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: 43327
Meteorological and environmental variables affect flight behaviour and decision-making of an obligate soaring bird, the California Condor Gymnogyps californianus Meteorological and environmental variables affect flight behaviour and decision-making of an obligate soaring bird, the California Condor Gymnogyps californianus
The movements of animals are limited by evolutionary constraints and ecological processes and are strongly influenced by the medium through which they travel. For flying animals, variation in atmospheric conditions is critically influential in movement. Obligate soaring birds depend on external sources of updraft more than do other flying species, as without that updraft they are unable...
Authors
Sharon A. Poessel, Joseph Brandt, Tricia A. Miller, Todd E. Katzner
Evaluating upstream passage and timing of approach by adult bigheaded carps at a gated dam on the Illinois River Evaluating upstream passage and timing of approach by adult bigheaded carps at a gated dam on the Illinois River
Dams are a conservation threat because they function as barriers to native fish movement; however, they may prevent the spread of invasive species. Invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) threaten the Great Lakes ecosystem and are advancing towards Lake Michigan via the Illinois River. Navigation dams on the Illinois River may deter bigheaded carps' upstream movement. We...
Authors
Matthew Lubejko, Greg Whitledge, Alison A. Coulter, Marybeth K. Brey, Devon Oliver, James E. Garvey
Effects of flood inundation and invasion by Phalaris arundinacea on nitrogen cycling in an Upper Mississippi River floodplain forest Effects of flood inundation and invasion by Phalaris arundinacea on nitrogen cycling in an Upper Mississippi River floodplain forest
Although floodplains are thought to serve as important buffers against nitrogen (N) transport to aquatic systems, frequent flooding and high levels of nutrient availability also make these systems prone to invasion by exotic plant species. Invasive plants could modify the cycling and availability of nutrients within floodplains, with effects that could feedback to promote the persistence...
Authors
Whitney Swanson, Nathan R. De Jager, Eric A. Strauss, Meredith Thomsen
Experimental infection of common eider ducklings with Wellfleet Bay virus, a newly characterized orthomyxovirus Experimental infection of common eider ducklings with Wellfleet Bay virus, a newly characterized orthomyxovirus
Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV), a novel orthomyxovirus in the genus Quaranjavirus, was first isolated in 2006 from carcasses of common eider (Somateria mollissima) during a mortality event in Wellfleet Bay (Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA) and has since been repeatedly isolated during recurrent mortality events in this location. Hepatic, pancreatic, splenic, and intestinal necrosis...
Authors
Valerie Shearn-Bochsler, S. Ip, Anne Ballmann, Jeffrey S. Hall, Andrew B. Allison, Jennifer R. Ballard, Julie C. Ellis, Robert Cook, Samantha E.J. Gibbs, Chris P. Dwyer
A revised list of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada A revised list of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada
We present a revised list of freshwater mussels (order Unionida, families Margaritiferidae and Unionidae) of the United States and Canada, incorporating changes in nomenclature and systematic taxonomy since publication of the most recent checklist in 1998. We recognize a total of 298 species in 55 genera in the families Margaritiferidae (one genus, five species) and Unionidae (54 genera...
Authors
James D. Williams, Arthur E. Bogan, Robert S. Butler, Kevin S. Cummings, Jeffrey T. Garner, John L. Harris, Nathan A. Johnson, G. Thomas Watters
Sex difference in PCB concentrations of a catostomid fish Sex difference in PCB concentrations of a catostomid fish
Unraveling the complexities associated with the relative differences in contaminant concentrations between the sexes of mature fish may provide insights into important behavioral and physiological differences between the sexes of not just fish but higher vertebrates as well. Whole-fish polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were determined in 25 mature female white suckers...
Authors
Charles P. Madenjian, Andrew L. Stevens, Martin A. Stapanian, Stuart A. Batterman, Sergei M. Chernyak, Jordan E. Menczer, Peter B. McIntyre
Viability analysis for multiple populations Viability analysis for multiple populations
Many species of conservation interest exist solely or largely in isolated populations. Ideally, prioritization of management actions among such populations would be guided by quantitative estimates of extinction risk, but conventional methods of demographic population viability analysis (PVA) model each population separately and require temporally extensive datasets that are rarely...
Authors
Seth J. Wenger, Douglas R. Leasure, Daniel C. Dauwalter, Mary M. Peacock, Jason B. Dunham, Nathan Chelgren, Helen M. Neville
Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey
Recent efforts to advance river connectivity for the Millstone River watershed in New Jersey have led to the evaluation of a low-flow gauging weir that spans the full width of the river. The methods and results of a desktop modelling exercise were used to evaluate the potential ability of three anadromous fish species (Alosa sapidissima [American shad], Alosa pseudoharengus [alewife]...
Authors
Alexander J. Haro, Kevin B. Mulligan, Thomas P. Suro, John Noreika, Amy R. McHugh
Revision of the jawfish genus Lonchopisthus with description of a new Atlantic species (Teleostei: Opistognathidae) Revision of the jawfish genus Lonchopisthus with description of a new Atlantic species (Teleostei: Opistognathidae)
Synonymies, diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, an identification key, and meristic frequency tables are provided for all species of Lonchopisthus. Most of the skeletal anatomy of L. higmani is also illustrated. A new jawfish, Lonchopisthus ancistrus n. sp., is described from the Gulf of Mexico and off Honduras based on 21 specimens 41–89 mm SL. The new species differs from other...
Authors
William F. Smith-Vaniz, Stephen J. Walsh
Changes in habitat availability for multiple life stages of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Chesapeake Bay in response to sea level rise Changes in habitat availability for multiple life stages of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Chesapeake Bay in response to sea level rise
Global sea level rise (SLR) will significantly alter coastal landscapes through inundation and erosion of lowlying areas. Animals that display area fidelity and rely on fringing coastal habitats during multiple life stages, such as diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin Schoepff 1793), are likely to be particularly vulnerable to SLR-induced changes. We used a combination of empirical...
Authors
Ryan J. Woodland, Christopher L. Rowe, Paula F. P. Henry
Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts
The purpose of this study was to investigate behavior and survival of radio-tagged wild and hatchery-reared landlocked Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar smolts as they migrated past three hydropower dams equipped with fish bypass solutions in the Winooski River, Vermont. Among hatchery-reared smolts, those released early were more likely to initiate migration and did so after less delay than...
Authors
D. Nyqvist, Stephen D. McCormick, L. Greenberg, W.R. Ardren, E. Bergman, O. Calles, Theodore R. Castro-Santos
Climatic history of the northeastern United States during the past 3000 years Climatic history of the northeastern United States during the past 3000 years
Many ecosystem processes that influence Earth system feedbacks, including vegetation growth, water and nutrient cycling, and disturbance regimes, are strongly influenced by multi-decadal to millennial-scale variations in climate that cannot be captured by instrumental climate observations. Paleoclimate information is therefore essential for understanding contemporary ecosystems and their...
Authors
Jennifer R. Marlon, Neil Pederson, Connor Nolan, Simon Goring, Bryan Shuman, Ann Robertson, Robert K. Booth, Patrick J. Bartlein, Melissa A. Berke, Michael Clifford, Edward Cook, Ann Dieffenbacher-Krall, Michael C. Dietze, Amy Hessl, J. Bradford Hubeny, Stephen T. Jackson, Jeremiah Marsicek, Jason S. McLachlan, Cary J. Mock, David J. P. Moore, Jonathan M. Nichols, Dorothy M. Peteet, Kevin Schaefer, Valerie Trouet, Charles Umbanhowar, John W. Williams, Zicheng Yu