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
A toolbox for improving reclamation success: Joint USGS-BLM report establishes best management practices for oil and gas operations, monitoring methods, and standards A toolbox for improving reclamation success: Joint USGS-BLM report establishes best management practices for oil and gas operations, monitoring methods, and standards
The U. S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, recently published an oil and gas reclamation techniques and methods report that provides land managers and oil and gas operators specific guidance and best management practices for development impacts, successfully reclaiming disturbed lands during and after oil and gas activities. Resource inventory...
Authors
Michael C. Duniway, Meredith A. Hartwell
Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon
Wetland ecosystems hold nearly a third of the global soil carbon pool, but as wetlands rapidly disappear the fate of this stored soil carbon is unclear. The aim of this study was to quantify and then link potential rates of microbial decomposition after vertical drowning of vegetated tidal marshes in coastal Louisiana to known drivers of anaerobic decomposition altered by vegetation loss...
Authors
Courtney Creamer, Mark Waldrop, Camille Stagg, Kristen L. Manies, Melissa Millman Baustian, Claudia Laurenzano, Tiong Gim Aw, Monica Haw, Sergio Merino, Donald R. Schoolmaster, Sabrina N. Sevilgen, Rachel Katherine Villani, Eric Ward
Multi-scale effects of behavioral movement deterrents on invasive carp metapopulations Multi-scale effects of behavioral movement deterrents on invasive carp metapopulations
Behavioral deterrents of among-pool movement represent a promising tool for controlling invasive fish populations. To date, much of the research in this area has been focused on the direct effectiveness of different methods of deterrence. However, the effect of these structures on populations in spatially complex habitats is unknown. We combine a metacommunity model with movement data of...
Authors
Donald R. Schoolmaster, Aaron R. Cupp, Alison A. Coulter, Richard A. Erickson
Bringing traits back in the equation: A roadmap to understand species redistribution Bringing traits back in the equation: A roadmap to understand species redistribution
Ecological and evolutionary theories have proposed that species traits should be important in mediating species responses to contemporary climate change; yet, empirical evidence has so far provided mixed evidence for the role of behavioral, life history, or ecological characteristics in facilitating or hindering species range shifts. As such, the utility of trait-based approaches to...
Authors
Lise Comte, Romain Bertrand, Sarah E. Diamond, Lesley T. Lancaster, Malin Pinsky, Brett R. Scheffers, J. Alex Baecher, R.M.W.J. Bandara, I-Ching Chen, Jake A. Lawlor, Nikki Moore, Brunno F. Oliveira, Jerome Murienne, Jonathan Rolland, Madeleine A. Rubenstein, Jennifer Sunday, Laura Thompson, Fabricio Villalobos, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Jonathan Lenoir
Seasonal and species-level water-use strategies and groundwater dependence in dryland riparian woodlands during extreme drought Seasonal and species-level water-use strategies and groundwater dependence in dryland riparian woodlands during extreme drought
Drought-induced groundwater decline and warming associated with climate change are primary threats to dryland riparian woodlands. We used the extreme 2012–2019 drought in southern California as a natural experiment to assess how differences in water-use strategies and groundwater dependence may influence the drought susceptibility of dryland riparian tree species with overlapping...
Authors
Jared Williams, John C. Stella, Michael Bliss Singer, Adam M. Lambert, Steven L. Voelker, John E. Drake, Jonathan M. Friedman, Lissa Pelletier, Li Kui, Dar A. Roberts
Management implications of habitat selection by whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the Texas coast Management implications of habitat selection by whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the Texas coast
Effective habitat management for rare and endangered species requires a thorough understanding of their specific habitat requirements. Although machine learning models have been increasingly used in the analyses of habitat use by wildlife, the primary focus of these models has been on generating spatial predictions. In this study, we used machine learning models in combination with...
Authors
Sarah E. Lehnen, Steven E. Sesnie, Matthew J. Butler, Aaron T. Pearse, Kristine L. Metzger
Paranannizziopsis spp. Infection in Wild Vipers, Europe Paranannizziopsis spp. Infection in Wild Vipers, Europe
We describe the first detection of Paranannizziopsis sp. in a wild population of vipers in Europe. Fungal infections were severe and one individual likely died from infection. Surveillance efforts are needed to better understand the threat of this pathogen to snake conservation.
Authors
Gaelle Blanvillain, Fernando Martínez-Freiría, Joseph R. Hoyt, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Albert Martinez Silvestre
Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands
Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in drylands, remain virtually unknown. Here we...
Authors
David J. Eldridge, Jingyi Ding, Josh Dorrough, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Osvaldo E. Sala, Nicolas Gross, Yoann Le Bagousse-Pinguet, Max Mallen-Cooper, Hugo Saiz, Sergio Asensio, Victoria Ochoa, Beatriz Gozalo, Emilio Guirado, Miguel García-Gómez, Enrique Valencia, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Cesar Plaza, Mehdi Abedi, Negar Ahmadian, Rodrigo J. Ahumada, Julio M. Alcantara, Fateh Amghar, Luisa Azevedo, Farah Ben Salem, Miguel Berdugo, Niels Blaum, Bazartseren Boldgiv, Matthew A. Bowker, Donaldo Bran, Chongfeng Bu, Rafaella Canessa, Andrea P. Castillo-Monroy, Ignacio Castro, Patricio Castro-Quezada, Simone Cesarz, Roukaya Chibani, Abel Augusto Conceicao, Anthony Darrouzet-Nardi, Yvonne C. Davila, Balazs Deak, Paloma Diaz-Martinez, David A. Donoso, Andrew David Dougill, Jorge Duran, Nico Eisenhauer, Hamid Ejtehadi, Carlos Ivan Espinosa, Alex Fajardo, Mohammad Farzam, Ana Foronda, Jorgelina Franzese, Lauchlan H. Fraser, Juan J. Gaitan, Katja Geissler, Sofia Laura Gonzalez, Elizabeth Gusman-Montalvan, Rosa Mary Hernandez, Norbert Holzel, Frederic Mendes Hughes, Oswaldo Jadan, Anke Jentsch, Mengchen Ju, Kudzai F. Kaseke, Melanie Kobel, Anika Lehmann, Pierre Liancourt, Anja Linstadter, Michelle A. Louw, Quanhui Ma, Mancha Mabaso, Gillian Maggs-Kolling, Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Oumarou Malam Issa, Eugene Marais, Mitchel P McClaran, Betty J. Mendoza, Vincent Mokoka, Juan P. Mora, Gerardo Moreno, Seth M. Munson, Alice Nunes, Gabriel Oliva, Gastón R. Oñatibia, Brooke B. Osborne, Guadalupe Peter, Margerie Pierre, Yolanda Pueyo, R. Emiliano Quiroga, Sasha C. Reed, Ana Rey, Pedro J. Rey, Victor Manuel Reyes Gomez, Víctor Rolo, Matthias C. Rillig, Peter C. le Roux, Jan Christian Ruppert, Ayman Salah, Phokgedi Julius Sebei, Anarmaa Sharkhuu, Ilan Stavi, Colton R. A. Stephens, Alberto L. Teixido, Andrew David Thomas, Katja Tielborger, Silvia Torres Robles, Samantha K. Travers, Orsolya Valko, Liesbeth van den Brink, Frederike Velbert, Andreas von Hessberg, Wanyoike Wamiti, Deli Wang, Lixin Wang, Glenda M. Wardle, Laura Yahdjian, Eli Zaady, Yuanming Zhang, Xiaobing Zhou, Fernando T. Maestre
Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources
At the time of this report, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is writing two supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (sEIS ) and a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will analyze the effects of changing water flow out of Glen Canyon Dam (GCD) (U.S. Department of Interior, 2024). These actions have the potential to affect downstream resources, including threatened...
Authors
Charles Yackulic, Lucas Bair, Drew Elliot Eppehimer, Gerard Lewis Salter, Bridget Deemer, Bradley J. Butterfield, Alan Kasprak, Joshua Caster, Helen C. Fairley, Paul E. Grams, Bryce Anthony Mihalevich, Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey
Seasonal mortality of Wild Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is caused by a virulent clone of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum; Implications for biosecurity along the Atlantic Coastal United States Seasonal mortality of Wild Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is caused by a virulent clone of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum; Implications for biosecurity along the Atlantic Coastal United States
Atlantic menhaden are a highly migratory marine species in the Eastern United States that suffer from seasonal chronic mortality. Affected fish show neurologic signs referred to as spinning disease, including circling at the surface and erratic corkscrew swimming before death. We investigated three similar menhaden mortality events consistent with spinning disease in coastal New Jersey...
Authors
Jan Lovy, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Timothy J. Welch, Bassem Allem, Rodman G. Getchell, Sabrina Geraci-Yee, Christine L Goodale, Jeremy Snyder, Clayton D. Raines, Nilanjana Das
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) case definition for wildlife Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) case definition for wildlife
Diagnostic laboratories receive carcasses and samples for diagnostic evaluation and pathogen/toxin detection. Case definitions bring clarity and consistency to the evaluation process. Their use within and between organizations allows more uniform reporting of diseases and etiologic agents. The intent of a case definition is to provide scientifically based criteria for determining (a) if...
Authors
Aine C. Hawthorn, Michelle Dennis, Yasu Kiryu, Jan Landsberg, Ester Peters, Thierry M. Work
Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4 Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4
Broadly distributed across the Western United States, ungulates (hooved mammals) play an important role in ecosystem function by affecting vegetation communities and forming the prey base for large carnivores. Additionally, ungulates provide economic benefits to regional communities through tourism and hunting and hold cultural significance for many Tribal communities. Many ungulates...
Authors
Matthew Kauffman, Blake Lowrey, Chloe Beaupre, Scott Bergen, Stefanie Bergh, Kevin Blecha, Samantha Bundick, Hunter Burkett, James W. Cain, Peyton Carl, David Casady, Corey Class, Alyson Courtemanch, Michelle Cowardin, Jennifer Diamond, Katie Dugger, Orrin Duvuvuei, Joanna R. Ennis, Michelle Flenner, Jessica Fort, Gary Fralick, Ian Freeman, Jeff Gagnon, David Garcelon, Kyle Garrison, Emily Gelzer, Evan Greenspan, Valerie Hinojoza-Rood, Pat Hnilicka, Andy Holland, Brian Hudgens, Bart Kroger, Art Lawson, Cody McKee, Jennifer L. McKee, Jerod Merkle, Tony W. Mong, Haley Nelson, Brendan Oates, Marie-Pier Poulin, Craig Reddell, Robert Ritson, Hall Sawyer, Cody Schroeder, Jessie Shapiro, Scott Sprague, Erik Steiner, Alethea Steingisser, Sam Stephens, Blair Stringham, Patrick Ryan Swazo-Hinds, Nicole Tatman, Cody F. Wallace, Don Whittaker, Benjamin Wise, Heiko U. Wittmer, Erin Wood