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: 43284
Spatial variation of eDNA detection across an invasion gradient for invasive species monitoring programs Spatial variation of eDNA detection across an invasion gradient for invasive species monitoring programs
Spatial and temporal distribution data provide critical information for invasive species management. For example, distribution data can help managers with early detections and guiding other response actions. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based sampling exists as one tool for monitoring invasive species. As part of bigheaded carp Hypophthalmichthys spp. monitoring efforts in the Illinois River...
Authors
Laura Lynne Peterman, Maren T. Tuttle-Lau, Patrick W. DeHaan, David P. Coulter, Stephen Frank Spear, Richard A. Erickson
Lead exposure of a fossorial rodent varies with the use of ammunition across the landscape Lead exposure of a fossorial rodent varies with the use of ammunition across the landscape
Exposure to heavy metals has been documented in a wide range of wildlife species, but infrequently in ground squirrels. This is despite their tendency to be targets of recreational shooters and the accumulation of lead ammunition in the soil environments they inhabit. We analyzed lead and copper concentrations in liver (nPb = 116, nCu = 101) and femur (nPb = 116, nCu = 116) of Piute...
Authors
Vincent A. Slabe, Kevin Warner, Zoe K. T. Duran, David S. Pilliod, Patricia A. Ortiz, Diane Schmidt, Shawn Szabo, Todd E. Katzner
Historical and morphological evidence for a remnant population of Lake Erie cisco Coregonus artedi (albus) in Crystal Lake, Pennsylvania Historical and morphological evidence for a remnant population of Lake Erie cisco Coregonus artedi (albus) in Crystal Lake, Pennsylvania
The cisco (Coregonus artedi) population in Crystal Lake, Pennsylvania, is of great scientific interest as it either originated from Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. Cisco in Lake Erie once supported the largest freshwater fishery in the world, but populations were extirpated by 1960. We conducted a morphological analysis of Crystal Lake cisco to determine whether it was consistent with a...
Authors
Joseph Schmitt, Douglas P. Fischer, Yu-Chun Kao, Aaron Frey, Marc Chalupnicki, James E. McKenna, Kristy Phillips, Mark Richard Dufour, Richard Kraus, Randy L. Eshenroder
Parasite abundance-occupancy relationships across biogeographic regions: Joint effects of niche breadth, host availability and climate Parasite abundance-occupancy relationships across biogeographic regions: Joint effects of niche breadth, host availability and climate
Changing biodiversity and environmental conditions may allow multi-host pathogens to spread among host species and affect prevalence. There are several widely acknowledged theories about mechanisms that may influence variation in pathogen prevalence, including the controversially debated dilution effect and abundance-occupancy relationship hypotheses. Here, we explore such abundance...
Authors
Konstans Wells, Jeffrey A Bell, Alan Fecchio, Sergei V. Drovetski, Spencer C Galen, Shannon Hackett, Holly L Lutz, Heather Skeen, Gary Voelker, Wanyoike Wamiti, Jason D Weckstein, Nicholas J. Clark
A case study and comparison of mid-winter warming and solar driven wet slab avalanche cycles A case study and comparison of mid-winter warming and solar driven wet slab avalanche cycles
Wet slab avalanches are poorly understood and often difficult to forecast. Yet, wet slab avalanches can be destructive and may become more common in a changing climate. As the onset of wet avalanches moves earlier in the winter season due to climate change, understanding snowpack and meteorological characteristics of wet slab avalanches will become increasingly important. In this study...
Authors
Erich H. Peitzsch, Cameron Johnson, Scott Savage, Zachary Miller, Zachary Hoppinen
Detecting avalanche path ground cover and vegetation change across multiple scales through time using remote sensing tools Detecting avalanche path ground cover and vegetation change across multiple scales through time using remote sensing tools
Large-magnitude avalanches often alter vegetation composition, avalanche path dimensions, and subsequent avalanche return periods. Understanding temporal changes in individual avalanche path trimlines, runout zones, and geomorphic characteristics helps forecasters, planners, and engineers estimate potential avalanche destructive size and impact on infrastructure or settlements in the...
Authors
Erich H. Peitzsch, Zachary Miller, Ron Simonhois, Ethan M. Greene
Remote sensing for monitoring mine lands and recovery efforts Remote sensing for monitoring mine lands and recovery efforts
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Ecosystem Restoration Program, the U.S. Department of the Interior has invested in assessing and recovering degraded ecosystems to promote healthy human communities and wildlife habitats. One priority established by the program is the need to address degraded ecosystems associated with mine lands, including active, inactive, and abandoned mines...
Authors
Michael S. O’Donnell, Ashley L. Whipple, Richard D. Inman, Bryan C. Tarbox, Adrian P. Monroe, Benjamin S. Robb, Cameron L. Aldridge
Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California
Objective
Authors
David E. Rundio, Brian C. Spence, Dorothy M. Chase, Carl O. Ostberg
A guide to environmental DNA extractions for non-molecular trained biologists, ecologists, and conservation scientists A guide to environmental DNA extractions for non-molecular trained biologists, ecologists, and conservation scientists
Ecologists, biologists, and conservation scientists are increasingly interested in the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) data for research and potentially decision-making. While commercial DNA extraction kits are typically user-friendly and accessible, they may fail to deliver the desired results with inherently complex eDNA samples, necessitating protocol optimization or educated...
Authors
Jessica Marie Rieder, Eliane Jemmi, Margaret Hunter, Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser
Characterizing variability in geochemistry and mineralogy of western US dust sources Characterizing variability in geochemistry and mineralogy of western US dust sources
Dust events originate from multiple sources in arid and semi-arid regions, making it difficult to quantify source contributions. Dust geochemical/mineralogical composition, if the sources are sufficiently distinct, can be used to quantify the contributions from different sources. To test the viability of using geochemical and mineralogical measurements to separate dust-emitting sites, we...
Authors
Abby L. Mangum, Gregory T. Carling, Barry R. Bickmore, Nicholas P. Webb, DeTiare L. Leifi, Janice Brahney, Diego P. Fernandez, Kevin A. Rey, Stephen T. Nelson, Landon Burgener, Joshua J. LeMonte, Alyssa N. Thompson, Beth A. Newingham, Michael C. Duniway, Zachary T. Aanderud
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center regional science plan—2023–28 North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center regional science plan—2023–28
The U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC), established in 2012, is part of a national network supporting climate-informed decisions that benefit wildlife and habitats. The NC CASC provides climate science for the U.S. Department of the Interior, State agencies, and Tribal nations to support effective resource management. Collaborating with the...
Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID): Community insights for scoping a NASA terrestrial ecology field campaign in drylands Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID): Community insights for scoping a NASA terrestrial ecology field campaign in drylands
Dryland ecosystems cover 40% of our planet's land surface, support billions of people, and are responding rapidly to climate and land use change. These expansive systems also dominate core aspects of Earth's climate, storing and exchanging vast amounts of water, carbon, and energy with the atmosphere. Despite their indispensable ecosystem services and high vulnerability to change...
Authors
Andrew F. Feldman, Sasha C. Reed, Cibele Amaral, Alicja Babst-Kostecka, Flurin Babst, Joel A. Biederman, Charles Devine, Zheng Fu, Julia K. Green, Jessica Guo, Niall P. Hanan, Raymond F. Kokaly, Marcy Litvak, Natasha MacBean, David Moore, Dennis S. Ojima, Benjamin Poulter, Russell L. Scott, William K. Smith, Robert Swap, Compton J. Tucker, Lixin Wang, Jennifer D. Watts, Konrad Wessels, Fangyue Zhang, Wen Zhang