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: 43455
Cascading consequences and interventions for hazards after wildfire in northern California Cascading consequences and interventions for hazards after wildfire in northern California
This report documents the process and outcomes of a workshop convened by the U.S. Geological Survey in December 2024 to identify cascading postfire hazards and other effects stemming from the 2021 Dixie Fire in northern California and to explore potential intervention strategies. The Postfire Hazards and Consequences Workshop brought together stakeholders with expertise across...
Authors
James R. Meldrum, Brian J. Cornish, Jack R. Friedman, Scott J. Chiavacci, Christopher C. Huber, Savanna Craig, Rudy Schuster
Tracing mercury from land to river: Global sources, retention, and implications for sustainability Tracing mercury from land to river: Global sources, retention, and implications for sustainability
Mercury (Hg) pollution in river systems is a global sustainability challenge. Yet the transport, transformation, and retention of Hg within global rivers remain poorly quantified, particularly in regions with sparse observations such as Southeast Asia and Africa, hindering effective pollution mitigation and reinforcing geographic inequities in scientific knowledge and environmental...
Authors
Peng Dong, Zeli Tan, Peipei Wu, Ruirong Chang, Shaojian Huang, Peng Zhang, Yujuan Wang, Zhengcheng Song, Yanxu Zhang, Ting Lei, Maodian Liu, Beth Middleton, Jianhua Gao, Junguo Liu, Guangchun Lei, Shu Tao
Genomic structural variation rescues a classic biological invader from a population bottleneck Genomic structural variation rescues a classic biological invader from a population bottleneck
Invasion genetics presents a classic paradox: How do species successfully spread despite severe population bottlenecks? The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) in Guam represents a notable example of this phenomenon, having been introduced with only a handful of individuals. We show that the population endured an extreme bottleneck, with roughly half of the genome exhibiting runs of...
Authors
Christopher Osborne, Brian M Foote, Steven J Fleck, Hannah M Waterman, Sarah I Chang, Melia G. Nafus, Mona Renee Bellinger, Levi N Gray, Trevor J Krabbenhoft
Biological, environmental, and geomorphological factors influencing reach-specific survival of spring Chinook Salmon smolts upstream of the Columbia–Snake River hydrosystem Biological, environmental, and geomorphological factors influencing reach-specific survival of spring Chinook Salmon smolts upstream of the Columbia–Snake River hydrosystem
Objective Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. are exhibiting catastrophic declines throughout much of the Pacific Northwest, and juvenile mortality contributions are disproportionately high. Many Pacific salmon smolt populations are exhibiting high natal stream mortality; however, detailed natal stream reach-specific survival knowledge is lacking. Our objectives were to estimate natal...
Authors
Scott D. Favrot, Russell W. Perry, Sean W. Kimbrel
Co-producing coastal bird research on the Gulf Coast through structured decision making (SDM) and constructed value of information (CVoI) Co-producing coastal bird research on the Gulf Coast through structured decision making (SDM) and constructed value of information (CVoI)
Conservation practitioners face the complex challenge of addressing global biodiversity threats within social-ecological systems with multiple jurisdictions, numerous interest groups, and changing environmental conditions. Bridging the research-to-implementation gap between scientists and managers, which integrates diverse perspectives that represent the variety of considerations...
Authors
Jennifer L. Fuller, Nicole L. Michel, Kerry E. Grimm, Ashley A. Dayer, Evan M. Adams, Abigail J. Darrah, Auriel M. Fournier, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Jacquelyn K. Grace, Erik I. Johnson, Terri J. Maness, Mary Ann Ottinger, Sarah P. Saunders, Caz M. Taylor, Theodore J. Zenzal
Predicting reach-scale macroinvertebrate community changes due to declining flows in an aridland river Predicting reach-scale macroinvertebrate community changes due to declining flows in an aridland river
Understanding the connection between streamflow and macroinvertebrate community structure is critical for managing river ecosystems under scenarios of change caused by human activities and drought. Streamflow influences physical habitat characteristics, including depth, water velocity, and substrate composition, which structure macroinvertebrate communities. Although strong empirical...
Authors
Justin C. Hockett, Christopher Holmquist-Johnson, Joel G. Murray, Eric W. Kortenhoeven, David M. Merritt, David A. Lytle
Colocating artificial intelligence data centers with energy infrastructure on Federal public lands—A science synthesis and spatial analysis to inform decision making Colocating artificial intelligence data centers with energy infrastructure on Federal public lands—A science synthesis and spatial analysis to inform decision making
Authors
Sarah E. Whipple, Katherine A. Kurth, Catherine A. Nikiel, Andy J. Maguire, Jay R. Alder, Julian. J.T. Reyes, Julian A. Scott, Sarah K. Carter
2026 Edition 2026 Edition
The product is the 2026 newsletter for the USGS’s Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS). The newsletter summarizes recent publications, provides updates, and highlights ongoing and upcoming RAMPS projects. Outlet: RAMPS listserve and Drupal page.
Authors
Laura Cecilia Shriver
Predicting disease spread from host movement data: Chronic wasting disease in North America as a case study Predicting disease spread from host movement data: Chronic wasting disease in North America as a case study
1. Rare long-distance movements can increase the spatial spread of invasive species and shifts in species ranges. However, in the context of wildlife disease spread, seasonal migrations only matter if they lead to transmission beyond an individual’s initial set of contacts, and the importance of juvenile dispersal depends on whether those juveniles become infected before they disperse. 2...
Authors
Paul C. Cross, Blake Lowrey, Matthew J. Kauffman, Evelyn Merrill
Modification of rod surface elevation tables for monitoring extreme elevation shifts in wetlands Modification of rod surface elevation tables for monitoring extreme elevation shifts in wetlands
Rod surface elevation tables (RSETs) are effective tools for measuring changes in ground surface height, but these are not designed to withstand large changes in height (e.g., ±50 cm). After extreme changes in elevation due to erosion or accretion, RSET sites may be deemed unusable; however, this equipment usually can function indefinitely with in-situ modifications. Here, we provide a
Authors
Ting Lei, John L. David, Beth A. Middleton
Connecting and coordinating conservation action across landscapes through regional planning processes and syntheses Connecting and coordinating conservation action across landscapes through regional planning processes and syntheses
Modern threats to conservation are often global; however, relevant conservation decisions and actions typically occur within local jurisdictions. The socio-ecological complexity of these problems requires collaboration across large landscapes, diverse community interests, and geopolitical boundaries, yet a lack of interoperability of planning products among decision makers, jurisdictions...
Authors
Rachael A. Carlberg, Steven J. Choy, Leon C. Hinz Jr., Mohammed A. Al-Saffar, Brett R. Andersen, Thomas W. Bonnot, Arthur R. Cooper, Lainet Garcia-Rivera, Steven Michael Gray, Ralph Grundel, Anthony R. Hewitt, Zachary Hurst, Brianna G. Kupsky, Eric Magedanz, Daniel Martin, Rua Mordecai, Anthony Mosinski, Douglas R. Pearsall, Jon Podoliak, Brandon P. Semel, Andrew C. Strassman, J. Scott Taylor, Ryan T. Theel, T. Casey Weathers, Andrew Allstadt, Jennifer Garland, Kiandra Rajala, Kimberly Sykes, Owen D. Boyle, John Carlson, Katy Fullin, Douglas Gorby, Bradly Potter, Faren R. Wolter, Nathan D. Muenks, Claire Beck, Kayla Feist, Katherin Parsons, Lorisa S. Smith, Kelley Myers Tymeson, Alexander D. Wright
Blanchard's cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi) have re-expanded northward since mid-2000s: Landscape predictors of occupancy Blanchard's cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi) have re-expanded northward since mid-2000s: Landscape predictors of occupancy
Blanchard's Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi) declined along their northern range edge in the upper Midwest in the mid-to late 1900s. The causes of these declines remain poorly understood, as does the current status of this species and their habitat requirements. In 2024, we revisited more than 300 locations previously sampled between 2003 and 2008 along this range edge in Minnesota...
Authors
Ryan C. Burner, Mark Roth, Aubrey A. Schwonek, Jason Tendler, Walter Sadinski, Andrew F. Badje, Rori A. Paloski