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: 42871
Navigating ecological transformation: Resist-accept-direct as a path to a new resource management paradigm Navigating ecological transformation: Resist-accept-direct as a path to a new resource management paradigm
Natural resource managers worldwide face a growing challenge: Intensifying global change increasingly propels ecosystems toward irreversible ecological transformations. This nonstationarity challenges traditional conservation goals and human well-being. It also confounds a longstanding management paradigm that assumes a future that reflects the past. As once-familiar ecological...
Authors
Gregor W. Schuurman, David N. Cole, Amanda E. Cravens, Scott Covington, Shelley D. Crausbay, Cat Hawkins Hoffman, David J. Lawrence, Dawn R. Magness, John M. Morton, Elizabeth Nelson, Robin O'Malley
Age-specific survival rates, causes of death, and allowable take of golden eagles in the western United States Age-specific survival rates, causes of death, and allowable take of golden eagles in the western United States
In the United States, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibits take of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) unless authorized by permit, and stipulates that all permitted take must be sustainable. Golden eagles are unintentionally killed in conjunction with many lawful activities (e.g., electrocution on power poles, collision with wind turbines). Managers who issue permits for...
Authors
Brian Milsap, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, William L. Kendall, Joseph G. Barnes, Melissa A. Braham, Bryan E Bedrosian, Douglas A. Bell, Peter H. Bloom, Ross H. Crandall, Robert Domenech, Daniel Driscoll, Adam E. Duerr, Rick Gerhardt, Samantha E.J. Gibbs, Alan R. Harmata, Kenneth Jacobson, Todd E. Katzner, Robert N. Knight, J. Michael Lockhart, Carol McIntyre, Robert K. Murphy, Steven J. Slater, Brian W. Smith, Jeff P. Smith, Dale W. Stahlecker, James W. Watson
A landscape approach for identifying potential reestablishment sites for extirpated stream fishes: an example with Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Michigan A landscape approach for identifying potential reestablishment sites for extirpated stream fishes: an example with Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Michigan
Habitat degradation combined with climate change increases the threat of extinction for stream fishes. In response to these threats, efforts to reestablish species within formerly occupied streams or translocation to suitable areas may be effective conservation strategies. In the absence of historic species presence data, identifying locations where suitable habitat exists across many...
Authors
Ralph William Tingley, Dana M. Infante, Emily M. Dean, Douglas W. Schemske, Arthur R. Cooper, Jared Ross, Wesley M. Daniel
2019-2021 Palila abundance estimates and trend 2019-2021 Palila abundance estimates and trend
The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population on Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawai‘i Island, was estimated from annual surveys in 2019−2021, and a trend analysis was performed on survey data from 1998−2021. The 2019 population was estimated at 1,030−1,899 birds (point estimate: 1,432), the 2020 population was estimated at 964−1,700 birds (point estimate: 1,312), and the 2021 population was estimated...
Authors
Ayesha Genz, Kevin W. Brinck, Chauncey K. Asing, Lainie Berry, Richard J. Camp, Paul C. Banko
Winter habitat selection and efficacy of telemetry to aid Grass Carp removal efforts in a large reservoir Winter habitat selection and efficacy of telemetry to aid Grass Carp removal efforts in a large reservoir
Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella were introduced in North America to control aquatic vegetation in small, closed systems. However, when they escape into larger systems in which they can reproduce, they have the potential to cause significant declines and alterations in aquatic vegetation communities. These alterations can in turn affect native species that are dependent on aquatic...
Authors
Tyler Michael Hessler, Duane Chapman, Craig P. Paukert, Jeff C. Jolley, Michael E. Byrne
Identifying and characterizing juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) occupancy hot spots within the St. Clair-Detroit River System Identifying and characterizing juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) occupancy hot spots within the St. Clair-Detroit River System
Over the past two decades, extensive monitoring has been conducted in the St. Clair – Detroit River System to describe spatial and temporal patterns of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). To characterize spatial patterns in juvenile lake sturgeon (5.1 m and odds of occupancy increased with increased water velocity. Juvenile lake sturgeon in the Detroit and St. Clair River ‘hot spots’...
Authors
Aaron J Mettler, Justin A. Chiotti, Andrew S Briggs, James C. Boase, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Richard Drouin
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
The keys to Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) management are maintaining expansive grasslands; preventing populations of Greater Prairie-Chickens from becoming small and isolated; managing grasslands to maintain proper grassland height, density, and vigor; and reducing woody plant invasion and excessive litter buildup. Within these grasslands, areas should contain...
Authors
W. Daniel Svedarsky, John E. Toepfer, Ronald L. Westemeier, Robert J. Robel, Lawrence D. Igl, Jill A. Shaffer
Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) at the Mojave River Dam, San Bernardino County, California—2021 Data summary Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) at the Mojave River Dam, San Bernardino County, California—2021 Data summary
Executive Summary We surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus; vireo) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) at the Mojave River Dam study area near Hesperia, California, in 2021. Four vireo surveys were conducted between April 16 and July 16, 2021, and three flycatcher surveys were conducted between May 27 and July 16, 2021. We...
Authors
Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus
Diet analysis using generalized linear models derived from foraging processes using R package mvtweedie Diet analysis using generalized linear models derived from foraging processes using R package mvtweedie
Diet analysis integrates a wide variety of visual, chemical, and biological identification of prey. Samples are often treated as compositional data, where each prey is analyzed as a continuous percentage of the total. However, analyzing compositional data results in analytical challenges, for example, highly parameterized models or prior transformation of data. Here, we present a novel
Authors
James T. Thorson, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Taal Levi, Gretchen Roffler
Using surrogate taxa to inform response methods for invasive Grass Carp in the Laurentian Great Lakes Using surrogate taxa to inform response methods for invasive Grass Carp in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Sampling method decisions are critical for the effective monitoring and management of fisheries. Deploying the most effective sampling methodologies is particularly important when responding to new invasive species, where early response efforts have the best chances for eradication. In the Laurentian Great Lakes, the invasive Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella is sampled using boat...
Authors
Jason L. Fischer, Lucas Nathan, John Buszkiewicz, Julia Colm, D. Andrew R. Drake, Mark R. DuFour, Patrick Kocovsky, Dave Marson, Eric R. B. Smyth, Ryan Young, Kelly F. Robinson
Golden eagle occupancy surveys and monitoring strategy in coastal southern California, United States Golden eagle occupancy surveys and monitoring strategy in coastal southern California, United States
Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are of increasing conservation concern in western North America. Effective conservation measures for this wide-ranging, federally protected raptor species require monitoring frameworks that accommodate strong inference on the status of breeding populations across vast landscapes. We used a broad-scale sampling design to identify relationships between...
Authors
David Wiens, Peter H. Bloom, Melanie C. Madden, Patrick Kolar, Jeff A. Tracey, Robert N. Fisher
Predator–prey interactions of terrestrial invertebrates are determined by predator body size and species identity Predator–prey interactions of terrestrial invertebrates are determined by predator body size and species identity
Predator–prey interactions shape ecosystems and can help maintain biodiversity. However, for many of the earth's most biodiverse and abundant organisms, including terrestrial arthropods, these interactions are difficult or impossible to observe directly with traditional approaches. Based on previous theory, it is likely that predator–prey interactions for these organisms are shaped by a
Authors
Ana Miller-ter Kuile, Austen Apigo, An Bui, Bartholomew DiFiore, Elizabeth S. Forbes, Michelle Lee, Devyn Orr, Daniel L Preston, Rachel Behm, Taylor A. Bogar, Jasmine N. Childress, Rodolfo Dirzo, Maggie Klope, Kevin D. Lafferty, John Mclaughlin, Marisa F Morse, Carina Motta, Kevin Park, Katherine A. Plummer, David A. Weber, Ronny Young, Hillary S. Young