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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: 42712

Applications of deep convolutional neural networks to predict length, circumference, and weight from mostly dewatered images of fish Applications of deep convolutional neural networks to predict length, circumference, and weight from mostly dewatered images of fish

Simple biometric data of fish aid fishery management tasks such as monitoring the structure of fish populations and regulating recreational harvest. While these data are foundational to fishery research and management, the collection of length and weight data through physical handling of the fish is challenging as it is time consuming for personnel and can be stressful for the fish...
Authors
Nicholas Bravata, Dylan Kelly, Jesse Eickholt, Janine Bryan, Scott M. Miehls, Daniel Zielinski

Forest density intensifies the importance of snowpack to growth in water-limited pine forests Forest density intensifies the importance of snowpack to growth in water-limited pine forests

Warming climate and resulting declines in seasonal snowpack have been associated with drought stress and tree mortality in seasonally snow‐covered watersheds worldwide. Meanwhile, increasing forest density has further exacerbated drought stress due to intensified tree‐tree competition. Using a uniquely detailed dataset of population‐level forest growth (n=2495 sampled trees), we examined...
Authors
Kelly Erika Gleason, John B. Bradford, Anthony W. D’Amato, Shawn Fraver, Brian J. Palik, Michael A. Battaglia

Macroinvertebrate oviposition habitat selectivity and egg-mass desiccation tolerances: Implications for population dynamics in large regulated rivers Macroinvertebrate oviposition habitat selectivity and egg-mass desiccation tolerances: Implications for population dynamics in large regulated rivers

Aquatic insects exhibit complex life cycles that include egg, larval, adult, and, in some instances, pupal stages. Disturbances at any of these life stages can affect overall population dynamics. Yet, efforts to understand the effects of disturbances, such as hydrologic alterations, overwhelmingly focus on the larval life stage of aquatic insects. We evaluated the potential for load...
Authors
Scott W. Miller, Matt Schroer, Jesse R. Fleri, Theodore A. Kennedy

Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management

Natural resource managers are coping with rapid changes in both environmental conditions and ecosystems. Enabled by recent advances in data collection and assimilation, short-term ecological forecasting may be a powerful tool to help resource managers anticipate impending near-term changes in ecosystem conditions or dynamics. Managers may use the information in forecasts to minimize the...
Authors
John B. Bradford, Jake Weltzin, Molly L. McCormick, Jill Baron, Zack Bowen, Sky Bristol, Daren M. Carlisle, Theresa Crimmins, Paul C. Cross, Joe DeVivo, Mike Dietze, Mary Freeman, Jason Goldberg, Mevin Hooten, Leslie Hsu, Karen Jenni, Jennifer L. Keisman, Jonathan G. Kennen, Kathy Lee, David P. Lesmes, Keith A. Loftin, Brian W. Miller, Peter S. Murdoch, Jana Newman, Karen L. Prentice, Imtiaz Rangwala, Jordan Read, Jennifer Sieracki, Helen Sofaer, Steve Thur, Gordon Toevs, Francisco Werner, C. LeAnn White, Timothy White, Mark T. Wiltermuth

Soil organic carbon stocks and sequestration rates of inland, freshwater wetlands: Sources of variability and uncertainty Soil organic carbon stocks and sequestration rates of inland, freshwater wetlands: Sources of variability and uncertainty

Impacts of land use, specifically soil disturbance, are linked to reductions of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Correspondingly, ecosystem restoration is promoted to sequester SOC to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which are exacerbating global climate change. Restored wetlands have relatively high potential to sequester carbon compared to other ecosystems, but SOC...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal

Identifying sources and year classes contributing to invasive grass carp in the Laurentian Great Lakes Identifying sources and year classes contributing to invasive grass carp in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Relative contributions of aquaculture-origin and naturally-reproduced grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in the Laurentian Great Lakes have been unknown. We assessed occurrence and distribution of aquaculture-origin and wild grass carp in the Great Lakes using ploidy and otolith stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) data. We inferred natal river and dispersal from natal location for wild grass...
Authors
Gregory W. Whitledge, Duane Chapman, John Farver, Seth Herbst, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Jeffrey G. Miner, Kevin L. Pangle, Patrick Kocovsky

Wildfire and the ecological niche: Diminishing habitat suitability for an indicator species within semi‐arid ecosystems Wildfire and the ecological niche: Diminishing habitat suitability for an indicator species within semi‐arid ecosystems

Globally accelerating frequency and extent of wildfire threatens the persistence of specialist wildlife species through direct loss of habitat and indirect facilitation of exotic invasive species. Habitat specialists may be especially prone to rapidly changing environmental conditions because their ability to adapt lags behind the rate of habitat alteration. As a result, these...
Authors
Shawn T. O’Neil, Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Mark A. Ricca, Shawn P. Espinosa, Scott C. Gardner, David J Delahanty

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawn in the St. Marys River Rapids, Michigan Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawn in the St. Marys River Rapids, Michigan

The St. Marys River connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron, comprising the international border between Michigan, United States, and Ontario, Canada. This Great Lakes connecting channel naturally encompasses various habitats including lakes, wetlands, islands, tributaries, side channels, and main channels. The St. Marys River Rapids are shallow rock areas with high flow velocities (>1 m/s)...
Authors
Edward F. Roseman, Eric John Adams, Robin L. DeBruyne, J. Gostiaux, H. Harrington, K. Kapuscinski, A. Moerke, C. Olds

Distribution of niclosamide following granular Bayer applications in lentic environments Distribution of niclosamide following granular Bayer applications in lentic environments

Temporal and spatial distribution of niclosamide in the water column and sediment were evaluated after the application of granular Bayluscide in six lentic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) larval assessment plots. Water and sediment were collected 0.25, 1, 3, 5, and 7 hours after application and were analyzed for niclosamide, the active ingredient in granular Bayluscide. Water samples...
Authors
Jeffry Bernardy, Cheryl Kaye, Nicholas Schloesser, Justin Schueller

Spatiotemporal variation in occurrence and co-occurrence of pesticides, hormones, and other organic contaminants in rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, United States Spatiotemporal variation in occurrence and co-occurrence of pesticides, hormones, and other organic contaminants in rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, United States

Investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of contaminants in surface water is crucial to better understand how introduced chemicals are interacting with and potentially influencing aquatic organisms and environments. Within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA, there are concerns about the potential role of contaminant exposure on fish health. Evidence suggests that exposure to contaminants...
Authors
Catherine M. McClure, Kelly Smalling, Vicki S. Blazer, Adam Sperry, Megan K. Schall, Dana W. Kolpin, Patrick J. Phillips, Michelle Hladik, Tyler Wagner

A trapping survey targeting head-started alligator snapping turtles in southwest Louisiana A trapping survey targeting head-started alligator snapping turtles in southwest Louisiana

The alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and is sought after as a food source, primarily in Louisiana. Decades of intensive commercial harvest of alligator snapping turtles has been implicated in population declines. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries initiated a head-start program for alligator snapping...
Authors
Brad Glorioso, Lindy J. Muse, Cory J Hillard, Brittany R. Maldonado, Jared Streeter, Charles D Battaglia, J. Hardin Waddle

A fishery after the decline: The Susquehanna River Smallmouth Bass story A fishery after the decline: The Susquehanna River Smallmouth Bass story

The Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu fishery in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania, is one of the most socioeconomically important fisheries in the region and has recently undergone considerable changes. These changes started in 2005, when disease was documented in young-of-the-year (age-0) Smallmouth Bass. Shortly thereafter, declines in abundance of both juveniles and adults...
Authors
Megan K. Schall, Geoffrey D. Smith, Vicki S. Blazer, Heather L. Walsh, Yan Li, Tyler Wagner
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