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: 42712
Post-fire interactions between soil water repellency, soil fertility and plant growth in soil collected from a burned piñon-juniper woodland Post-fire interactions between soil water repellency, soil fertility and plant growth in soil collected from a burned piñon-juniper woodland
Woody plant encroachment can increase nutrient resources in the plant-mound zone. After a fire, this zone is often found to be water repellent. This study aimed to understand the effects of post-fire water repellency on soil water and inorganic nitrogen and their effects on plant growth of the introduced annual Bromus tectorum and native bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata. Plots centered...
Authors
Kaitlynn J. Fernelius, Matthew D. Madsen, Bryan Hopkins, Sheel Bansal, Val J. Anderson, Dennis L. Eggett, Bruce A. Roundy
Host-dependent differences in resource use associated with Anilocra spp. parasitism in two coral reef fishes, as revealed by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses Host-dependent differences in resource use associated with Anilocra spp. parasitism in two coral reef fishes, as revealed by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses
The role of parasites in trophic ecology is poorly understood in marine ecosystems. Stable isotope analyses (SIA) have been widely used in studies of trophic ecology, but have rarely been applied to study the role of parasites. Considering that some parasites are associated with altered host foraging patterns, SIA can help elucidate whether parasitism influences host trophic interactions...
Authors
Rachel Welicky, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Paul C. Sikkel
Lyme disease ecology in a changing world: Consensus, uncertainty and critical gaps for improving control Lyme disease ecology in a changing world: Consensus, uncertainty and critical gaps for improving control
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia, and the number of reported cases has increased in many regions as landscapes have been altered. Although there has been extensive work on the ecology and epidemiology of this disease in both Europe and North America, substantial uncertainty exists about fundamental aspects that...
Authors
A. Marm Kilpatrick, Andrew D.M. Dobson, Taal Levi, Daniel J. Salkeld, Andrea Swei, Howard S. Ginsberg, Anne Kjemtrup, Kerry A. Padgett, Per A. Jensen, Durland Fish, Nick H. Ogden, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
When mechanism matters: Bayesian forecasting using models of ecological diffusion When mechanism matters: Bayesian forecasting using models of ecological diffusion
Ecological diffusion is a theory that can be used to understand and forecast spatio-temporal processes such as dispersal, invasion, and the spread of disease. Hierarchical Bayesian modelling provides a framework to make statistical inference and probabilistic forecasts, using mechanistic ecological models. To illustrate, we show how hierarchical Bayesian models of ecological diffusion...
Authors
Trevor J. Hefley, Mevin Hooten, Robin E. Russell, Daniel P. Walsh, James A. Powell
Confirmation of cisco spawning in Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario using an egg pumping device Confirmation of cisco spawning in Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario using an egg pumping device
Cisco Coregonus artedi, a historically abundant and commercially important fish in the Great Lakes, have declined drastically in the last century due to the impacts of invasive species, overfishing, and habitat degradation. Chaumont Bay, New York is believed to contain one of the last remaining spawning populations of cisco in Lake Ontario although direct evidence of spawning has...
Authors
Ellen M. George, Wendylee Stott, Brian Young, Curtis T. Karboski, Darran L. Crabtree, Edward F. Roseman, Lars G. Rudstam
Spawning site fidelity and apparent annual survival of walleye (Sander vitreus) differ between a Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributary Spawning site fidelity and apparent annual survival of walleye (Sander vitreus) differ between a Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributary
Fidelity to spawning habitats can maximise reproductive success of fish by synchronising movements to sites of previous recruitment. To determine the role of reproductive fidelity in structuring walleye Sander vitreus populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes, we used acoustic telemetry combined with Cormack–Jolly–Seber capture–recapture models to estimate spawning site fidelity and...
Authors
Todd A. Hayden, Thomas Binder, Christopher Holbrook, Christopher Vandergoot, David G. Fielder, Steven J. Cooke, John M. Dettmers, Charles C. Krueger
Density-driven free-convection model for isotopically fractionated geogenic nitrate in sabkha brine Density-driven free-convection model for isotopically fractionated geogenic nitrate in sabkha brine
Subsurface brines with high nitrate (NO3−) concentration are common in desert environments as atmospheric nitrogen is concentrated by the evaporation of precipitation and little nitrogen uptake. However, in addition to having an elevated mean concentration of ∼525 mg/L (as N), NO3− in the coastal sabkhas of Abu Dhabi is enriched in 15N (mean δ15N ∼17‰), which is an enigma. A NO3− solute...
Authors
Warren W. Wood, J.K. Bohlke
Fungal endophytes from seeds of invasive, non-native Phragmites australis and their potential role in germination and seedling growth Fungal endophytes from seeds of invasive, non-native Phragmites australis and their potential role in germination and seedling growth
Background and aims We characterized fungal endophytes of seeds of invasive, non-native Phragmites from three sites in the Great Lakes region to determine if fungal symbiosis could contribute to invasiveness through their effects on seed germination and seedling growth. Methods Field-collected seeds were surface sterilized and plated on agar to culture endophytes for ITS sequencing...
Authors
Zackery R. C. Shearin, Matthew Filipek, Rushvi Desai, Wesley A. Bickford, Kurt P. Kowalski, Keith Clay
Reassessment of the Upper Fremont Glacier ice-core chronologies by synchronizing of ice-core-water isotopes to a nearby tree-ring chronology Reassessment of the Upper Fremont Glacier ice-core chronologies by synchronizing of ice-core-water isotopes to a nearby tree-ring chronology
The Upper Fremont Glacier (UFG), Wyoming, is one of the few continental glaciers in the contiguous United States known to preserve environmental and climate records spanning recent centuries. A pair of ice cores taken from UFG have been studied extensively to document changes in climate and industrial pollution (most notably, mid-19th century increases in mercury pollution). Fundamental...
Authors
Nathan J. Chellman, Joseph R. McConnell, Monica Arienzo, Gregory T. Pederson, Sarah Aarons, Adam Csank
Variable effects of climate on forest growth in relation to climate extremes, disturbance, and forest dynamics Variable effects of climate on forest growth in relation to climate extremes, disturbance, and forest dynamics
Changes in the frequency, duration, and severity of climate extremes are forecast to occur under global climate change. The impacts of climate extremes on forest productivity and health remain difficult to predict due to potential interactions with disturbance events and forest dynamics—changes in forest stand composition, density, size and age structure over time. Such interactions may...
Authors
Malcolm S. Itter, Andrew O. Finley, Anthony W. D’Amato, Jane R. Foster, John B. Bradford
Amphibian conservation: clarifications to comments from Andreone Amphibian conservation: clarifications to comments from Andreone
We appreciate the comments from Andreone (2016) regarding our proposed alternative strategy for addressing the amphibian crisis. Andreone recognizes the utility of an Incident Command System approach but doubts the feasibility of implementation at an international level. We stated in our original article, however, that ‘the feasibility of our suggestion is debatable, but our point is...
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Robert N. Fisher
Science framework for conservation and restoration of the sagebrush biome: Linking the Department of the Interior’s Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy to long-term strategic conservation actions, Part 1. Science basis and applications Science framework for conservation and restoration of the sagebrush biome: Linking the Department of the Interior’s Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy to long-term strategic conservation actions, Part 1. Science basis and applications
The Science Framework is intended to link the Department of the Interior’s Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy with long-term strategic conservation actions in the sagebrush biome. The Science Framework provides a multiscale approach for prioritizing areas for management and determining effective management strategies within the sagebrush biome. The emphasis is on sagebrush...
Authors
Jeanne C. Chambers, Jeffrey L. Beck, John B. Bradford, Jared Bybee, Steve Campbell, John Carlson, Thomas J Christiansen, Karen J. Clause, Gail Collins, Michele R. Crist, Jonathan B. Dinkins, Kevin Doherty, Fred Edwards, Shawn Espinosa, Kathleen A. Griffin, Paul Griffin, Jessica R. Haas, Steve E. Hanser, Douglas W. Havlina, Kenneth F. Henke, Jacob D. Hennig, Linda A Joyce, Francis F. Kilkenny, Sarah M Kulpa, Laurie L Kurth, Jeremy D Maestas, Mary E. Manning, Kenneth E. Mayer, Brian A. Mealor, Clinton McCarthy, Mike Pellant, Marco A. Perea, Karen L. Prentice, David A. Pyke, Lief A. Wiechman, Amarina Wuenschel