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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: 42704

Ancient DNA reveals substantial genetic diversity in the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) prior to a population bottleneck Ancient DNA reveals substantial genetic diversity in the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) prior to a population bottleneck

Critically endangered species that have undergone severe population bottlenecks often have little remaining genetic variation, making it difficult to reconstruct population histories to apply in reintroduction and recovery strategies. By using ancient DNA techniques, it is possible to combine genetic evidence from the historical population with contemporary samples to provide a more...
Authors
Jesse D'Elia, Susan M. Haig, Thomas D. Mullins, Mark P. Miller

Infectivity of attenuated poxvirus vaccine vectors and immunogenicity of a raccoonpox vectored rabies vaccine in the Brazilian Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) Infectivity of attenuated poxvirus vaccine vectors and immunogenicity of a raccoonpox vectored rabies vaccine in the Brazilian Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

Bats (Order Chiroptera) are an abundant group of mammals with tremendous ecological value as insectivores and plant dispersers, but their role as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases has received more attention in the last decade. With the goal of managing disease in free-ranging bats, we tested modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) and raccoon poxvirus (RCN) as potential vaccine vectors in the...
Authors
Benjamin Stading, Jorge E. Osorio, Andres Velasco-Villa, Michael Smotherman, Brock Kingstad-Bakke, Tonie E. Rocke

Freshwater polychaetes (Manayunkia speciosa) near the Detroit River, western Lake Erie: Abundance and life‐history characteristics Freshwater polychaetes (Manayunkia speciosa) near the Detroit River, western Lake Erie: Abundance and life‐history characteristics

Freshwater polychaetes are relatively rare and little-studied members of the benthos of lakes and rivers. We studied one polychaete species (Manayunkia speciosa) in Lake Erie near the mouth of the Detroit River. Abundances at one site were determined between 1961 and 2013 and life‐history characteristics at two sites were determined seasonally (March–November) in 2009–2010 and 2012–2013...
Authors
Donald W. Schloesser, David M. Malakauskas, Sarah J. Malakauskas

A semelparous fish continues upstream migration when exposed to alarm cue, but adjusts movement speed and timing A semelparous fish continues upstream migration when exposed to alarm cue, but adjusts movement speed and timing

Animals make trade-offs between predation risk and pursuit of opportunities such as foraging and reproduction. Trade-offs between antipredator behaviours and foraging are well suited to manipulation in laboratory and field settings and have generated a vast compendium of knowledge. However, much less is known about how animals manage trade-offs between predation risk and pursuit of...
Authors
Thomas M Luhring, Trevor D. Meckley, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Siefkes, John B. Hume, C. Michael Wagner

Eurytemora carolleeae in the Laurentian Great Lakes revealed by phylogenetic and morphological analysis Eurytemora carolleeae in the Laurentian Great Lakes revealed by phylogenetic and morphological analysis

In the Laurentian Great Lakes, specimens of Eurytemora have been reported asEurytemora affinis since its invasion in the late 1950s. During an intensive collection of aquatic invertebrates for morphological and molecular identification in Western Lake Erie in 2012-2013, several specimens of Eurytemora were collected. Analysis of these specimens identified them as the recently described...
Authors
Adrian A. Vasquez, Patrick L. Hudson, Masanori Fujimoto, Kevin M. Keeler, Patricia M. Dieter, Jeffrey L. Ram

White sucker Catostomus commersonii respond to conspecific and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus alarm cues but not potential predator cues White sucker Catostomus commersonii respond to conspecific and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus alarm cues but not potential predator cues

Recent studies proposed the use of chemosensory alarm cues to control the distribution of invasive sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes and necessitate the evaluation of sea lamprey chemosensory alarm cues on valuable sympatric species such as white sucker. In two laboratory experiments, 10 replicate groups (10 animals each) of migratory white suckers...
Authors
Ethan J. Jordbro, Richard T. Di Rocco, Istvan Imre, Nicholas S. Johnson, Grant E. Brown

Learning and adaptation in waterfowl conservation: By chance or by design? Learning and adaptation in waterfowl conservation: By chance or by design?

The most recent revision of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan seeks to increase the adaptive capacity of the management enterprise to cope with accelerating changes in climate, land-use patterns, agency priorities, and the waterfowl and wetlands constituency. Institutional and cultural changes of the magnitude envisioned are necessarily slow, messy processes, involving many...
Authors
Fred A. Johnson, David J. Case, Dale H. Humburg

The persistence and characteristics of Chinook salmon migrations to the Upper Klamath River prior to exclusion by dams The persistence and characteristics of Chinook salmon migrations to the Upper Klamath River prior to exclusion by dams

In this research article, John Hamilton and his co-authors present extensive new research and information gathered since a 2005 publication on the historical evidence of anadromomous fish distribution in the Upper Klamath River watershed. Using historical accounts from early explorers and ethnographers to early-twentieth-century photographs, newspaper accounts, and government reports...
Authors
John B Hamilton, Dennis W. Rondorf, William Tinniswood, Ryan J Leary, Tim Mayer, Charleen Gavette, Lynne A. Casal

Disease introduction is associated with a phase transition in bighorn sheep demographics Disease introduction is associated with a phase transition in bighorn sheep demographics

Ecological theory suggests that pathogens are capable of regulating or limiting host population dynamics, and this relationship has been empirically established in several settings. However, although studies of childhood diseases were integral to the development of disease ecology, few studies show population limitation by a disease affecting juveniles. Here, we present empirical...
Authors
Kezia Manlove, E. Frances Cassirer, Paul C. Cross, Raina K. Plowright, Peter J. Hudson

Genetic diversity and population structure in the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) in western Oregon and northwestern California— Implications for future translocations and the establishment of new populations Genetic diversity and population structure in the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) in western Oregon and northwestern California— Implications for future translocations and the establishment of new populations

Executive Summary We present results of population genetic analyses performed on Oregon silverspot butterflies (OSB; Speyeria zerene hippolyta) in western Oregon and northwestern California. We used DNA sequences from a 561-base pair region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for a dataset comprised of 112 S. z. hippolyta and 32 S. z. gloriosa individuals...
Authors
Mark P. Miller, Thomas D. Mullins, Susan M. Haig

Habitat selection by postbreeding female diving ducks: Influence of habitat attributes and conspecifics Habitat selection by postbreeding female diving ducks: Influence of habitat attributes and conspecifics

Habitat selection studies of postbreeding waterfowl have rarely focused on within-wetland attributes such as water depth, escape cover, and food availability. Flightless waterfowl must balance habitat selection between avoiding predation risks and feeding. Reproductively successful female ducks face the greatest challenges because they begin the definitive prebasic molt at or near the...
Authors
Jane E. Austin, Shawn T. O’Neil, Jeffrey M. Warren

Three responses of wetland conditions to climatic extremes in the Prairie Pothole Region Three responses of wetland conditions to climatic extremes in the Prairie Pothole Region

Wetlands in central North Dakota were revisited after 50 years to assess changes following extreme drought and a prolonged wet period. We compared data collected during 1961–1966 to current (2013–2014) wetland conditions. We revisited 80 wetlands in 2013 and 2014 across three study areas and measured wetland area, ponded-water depth, and specific conductance. Wetlands at the three study...
Authors
Ryann L. Cressey, Jane E. Austin, Joshua D. Stafford
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