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: 42702
Development and characterization of 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the sea sandwort, Honckenya peploides Development and characterization of 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the sea sandwort, Honckenya peploides
Codominant marker systems are better suited to analyze population structure and assess the source of an individual in admixture analyses. Currently, there is no codominant marker system using microsatellites developed for the sea sandwort, Honckenya peploides (L.) Ehrh., an early colonizer in island systems. We developed and characterized novel microsatellite loci from H. peploides...
Authors
Megan C. Gravley, George K. Sage, Sandra L. Talbot, Matthew L. Carlson
Measuring and evaluating ecological flows from streams to regions: Steps towards national coverage Measuring and evaluating ecological flows from streams to regions: Steps towards national coverage
Living aquatic communities are largely determined and maintained by the volume and quality of flowing waters, both within lotic systems and in receiving waters of coastal systems. However, flow is one of the most frequently and extensively altered features of rivers and streams; alteration effects are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Lotic systems vary and different fish...
Authors
James E. McKenna, Howard W. Reeves, Paul Seelbach
A comparison of photograph-interpreted and IfSAR-derived maps of polar bear denning habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska A comparison of photograph-interpreted and IfSAR-derived maps of polar bear denning habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Alaska use the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for maternal denning. Pregnant bears den in snow banks for more than 3 months in winter during which they give birth to and nurture young. Denning is one of the most vulnerable times in polar bear life history as the family group cannot simply walk away from a disturbance without jeopardizing survival...
Authors
George M. Durner, Todd C. Atwood
Examining speed versus selection in connectivity models using elk migration as an example Examining speed versus selection in connectivity models using elk migration as an example
Context Landscape resistance is vital to connectivity modeling and frequently derived from resource selection functions (RSFs). RSFs estimate relative probability of use and tend to focus on understanding habitat preferences during slow, routine animal movements (e.g., foraging). Dispersal and migration, however, can produce rarer, faster movements, in which case models of movement speed...
Authors
Angela Brennan, Ephraim M. Hanks, Jerod Merkle, Eric K. Cole, Sarah Dewey, Alyson B. Courtemanch, Paul C. Cross
Effects of the proposed California WaterFix North Delta Diversion on survival of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, northern California Effects of the proposed California WaterFix North Delta Diversion on survival of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, northern California
The California Department of Water Resources and Bureau of Reclamation propose new water intake facilities on the Sacramento River in northern California that would convey some of the water for export to areas south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (hereinafter referred to as the Delta) through tunnels rather than through the Delta. The collection of water intakes, tunnels...
Authors
Russell W. Perry, Adam C. Pope
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report
This is the ninth annual report highlighting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science and decision-support activities conducted for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI). The activities address specific management needs identified by WLCI partner agencies. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, there were 26 active USGS WLCI science-based projects. Of these 26 projects, one project was...
Authors
Zachary H. Bowen, Ellen Aikens, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Collin G. Homer, Aaron N. Johnston, Matthew J. Kauffman, Daniel J. Manier, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Annika W. Walters, Jerrod D. Wheeler, Daniel J. Wieferich, Anna B. Wilson, Teal B. Wyckoff, Linda Zeigenfuss
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
The complete mitochondrial genome of Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana Williamson) via NGS sequencing The complete mitochondrial genome of Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana Williamson) via NGS sequencing
Here, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (HED), Somatochlora hineana Williamson. Data were generated via next generation sequencing (NGS) and assembled using a mitochondrial baiting and iterative mapping approach. The full length circular genome is 15,705 bp with 26.6% GC content. It contains the typical metazoan set of 37 genes: 13...
Authors
Craig Jackson, S. Grace McCalla, Jon Amberg, Daniel Soluk, Hugh Britten
Use of non-invasive genetics to generate core-area population estimates of a threatened predator in the Superior National Forest, USA Use of non-invasive genetics to generate core-area population estimates of a threatened predator in the Superior National Forest, USA
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) are found in boreal forests of Canada and Alaska and range southward into the contiguous United States. Much less is understood about lynx in their southern range compared to northern populations. Because lynx are currently listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act but have recently been recommended for delisting, information on their southern
Authors
Shannon Barber-Meyer, Daniel Ryan, David Grosshuesch, Timothy Catton, Sarah Malick-Wahls
Ecological genomics predicts climate vulnerability in an endangered southwestern songbird Ecological genomics predicts climate vulnerability in an endangered southwestern songbird
Few regions have been more severely impacted by climate change in the USA than the Desert Southwest. Here, we use ecological genomics to assess the potential for adaptation to rising global temperatures in a widespread songbird, the willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii), and find the endangered desert southwestern subspecies (E. t. extimus) most vulnerable to future climate change...
Authors
Kristin Ruegg, Rachael A. Bay, Eric C. Anderson, James F. Saracco, Ryan J. Harrigan, Mary J. Whitfield, Eben H. Paxton, Thomas B. Smith
Ecosystems science: Genes to landscapes Ecosystems science: Genes to landscapes
Bountiful fisheries, healthy and resilient wildlife, flourishing forests and vibrant grasslands are coveted resources that benefit all Americans. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science supports the conservation and management of the Nation’s fish and wildlife, and the landscapes they inhabit. Our biological resources—ecosystems and the wild things that live in them—are the foundation of...
Authors
Acquisition and dissemination of cephalosporin-resistant E. coli in migratory birds sampled at an Alaska landfill as inferred through genomic analysis Acquisition and dissemination of cephalosporin-resistant E. coli in migratory birds sampled at an Alaska landfill as inferred through genomic analysis
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens threatens global health, though the spread of AMR bacteria and AMR genes between humans, animals, and the environment is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of wild birds in the epidemiology of AMR Escherichia coli. Using next-generation sequencing, we characterized cephalosporin-resistant E. coli cultured from...
Authors
Christina Ann Ahlstrom, Jonas Bonnedahl, Hanna Woksepp, Jorge Hernandez, Olsen Bjorn, Andrew M. Ramey
Leaf to landscape responses of giant sequoia to hotter drought: An introduction and synthesis for the special section Leaf to landscape responses of giant sequoia to hotter drought: An introduction and synthesis for the special section
Hotter droughts are becoming more common as climate change progresses, and they may already have caused instances of forest dieback on all forested continents. Learning from hotter droughts, including where on the landscape forests are more or less vulnerable to these events, is critical to help resource managers proactively prepare for the future. As part of our Leaf to Landscape...
Authors
Koren R. Nydick, Nathan L. Stephenson, Anthony R. Ambrose, Gregory P. Asner, Wendy L. Baxter, Adrian J. Das, Todd E. Dawson, Roberta E. Martin, Tarin Paz-Kagan