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
Historical insights, current challenges: Tracking marine biodiversity in an urban harbor ecosystem in the face of climate change Historical insights, current challenges: Tracking marine biodiversity in an urban harbor ecosystem in the face of climate change
The Boston Harbor Islands is the only coastal drumlin archipelago in the USA, featuring a distinctive and uncommon geological intertidal habitat known as mixed coarse substrate, which supports a range of coastal species and ecological processes. Recently designated as one of America’s 11 most endangered historic places due to climate change impacts, coastal adaptation and restoration...
Authors
Alysha B. Putnam, Sarah C. Endyke, Ally Rose Jones, Lucy A.D. Lockwood, Justin Taylor, Marc Albert, Michelle Staudinger
Distribution and trends of endemic Hawaiian waterbirds, 1986–2023 Distribution and trends of endemic Hawaiian waterbirds, 1986–2023
This study updates the status assessment of four endemic endangered Hawaiian waterbird species—ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai), ‘alae ‘ula (Hawaiian gallinule, Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana)—from 1986 to 2016 by incorporating new data from 2017–2023. State-space models...
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Richard J. Camp, Eben H. Paxton
Temperature-driven convergence and divergence of ecohydrological dynamics in the ecosystems of a sky island mountain range Temperature-driven convergence and divergence of ecohydrological dynamics in the ecosystems of a sky island mountain range
Forest and woodland decline is predicted to be increasingly influenced by meteorological variation and climate change in the future. By determining how meteorological variation leads to similar versus differing ecohydrological dynamics of forest and woodland ecosystems, we can gain insight on how future climate-driven declines may be realized. We characterized 23 mixed conifer forest (MC...
Authors
M.D. Petrie, John B. Bradford, Daniel Rodolphe Schlaepfer
Factors affecting the density of Metabetaeus lohena (Decapoda: Alpheidae) at a high-density anchialine pool environment on the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawai‘i Factors affecting the density of Metabetaeus lohena (Decapoda: Alpheidae) at a high-density anchialine pool environment on the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawai‘i
Caridean shrimps (Caridea) are the dominant macroinvertebrates in most anchialine ecosystems. Hawaiian anchialine ecosystems, primarily composed of shallow surface pools connected to the ocean via hypogeal networks of cracks, tubes, and other voids, support 10 caridean shrimp species, including two federally listed as endangered. Little is known about most of these species. The objective...
Authors
Robert W. Peck, Sarah Nash, Richard J. Camp
Multiple plant-community traits improve predictions of later-stage outcomes of restoration drill seedings: Implications for metrics of success Multiple plant-community traits improve predictions of later-stage outcomes of restoration drill seedings: Implications for metrics of success
Success of ecological restoration is often only knowable if treatments meet criteria defined by biotic thresholds, but analytical frameworks to determine metrics of success and their underlying thresholds are needed. Early indicators of longer-term recovery trajectories are particularly critical where re-treatments may be required, such as in harsh climates or where repeated disturbances...
Authors
Chad Raymond Kluender, Matthew J. Germino, Cara Applestein
Applying portfolio theory to benefit endangered amphibians in coastal wetlands threatened by climate change, high uncertainty, and significant investment risk Applying portfolio theory to benefit endangered amphibians in coastal wetlands threatened by climate change, high uncertainty, and significant investment risk
The challenge of selecting strategies to adapt to climate change is complicated by the presence of irreducible uncertainties regarding future conditions. Decisions regarding long-term investments in conservation actions contain significant risk of failure due to these inherent uncertainties. To address this challenge, decision makers need an arsenal of sophisticated but practical tools...
Authors
Mitchell J. Eaton, Adam Terando, Jaime A. Collazo
Projecting mangrove forest resilience to sea-level rise on a Pacific Island: Species dynamics and ecological thresholds Projecting mangrove forest resilience to sea-level rise on a Pacific Island: Species dynamics and ecological thresholds
Mangroves can increase their elevation relative to tidal flooding through biogeomorphic feedbacks but can submerge if rates of sea-level rise are too great. There is an urgent need to understand the vulnerability of mangroves to sea-level rise so local communities and resource managers can implement and prioritize actions. The need is especially pressing for small islands, which have...
Authors
Kevin Buffington, Joel A. Carr, Richard Mackenzie, Maybeleen Apwong, Ken Krauss, Karen M. Thorne
Aridity drives the response of soil total and particulate organic carbon to drought in temperate grasslands and shrublands Aridity drives the response of soil total and particulate organic carbon to drought in temperate grasslands and shrublands
The increasing prevalence of drought events in grasslands and shrublands worldwide potentially has impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC). We leveraged the International Drought Experiment to study how SOC, including particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) concentrations, responds to extreme drought treatments (1-in-100-year) for 1 to 5 years at 19...
Authors
Baoku Shi, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Alan K. Knapp, Melinda D. Smith, Sasha C. Reed, Brooke B. Osborne, Yolima Carrillo, Fernando T. Maestre, Yu Zhu, Anping Chen, Kate D Wilkins, Martin C. Holdrege, Andrew Kulmatiski, Catherine Picon-Cochard, Christiane Roscher, Sally A. Power, Kerry M. Byrne, Amber C. Churchill, Anke Jentsch, Hugh A. L. Henry, Karen H. Beard, Max A. Schuchardt, Nico Eisenhauer, Rafael Otfinowski, Yann Hautier, Huitao Shen, Yonghui Wang, Zhongwu Wang, Chengliang Wang, Daniela Francis Cusack, Alessandro Petraglia, Michele Carbognani, T'ai G.W. Forte, S. Luke Flory, Pengli Hou, Tao Zhang, Weifeng Gao, Wei Sun
A data exchange standard for wadeable stream habitat monitoring data A data exchange standard for wadeable stream habitat monitoring data
Data from wadeable streams collected by monitoring programs are used to assess watershed condition status and trends. Federally managed programs collect a suite of similar habitat measurements using compatible methods and produce individual program datasets for their prescribed geographic and temporal range. We identified four programs that produce similar data: the Bureau of Land...
Authors
Rebecca A. Scully, Erin K. Dlabola, Jennifer M. Bayer, Emily Heaston, Jennifer Courtwright, Marcia N. Snyder, David Hockman-Wert, W. Carl Saunders, Karen A. Blocksom, Christine Hirsch, Scott W. Miller
Implementation of controlled floods for sediment management on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon under aridification Implementation of controlled floods for sediment management on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon under aridification
In addition to supplying water for agriculture, cities, and industry, the Colorado River traverses the Colorado Plateau, including several of the most unique and valued National Parks and Recreation Areas in the United States. Although the water needs of these landscapes were not considered at the time water allocations were first negotiated, these needs were recognized in subsequent...
Authors
Paul E. Grams, David J. Topping, Gerard Lewis Salter, Katherine Anne Chapman, Robert B. Tusso, Erich R. Mueller
Boundary spanning increases knowledge and action on invasive species in a changing climate Boundary spanning increases knowledge and action on invasive species in a changing climate
Challenges associated with global change stressors on ecosystems have prompted calls to improve actionable science, including through boundary-spanning activities, which aim to build connections and communication between researchers and natural resource practitioners. By synthesizing and translating research and practitioner knowledge, boundary-spanning activities could support proactive...
Authors
Annette E. Evans, Eva M. Colberg, Jenica M. Allen, Evelyn M. Beaury, Carrie Jean Brown-Lima, Toni Lyn Morelli, Bethany A. Bradley
Coastal wetlands in the Anthropocene Coastal wetlands in the Anthropocene
We review the functioning and sustainability of coastal marshes and mangroves. Urbanized humans have a 7,000-year-old enduring relationship to coastal wetlands. Wetlands include marshes, salt flats, and saline and freshwater forests. Coastal wetlands occur in all climate zones but are most abundant in deltas. Mangroves are tropical, whereas marshes occur from tropical to boreal areas
Authors
John W. Day, Edward Anthony, Robert Costanza, Douglas Edmonds, Joel Gunn, Charles Hopkinson, Michael E. Mann, James Morris, Michael Osland, Tracy Quirk, Andre S. Rovai, John M Rybczyk, Thomas Spencer, Jessica Stephens, Jaia Syvitski, Robert R. Twilley, Jenneke Visser, John R. White