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: 43455
Thermal habitat use of lake trout in Lake Erie Thermal habitat use of lake trout in Lake Erie
Understanding the thermal habitat use of fish populations is vital for effective rehabilitation or management, particularly in the face of climate change, given limited thermal tolerances of some species. In Lake Erie, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation efforts by means of stocking have been ongoing for four decades. However, high water temperatures and lengthening periods...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Travis O. Brenden, Susanna Q. Keilig, Corey Krabbenhoft, Richard Kraus, Tom MacDougall, James Markham, Charles Murray, Jason Robinson, Christopher C. Wilson, Christopher S. Vandergoot
Assessing low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on nontarget organisms Assessing low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on nontarget organisms
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an invasive dreissenid mussel, have been established and caused considerable effects in many North American aquatic ecosystems. In response, copper-based pesticides have been used to manage zebra mussel populations. We evaluated the effects of a low-dose (60 µg Cu/L for 10 d) copper-based molluscicide for zebra mussel suppression on nontarget species...
Authors
Angelique D. Dahlberg, Matthew T. Barbour, James A. Luoma, Todd J. Severson, Jeremy K. Wise, Matthew J. Meulemans, David Hammond, Nicholas B.D. Phelps, Diane L. Waller
Assessing a low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population Assessing a low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population
We conducted and evaluated a low-dose copper treatment (applied as EarthTec QZ) to suppress zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas 1771) veliger abundance and settlement in a 66.3 ha bay in Lake Minnetonka (Hennepin County, MN) over a 3-y period. We maintained a mean (standard deviation [SD]) concentration of 83.0 (10.3) µg/L as copper over the 10-d treatment period, much lower than...
Authors
Matthew T. Barbour, James A. Luoma, Angelique D. Dahlberg, Todd J. Severson, Jeremy K. Wise, Matthew J. Meulemans, Barbara Bennie, David Hammond, Diane L. Waller
Climate-driven changes in wetland hydroperiods predict losses in habitat suitability for amphibian breeding Climate-driven changes in wetland hydroperiods predict losses in habitat suitability for amphibian breeding
Environmental regimes are shifting with accelerating climate change, disrupting interactions between species and ecosystems shaped by the climate of the pre-industrial era. Species assemblages that depend on a dynamic network of ephemeral and permanent habitats may be especially sensitive to changing climate, whereby shifting environmental regimes may limit species persistence in...
Authors
Griffin C Dare, Maureen E. Ryan, Se-Yeun Lee, Leithen K. M'Gonigle, Rebecca M. McCaffery, Alan F. Hamlet, Michael J. Adams, Wendy J. Palen
DRIFteRS: A dataset of drift invertebrate densities in streams and rivers across western North America, 1997–2024 DRIFteRS: A dataset of drift invertebrate densities in streams and rivers across western North America, 1997–2024
Prey availability is among the most influential and highly variable determinants of fish growth and freshwater habitat carrying capacity, yet it remains understudied compared to physical habitat variables (Ouellet et al., 2025; Rosenfeld et al., 2014; Weber et al., 2017). We often lack a clear understanding of how much food is available to fishes, how it varies spatially and temporally...
Authors
Elsa K. Toskey, Toshio Matsuoka, Peter M. Kiffney, Sean M. Naman, Martin C. Liermann, Javan Bailey, David Beauchamp, J. Ryan Bellmore, Christopher A. Binckley, Steven C. Blumenshine, Timothy J. Caldwell, Michael P. Carey, Shannon Claeson, Chelsea Clawson, Rosa Cox, Cromwell. Kara J., Robert J. Danehy, Michael J. Dodrill, Jeffrey J. Duda, Jason B. Fellman, Adrianne Z. Grimm, Tyson B. Hallbert, Chris E. Jordan, Ernest R. Keeley, Brian P. Kennedy, Theodore Kennedy, Andre E. Kohler, Erin D. Lowery, Kate H Macneale, Kyle D. Martens, Sarah A. Morley, Jeffrey Muehlbauer, Jason B. Neuswanger, Alison O'Dowd, Shelley Pneh, Mary E. Power, Suzanne J. Rhoades, Jordan Rosenfeld, Gabriel Rossi, Beth L. Sanderson, Katy K. Shelby, Thomas Starky-Owens, Jamie N. Thompson, Carol Volk, Jasmine S. Williamshen, Robert W. Wisseman
Beginning with a single step: A social theory of change for managing chronic wasting disease Beginning with a single step: A social theory of change for managing chronic wasting disease
Emerging wildlife diseases, like chronic wasting disease (CWD), not only lead to changing dynamics within the ecology of the susceptible species but also to changes within interrelated social and management systems. Chronic wasting disease has proven challenging to manage partially because the best management practices (BMP) available have conflicted with historical cervid management...
Authors
Nicholas W. Cole, Brad Milley, Jaclyn Lucas, Nick Salafsky, Natalie Sexton, Rudy Schuster
Incorporating wetland drowning thresholds to assess the spatiotemporal variability in potential wetland migration and submergence from sea-level rise Incorporating wetland drowning thresholds to assess the spatiotemporal variability in potential wetland migration and submergence from sea-level rise
In the coming decades sea-level rise rates could exceed the upper bounds of coastal wetland vertical movement leading to wetland submergence. Consequently, understanding the spatiotemporal variability of wetland migration and submergence at regional and national scales can inform decision making. In this study, we developed an approach that addresses elevation error in digital elevation...
Authors
Nicholas M. Enwright, Michael J. Osland, Jena A. Moon, Bethanie M. Simons, Joseph D. Lancaster, Sarah E. Lehnen, Colt R. Sanspree, Camille L. Stagg, Barry C. Wilson
At the edge of change: Native Phragmites persistence and nonnative arrival along the dam-regulated Colorado River At the edge of change: Native Phragmites persistence and nonnative arrival along the dam-regulated Colorado River
Premise
Authors
Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey, Claudia DiMartini, Tanyan Benson, Brooke Damon, Helen C. Fairley, Bradley J. Butterfield
The rising threat of lead: Trends in fatalities of California condors The rising threat of lead: Trends in fatalities of California condors
Endangered species face threats that change over time, and understanding variation in the importance of threats is valuable for guiding species recovery. The reintroduced population of critically endangered California condors has faced a number of threats over the three decades since the species was first released back to the wild. We modeled interannual and interseasonal trends in the...
Authors
Molly Astell, Steve Kirkland, Punzalan. Arrianna, Todd E. Katzner
Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use
Federally managed public lands and waters receive around 1 billion recreational visits each year. Data on these visitors can aid in guiding policy decisions, managing resources effectively, and communicating the economic contributions of lands and waters. This report explores the methods used by agencies to collect data on aspects of recreational visitor use to Federal lands and waters...
Authors
Emily J. Wilkins, Dieta Hanson, Whitney Boone, Spencer A. Wood, Christian Crowley, Rudy Schuster
Core microbiomes as a potential fingerprinting method of Western USA dust sources Core microbiomes as a potential fingerprinting method of Western USA dust sources
Introduction: Changing frequency and intensity of dust emissions impacts ecosystems and human health. Dust carries microbes, nutrients, heavy metals, and other materials that may change environmental biogeochemistry at deposition sites. Identifying dust sources provides key information on where and when mitigation strategies should be employed. However, commonly used geochemical or...
Authors
DeTiare L. Leifi, Sarah C. Peterson, Jakob L. Young, Gregory T. Carling, Janice Brahney, Michael C. Duniway, Beth A. Newingham, Nicholas P. Webb, Travis W. Nauman, Zachary T. Aanderud
Estimating habitat availability for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) to inform reintroduction planning in the middle Snake River basin, USA Estimating habitat availability for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) to inform reintroduction planning in the middle Snake River basin, USA
Anadromous fishes have been blocked from the middle Snake River basin since the construction of flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric projects during the 19th and 20th centuries, culminating with the construction of Hells Canyon Dam (river kilometer [rkm] 398) in 1967. Seven large watersheds in the blocked area of the basin are under consideration for Pacific salmon reintroduction...
Authors
Jim Hatten, Jill Hardiman, Dennis Daw, Claire E. Couch, Tobias J. Kock