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: 42700
Drought-mediated extinction of an arid-land amphibian: Insights from a spatially explicit dynamic occupancy model Drought-mediated extinction of an arid-land amphibian: Insights from a spatially explicit dynamic occupancy model
Understanding how natural and anthropogenic processes affect population dynamics of species with patchy distributions is critical to predicting their responses to environmental changes. Despite considerable evidence that demographic rates and dispersal patterns vary temporally in response to an array of biotic and abiotic processes, few applications of metapopulation theory have sought...
Authors
Erin R Zylstra, Don E. Swann, Blake R. Hossack, Robert J Steidl
Ecosystem change and population declines in gulls: Shifting baseline considerations for assessing ecological integrity of protected areas Ecosystem change and population declines in gulls: Shifting baseline considerations for assessing ecological integrity of protected areas
In Lake Superior's Pukaskwa National Park (PNP) in northern Ontario, Canada, herring gull (Larus argentatus) population size is used as an indicator of ecological integrity. Since the 1970s, gull populations have declined by 70% suggesting deteriorating park conditions. However, most other rated park indicators show stable or positive trends. Here, we focus on reconciling these seemingly...
Authors
Bruce Laurich, Christine Drake, Owen Gorman, Courtney Ivrine, Jenna MacLaurin, Chloe Chartrand, Craig E. Hebert
Soil and stand structure explain shrub mortality patterns following global change–type drought and extreme precipitation Soil and stand structure explain shrub mortality patterns following global change–type drought and extreme precipitation
(Bradford) The probability of extreme weather events is increasing, with the potential for widespread impacts to plants, plant communities, and ecosystems. Reports of drought-related tree mortality are becoming more frequent along with increasing evidence that drought accompanied by high temperatures is especially detrimental. Simultaneously, extreme large precipitation events have...
Authors
Rachel R. Renne, Daniel R. Schlaepfer, Kyle A. Palmquist, John B. Bradford, Ingrid C. Burke, William K. Lauenroth
Comparing ecological models Comparing ecological models
No abstract available.
Authors
Mevin Hooten, Evan G. Cooch
Giant sequoias: Drama on a grand scale Giant sequoias: Drama on a grand scale
No abstract available.
Authors
Nathan L. Stephenson
Factors affecting post-release survival of coded-wire tagged Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Michigan at four historical spawning locations Factors affecting post-release survival of coded-wire tagged Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Michigan at four historical spawning locations
Since the 1950s, fishery agencies on Lake Michigan have pursued Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush rehabilitation through Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus control, harvest regulations, and by stocking millions of fish annually. Stocking was prioritized at four historically important spawning locations beginning in 1985, and coded wire tags (CWTs) were used to help evaluate performance. We...
Authors
Matthew S. Kornis, Charles R. Bronte, Mark E. Holey, S. Dale Hanson, Theodore J. Treska, Jory L. Jonas, Charles P. Madenjian, Randall M. Claramunt, Steven R. Robillard, Brian Breidert, Kevin C. Donner, Stephen J. Lenart, Archie W. Martell, Patrick C. McKee, Erik J. Olson
Influenza A virus detected in native bivalves in waterfowl habitat of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA Influenza A virus detected in native bivalves in waterfowl habitat of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA
We evaluated the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in different species of bivalves inhabiting natural water bodies in waterfowl habitat along the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland. Bivalve tissue from clam and mussel specimens (Macoma balthica, Macoma phenax, Mulinia sp., Rangia cuneata, Mya arenaria, Guekensia demissa, and an undetermined mussel species)...
Authors
Christine L. Densmore, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Shawn M. McLaughlin, Christopher Ottinger, Jason E. Spires, Luke R. Iwanowicz
Influence of dissolved organic carbon on the acute toxicity of copper and zinc to White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and a Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) Influence of dissolved organic carbon on the acute toxicity of copper and zinc to White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and a Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia)
We conducted acute lethality tests with white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and Ceriodaphnia dubia exposed to copper and zinc at dissolved organic carbon concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 mg/L. Dissolved organic carbon had minimal effects on zinc toxicity but did have a protective effect on acute copper toxicity, which was equal to that predicted by the copper biotic ligand...
Authors
Chris D. Ivey, John M. Besser, Jeffery A. Steevens, Michael Walther, Vanessa Melton
Body shape is related to the attempt rate and passage success of brook trout at in-stream barriers Body shape is related to the attempt rate and passage success of brook trout at in-stream barriers
The ability to move between habitats has important implications for fitness in many species. In-stream barriers such as culverts can impede movements of riverine fishes and thus reduce connectivity between habitats. The ability of fish to overcome barriers is related to the features of the environment and the barrier itself, but also to physiological, morphological and behavioural traits...
Authors
Elsa Goerig, Ben A. Wasserman, Theodore R. Castro-Santos, Eric P. Palkovacs
Discovery of the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico: Examining competing hypotheses for range extension Discovery of the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico: Examining competing hypotheses for range extension
The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) reaches the southern edge of its geographic range in New Mexico, where it is known from the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We provide a synopsis of the geographic range of M. flaviventris in New Mexico and report 5 recent records from the Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos and Sandoval Counties. Of the 5 records from the Jemez Mountains...
Authors
Jennifer K. Frey, Erik A. Beever, Charles D Hathcock, Robert Parmenter, Marie L Westover
Environmental gradients influence differences in leaf functional traits between native and non-native plants Environmental gradients influence differences in leaf functional traits between native and non-native plants
Determining the characteristics of non-native plants that can successfully establish and spread is central to pressing questions in invasion ecology. Evidence suggests that some non-native species establish and spread in new environments because they possess characteristics (functional traits) that allow them to either successfully compete with native residents or fill previously...
Authors
Jonathan J Henn, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Ellen Ingman Damschen
Effects of water temperature, turbidity, and rainbow trout on humpback chub population dynamics Effects of water temperature, turbidity, and rainbow trout on humpback chub population dynamics
Humpback chub (Gila cypha Miller 1946), found only in the Colorado River Basin, was one of the first species to be given full protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Habitat alterations, such as changes in flow and water temperature caused by dams, and the introduction of nonnative fish have contributed to population declines in humpback chub and other native fish. These...
Authors
Charles Yackulic, Julia B. Hull