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: 43099
Strengthening ties between the U.S. Geological Survey and Interstate Fisheries Commissions Strengthening ties between the U.S. Geological Survey and Interstate Fisheries Commissions
Fish inhabiting marine coastal and Great Lakes waters of the United States forage, migrate, and reproduce without regard to human-made boundaries. In the mid-20th century, the 32 states along the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes recognized the growing need for coordinated, interjurisdictional fisheries management and formed four interstate or international fisheries commissions through...
Authors
Joshua D. Miller, Michael William Schmidt, Thomas Joseph O'Connell, Kurt R. Newman, Danielle Kitchen, Robert Beal, Marc Gaden, Dave Donaldson, Barry Thom, Steve VanderKooy, Patrick Campfield, John M. Dettmers, Stan Allen, David H. Hu, Jennifer M. Bayer, Deborah Epperson, Rachel E. Reagan, Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Margaret Lamont, Russell M. Strach
Black abalone surveys at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California—2023 annual report Black abalone surveys at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California—2023 annual report
The U.S. Geological Survey monitors a suite of intertidal black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) sites at San Nicolas Island, California, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, which owns the island. The nine rocky intertidal sites were established in 1980 to study the potential effect of translocated sea otters on the intertidal black abalone population at the island. The sites were monitored...
Authors
Michael C. Kenner, Julie L. Yee
Summaries of goals, actions, and information needs by management entity Summaries of goals, actions, and information needs by management entity
The grasslands in the North Central region are managed by a diverse group of Federal, State, and Tribal agencies; nongovernmental organizations; partnerships; and private landowners. This chapter highlights these various grassland management entities, provides background information on their mission and organizational structure, and describes some of their key grassland management...
Mangrove microbiomes as drivers of ecosystem recovery and restoration success Mangrove microbiomes as drivers of ecosystem recovery and restoration success
The microbes found in the rhizosphere, roots, leaves and stem surfaces and within the internal tissues of mangrove vegetation and their environment constitute the microbiome of the ecosystem. The organisms in the microbiome include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds, which assist in maintaining and restoring mangrove ecosystems. This review explores the role of...
Authors
Elijah I. Ohimain, Robert Eugene Turner, Beth Middleton
Effects of repeat prescribed burning in dry coniferous forests in national parks of California Effects of repeat prescribed burning in dry coniferous forests in national parks of California
Background
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah C. Wright, Calvin A. Farris, Eamon Engber, Emma J. McClure, Anthony C. Caprio, MaryBeth Keifer
Assessing environmental influences on gene flow for a migratory ungulate in a fire-prone landscape Assessing environmental influences on gene flow for a migratory ungulate in a fire-prone landscape
Context
Authors
Elizabeth P Flesch, Tabitha A. Graves, Mark Biel
Status and trends of pelagic and benthic prey fish populations in Lake Michigan, 2025 Status and trends of pelagic and benthic prey fish populations in Lake Michigan, 2025
Fall bottom trawl (fall BT) and lakewide acoustic (AC) surveys are conducted annually to generate indices of pelagic and benthic prey fish densities in Lake Michigan. The fall BT survey has been conducted each fall since 1973 using 12-m trawls at depths ranging from 9 to 110 m at fixed locations distributed across seven transects; this survey estimates densities of seven prey fish...
Authors
Ralph W. Tingley, Timothy P. O’Brien, Charles P. Madenjian, Peter C. Esselman, Patricia Dieter, Kristy Phillips, Ben Turschak, Dale Hanson, Steven A. Farha
Demographic responses to experimental manipulation of an enclosed population of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) Demographic responses to experimental manipulation of an enclosed population of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis)
Understanding how invasive species populations respond to perturbations can give insight into effective management. However, opportunities to test theoretical population responses are rare, as experimental perturbations often run counter to management goals (e.g., suppression). On the island of Guam, a 5-ha outdoor enclosure (with no immigration or emigration) constructed in 2003 serves...
Authors
Amanda Marie Kissel, Robert Reed, Björn Lardner, Gordon H. Rodda, Julie A. Savidge, Amy A. Yackel Adams
Continuous and high-resolution longitudinal profiles of the water surface and riverbed elevation for 282 miles of the Colorado River from Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry, Arizona, 2021 Continuous and high-resolution longitudinal profiles of the water surface and riverbed elevation for 282 miles of the Colorado River from Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry, Arizona, 2021
Longitudinal profiles of water surface and riverbed elevations capture key geomorphic characteristics that can be affected by water infrastructure and natural processes. Continuous water surface profiles of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, a river influenced by two of the largest dams in the United States, have been measured infrequently. The water surface profile was first measured...
Authors
Shannon L. Sartain, Matthew A. Kaplinski, Keith Kohl, Katherine A. Chapman, Nathaniel D. Bransky, Joel B. Sankey, Paul E. Grams
An overview of the NASA Adaptation and Response in Drylands field experiment scoping study An overview of the NASA Adaptation and Response in Drylands field experiment scoping study
Drylands cover 41% of Earth’s land surface, support 36% of the global population, and contribute 60% of global food production. Despite these ecosystems’ importance and high vulnerability to droughts and heatwaves, drylands remain some of the most understudied systems on Earth. Monitoring drylands is challenging due to their complex ecosystem structure of visible soil mixed with diverse...
Authors
Andrew F. Feldman, Sasha C. Reed, Konrad Wessels, Dennis S. Ojima, David J.P. Moore, William K. Smith, Niall P. Hanan, Cibele Amaral, Flurin Babst, Joel A. Biederman, Marcy Litvak, Natasha MacBean, Benjamin Poulter, Russell L. Scott, Alicja Babst-Kostecka, Julia K. Green, Raymond F. Kokaly, Ryan Pavlick, Robert Swap, Shawn P. Serbin, Compton J. Tucker, Lixin Wang, Jennifer D. Watts, Alejandro Flores, James Rattling Leaf Sr., Robert A. Washington-Allen, Karen Prentice, Emily Kachergis, Julian Reyes, Jasmine Ryan, Michael D. SanClements, Henry W. Loescher, Allison K Leidner, Tyson Swetnam
Effects of warming on growth and leaf colonization by litter mat-forming fungi in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico Effects of warming on growth and leaf colonization by litter mat-forming fungi in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico
Wet tropical forests are experiencing rising temperatures and increased frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events, such as cyclones, which can increase rates of soil erosion and surface runoff. Fungal litter mats, formed by agaric decomposer fungi, play a crucial role in stabilizing slopes, preventing erosion, and aiding nutrient cycling; however, little is known about how...
Authors
Ari E. Puentes, D. Jean Lodge, Deyaneira A. Ortiz-Iglesias, Tatiana Barreto-Vélez, Laura C. Rubio-Lebrón, Hieu P. Chu, Christine S. O'Connell, Sasha C. Reed, Tana E. Wood
Lowland tropical forests remain a methane sink under warming and long-term hurricane disturbance recovery Lowland tropical forests remain a methane sink under warming and long-term hurricane disturbance recovery
Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas, and tropical forests account for roughly one–third of global atmospheric CH4 uptake by soils. Projected warming and more frequent hurricanes in these ecosystems may alter soil CH4 sink strength, as warmer and wetter soils enhance methanogenesis activity. We measured soil CH4 and CO2 efflux during the calendar summer months of 2023 and 2024...
Authors
Gabriele Larocca Conte, Lucia Zuvela, Rachel Cruz-Perez, Tatiana Barreto-Vélez, Nibia Becerra-Santillan, Sophia F. Campbell, Hieu P. Chu, Trung Dam, Iana F. Grullón-Penkova, Miriam Kleit, Deyaneira A. Ortiz-Iglesias, Laura C. Rubio-Lebrón, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Debjani Sihi, Tana E. Wood, Christine S. O'Connell