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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: 42768

Prairie Pothole Region wetlands and subsurface drainage systems: Key factors for determining drainage setback distances Prairie Pothole Region wetlands and subsurface drainage systems: Key factors for determining drainage setback distances

Use of agricultural subsurface drainage systems in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America continues to increase, prompting concerns over potential negative effects to the Region's vital wetlands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects a large number of wetlands through conservation easements that often utilize standard lateral setback distances to provide buffers between...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Mark T. Wiltermuth

Coastal wetland adaptation to sea level rise: Quantifying potential for landward migration and coastal squeeze Coastal wetland adaptation to sea level rise: Quantifying potential for landward migration and coastal squeeze

Coastal wetland ecosystems are expected to migrate landwards in response to rising seas. However, due to differences in topography and coastal urbanization, estuaries vary in their ability to accommodate migration. Low‐lying urban areas can constrain migration and lead to wetland loss (i.e. coastal squeeze), especially where existing wetlands cannot keep pace with rising seas via...
Authors
Sinéad M. Borchert, Michael J. Osland, Nicholas M. Enwright, Kereen Griffith

An objective road risk assessment method for multiple species: ranking 166 reptiles and amphibians in California An objective road risk assessment method for multiple species: ranking 166 reptiles and amphibians in California

Context Transportation and wildlife agencies may consider the need for barrier structures and safe wildlife road-crossings to maintain the long-term viability of wildlife populations. In order to prioritize these efforts, it is important to identify species that are most at risk of extirpation from road-related impacts. Purpose Our goal was to identify reptiles and amphibians in...
Authors
Cheryl S. Brehme, Stacie A. Hathaway, Robert N. Fisher

Science at the frontier: Multimethod research to evaluate ecosystem change across multiple scales Science at the frontier: Multimethod research to evaluate ecosystem change across multiple scales

Changes in the Earth system occur across the full spectrum of spatial and temporal scales, yet our research approaches to understanding and predicting those changes are typically restricted to a pre-defined window of space and time. For this reason, there is substantial power in integrating different approaches, particularly for research associated with the multifaceted nature of...
Authors
Colin Tucker, Dong Yan, Sasha C. Reed, Matthew Dannenberg, William Smith

Fire and invasive plants Fire and invasive plants

No abstract available.
Authors
Robert C. Klinger, Matthew L. Brooks, John M. Randall

Anticipatory natural resource science and management for a changing future Anticipatory natural resource science and management for a changing future

Prolonged shifts in long‐term average climate conditions and increasing variability in short‐term weather conditions affect ecological processes, and represent a fundamental challenge for natural resource management. Recent and forthcoming advances in climate predictability may offer novel opportunities, but capitalizing on these opportunities will require focusing scientific research on
Authors
John B. Bradford, Julio L. Betancourt, Bradley J. Butterfield, Seth M. Munson, Troy E. Wood

Terrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal Terrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal

Dam removal is an effective and increasingly applied river restoration strategy. This has led to heightened calls for research and monitoring aimed at understanding physical and ecological outcomes following dam removal. While such research programs have increased, roles of terrestrial fauna in the restoration process remain poorly understood, although wildlife and invertebrate fauna are...
Authors
Rebecca M. McCaffery, John P. McLaughlin, Kim Sager-Fradkin, Kurt J. Jenkins

Cumulative spring discharge and survey effort influence occupancy and detection of a threatened freshwater mussel, the Suwannee Moccasinshell Cumulative spring discharge and survey effort influence occupancy and detection of a threatened freshwater mussel, the Suwannee Moccasinshell

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are among the most imperiled groups of organisms in the world, and the lack of information regarding species distributions, life-history characteristics, and ecological and biological requirements may limit the protection of remaining mussel populations. We examined the influence of hydrologic factors on the occurrence of the Suwannee Moccasinshell...
Authors
Jordan M. Holcomb, Colin P. Shea, Nathan A. Johnson

Infection by Nanophyetus salmincola and toxic contaminant exposure in out‐migrating steelhead from Puget Sound, Washington: Implications for early marine survival Infection by Nanophyetus salmincola and toxic contaminant exposure in out‐migrating steelhead from Puget Sound, Washington: Implications for early marine survival

Out‐migrating steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss from four Puget Sound rivers and associated marine basins of Puget Sound in Washington State were examined for the parasite, Nanophyetus salmincola in 2014 to determine whether recent trends in reduced marine survival are associated with the presence of this pathogen. A subset of steelhead from three of these river–marine basin combinations was...
Authors
M.F. Chen, S. M. O’Neill, A. J. Carey, R. H. Conrad, B.A. Stewart, K. R. Snekvik, G. M. Ylitalo, Paul Hershberger

Genetic mark–recapture improves estimates of maternity colony size for Indiana bats Genetic mark–recapture improves estimates of maternity colony size for Indiana bats

Genetic mark–recapture methods are increasingly being used to estimate demographic parameters in species where traditional techniques are problematic or imprecise. The federally endangered Indiana bat Myotis sodalis has declined dramatically and threats such as white-nose syndrome continue to afflict this species. To date, important demographic information for Indiana bats has been...
Authors
Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Jennifer A. Fike, Paul M. Lukacs, Dale W. Sparks, Thomas J. O’Shea, John O. Whitaker

Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration

Annual productivity is an important parameter for the management of waterfowl populations. Fall age ratio (juveniles:total birds) is an index of productivity of the preceding breeding season. However, differences in the timing of migration between family groups and nonbreeding birds may bias age-ratio estimates. We examined temporal variation in age ratios of midcontinent greater white...
Authors
Wade G. Schock, Julian B. Fischer, Craig R. Ely, Robert A. Stehn, Jeffery M. Welker, Douglas Causey

President elect's message President elect's message

The first morning home the day after I became president of SWS at the annual meeting in Denver, I note the wilting of my garden and the grumpiness of my cats as the dawn of my new reality. The extra hours that I will spend as president of SWS will manifest itself as more cat and garden unhappiness as travel and responsibilities grow. The cats gleefully blast out of the door into the...
Authors
Beth A. Middleton
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