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: 42914
Social–ecological mismatches create conservation challenges in introduced species management Social–ecological mismatches create conservation challenges in introduced species management
Introduced species can have important effects on the component species and processes of native ecosystems. However, effective introduced species management can be complicated by technical and social challenges. We identify “social–ecological mismatches” (that is, differences between the scales and functioning of interacting social and ecological systems) as one such challenge. We present...
Authors
Erik A. Beever, Daniel Simberloff, Sarah L. Crowley, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Hazel A. Jackson, Steven L. Petersen
State-space analysis of power to detect regional brook trout population trends over time State-space analysis of power to detect regional brook trout population trends over time
Threats to aquatic biodiversity are expressed at broad spatial scales, but identifying regional trends in abundance is challenging owing to variable sampling designs, and temporal and spatial variation in abundance. We compiled a regional dataset of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis counts across their southern range representing 326 sites from eight states between 1982-2014, and...
Authors
Kasey C. Pregler, R. Daniel Hanks, Evan S. Childress, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Daniel J. Hocking, Benjamin H. Letcher, Yoichiro Kanno
Estimating the energy expenditure of free‐ranging polar bears using tri‐axial accelerometers: A validation with doubly labeled water Estimating the energy expenditure of free‐ranging polar bears using tri‐axial accelerometers: A validation with doubly labeled water
Measures of energy expenditure can be used to inform animal conservation and management, but methods for measuring the energy expenditure of free‐ranging animals have a variety of limitations. Advancements in biologging technologies have enabled the use of dynamic body acceleration derived from accelerometers as a proxy for energy expenditure. Although dynamic body acceleration has been...
Authors
Anthony M. Pagano, Terrie M. Williams
Seasonal assembly of arthropod communities on milkweeds experiencing simulated herbivory Seasonal assembly of arthropod communities on milkweeds experiencing simulated herbivory
The seasonal assembly of arthropod communities is shaped by biotic and abiotic aspects of the habitat that limit the appearance or activity phenology of potential community members. In addition, previous interactions within the community, such as herbivore-induced plant defensive responses, aggregation, and predator avoidance likely affect the assembly of arthropod communities on...
Authors
Ian S. Pearse, Marshall McMunn, Louie H. Yang
Wind erosion and dust from US drylands: a review of causes, consequences, and solutions in a changing world Wind erosion and dust from US drylands: a review of causes, consequences, and solutions in a changing world
Erosion by wind is one of the principal processes associated with land degradation in drylands and is a significant concern to land managers and policymakers globally. In the drylands of North America, millions of tons of soil are lost to wind erosion annually. Of the 60 million ha in the United States identified as most vulnerable to wind erosion (arid and dominated by fine sandy soils)...
Authors
Michael C. Duniway, Alix A. Pfennigwerth, Stephen E. Fick, Travis W. Nauman, Jayne Belnap, Nichole N. Barger
Habitat rehabilitation in the Detroit River area of concern Habitat rehabilitation in the Detroit River area of concern
Loss and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat is a long-standing issue in the Detroit River. The Detroit River Remedial Action Plan helped agencies and stakeholder groups reach agreement on impaired beneficial uses, including loss of fish and wildlife habitat, and helped mobilize all stakeholders to rehabilitate habitat. Many organizations played key roles, including the Detroit...
Authors
John Hartig, Claire Sanders, Richard Wyma, James C. Boase, Edward Roseman
Vegetation and precipitation shifts interact to alter organic and inorganic carbon storage in cold desert soils Vegetation and precipitation shifts interact to alter organic and inorganic carbon storage in cold desert soils
Dryland ecosystems are experiencing shifts in rainfall and plant community composition, which are expected to alter cycling and storage of soil carbon (C). Few experiments have been conducted to examine long‐term effects on (1) soil organic C (SOC) pools throughout the soil profile, and (2) soil inorganic C (SIC) pools as they relate to dynamic changes in C storage and climate change. We...
Authors
David P. Huber, Kathleen A. Lohse, Amy Commendador, Stephen Joy, Ken A. Aho, Bruce P. Finney, Matthew J. Germino
Do observer fatigue and taxon-bias compromise visual encounter surveys for small vertebrates? Do observer fatigue and taxon-bias compromise visual encounter surveys for small vertebrates?
Context. Visual encounter surveying is a standard animal inventory method, modifications of which (e.g. distance sampling and repeated count surveys) are used for modelling population density. However, a variety of factors may bias visual survey counts. Aims. The aim of the present study was to evaluate three observer-related biases: (1) whether fatigue compromises detection rate as a...
Authors
Bjorn Lardner, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Adam J Knox, Julie A. Savidge, Robert Reed
Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic monitoring on U.S. Army O`ahu facilities Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic monitoring on U.S. Army O`ahu facilities
Acoustic sampling for occurrence of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) was conducted at 12 locations on U. S. Army installations on O‘ahu Island, Hawai‘i. Bats were confirmed as present at 10 of these locations: Dillingham Military Reservation, Helemano Military Reservation, Kahuku Training Area, Kawailoa Training Area, Mākua Military Reservation, Schofield...
Authors
Frank Bonaccorso, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Corinna A. Pinzari
Changes in belowground biodiversity during ecosystem development Changes in belowground biodiversity during ecosystem development
We do not know how and why belowground biodiversity may change as soils develop over centuries to millennia, hampering our ability to predict the myriad of ecosystem processes regulated by belowground organisms under changing environments. We conducted a global survey of 16 soil chronosequences spanning a wide range of ecosystem types and found that in less productive ecosystems...
Authors
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Richard D. Bardgett, Peter M. Vitousek, Fernando T. Maestre, Mark Williams, David J. Eldridge, Hans Lambers, Sigrid Neuhauser, Antonio Gallardo, Laura Garcia-Velazquez, Osvaldo E. Sala, Sebastian R. Abades, Fernando D. Alfaro, Asmeret A. Berhe, Matthew A. Bowker, Courtney M. Currier, Nick A. Cutler, Stephen C. Hart, Patrick E. Hayes, Zeng-Yei Hseu, Martin Kirchmair, Cecilia A. Perez, Sasha C. Reed, Victor M. Pena-Ramirez, Fernanda Santos, Christina Siebe, Benjamin W. Sullivan, Luis Weber-Grullon, Noah Fierer
Detection of Bisgaard taxon 40 in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from a mortality event in Washington, USA Detection of Bisgaard taxon 40 in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from a mortality event in Washington, USA
We isolated Bisgaard taxon 40 from Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from Washington, US, found dead in 2016. Previously isolated only from the respiratory tract of a gull (Laridae), little is known about its pathogenic potential and whether it acts as a primary or opportunistic pathogen.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Susan M Thomas, Scott F Pearson, Jeffrey M. Lorch
Manipulating wild and tamed phytobiomes: Challenges and opportunities Manipulating wild and tamed phytobiomes: Challenges and opportunities
This white paper presents a series of perspectives on current and future phytobiome management, discussed at the Wild and Tamed Phytobiomes Symposium in University Park, PA, USA, in June 2018. To enhance plant productivity and health, and to translate lab- and greenhouse-based phytobiome research to field applications, the academic community and end-users need to address a variety of...
Authors
Terrence H. Bell, Kevin L. Hockett, Ricardo Ivan Alcala-Briseno, Mary Barbercheck, Gwyn A. Beattie, Mary Ann Bruns, John E. Carlson, Taejung Chung, Alyssa Collins, Bryan Emmett, Paul Esker, Karen Garrett, Leland Glenna, Beth K. Gugino, Maria del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, Linda Kinkel, Jasna Kovac, Kurt P. Kowalski, Gretchen Kuldau, Johan H. J. Leveau, Matthew J. Michalska-Smith, Jessica Myrick, Kari Peter, Maria Fernanda Vivanco Salazar, Ashley Shade, Nejc Stopnisek, Xiaoquing Tan, Amy T. Welty, Kyle Wickings, Etienne Yergeau