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: 42884
Evaluation of a Chicken 600K SNP genotyping array in non-model species of grouse Evaluation of a Chicken 600K SNP genotyping array in non-model species of grouse
The use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to generate large SNP datasets for comparison purposes have recently become an attractive alternative to other genotyping methods. Although most SNP arrays were originally developed for domestic organisms, they can be effectively applied to wild relatives to obtain large panels of SNPs. In this study, we tested the cross-species...
Authors
Piotr Minias, Peter O. Dunn, Linda A. Whittingham, Jeff A. Johnson, Sara J. Oyler-McCance
It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem
The timing of recurring biological and seasonal environmental events is changing on a global scale relative to temperature and other climate drivers. This study considers the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, a region of high social and ecological importance in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and synthesizes current knowledge of 1) key seasonal processes, patterns, and events; 2) direct evidence for...
Authors
Michelle Staudinger, Katherine E. Mills, Karen Stamieszkin, Nicholas R. Record, Christine A. Hudak, Andrew Allyn, Antony Diamond, Kevin Friedland, Walt Golet, Elisabeth Henderson, Christina M. Hernandez, Thomas G. Huntington, Rubao Ji, Catherine L. Johnson, David Samuel Johnson, Adrian Jordaan, John Kocik, Yun Li, Matthew Liebman, Owen C. Nichols, Daniel Pendleton, R. Anne Richards, Thomas Robben, Andrew C. Thomas, Harvey J. Walsh, Keenan Yakola
Adaptive Management and Monitoring Adaptive Management and Monitoring
This is a chapter in a technical report that is the second of two works describing longer-term actions to implement policies and strategies for preventing and suppressing rangeland fire and restoring rangeland landscapes affected by fire in the Western United States. The first part, Chambers et al 2017, "Science Framework for conservation and restoration of the sagebrush biome: Linking...
Authors
Lief A. Wiechman, David A. Pyke, Michele R. Crist, Seth Munson, Matthew Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, Mary M. Rowland, Emily J Kachergis, Zoe Davidson
Temporal and abiotic fluctuations may be preventing successful rehabilitation of soil-stabilizing biocrust communities Temporal and abiotic fluctuations may be preventing successful rehabilitation of soil-stabilizing biocrust communities
Land degradation is a persistent ecological problem in many arid and semi-arid systems globally (drylands hereafter). Most instances of dryland degradation include some form of soil disturbance and/or soil erosion, which can hinder vegetation establishment and reduce ecosystem productivity. To combat soil erosion, researchers have identified a need for rehabilitation of biological soil...
Authors
Kristina E. Young, Matthew A. Bowker, Sasha C. Reed, Michael C. Duniway, Jayne Belnap
Risks of hydroclimatic regime shifts across the western United States Risks of hydroclimatic regime shifts across the western United States
Paleohydrologic reconstructions of water-year streamflow for 105 sites across the western United States (West) were used to compute the likelihood (risk) of regime (wet/dry state) shifts given the length of time in a specific regime and for a specified time in the future. The spatial variability of risks was examined and indicates that regime shift risks are variable across the West. The...
Authors
Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Gregory J. McCabe, Gregory T. Pederson, Justin T. Martin, Jeremy S. Littell
Seasonal patterns in hydrochemical mixing in three Great Lakes rivermouth ecosystems Seasonal patterns in hydrochemical mixing in three Great Lakes rivermouth ecosystems
Rivermouth ecosystems in the Laurentian Great Lakes represent complex hydrologic mixing zones where lake and river water combine to form biologically productive areas that are functionally similar to marine estuaries. As urban, industrial, shipping, and recreational centers, rivermouths are the focus of human interactions with the Great Lakes and, likewise, may represent critical habitat...
Authors
Martha Carlson-Mazur, Jeff Schaeffer, Jennifer E. Granneman, Natalie Goldstrohm, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, James H. Larson, Paul Reneau, Kurt P. Kowalski, Paul W. Seelbach
Demonstrating the value of Earth observations—methods, practical applications, and solutions—group on Earth observations side event proceedings Demonstrating the value of Earth observations—methods, practical applications, and solutions—group on Earth observations side event proceedings
Executive Summary The U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the European Association for Remote Sensing Companies, and the European Space Agency in coordination with the GEOValue Community hosted a side event to the Group on Earth Observations Plenary on October 23–24, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The workshop, entitled “Demonstrating the Value of...
Authors
Francoise Pearlman, Collin B. Lawrence, Emily Pindilli, Denna Geppi, Carl D. Shapiro, Monica Grasso, Jay Pearlman, Jeffery Adkins, Geoff Sawyer, Alessandra Tassa
Use of high-throughput screening results to prioritize chemicals for potential adverse biological effects within a West Virginia Watershed Use of high-throughput screening results to prioritize chemicals for potential adverse biological effects within a West Virginia Watershed
Organic chemicals from industrial, agricultural, and residential activities can enter surface waters through regulated and unregulated discharges, combined sewer overflows, stormwater runoff, accidental spills, and leaking septic-conveyance systems on a daily basis. The impact of point and nonpoint contaminant sources can result in adverse biological effects for organisms living in or...
Authors
Levi D. Rose, Denise Akob, Shea Tuberty, Jeff Colby, Derek Martin, Steven Corsi, Laura DeCicco
Soil warming effects on tropical forests with highly weathered soils Soil warming effects on tropical forests with highly weathered soils
The tropics are a region encircling the equator, delineated to the north by the Tropic of Cancer (23°26′14.0″N) and to the south by the Tropic of Capricorn (23°26′14.0″S). While we often think of the tropics as consistently warm and wet throughout the year, in reality, the tropics maintain a myriad of climates. Of the 116 Holdridge life zones (a global bioclimatic classification scheme)...
Authors
Tana E. Wood, Molly A. Cavaleri, Christian P. Giardina, Shafkat Khan, Jacqueline Mohan, Andrew T. Nottingham, Sasha C. Reed, Martijn Slot
Evaluating and using existing models to map probable suitable habitat for rare plants to inform management of multiple-use public lands in the California desert Evaluating and using existing models to map probable suitable habitat for rare plants to inform management of multiple-use public lands in the California desert
Multiple-use public lands require balancing diverse resource uses and values across landscapes. In the California desert, there is strong interest in renewable energy development and important conservation concerns. The Bureau of Land Management recently completed a land-use plan for the area that provides protection for modeled suitable habitat for multiple rare plants. Three sets of...
Authors
Gordon Reese, Sarah K. Carter, Christina Lunch, Steve Walterscheid
Distinguishing disturbance from perturbations in fire-prone ecosystems Distinguishing disturbance from perturbations in fire-prone ecosystems
Fire is a necessary ecosystem process in many biomes and is best viewed as a natural disturbance that is beneficial to ecosystem functioning. However, increasingly we are seeing human interference in fire regimes that alter the historical range of variability for most fire parameters and result in vegetation shifts. Such perturbations can affect all fire regime parameters. Here we...
Authors
Jon Keeley, Juli G. Pausas
Phenological mismatch between season advancement and migration timing alters Arctic plant traits Phenological mismatch between season advancement and migration timing alters Arctic plant traits
1. Climate change is creating phenological mismatches between herbivores and their plant resources throughout the Arctic. While advancing growing seasons and changing arrival times of migratory herbivores has been shown to have consequences for herbivores and forage quality, developing mismatches are also likely to influence other traits of plants, such as above- and belowground biomass...
Authors
Ryan T. Choi, Karen H. Beard, A. Joshua Leffler, Katharine C. Kelsey, Joel A. Schmutz, Jeffrey Welker