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
Co-occurence of Chiricahua leopard frogs (Lithobates chiricahuensis) with sunfish (Lepomis) Co-occurence of Chiricahua leopard frogs (Lithobates chiricahuensis) with sunfish (Lepomis)
Invasive species are a major threat to the persistence of native species, particularly in systems where ephemeral aquatic habitats have been replaced by permanent water and predators, such as fish, have been introduced. Within the Altar Valley, Arizona, the invasive American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus (formerly Rana catesbeianus), has been successfully eradicated to help recover...
Authors
Paige E. Howell, Brent H. Sigafus, Blake R. Hossack, Erin L. Muths
Challenges for leveraging citizen science to support statistically robust monitoring programs Challenges for leveraging citizen science to support statistically robust monitoring programs
Large samples and long time series are often needed for effective broad-scale monitoring of status and trends in wild populations. Obtaining those sample sizes can be more feasible when volunteers contribute to the dataset, but volunteer-selected sites are not always representative of a population. Previous work to account for biased site selection has relied on knowledge of covariates...
Authors
Emily L. Weiser, James E. Diffendorfer, Laura Lopez-Hoffman, Darius J. Semmens, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Components and predictors of biological soil crusts vary at the regional vs. plant community scales Components and predictors of biological soil crusts vary at the regional vs. plant community scales
Although biological soil crusts (biocrusts) occur globally in arid and semi-arid environments, most of our knowledge of biocrust cover and ecology is from a relatively small number of locations worldwide. Some plant communities are known to have high cover of biocrusts, but the abundance of biocrusts is largely undocumented in most plant communities. Using a data driven approach, we...
Authors
Lea A. Condon, David A. Pyke
Limitations, lack of standardization, and recommended best practices in studies of renewable energy effects on birds and bats Limitations, lack of standardization, and recommended best practices in studies of renewable energy effects on birds and bats
Increasing global energy demand is fostering the development of renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. However, renewable energy facilities may adversely affect wildlife. Facility siting guidelines recommend or require project developers complete pre‐ and postconstruction wildlife surveys to predict risk and estimate effects of proposed projects. Despite this, there are no...
Authors
Tara Conkling, S. R. Loss, James E. Diffendorfer, A. Duerr, Todd E. Katzner
Characterization of the genetic structure of four sucker species in the Klamath River. Final Report Characterization of the genetic structure of four sucker species in the Klamath River. Final Report
Four species of suckers (family Catostomidae) inhabit the Klamath River Basin of Oregon and California: Lost River suckers (LRS; Deltistes luxatus), shortnose suckers (SNS; Chasmistes brevirostris), Klamath largescale suckers (KLS; Catostomus snyderi), and Klamath smallscale suckers (KSS; Catostomus rimiculus). All but Klamath smallscale suckers are endemic and restricted to the Klamath...
Authors
Matt Smith, Jennifer Von Bargen, Christian A. Smith, Michael A. Miller, Josh Rasmussen, David A. Hewitt
Conservation–Protection of forests for wildlife in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Conservation–Protection of forests for wildlife in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
The nearly ubiquitous bottomland hardwood forests that historically dominated the Mississippi Alluvial Valley have been greatly reduced in area. In addition, changes in hydrology and forest management have altered the structure and composition of the remaining forests. To ameliorate the detrimental impact of these changes on wildlife, conservation plans have emphasized restoration to...
Authors
A. Blaine Elliott, Anne Mini, S. Keith McKnight, Daniel J. Twedt
Acute toxicity of the lampricides TFM and niclosamide: Effects on a vascular plant and a chironomid species Acute toxicity of the lampricides TFM and niclosamide: Effects on a vascular plant and a chironomid species
The lampricides 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide have been used for about 60 years to control sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes Basin and Lake Champlain. To register these chemicals as pesticides in North America, their environmental effects must be reviewed on a periodic basis. As a part of this effort, toxicity of TFM and niclosamide to duckweed...
Authors
Tom Leak, John Aufderheide, Alan Bergfield, Terrance D. Hubert
Habitat of the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) in San Francisco Bay Habitat of the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) in San Francisco Bay
Understanding habitat associations is vital for conservation of at‐risk marsh‐endemic wildlife species, particularly those under threat from sea level rise. We modeled environmental and habitat associations of the marsh‐endemic, Federally endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris, RERA) and co‐occurrence with eight associated small mammal species from annual trap...
Authors
Bruce G. Marcot, Isa Woo, Karen M. Thorne, Chase M. Freeman, Glenn R. Guntenspergen
Remnant hardwood forest mapping within the Upper Mississippi River floodplain Remnant hardwood forest mapping within the Upper Mississippi River floodplain
Executive Summary The primary objective of the project was to locate previously unknown stands of mast-producing hardwood forest trees in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain using existing information. We located and mapped 399 previously unknown hardwood forest stands within the Mississippi River floodplain area of navigation pools 9, 10, and 11. Using color infrared images in...
Authors
Jenny L. Hanson, Rich King, Erin E. Hoy
Field-based method for assessing duration of infectivity for influenza A viruses in the environment Field-based method for assessing duration of infectivity for influenza A viruses in the environment
Understanding influenza A virus (IAV) persistence in wetlands is limited by a paucity of field studies relating to the maintenance of infectivity over time. The duration of IAV infectivity in water has been assessed under variable laboratory conditions, but results are difficult to translate to more complex field conditions. We tested a field-based method to assess the viability of IAVs...
Authors
Andrew B. Reeves, Andrew M. Ramey, Joshua C. Koch, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht
Copper concentrations in the upper Columbia River as a limiting factor in White Sturgeon recruitment and recovery Copper concentrations in the upper Columbia River as a limiting factor in White Sturgeon recruitment and recovery
Currently there is little natural recruitment of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Upper Columbia River located in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. This review of life history, physiology, and behavior of white sturgeon, along with data from recent toxicological studies, suggest that trace metals, especially Cu, affect survival and behavior of early life stage...
Authors
Holly J. Puglis, Aida Farag, Christopher A. Mebane
Stand density, drought, and herbivory constrain ponderosa pine regeneration pulse Stand density, drought, and herbivory constrain ponderosa pine regeneration pulse
Trees in dry forests often regenerate in episodic pulses when wet periods coincide with ample seed production. Factors leading to success or failure of regeneration pulses are poorly understood. We investigated the impacts of stand thinning on survival and growth of the 2013 cohort of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex P. Lawson & C. Lawson) seedlings in northern Arizona, United...
Authors
Thomas E. Kolb, Kelsey Flathers, John B. Bradford, Caitlin M. Andrews, Lance A. Asherin, W. Keith Moser