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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

Ontogenetic and ecological variation in invasion risk of Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam Ontogenetic and ecological variation in invasion risk of Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam

Size structure within populations of invasive species may have consequences for relative risk at all stages of the invasion process, with implications for management interventions such as interdiction, suppression, and eradication. To assess relative distributions of invasive Brown Treesnakes among demographic categories of management interest, we undertook the most comprehensive and...
Authors
Shane R. Siers, Julie A. Savidge, Robert Reed

A detailed risk assessment of shale gas development on headwater streams in the Pennsylvania portion of the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, U.S.A. A detailed risk assessment of shale gas development on headwater streams in the Pennsylvania portion of the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, U.S.A.

The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) involves infrastructure development (well pads, roads and pipelines), well drilling and stimulation (hydraulic fracturing), and production; all of which have the potential to affect stream ecosystems. Here, we developed a fine-scaled (1:24,000) catchment-level disturbance intensity index (DII) that included 17 measures of UOG capturing...
Authors
Kelly O. Maloney, John A. Young, Stephen Faulkner, Atesmachew Hailegiorgis, E. Terrence Slonecker, Lesley Milheim

Visitor spending effects: assessing and showcasing America's investment in national parks Visitor spending effects: assessing and showcasing America's investment in national parks

This paper provides an overview of the evolution, future, and global applicability of the U.S. National Park Service's (NPS) visitor spending effects framework and discusses the methods used to effectively communicate the economic return on investment in America's national parks. The 417 parks represent many of America's most iconic destinations: in 2016, they received a record 331...
Authors
Lynne Koontz, Catherine Cullinane Thomas, Pamela Ziesler, Jeffrey Olson, Bret Meldrum

Crossing boundaries in a collaborative modeling workspace Crossing boundaries in a collaborative modeling workspace

There is substantial literature on the importance of bridging across disciplinary and science–management boundaries. One of the ways commonly suggested to cross boundaries is for participants from both sides of the boundary to jointly produce information (i.e., knowledge co-production). But simply providing tools or bringing people together in the same room is not sufficient. Here we...
Authors
Jeffrey T. Morisette, Amanda E. Cravens, Brian W. Miller, Marian Talbert, Colin Talbert, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Michelle Fink, Karin Decker, Eric Odell

Optimization of human, animal, and environmental health by using the One Health approach Optimization of human, animal, and environmental health by using the One Health approach

Emerging diseases are increasing burdens on public health, negatively affecting the world economy, causing extinction of species, and disrupting ecological integrity. One Health recognizes that human, domestic animal, and wildlife health are interconnected within ecosystem health and provides a framework for the development of multidisciplinary solutions to global health challenges. To...
Authors
Jonathan M. Sleeman, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Natalie T. Nguyen

Survival of the endangered Pima pineapple cactus: Does clearing before prescribed fire alter survival postfire? Survival of the endangered Pima pineapple cactus: Does clearing before prescribed fire alter survival postfire?

Federal land managers and ranchers often use prescribed fire as a tool to reduce invading woody plants within desert grasslands of the arid southwestern United States. Managers must evaluate the threat of the burn toward the health and survival of plants of concern including how preemptive clearing before prescribed fire might benefit these species. One example is the endangered Pima...
Authors
Kathryn A. Thomas, Christopher Jarchow, Julie A. Crawford

Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities

Acoustic recorders can be useful for studying bird populations but their efficiency and accuracy should be assessed in pertinent ecological settings before use. We investigated the utility of an acoustic recorder for monitoring abundance of tundra‐breeding birds relative to point‐count surveys in northwestern Alaska, USA, during 2014. Our objectives were to 1) compare numbers of birds...
Authors
Skyler T. Vold, Colleen M. Handel, Lance B. McNew

Incorporating evolutionary insights to improve ecotoxicology for freshwater species Incorporating evolutionary insights to improve ecotoxicology for freshwater species

Ecotoxicological studies have provided extensive insights into the lethal and sublethal effects of environmental contaminants. These insights are critical for environmental regulatory frameworks, which rely on knowledge of toxicity for developing policies to manage contaminants. While varied approaches have been applied to ecotoxicological questions, perspectives related to the...
Authors
Steven P. Brady, Jonathan L. Richardson, Bethany K. Kunz

Structural overshoot of tree growth with climate variability and the global spectrum of drought-induced forest dieback Structural overshoot of tree growth with climate variability and the global spectrum of drought-induced forest dieback

Ongoing climate change poses significant threats to plant function and distribution. Increased temperatures and altered precipitation regimes amplify drought frequency and intensity, elevating plant stress and mortality. Large-scale forest mortality events will have far-reaching impacts on carbon and hydrological cycling, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. However, biogeographical...
Authors
Alistair S. Jump, Paloma Ruiz-Benito, Sarah Greenwood, Craig D. Allen, Thomas Kitzberger, Rod Fensham, Jordi Martinez-Vilalta, Francisco Lloret

A comment on “temporal variation in survival and recovery rates of lesser scaup” A comment on “temporal variation in survival and recovery rates of lesser scaup”

Concerns about declines in the abundance of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) have promoted a number of analyses to understand reasons for this decline. Unfortunately, most of these analyses, including that of Arnold et al. (2016 Journal of Wildlife Management 80: 850–861), are based on observational studies leading to weak inference. Although we commend the efforts of Arnold et al. (2016...
Authors
Mark S. Lindberg, G. Scott Boomer, Joel A. Schmutz, Johann A. Walker

Comparing automated classification and digitization approaches to detect change in eelgrass bed extent during restoration of a large river delta Comparing automated classification and digitization approaches to detect change in eelgrass bed extent during restoration of a large river delta

Native eelgrass (Zostera marina) is an important contributor to ecosystem services that supplies cover for juvenile fish, supports a variety of invertebrate prey resources for fish and waterbirds, provides substrate for herring roe consumed by numerous fish and birds, helps stabilize sediment, and sequesters organic carbon. Seagrasses are in decline globally, and monitoring changes in...
Authors
Anna Elizabeth Davenport, Jerry D. Davis, Isa Woo, Eric E. Grossman, Jesse B. Barham, Christopher S. Ellings, John Y. Takekawa

Evidence of coupled carbon and iron cycling at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site from time lapse magnetic susceptibility Evidence of coupled carbon and iron cycling at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site from time lapse magnetic susceptibility

Conventional characterization and monitoring of hydrocarbon (HC) pollution is often expensive and time-consuming. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) has been proposed as an inexpensive, long-term monitoring proxy of the degradation of HC. We acquired repeated down hole MS logging data in boreholes at a HC-contaminated field research site in Bemidji, MN, USA. The MS data were analyzed in...
Authors
Anders L. Lund, Lee D. Slater, Estella A. Atekwana, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Barbara A. Bekins
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