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
Identifying cost-effective invasive species control to enhance endangered species populations in the Grand Canyon, USA Identifying cost-effective invasive species control to enhance endangered species populations in the Grand Canyon, USA
Recovering endangered species populations when confronted with the threat of invasive species is an ongoing natural resource management challenge. While eradication of the invasive species is often the optimal economic solution, it may not be a feasible nor desirable management action in other cases. For example, when invasive species are desired in one area, but disperse into areas...
Authors
Lucas S. Bair, Charles B. Yackulic, Michael R. Springborn, Matthew N. Reimer, Craig A. Bond, Lewis G. Coggins
Estimating the effects of wetland conservation practices in croplands: Approaches for modeling in CEAP–Cropland Assessment Estimating the effects of wetland conservation practices in croplands: Approaches for modeling in CEAP–Cropland Assessment
Quantifying the current and potential benefits of conservation practices can be a valuable tool for encouraging greater practice adoption on agricultural lands. A goal of the CEAP-Cropland Assessment is to estimate the environmental effects of conservation practices that reduce losses (exports) of soil, nutrients, and pesticides from farmlands to streams and rivers. The assessment...
Authors
Diane De Steven, David Mushet
Reexamining the frequency range of hearing in silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead (H. nobilis) carp Reexamining the frequency range of hearing in silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead (H. nobilis) carp
Silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead (H. nobilis) carp (collectively bigheaded carp) are invasive fish that threaten aquatic ecosystems in the upper Midwest United States and the Laurentian Great Lakes. Controlling bigheaded carp is a priority of fisheries managers and one area of focus involves developing acoustic deterrents to prevent upstream migration. For an acoustic...
Authors
Brooke J. Vetter, Marybeth K. Brey, Allen F. Meninger
Associating sex-biased and seasonal behaviour with contact patterns and transmission risk in Gopherus agassizii Associating sex-biased and seasonal behaviour with contact patterns and transmission risk in Gopherus agassizii
Interactions between wildlife hosts act as transmission routes for directly transmitted pathogens and vary in ways that affect transmission efficiency. Identifying drivers of contact variation can allow both contact inference and estimation of transmission dynamics despite limited data. In desert tortoises, mating strategy, burrow use and seasonal change influence numerous behaviours and...
Authors
Christina M. Aiello, Todd Esque, K. E. Nussear, P. G. Emblidge, Peter J. Hudson
Developing a shared understanding of the Upper Mississippi River: the foundation of an ecological resilience assessment Developing a shared understanding of the Upper Mississippi River: the foundation of an ecological resilience assessment
The Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) is a large and complex floodplain river ecosystem that spans the jurisdictions of multiple state and federal agencies. In support of ongoing ecosystem restoration and management by this broad partnership, we are undertaking a resilience assessment of the UMRS. We describe the UMRS in the context of an ecological resilience assessment. Our...
Authors
Kristen L. Bouska, Jeffrey N. Houser, Nathan R. De Jager, Jon S. Hendrickson
Plasticity in physiological condition of female brown bears across diverse ecosystems Plasticity in physiological condition of female brown bears across diverse ecosystems
Variation in life history strategies facilitates the near global distribution of mammals by expanding realized niche width. We investigated physiological plasticity in the spring body composition of adult female brown bears (Ursus arctos) across 4 diverse Alaskan ecosystems. Brown bears are a highly intelligent omnivore with a historic range spanning much of North America, Europe, and...
Authors
Grant V. Hilderbrand, David Gustine, Buck A. Mangipane, Kyle Joly, William Leacock, Lindsey Mangipane, Joy Erlenbach, Mathew Sorum, Matthew Cameron, Jerrold L. Belant, Troy Cambier
Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes) Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes)
No abstract available.
Authors
Charlotte J. Robinson, Marijoy C. Viernes, Robert Reed, Amy Yackel, Melia G. Nafus
The bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Louisiana: an updated, annotated checklist The bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Louisiana: an updated, annotated checklist
An annotated checklist is provided for 243 species and subspecies of bees collected from or thought to occur in the state of Louisiana, where 163 are confirmed records, 46 are probable records, and 34 are possible records. We also list twelve records considered to be “dubious” because of the absence of supporting collection data and extralimital reported ranges. Data on parish localities
Authors
Brittany E. Owens, Larry K. Allain, Eric C. VanGorder, Janice L. Bossart, Christopher E. Carlton
Migratory behavior and physiological development as potential determinants of life history diversity in fall Chinook Salmon in the Clearwater River Migratory behavior and physiological development as potential determinants of life history diversity in fall Chinook Salmon in the Clearwater River
We studied the influence of behavior, water velocity, and physiological development on the downstream movement of subyearling fall‐run Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in both free‐flowing and impounded reaches of the Clearwater and Snake rivers as potential mechanisms that might explain life history diversity in this stock. Movement rates and the percentage of radio‐tagged fish...
Authors
Kenneth F. Tiffan, Tobias J. Kock, William P. Connor, Marshall C. Richmond, William A. Perkins
Genome-wide SNP data and morphology support the distinction of two new species of Kovarikia Soleglad, Fet & Graham, 2014 endemic to California (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) Genome-wide SNP data and morphology support the distinction of two new species of Kovarikia Soleglad, Fet & Graham, 2014 endemic to California (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae)
Morphologically conserved taxa such as scorpions represent a challenge to delimit. We recently discovered populations of scorpions in the genus Kovarikia Soleglad, Fet & Graham, 2014 on two isolated mountain ranges in southern California. We generated genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data and used Bayes factors species delimitation to compare alternative species delimitation...
Authors
Robert W. Bryson, Dustin A. Wood, Matthew R. Graham, Michael E. Soleglad, John E. McCormack
River flow and riparian vegetation dynamics - implications for management of the Yampa River through Dinosaur National Monument River flow and riparian vegetation dynamics - implications for management of the Yampa River through Dinosaur National Monument
This report addresses the relation between flow of the Yampa River and occurrence of herbaceous and woody riparian vegetation in Dinosaur National Monument (DINO) with the goal of informing management decisions related to potential future water development. The Yampa River in DINO flows through diverse valley settings, from the relatively broad restricted meanders of Deerlodge Park to...
Authors
Michael L. Scott, Jonathan M. Friedman
From top to bottom: Do Lake Trout diversify along a depth gradient in Great Bear Lake, NT, Canada? From top to bottom: Do Lake Trout diversify along a depth gradient in Great Bear Lake, NT, Canada?
Depth is usually considered the main driver of Lake Trout intraspecific diversity across lakes in North America. Given that Great Bear Lake is one of the largest and deepest freshwater systems in North America, we predicted that Lake Trout intraspecific diversity to be organized along a depth axis within this system. Thus, we investigated whether a deep-water morph of Lake Trout co...
Authors
Louise Chavarie, Kimberly L. Howland, Les N. Harris, Michael J. Hansen, William J. Harford, Colin P. Gallagher, Shauna M. Baillie, Brendan Malley, William M. Tonn, Andrew M. Muir, Charles C. Krueger