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: 43280
Who needs closure? Estimating abundance with a Markovian availability model for geographically open removal sampling Who needs closure? Estimating abundance with a Markovian availability model for geographically open removal sampling
Removal sampling is an important method for estimating abundance, but nearly all removal models assume closure during sampling. Yet, closure may be difficult to assume, evaluate, or enforce in many settings. To address situations where populations are geographically open between each removal sample, we incorporated a Markovian availability process into an N-mixture model framework. This...
Authors
Russell W. Perry, Adam C. Pope, A. Noble Hendrix, Joseph E. Kirsch, Bryan G. Matthias, Michael J. Dodrill
The impacts of co-circulating pathogens in Pacific herring depend on interactions between viral life-cycle traits and transmission parameters, highlighting interdependencies between pathogen epizootics The impacts of co-circulating pathogens in Pacific herring depend on interactions between viral life-cycle traits and transmission parameters, highlighting interdependencies between pathogen epizootics
The average host susceptibility decreases as the epizootic progresses because easily infected hosts are first removed from the population. While host susceptibility is pathogen-specific, it is likely that host susceptibility is correlated between different pathogens, so that co-circulating pathogens may have reciprocal impacts on their epidemics. However, despite well-documented examples...
Authors
David James Páez, Courtney Ann Grady, Jacob L. Gregg, William N. Batts, Shayla Ferreiro-Luce, V. L. Herron, Malina Mariko Loeher, Sarah Williamson, Paul Hershberger
Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish
Objective Energetic reserves are important indicators of the relative health of fish and fish populations. Body condition indices that relate fish weight to length are commonly used as quick, noninvasive methods for approximating lipid content and condition. A microwave meter (i.e., fat meter or energy meter) is a noninvasive method found to be more accurate in some species. The...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Jenus Shrestha, Rachel R. Leads, Christopher M. Holbrook, Koji Sano, Cheryl A. Murphy
Region-specific understanding of virus transmission to support salmonid health at hatcheries in three regions of the Pacific Northwest, North America Region-specific understanding of virus transmission to support salmonid health at hatcheries in three regions of the Pacific Northwest, North America
Juvenile salmonid mortality due to infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) can be a major burden on fish hatcheries. We consider possible IHNV transmission routes and specialist–generalist patterns across three regions in the Pacific Northwest of North America: Coastal Washington and Oregon (CWO), Lower Columbia River Basin (LCRB) and Snake River Basin (SRB) to obtain multi...
Authors
Jeffrey P. Mattheiss, Rachel B. Breyta, Gael Kurath, Shannon L. LaDeau, David James Páez, Paige F.B. Ferguson
From understanding to action: Integrating new and old methodologies to manage marine infectious disease From understanding to action: Integrating new and old methodologies to manage marine infectious disease
Marine diseases can have far-reaching effects on population, community and ecosystem health; however, our ability to track, predict and manage these diseases has, historically, been poor. As a result, the fields of disease ecology and epidemiology have developed at a slower pace for marine than terrestrial systems [1]. New methodologies, including genomic tools for diagnostics [2,3]
Authors
Maya L. Groner, David James Páez, Alyssa-Lois M. Gehman
Groundwater dependency and hydroclimatic influences on riparian and upland vegetation productivity, Upper San Pedro, Arizona, United States Groundwater dependency and hydroclimatic influences on riparian and upland vegetation productivity, Upper San Pedro, Arizona, United States
In arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater sustains vegetation through subsurface water access, yet the responses of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) to changing hydroclimate and groundwater availability are relatively understudied. This study investigates seasonal and spatial patterns in vegetation greenness using Landsat Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) values across riparian and...
Authors
Fern Bromley, Patrick Borxton, Jiaqi Zhang, Willem J.D. van Leeuwen, Pamela L. Nagler, Jia Hu
Changing drivers of regional large magnitude avalanche frequency throughout Colorado, USA Changing drivers of regional large magnitude avalanche frequency throughout Colorado, USA
Large magnitude snow avalanches (destructive size ≥ D3) impact settlements, transportation corridors, and public safety worldwide. In Colorado, United States, avalanches have killed more people than any other natural hazard since 1950. In March 2019, a large magnitude avalanche cycle occurred throughout the entire mountainous portion of Colorado resulting in more than 1000 reported...
Authors
Erich H. Peitzsch, Justin T. Martin, Ethan M. Greene, Nicolas Eckert, Adrien Favillier, Jason Konigsberg, Nickolas Kichas, Daniel K. Stahle, Karl W. Birkeland, Kelly Elder, Gregory T. Pederson
Cape Lookout National Seashore storm characterization: Evaluation in support of cultural resource management Cape Lookout National Seashore storm characterization: Evaluation in support of cultural resource management
No abstract available.
Authors
P. Soupy Dalyander, Xiao Xiao, Erin Seekamp, Peizhe Li, Mitchell J. Eaton
Glaciers in Alaska and western North America Glaciers in Alaska and western North America
This chapter summarizes the location, status, and projections of glaciers in Alaska and western North America. Recent events, including the 2021 surge of Muldrow Glacier in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, are summarized. The implications of glacier loss for ecosystems, water resources, and mountain hazards are discussed.
Authors
Caitlyn Florentine
Detection of Naegleria fowleri in thermally impacted recreational waters of western United States national parks Detection of Naegleria fowleri in thermally impacted recreational waters of western United States national parks
Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic free-living amoeba (FLA) and the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, posing public health risks in warm freshwater environments. This multiyear, multiagency study surveyed 40 thermally impacted recreational waters across five western United States national parks and recreation areas–Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National...
Authors
Jonathan I. Shikany, Mia M. Banks, Elliott P. Barnhart, Stacy Kinsey, Peter R. Wright, Stacie A. Kageyama, Christopher M. Merkes, Natalia Kulesza, Jason Wylie, Sandra Halonen, Ana M. Ortega-Villa, Carrie M. Long, Brent M. Peyton, Geoffrey Puzon
Efficacy of increased visual and olfactory cues for luring and trapping invasive tegu lizards Efficacy of increased visual and olfactory cues for luring and trapping invasive tegu lizards
Controlling invasive wildlife species relies on the ability to efficiently remove individuals from the invaded environment. Thus, maximizing capture potential is of high interest, particularly for species that are difficult to capture. For invasive species such as the Argentine black and white tegu lizard (Salvator merianae), increasing attraction to traps could increase the probability...
Authors
Amanda Marie Kissel, Kevin L. Donmoyer, Mark Robert Sandfoss, James C. Howard, Christina M. Romagosa, Amy A. Yackel Adams