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: 42944
Letter from leadership Letter from leadership
No abstract available.
Authors
Aaron Lien, Stephanie Anne McAfee
Small cumulative survival costs of enzootic disease could suppress long-term population size Small cumulative survival costs of enzootic disease could suppress long-term population size
Fungal pathogens can cause epizootics that result in widespread mortality and rapid population declines in some species. However, even in the absence of high disease-induced mortality, enzootic mycoses could have large-scale impacts on host population dynamics. Here, we examined the effects of ophidiomycosis, an enzootic fungal disease, on a Louisiana snake community over a 3-year period...
Authors
Brad Glorioso, Graziella V. DiRenzo, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Brittany A. Mosher, David A.W. Miller, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Hardin Waddle
Identifying overwintering habitat of silver and bighead carp in the lower Mississippi River: Implications for harvesting and population reduction Identifying overwintering habitat of silver and bighead carp in the lower Mississippi River: Implications for harvesting and population reduction
A total of 41 sites along a 58 mi reach of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) were surveyed during winter 2022 for invasive carp aggregation.* Sites consisting of scallops closest to the dike-vegetated bank interface with deeper, slow-moving water and consistent access back to the main channel were preferred. Carp avoided strong currents, and there was no trend in depth selection other...
Authors
K. Jack Killgore, David Ruppel, Faucheux. Nick, W. Todd Slack, Amanda J.M. Oliver, Josey Lee Ridgway, Jesse Robert Fischer, Robin D. Calfee
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2025 Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2025
Lake Erie has the most populated watershed of all the Great Lakes and has undergone dramatic anthropogenic changes. Since the 1800s, overexploitation of fish populations, habitat destruction, non-native species proliferation, industrial contamination, and changes in nutrient loading have impacted the fish community including declines in or extirpation of many native species (Regier et al...
Authors
Mark Richard Dufour, Francesco Guzzo, Corbin David Hilling, Branden Eric Kohler, Richard Kraus, Richard Cole Oldham, James J. Roberts, Joseph Schmitt
Ecovoltaic solar energy development creates novel microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture patterns under solar panels in a warm desert Ecovoltaic solar energy development creates novel microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture patterns under solar panels in a warm desert
Background: As solar energy development expands in desert regions, new installation practices and solar technologies seek to balance ecosystem conservation and energy generation (ecovoltaics). The Gemini Solar Project, a large ecovoltaic facility located in the northeastern Mojave Desert, employed low impact installation methods to reduce disturbance of the desert ecosystem within arrays...
Authors
Juan Pinos, Seth M. Munson, Claire C Karban, Matthew D. Petrie
Extrinsic factors similarly affect nest survival of a threatened shorebird in natural and human-created habitats Extrinsic factors similarly affect nest survival of a threatened shorebird in natural and human-created habitats
Knowledge of factors that influence nest survival can inform effective conservation management for imperiled avian species. Habitat availability and quality are common priorities of conservation efforts, and climate and interspecific associations can also affect survival rates. In the lower Platte River system of eastern Nebraska, USA, Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus, hereafter...
Authors
Elsa M. Forsberg, Rose J. Swift, Larkin A. Powell, Joel G. Jorgensen, Mark P. Vrtiska
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2025 Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2025
The U.S. Geological Survey has conducted annual trawl surveys across Lake Superior since 1978 that describe trends in fish species occurrence and relative abundance to support fisheries science and management. In 2025, the Lake Superior fish community was sampled with daytime bottom and surface trawls at 72 nearshore stations in May and June and 36 offshore locations in July. Nearshore...
Authors
Nicole M. Watson, Isabel I. Field, Jared Thomas Myers, Daniel L. Yule
Creating usable science: A Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center study Creating usable science: A Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center study
The southwestern United States consists of diverse ecosystems that are experiencing increasing pressures from rising temperatures, increasing aridity, and sea level rise. To prepare this region for future uncertainty, there is a need for strong partnerships among researchers and societal partners. The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) acts to foster engaged...
Authors
Kinzie Cherrel Bailey, Jia Hu, Alison M. Meadow, Stephanie Anne McAfee, Alexandder Gershunov, Carolyn Armstrong Enquist, Daniel Cayan, Beth Rose MIddleton Manning, Elizabeth Fard, Geln MacDonald, Gregg M. Garfin, Michelle Baker, Nancy Huntly, Richard F. Ambroase
Impact of fog on California waterfowl flight activity: Historical and modern insights into effects post-Clean Air Act Impact of fog on California waterfowl flight activity: Historical and modern insights into effects post-Clean Air Act
Since establishment of the Clean Air Act in the early 1970s, occurrence of the dense ‘Tule Fog’, historically prevalent throughout winter across California’s Central Valley, has substantially reduced. At the same time, waterfowl body masses have generally increased. Flight is metabolically expensive, and fog visually and navigationally impairs birds in flight, likely causing them to...
Authors
Fiona McDuie, Cory T. Overton, Austen A. Lorenz, J. Patrick Donnelly, Desmond A. Mackell, Elliott Matchett, Mark J. Petrie, Michael L. Casazza
Visioning ecologically diverse and harmonious futures of Korea in Good Anthropocene Visioning ecologically diverse and harmonious futures of Korea in Good Anthropocene
1.The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a buffer between North and South Korea, holds profound historical, cultural and ecological significance, as well as exceptional potential for conservation and transformation. This study explores ecologically diverse and peaceful futures for the Korean Peninsula by envisioning the DMZ as a landscape for harmonious human–nature co-existence. 2.Using...
Authors
HyeJin Kim, Garry Peterson, Hyeonjeong Kim, Hanvit Lee, Miyoung Yeo, Youngcheol Cho, Paula A. Harrison, Gwanwoo Jin, Bohun Kang, Junsoo Kim, Sanha Kim, Kyung Ah Koo, Brian W. Miller, Laura M. Pereira, SoEun Ahn, Lisa Yeonjung Gwon, Jaegyun Im, Seul-gi Lee, Chunhwa Park, Jiyeon Park, Soojin Park, Yea-Yl Yoon, Yukyong Jung Yun Choe, Mijung Im, Jae Chun Choe
The state of the giant sequoias: Losses, risks, and opportunities The state of the giant sequoias: Losses, risks, and opportunities
Background Giant sequoias, an iconic tree found only in a narrow band along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada of California, are facing unprecedented threats. Despite being adapted to fire and resistant to both drought and insect attack, the species has exhibited signs of vulnerability to these stressors in recent years, with the most substantial impacts coming from wildfire...
Authors
Kristen L. Shive, Brianna Baker, David Nicolas Bertil Soderberg, Linnea J. Hardlund, Marc D. Meyer, P. Bryant Nagelson, Sarah M. Bisbing, Adrian Das, Nathan L. Stephenson
DNA retention in sea lamprey digestive tracts: Insights from controlled feeding experiments DNA retention in sea lamprey digestive tracts: Insights from controlled feeding experiments
The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a non-native species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, has significantly impacted native fish communities and commercial fisheries, requiring population suppression efforts. While traditional control methods such as lampricides and barriers have reduced sea lamprey population abundance, questions remain regarding sea lamprey dietary composition given...
Authors
Conor O'Kane, Nicholas S. Johnson, Kim T. Scribner, Jeannette Kanefsky, Weiming Li, Tyler Bruning, John D. Robinson