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: 43455
Climate-adaptive urban planning: Quantitative assessment of drought impacts and practical strategies for climate-resilient urban green spaces Climate-adaptive urban planning: Quantitative assessment of drought impacts and practical strategies for climate-resilient urban green spaces
Urban green spaces (UGSs) are vital for enhancing a city’s resilience and livability; however, their functionality is increasingly jeopardized by drought, particularly in water-scarce regions. This study evaluates drought impact on UGSs in Metropolitan Adelaide, Australia, a representative semi-arid urban system, using satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time...
Authors
Sattar Chavoshi Borujeni, Alfredo Huete, Biswajeet Pradhan, Hamideh Nouri, Neda Abbasi, Pamela L Nagler
Estimating greater sage-grouse population sizes within the state of Oregon, USA 2017–2024 Estimating greater sage-grouse population sizes within the state of Oregon, USA 2017–2024
We fit an N-mixture model to lek (breeding area) count data to estimate annual population sizes of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) within the state of Oregon, USA between 2017–2024. Population estimates were delineated among 24 Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs) and considered additional sources of information including male-to-female sex ratios, lek...
Authors
Brian G. Prochazka, Peter S. Coates, Austin L. Nash, Shawn T. O’Neil, Skyler T. Vold, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center science needs assessment Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center science needs assessment
No abstract available.
Authors
Tamara Wilson, Stephanie Anne McAfee, John C. Tull
Resources to inform the 2026 Colorado Climate Preparedness Roadmap: Compound hazards and associated public health implications Resources to inform the 2026 Colorado Climate Preparedness Roadmap: Compound hazards and associated public health implications
Changing environmental conditions are increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather and environmental hazards, including heat waves, wildfires, drought, reduced water quality, and degraded air quality from ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter pollution (AghaKouchak et al., 2020; Bolinger et al., 2024; Colorado Health Institute, 2023a; Fann et al., 2015; IPCC, 2023a; Nagamoto...
Authors
Sarah E. Whipple, Meagan Ford Oldfather, Katherine A. Kurth
Estimated dryland restoration treatment costs Estimated dryland restoration treatment costs
Ecological restoration—the process of assisting in the rehabilitation of a system that has been degraded or destroyed—can be used to address changing landscapes as our understanding of ecosystems and how to manage them improves (Gann et al. 2019). As a result, numerous research papers and guidebooks have been published to provide science-based recommendations for designing and deploying
Authors
Laura Cecilia Shriver, Ri N. Corwin, Catherine A. Gehring, Caroline A. Havrilla, Elise S. Gornish
Effects of rice idling on occupancy dynamics and survival of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California, 2016–24 Effects of rice idling on occupancy dynamics and survival of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California, 2016–24
The giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a semi-aquatic species of snake endemic to marshes and sloughs in the Central Valley of California. Because the Central Valley has lost a substantial amount of wetland habitat, giant gartersnake populations are typically found in aquatic habitats associated with rice (Oryza sativa) agriculture. Therefore, changes to the amount and location of...
Authors
Anna C. Jordan, Jonathan P. Rose, Elliot J. Schoenig, Daniel Macias, Giancarlo R. Napolitano, Gabriel A. Reyes, Brian J. Halstead
Global carbon investment in terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation Global carbon investment in terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation
Biological nitrogen (N) fixation (BNF) provides the N needed to produce proteins and other biological building blocks, helping feed humanity and mitigate climate change. Due to its high energetic cost compared to other forms of N acquisition, biotic investment in BNF indicates N limitation. Globally gridded BNF flux data provide an opportunity to determine the energetic investment in BNF...
Authors
Duncan N.L. Menge, Carla R. Reis Ely, Steven S. Perakis, Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, Cory C. Cleveland, Sasha C. Reed, Benton N. Taylor, Sarah A. Batterman, Timothy E. Crews, Katherine A. Dynarski, Jennifer L. Funk, Maga G. Gei, Kevin L. Griffin, Michael J. Gundale, David F. Herridge, Sarah E. Jovan, Mark B. Peoples, Johannes Piipponen, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Anika P. Staccone, Bettina Weber, Amelia A. Wolf, Nina Wurzburger
Increasing artificial light at night enhances salmonid predator foraging efficiency in an urbanized lake Increasing artificial light at night enhances salmonid predator foraging efficiency in an urbanized lake
Artificial light at night (ALAN) poses a threat to ecosystems globally. It includes both direct and indirect light, or skyglow, which occurs when ALAN scatters in the atmosphere, extending beyond its original source. We analyzed ALAN trends in Lake Washington, WA, from 2014 to 2023 using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) nighttime light measurements, evaluated the...
Authors
Jennifer A Schulien, Tessa Julianne Code
Lead exposure of snakes near recreational and military shooting areas in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem Lead exposure of snakes near recreational and military shooting areas in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem
Lead exposure has been documented in a multitude of bird and mammal species but less frequently in reptiles. Of the studies that have evaluated lead concentrations in reptiles, few have focused on snakes. We analyzed lead concentrations in liver and two types of bone from 24 gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer; Pc) and 12 Great Basin rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus lutosus; Col) found dead...
Authors
Vincent A. Slabe, David S. Pilliod, Michelle I. Jeffries, Kristina Joan Parker, Megan Yrazabal, Christine D. Hayes, Patricia A. Ortiz, Todd E. Katzner
Integrating habitat suitability and climate constraints to predict nonnative fish invasion risk for U.S. streams and inland lakes Integrating habitat suitability and climate constraints to predict nonnative fish invasion risk for U.S. streams and inland lakes
Introduction: Nonnative fishes in streams and inland lakes can substantially alter aquatic ecosystems by degrading habitat conditions, competing with native species, and restructuring food webs. Identifying invasion hotspots can inform proactive management and prevention of nonnative species establishment. Methods: In this study, we identified streams and lakes across the conterminous...
Authors
Hao Yu, Arthur R. Cooper, Jared A. Ross, Wesley Daniel, Emily M. Dean, Dana M. Infante
Is "weediness" and "invasiveness" of weeds a function of the plant microbiome? Is "weediness" and "invasiveness" of weeds a function of the plant microbiome?
Over the past several decades, the extent to which microbes enhance plant development and health has become clearer; however, this has not been explored in terms of the aggressiveness and hardiness of weedy plants. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that many features of weeds and invasive plants are related to the activities of plant microbiomes. Microbes contribute to weed...
Authors
Carmaleen U. Rodrigopulle, James F. White, Kurt P. Kowalski, Surendra K. Gond, Katheryn L. Kingsley, Matthew T. Elmore
Northern bobwhites select for native grasses on working grazing land Northern bobwhites select for native grasses on working grazing land
Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; bobwhite) populations have experienced an 85% decline across most of its range since the 1960s. The most drastic decreases have been in the southeastern United States where biologists attribute the decline to widespread habitat loss, including conversion of native grasslands to tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) and other exotic cool-season grass...
Authors
Douglas B Mitchell, Patrick D. Keyser, Joseph D. Clark, David A. Buehler, James A Martin, Cody M. Rhoden, Bridgett Costanzo