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: 42878
Autonomous samplers and environmental DNA metabarcoding: Sampling day and primer choice have greatest impact on fish detection probabilities Autonomous samplers and environmental DNA metabarcoding: Sampling day and primer choice have greatest impact on fish detection probabilities
Unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss and ecosystem function necessitate the use of rapid, efficacious, and cost-effective biomonitoring tools. The combination of autonomous samplers and high throughput sequencing (i.e., “metabarcoding”) of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples enables characterization of entire communities at high frequency and can be an important tool for conservation...
Authors
Devin Nicole Jones-Slobodian, Ben Augustine, Patrick Ross Hutchins, James M. Birch, Kevan Yamahara, Scott L. Jensen, Rodney T. Richardson, Regina Trott, James Campbell, Elliott P. Barnhart, Adam Sepulveda
Glacier National Park bumble bee survey report 2023 Glacier National Park bumble bee survey report 2023
Glacier National Park's grasslands provide important contributions to the character and ecology of the park. In 1999-2001, Glacier National Park (hereafter, the park) established 155 permanent vegetation monitoring plots to inventory grassland vegetation communities east of the Continental Divide. In June of 2023, the Blackfeet Nation (Amskapi Piikuni) re-introduced a herd of free...
Authors
Lindsay Marie Dose, Erica Sanderleaf Sarro Gustilo, Tabitha A. Graves
Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River
No abstract available.
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, James T. Lamer, Joshua Abner, Mark W. Fritts, Mark Cornish, Marybeth K. Brey
Variable climate-growth relationships of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) among Sky Island mountain ranges in the Great Basin, Nevada, USA Variable climate-growth relationships of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) among Sky Island mountain ranges in the Great Basin, Nevada, USA
The Great Basin is an arid province located in the interior western United States. The region encompasses millions of hectares and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests comprise a minor portion of the total area. However, montane aspen forests play a disproportionately large role in providing ecosystem services in the region, including water retention, biodiversity, wildlife...
Authors
Martin Senfeldr, Douglas J. Shinneman, Susan K. McIlroy, Paul Rogers, R. Justin DeRose
Conservation plan for golden eagles in eastern North America Conservation plan for golden eagles in eastern North America
No abstract available.
Authors
Todd E. Katzner, Tricia A. Miller, Andrew J. Dennhardt, Maxwell Field, Thomas Wittig, Elizabeth Mojica, Michael J. Lanzone, Mark S. Martell, Richard M. Bailey, Andrew Berry, Renee Dillard, David Brandes, David F. Brinker, Bracken Brown, Erynn M. Call, Jeffrey Cooper, Adam E. Duerr, Christopher J Farmer, Shilo K. Felton, Julie Garvin, Rolf Gubler, Sergio R. Harding, Michael Jones, Christine A. Kelly, Hardy Kern, Netawn Kiogima, Craig A. Koppie, Jerome Lemaitre, Mercedes Maddox, Scott Mehus, Joel Merriman, Amy Mitchell, Bill Parsons, Evan Patrick, Nora P. Pennarola, Margaret Rheude, Casey Rucker, Scott Rush, Ryan Schmitz, Hank Seltzer, Vincent A. Slabe, Eric C. Soehren, Johnny Wills
The haunting raptor: Yellowstone’s golden eagles The haunting raptor: Yellowstone’s golden eagles
For many who live in North America, when picturing an eagle, the image of a large magnificent bird with a distinct white head and tail comes to mind. Rightfully, the bald eagle has garnered much attention as a national symbol of the United States (US), nearly brought to extinction from widespread organochlorine pesticide use (e.g., DDT, dichloro- diphenyl- trichloroethane; Anderson 1972...
Authors
David B. Haines, Douglas W. Smith, Todd E. Katzner, Victoria J. Dreitz
Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast
Cooperator publication summarizing USGS publications in collaboration with Water Institute that are being used to inform Louisiana coastal policy.
Authors
Timothy Carruthers, Camille Stagg, Melissa Millman Baustian
Bedform distributions and dynamics in a large, channelized river: Implications for benthic ecological processes Bedform distributions and dynamics in a large, channelized river: Implications for benthic ecological processes
Sand bedforms are fundamental habitat elements for benthic fish in large, sand-bedded rivers and are hypothesized to provide flow refugia, food transport, and ecological disturbance. We explored bedform distributions and dynamics in the Lower Missouri River, Missouri, with the objective of understanding the implications of these features for benthic fish habitat, particularly for the...
Authors
Caroline M. Elliott, R. B. Jacobson, Bruce Call, Maura O Roberts
Climate impacts to inland fishes: Shifting research topics over time Climate impacts to inland fishes: Shifting research topics over time
Climate change remains a primary threat to inland fishes and fisheries. Using topic modeling to examine trends and relationships across 36 years of scientific literature on documented and projected climate impacts to inland fish, we identify ten representative topics within this body of literature: assemblages, climate scenarios, distribution, climate drivers, population growth, invasive...
Authors
Abigail Lynch, Andrew DiSanto, Julian D. Olden, Cindy Chu, Craig Paukert, Daria Gundermann, Mitchel Lang, Ray Zhang, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft
Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast
Common Loons (Gavia immer) winter primarily in marine coastal areas and utilize a forage base that is poorly defined, especially for offshore areas. Information on dive activity is needed for describing foraging strategies and for inferring prey distribution. Archival geolocator tags were used to determine the wintering locations and dive characteristics of adult Common Loons captured...
Authors
Kevin P. Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven C. Houdek, Brian R. Gray, Darryl J. Heard, Michael W. Meyer, Timothy J. Fox, Robert J. Kratt, Carrol L. Henderson
Gap analysis: A proposed methodology to describe and map historical and contemporary populations and habitats Gap analysis: A proposed methodology to describe and map historical and contemporary populations and habitats
This is a methodology paper that describes an approach for modeling and mapping historical and contemporary spawning areas for coregonine fishes in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Coregonines are a family of native whitefishes and ciscoes that are now greatly reduced or extirpated, but once served important roles for both the food web and society. This method can illustrate where habitats...
Authors
Cory Brant, Karen M Alofs, Chris Castiglione, Susan E. Doka, Alexander T. Duncan, Dave Fielder, Matthew Herbert, Arunas Liskauskus, Edward S. Rutherford, Jason Smith, Ralph W. Tingley, Ted Treska, Ted Turschak, Cindy Chu, Peter C. Esselman
Mid-contract management alters conservation reserve program vegetation in the central and western United States Mid-contract management alters conservation reserve program vegetation in the central and western United States
Disturbances such as grazing, fire, and burrowing are historically important in North American grasslands, and plans for restoring disturbance regimes are often required for successful restoration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has become the dominant grassland restoration mechanism in many areas, and requires planned disturbances known as mid...
Authors
Kenneth Elgersma, Mark W. Vandever, Ai Wen