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: 42710
Occurrence of quiescence in free-ranging migratory songbirds Occurrence of quiescence in free-ranging migratory songbirds
Quiescence is a period of inactivity that occurs before the onset of migratory activity in nocturnally migrating birds. This behavior has been observed in captive birds in migratory disposition, but its occurrence in free-ranging migratory birds has been documented only anecdotally, and causal factors and function(s), if any, are unknown. In this study, we documented and characterized...
Authors
Lynn N. Schofield, Jill L. Deppe, Robert H. Diehl, Michael P. Ward, Rachel T. Bolus, Theodore J. Zenzal, Jaclyn A. Smolinsky, Frank R. Moore
Assessing the impact of stocking northern-origin hatchery brook trout on the genetics of wild populations in North Carolina Assessing the impact of stocking northern-origin hatchery brook trout on the genetics of wild populations in North Carolina
The release of hatchery-origin fish into streams with endemics can degrade the genetics of wild populations if interbreeding occurs. Starting in the 1800s, brook trout descendent from wild populations in the northeastern United States were stocked from hatcheries into streams across broad areas of North America to create and enhance fishery resources. Across the southeastern United...
Authors
David C. Kazyak, Jacob Rash, Barbara A. Lubinski, Tim L. King
Development and characterization of two cell lines from gills of Atlantic salmon Development and characterization of two cell lines from gills of Atlantic salmon
Gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., causes big losses in the salmon farming industry. Until now, tools to cultivate microorganisms causing gill disease and models to study the gill responses have been lacking. Here we describe the establishment and characterization of two cell lines from the gills of Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon gill cell ASG-10 consisted of cells...
Authors
Mona C. Gjessing, Maria Aamelfot, William N. Batts, Sylvie L. Benestad, Ole B. Dale, Even Thoen, Simon C. Weli, James R. Winton
Pulsed flows, tributary inputs, and food web structure in a highly regulated river Pulsed flows, tributary inputs, and food web structure in a highly regulated river
1.Dams disrupt the river continuum, altering hydrology, biodiversity, and energy flow. Although research indicates that tributary inputs have the potential to dilute these effects, knowledge at the food web level is still scarce. 2.Here we examined the riverine food web structure of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, focusing on organic matter sources, trophic diversity, and food...
Authors
John Sabo, Melanie Caron, Richard R. Doucett, Kimberly L. Dibble, Albert Ruhi, Jane Marks, Bruce Hungate, Theodore A. Kennedy
Unique parasite aDNA in moa coprolites from New Zealand suggests mass parasite extinctions followed human-induced megafauna extinctions Unique parasite aDNA in moa coprolites from New Zealand suggests mass parasite extinctions followed human-induced megafauna extinctions
Having split early from Gondwana, Zealandia (now modern New Zealand) escaped discovery until the late 13th century, and therefore remains an important glimpse into a human-free world. Without humans or other land mammals, diverse and peculiar birds evolved in isolation, including several flightless moa species, the giant pouakai eagle (Harpagornis moorei), the kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)...
Authors
Kevin D. Lafferty, Skylar R. Hopkins
Evidence and opportunities for integrating landscape ecology into natural resource planning across multiple-use landscapes Evidence and opportunities for integrating landscape ecology into natural resource planning across multiple-use landscapes
Enhancing natural resource management has been a focus of landscape ecology since its inception, but numerous authors argue that landscape ecology has not yet been effective in achieving the underlying goal of planning and designing sustainable landscapes. We developed nine questions reflecting the application of fundamental research topics in landscape ecology to the landscape planning...
Authors
E. Jamie Trammel, Sarah K. Carter, Travis S. Haby, Jason J. Taylor
Seasonal trophic variation of yellow perch exceeds spatial variation in a large lake basin Seasonal trophic variation of yellow perch exceeds spatial variation in a large lake basin
Trophic structuring of complex food webs may vary at multiple spatial and temporal scales, both in terms of direct trophic connections and underlying energy pathways that support production. In large freshwater systems, the prey and primary producers that support individual higher-order consumers may vary across seasons and habitats due to differences in food availability, predator...
Authors
Allison R. Hrycik, Paris D. Collingsworth, Mark W. Rogers, Samuel C. Guffey, Tomas O. Hook
Vegetation cover, tidal amplitude and land area predict short-term marsh vulnerability in Coastal Louisiana Vegetation cover, tidal amplitude and land area predict short-term marsh vulnerability in Coastal Louisiana
The loss of coastal marshes is a topic of great concern, because these habitats provide tangible ecosystem services and are at risk from sea-level rise and human activities. In recent years, significant effort has gone into understanding and modeling the relationships between the biological and physical factors that contribute to marsh stability. Simulation-based process models suggest...
Authors
Donald Schoolmaster, Camille L. Stagg, Leigh Anne Sharp, Tommy S. McGinnis, Bernard Wood, Sarai Piazza
Development of a multimetric index for integrated assessment of salt marsh ecosystem condition Development of a multimetric index for integrated assessment of salt marsh ecosystem condition
Tools for assessing and communicating salt marsh condition are essential to guide decisions aimed at maintaining or restoring ecosystem integrity and services. Multimetric indices (MMIs) are increasingly used to provide integrated assessments of ecosystem condition. We employed a theory-based approach that considers the multivariate relationship of metrics with human disturbance to...
Authors
Jessica L. Nagel, Hilary A. Neckles, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Erika N. Rocks, Donald Schoolmaster, James B. Grace, Dennis E. Skidds, Sara Stevens
Post-breeding migration and connectivity of red knots in the Western Atlantic Post-breeding migration and connectivity of red knots in the Western Atlantic
Red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) have 3 distinct nonbreeding regions: 1 in the southeastern United States and Caribbean, another on the northeast coast of Brazil in the Maranhão region, and a third along the Patagonian coasts of Chile and Argentina. Effective conservation and recovery of this threatened long-distance migrant will require knowledge of population structure, migration...
Authors
James E. Lyons, Bradford Winn, Timothy Keyes, Kevin S. Kalasz
Mortality trends in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) collected from the coasts of Washington and Oregon (2002–15) Mortality trends in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) collected from the coasts of Washington and Oregon (2002–15)
During 2002−15 we examined the causes of mortality in a population of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). Beachcast sea otters were collected primarily from the coast of Washington. Although there are no permanent sea otter residents in Oregon, several beachcast otters were collected from the Oregon coast. Infectious diseases were the primary cause of death (56%) for otters we...
Authors
C. LeAnn White, Emily W. Lankau, Deanna Lynch, Susan Knowles, Krysten L. Schuler, Jitender P. Dubey, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Marcos Isidoro Ayza, Nancy J. Thomas
Dietary plasticity in a nutrient-rich system does not influence brown bear (Ursus arctos) body condition or denning Dietary plasticity in a nutrient-rich system does not influence brown bear (Ursus arctos) body condition or denning
Behavioral differences within a population can allow use of a greater range of resources among individuals. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a generalist omnivore that occupies diverse habitats and displays considerable plasticity in food use. We evaluated whether brown bear foraging that resulted in deviations from a proposed optimal diet influenced body condition and, in turn, denning...
Authors
Lindsey S. Mangipane, Jerrold L. Belant, Diana J. R. Lafferty, David D. Gustine, Tim L. Hiller, Michael E. Colvin, Buck A. Mangipane, Grant V. Hilderbrand