to reduce cover of annuals such as Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass), but there is limited information about how revegetation reduces fire risk over the long-term. For this research note, we conducted a pilot study to assess how community
Authors
Steve O Link, Randall W Hill, Sheel Bansal
Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
No abstract available.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Jennifer L. Swan, Constance Roderick, Rebecca A. Cole
National Park Service socioeconomic monitoring pilot survey: Visitor spending analysis National Park Service socioeconomic monitoring pilot survey: Visitor spending analysis
The National Park Service (NPS) is in the process of establishing a formal socioeconomic monitoring (SEM) program that will provide a standard visitor survey instrument and a long-term, systematic sampling design for in-park visitor surveys. The development of the pilot SEM survey provided the opportunity to add to the set of available visitor spending profiles for use in the NPS Visitor...
Authors
Catherine Cullinane Thomas, Egan Cornachione, Lynne Koontz, Christopher Keyes