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
Oil and gas reclamation—Operations, monitoring methods, and standards Oil and gas reclamation—Operations, monitoring methods, and standards
This publication provides broad guidance for surface management of oil and gas development with a focus on promoting successful reclamation. Successful reclamation depends on sound best management practices, clear standards and expectations, defensible monitoring for effectiveness, and management of production facilities to minimize surface disturbance. This publication provides specific
Authors
Randi C. Lupardus, Janna Simonsen, Gordon Toevs, Barbara Sterling, Zachary H. Bowen, Zoe Davidson, Steve E. Hanser, Emily Kachergis, Alexander Laurence-Traynor, Nika Lepak, Rebecca K. Mann, Aleta Nafus, David S. Pilliod, Michael C. Duniway
Chromosome-level genome assembly of the blacktail brush lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus, reveals dosage compensation in an endemic lizard Chromosome-level genome assembly of the blacktail brush lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus, reveals dosage compensation in an endemic lizard
Urosaurus nigricaudus is a phrynosomatid lizard endemic to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. This work presents a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation from a male individual. We used PacBio long reads and HiRise scaffolding to generate a high-quality genomic assembly of 1.87 Gb distributed in 327 scaffolds, with an N50 of 279 Mb and an L50 of 3. Approximately 98.4% of...
Authors
Elizabeth Davalos-Dehullu, Sarah M. Baty, Robert N. Fisher, Peter A. Scott, Greer A. Dolby, Adrian Munguia-Vega, Diego Cortez
Reservoir stratification modulates the influence of impoundments on fish mercury concentrations along an arid land river system Reservoir stratification modulates the influence of impoundments on fish mercury concentrations along an arid land river system
Impoundment is among the most common hydrologic alterations with impacts on aquatic ecosystems that can include effects on mercury (Hg) cycling. However, landscape-scale differences in Hg bioaccumulation between reservoirs and other habitats are not well characterized nor are the processes driving these differences. We examined total Hg (THg) concentrations of Smallmouth Bass...
Authors
James Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Jim Chandler, Jesse Naymik, Ralph Myers, David P. Krabbenhoft
A review of natural and managed revegetation responses in two de-watered reservoirs after large dam removals on the Elwha River, Washington, USA A review of natural and managed revegetation responses in two de-watered reservoirs after large dam removals on the Elwha River, Washington, USA
Large dam removals are increasing in frequency and the response of natural and managed revegetation is a critical consideration for managed restoration of dewatered reservoir landscapes post dam removal. The removal of two large dams on the Elwha River in 2011-2014 provides insight into reservoir revegetation. We review literature and datasets from 2012 through 2018, 1-6 years since...
Authors
Joshua Chenoweth, Patrick B. Shafroth, Rebecca L. Brown, James M. Helfield, Jenise M. Bauman, Sara Cendejas-Zarelli, Chhaya M. Werner, Jarrett L. Schuster, Olivia A. Morgan
Selection of microhabitats, plants, and plant parts eaten by a threatened tortoise: Observations during a superbloom Selection of microhabitats, plants, and plant parts eaten by a threatened tortoise: Observations during a superbloom
Populations of the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) continue to decline throughout the geographic range, in part because of degraded and fragmented habitats in the Mojave and western Sonoran deserts. The species is herbivorous and highly selective in choice of plant species. To increase options for recovery, we analyzed behaviors, patterns of movements while foraging, and...
Authors
W. Bryan Jennings, Kristin H. Berry
Paranannizziopsis spp. infections in wild snakes and a qPCR assay for detection of the fungus Paranannizziopsis spp. infections in wild snakes and a qPCR assay for detection of the fungus
The emergence of ophidiomycosis (or snake fungal disease) in snakes has prompted increased awareness of the potential effects of fungal infections on wild reptile populations. Yet, aside from Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, little is known about other mycoses affecting wild reptiles. The closely related genus Paranannizziopsis has been associated with dermatomycosis in snakes and tuataras in...
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Megan Winzeler, Julia S. Lankton, Stephen Raverty, Heindrich N Snyman, Helen M. Schwantje, Caeley Thacker, Susan Knowles, Hugh Y Cai, Daniel A. Grear
Proximity to roads does not modify inorganic nitrogen deposition in a topographically complex, high traffic, subalpine forest Proximity to roads does not modify inorganic nitrogen deposition in a topographically complex, high traffic, subalpine forest
Vehicles are an important source for N deposition that may negatively impact roadside ecosystems. While elevated roadside N deposition has been found in many locations, it is not yet known if vehicle emissions cause measurable increases of N deposition in complex, mountainous terrain adjacent to roads. To address this, this study investigated the effect of vehicle N emissions on...
Authors
Katherine S. Rocci, M. Francesca Catrufo, Jill Baron
Shifting hotspots: Climate change projected to drive contractions and expansions of invasive plant abundance habitats Shifting hotspots: Climate change projected to drive contractions and expansions of invasive plant abundance habitats
Aim Preventing the spread of range-shifting invasive species is a top priority for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Invasive plants become abundant and cause negative impacts in only a fraction of their introduced ranges, yet projections of invasion risk are almost exclusively derived from models built using all non-native occurrences and neglect abundance information.Location...
Authors
Annette E. Evans, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Evelyn M. Beaury, Peder S. Engelstad, Nathan B. Teich, Jillian LaRoe, Bethany A. Bradley
Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation
Nest site selection is an important determinant of clutch success and hatchling sex ratios in Gopherus agassizii, Mojave Desert tortoises (Spotila et al. 1994. Herpetol. Monogr. 8:103-116). G. agassizii lay eggs in or near the entrance of their burrows (Ennen et al. 2012. Copeia 2012:222-228) and females of both G. agassizii and G. morafkai, may reduce egg predation risk by remaining at...
Authors
Megan Peukert, Gerardo Avila, William J. Hoese, Christopher R. Tracy, Philip L. Boyd, Kristy L. Cummings, Shellie R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich
See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research. See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research.
No abstract available.
Authors
Gretchen Erika Anderson, Lisa Marie McBride, Mark Robert Sandfoss, Amy A. Yackel Adams
Grand Canyon Youth Partners in Science: Reflections from a scientist Grand Canyon Youth Partners in Science: Reflections from a scientist
No abstract available.
Authors
Shannon Leigh Sartain
A proposed methodology for conducting threats assessments within the Great Lakes Coregonines restoration framework A proposed methodology for conducting threats assessments within the Great Lakes Coregonines restoration framework
This document serves to fulfill the Coregonine Threats Assessment Science Team’s charge of providing a written recommendation for a methodology to conduct threats assessments for Great Lakes coregonines within the Coregonine Restoration Framework (CRF). Through a series of team meetings that included presentations by experts on five candidate threats assessment frameworks followed by...
Authors
Andrew Edgar Honsey, David R. Smith, Charles R. Bronte, Andy Cook, D. Andrew R. Drake, Dimitry Gorsky, Timothy B. Johnson, Nicholas E. Mandrak, James Roberts, Shawn P. Sitar