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: 42712
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) scenario planning summary report North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) scenario planning summary report
Scenario planning provides a structured framework that can be used in strategic planning to help manage risk and prioritize actions (Schwartz 1996; Peterson et al. 2003). By providing a mechanism to communicate about complex situations, scenario planning encourages “out-of-the-box” thinking to help groups assess the impacts of plausible future scenarios on a target or resource. The...
Authors
Diane Borggaard, Dori Dick, Jonathan Star, Barbara Zoodsma, Michael A. Alexander, Michael J. Asaro, Lynne Barre, Shannon Bettridge, Peter Burns, Julie Crocker, Quay Dortch, Lance Garrison, Frances Gulland, Ben Haskell, Sean Hayes, Allison Henry, K. Hyde, Henry Milliken, David Morin, John Quinlan, Teri Rowles, Vincent Saba, Michelle Staudinger, Harvey Walsh
Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): Common monitoring program attributes and methodologies for the Gulf of Mexico Region Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): Common monitoring program attributes and methodologies for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Executive Summary Under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council or Council) is required to report on the progress of funded projects and programs. Systematic monitoring of restoration at the project-specific and programmatic...
Authors
Julie Bosch, Heidi B Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Ed Johnson, Rheannon Hart, Sarah D Hile, Jacob S Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael Lee, Terrance McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B Meyers, Katie E Miller, Scott Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Kelly Marie Sanks, Gregory Steyer, Kevin Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Hana Rose Thurman
Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) growth across a 1200km human use and ecological disturbance gradient in the Upper Mississippi River System Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) growth across a 1200km human use and ecological disturbance gradient in the Upper Mississippi River System
Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) is a common and widely distributed large-bodied species of the family Catostomidae. It inhabits large rivers and reservoirs of the eastern continental United States (east of the continental Divide) and is most abundant and common in the large rivers of the Midwest and Central Plains, though it does occur as far north and east as the Hudson Bay...
Authors
Brian Ickes
Biology characterization breakout report Biology characterization breakout report
The primary goal of the biology characterization breakout group was to identify the strategies, tools, data priorities, and key partnerships needed to conduct baseline biological characterizations of deep-sea benthic environments across the U.S. EEZ in the Pacific. Discussions focused primarily on priorities for the characterization of deep-water (>200-meter depths) benthic biological...
Authors
Amanda Demopoulos, Daniel Wagner, Amy Baco-Taylor, David Itano, Diva Amon, Erik E. Cordes, Lisa Levin, Peter H. Edwards, Randall Kosaki, Shirley Pomponi, Steve Gittings
Evaluating and optimizing the use of logistic regression for tree mortality models in the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM) Evaluating and optimizing the use of logistic regression for tree mortality models in the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM)
Wildland fires burn millions of forested hectares annually around the world, affecting biodiversity, carbon storage, hydrologic processes, and ecosystem services largely through fire-induced tree mortality (Bond-Lamberty et al. 2007; Dantas et al. 2016). In spite of this widespread importance, the underlying mechanisms of fire-caused tree mortality remain poorly understood, (Hood et al...
Authors
C. Alina Cansler, Sharon Hood, J. Morgan Varner, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Recent planform changes in the Upper Mississippi River Recent planform changes in the Upper Mississippi River
Geomorphic changes in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) have long been a concern of river agencies charged with maintaining and restoring river habitat (GREAT 1980; Jackson et al. 1981; USFWS 1992). Large meandering alluvial rivers like the UMR are expected to constantly change and adjust their fluvial landforms within their riparian corridors as a result of the natural interaction of...
Authors
James T. Rogala, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Jon S. Hendrickson
2020 Four-band aerial imagery testing and acquisition for 2020 land cover/land use mission 2020 Four-band aerial imagery testing and acquisition for 2020 land cover/land use mission
The aerial camera testing project lays the groundwork for the collection of aerial imagery that will be used in the creation of the next iteration of systemic land cover/land use data for the Upper Mississippi River System. Prior to acquisition in the summer of 2020, the new 4-band aerial camera will be assessed for image quality at various resolutions and be compared to the camera used...
Authors
Larry R. Robinson
Hatchling emergence ecology of Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) on the lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA Hatchling emergence ecology of Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) on the lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA
Despite its biological importance in shaping both individual fitness and population structure, much remains to be learned about the hatchling emergence ecology of most freshwater turtles. Here, we provide some of the first details on these early life stages for the Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) obtained during 2015–2017 along the lower Wisconsin River, Iowa County...
Authors
Gregory A Geller, Gary S Casper, Brian J. Halstead
Occurrence of a suite of stream-obligate amphibians in timberlands of Mendocino County, California, examined using environmental DNA Occurrence of a suite of stream-obligate amphibians in timberlands of Mendocino County, California, examined using environmental DNA
Stream-obligate amphibians are important indicators of ecosystem health in the Pacific Northwest, but distributional information to improve forest management is lacking in many regions. We analyzed archived DNA extracted from water samples in 60 pools in streams on private timberlands in Mendocino County, California, for 3 California Species of Special Concern—Coastal Tailed Frogs...
Authors
Brian J. Halstead, Caren S. Goldberg, Robert B Douglas, Patrick M. Kleeman, David W Ulrich
Dispersal of hatchling Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) from natural nests on the lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA Dispersal of hatchling Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) from natural nests on the lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA
Despite its importance to individual fitness and population dynamics, the dispersal behaviors of most neonate freshwater turtles after nest emergence are poorly known. We studied the initial dispersal tendencies of neonate Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) exiting natural nests during 2015–2017 along the Wisconsin River, Wisconsin. Overall, dispersal was nonrandom, and...
Authors
Gregory A Geller, Gary S Casper, Brian J. Halstead
Biological and practical tradeoffs in planting techniques for submerged aquatic vegetation Biological and practical tradeoffs in planting techniques for submerged aquatic vegetation
Global loss of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and associated ecosystem function has prompted an interest in SAV revegetation, particularly where underlying stressors such as nutrient enrichment are mitigated, yet natural recruitment remains low. Typically, SAV is hand-planted, but alternative reliable and practically scalable SAV planting techniques are needed. In mesocosms, we...
Authors
C.B. Rohal, L.K. Reynolds, C.R. Adams, C.W. Martin, E. Latimer, Stephen Walsh, J. Slater
Conservation genetics of imperiled striped whipsnake in Washington Conservation genetics of imperiled striped whipsnake in Washington
Conservation of wide-ranging species is aided by population genetic information that provides insights into adaptive potential, population size, interpopulation connectivity, and even extinction risk in portions of a species range. The Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) occurs across 11 western U.S. states and into Mexico but has experienced population declines in parts of its...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Lisa A. Hallock, Mark P. Miller, Thomas D. Mullins, Susan M. Haig