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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: 42768

Multiscale framework for assessing land cover change on barrier islands from extreme storms and restoration Multiscale framework for assessing land cover change on barrier islands from extreme storms and restoration

Often found along the estuarine-marine interface, barrier islands and mainland coastal zones are shaped by tides, currents, extreme storms, and relative sea-level rise. These systems provide ecosystem services such as storm surge and wave attenuation, erosion protection to inland areas, habitat for fish and wildlife, recreation, and tourism. Given the importance of these ecosystems...
Authors
Nicholas Enwright, P. Soupy Dalyander, Casey M. Stuht, Minoo Han, Margaret L. Palmsten, Theresa M. Davenport, Christopher J. Kingwill, Gregory Steyer, Megan La Peyre

Effects of nest exclosure on nest and adult survival of piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in the lower Platte River System, Nebraska Effects of nest exclosure on nest and adult survival of piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in the lower Platte River System, Nebraska

Conservation of imperiled species often includes management strategies intended to improve specific vital rates. However, some management practices can have unforeseen consequences that negate the intended benefit. For example, nest exclosures are often used for ground-nesting avian species to reduce nest predation but may increase depredation of adults. Tradeoffs between nest survival...
Authors
Elsa M. Forsberg, Joel G. Jorgensen, Rose J. Swift, Larkin A. Powell, Mark P. Vrtiska

Soil-microbial communities respond less than plant communities to synthetic- or bio-herbicides applied to address the exotic grass-fire cycle in rangelands Soil-microbial communities respond less than plant communities to synthetic- or bio-herbicides applied to address the exotic grass-fire cycle in rangelands

The exotic grass-fire cycle is degrading semiarid rangelands, such as the vast areas of shrub-steppe in North America now invaded by fire-promoting cheatgrass. Chemical- or bio-herbicides are sprayed onto soils to inhibit the invaders, but information on chemical- or bio-herbicide impacts to soil microbial communities is limited. We asked how the soil-microbiome responded to the...
Authors
Brynne E Lazarus, Rebecca Mueller, Matthew Germino

Navigating the possibilities and pitfalls of biocrust recovery in a changing climate Navigating the possibilities and pitfalls of biocrust recovery in a changing climate

Biological soil crusts are complex communities composed of lichens, mosses, bacteria, and cyanobacteria that create a living skin on the soil surface across drylands worldwide. Although small in size, the vast area that biocrusts cover and the critical functions they provide make them a cornerstone of dryland health and resiliency. In addition to being important, biocrusts are...
Authors
Michala Lee Phillips, Kristina E. Young, Cara Marie Lauria, Sierra Jech, Ana Giraldo-Silva, Sasha C. Reed

Mixed natal origins present management challenges for a non-native fish established throughout a modified river network Mixed natal origins present management challenges for a non-native fish established throughout a modified river network

Expansion of non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam motivated reevaluation of suppression strategies to minimize potential impacts to native fishes in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. Brown trout are one of several non-native fish species of management concern in this river reach, and understanding their natal sources and movement patterns may...
Authors
Michael K. Akland, Karin E. Limburg, Brian D. Healy, William E. Pine

Fine-scale spatial risk models to predict avian collisions with power lines Fine-scale spatial risk models to predict avian collisions with power lines

1. Avian fatalities caused by collisions with overhead power lines are an important conservation issue worldwide. Although mitigation strategies can help reduce mortalities, given their considerable cost and the vast scale of power line infrastructure, cost-effective action requires that these efforts be prioritised to areas with the highest potential risk to birds. To date, this risk...
Authors
James M. Pay, Elissa Z. Cameron, Clare E. Hawkins, Christopher Johnson, Amelia J. Koch, Jason M. Wiersma, Todd E. Katzner

Combining ecological and genomic diversity surveys to inform conservation and restoration of an endangered wetland plant, soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle) Combining ecological and genomic diversity surveys to inform conservation and restoration of an endangered wetland plant, soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle)

Emergent tidal wetlands are declining globally as a result of sea level rise and land use change. This habitat loss can keenly affect rare plant species within wetlands, and may require restoration to meet species recovery goals related to retaining populations throughout species' ranges. Soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle) is a federally- and state-endangered hemi...
Authors
Amy G. Vandergast, Scott F. Jones, Lyndsay L. Rankin, McKenna Leigh Bristow, Dustin Wood, Karen M. Thorne

Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin

Natural capital accounting has the potential to yield important policy insights at multiple scales, but there remains a disconnect between regional-scale natural capital accounts and their use for informing policy. In this paper, we propose a roadmap that could lead to the creation of policy-relevant regional accounts, with steps split across an initial scoping phase and a subsequent...
Authors
Aaron Joey Enriquez, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Katharine G. Dahm, Alicia A. Torregrosa, Rudy Schuster

Drought and deluge— Opportunities for climate-change adaptation in US national parks Drought and deluge— Opportunities for climate-change adaptation in US national parks

In a changing climate, resource management depends on anticipating changes and considering uncertainties. To facilitate effective decision making on public lands, we regionally summarized the magnitude and uncertainty of projected change in management-relevant climate variables for 332 national park units across the contiguous US. Temperature, frequency of extreme precipitation events...
Authors
Meagan Ford Oldfather, Amber N. Runyon, Kyra Clark-Wolf, Wynne Emily Moss, Imtiaz Rangwala, Anthony Ciocco, Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Helen Sofaer, Brian W. Miller

Long-term geomorphic response of a southwestern USA river following establishment and removal of an invasive riparian tree Long-term geomorphic response of a southwestern USA river following establishment and removal of an invasive riparian tree

Invasion of non-native riparian vegetation along southwestern USA rivers is associated with channel narrowing and simplification, prompting numerous and varied removal efforts. Channel width and migration rate often, but not always, increase following treatment. The cause of this variability and the duration of response is poorly understood. Using flow records and aerial imagery we...
Authors
Michael L. Scott, Erin Williams, Jonathan M. Friedman, John R. Spencer, Phoebe B. McNeally
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