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: 42922
Population genomic surveys for six rare plant species in San Diego County, California Population genomic surveys for six rare plant species in San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a hotspot of biodiversity, situated at the intersection of the Baja peninsula, the California floristic province, and the desert southwest. This hotspot is characterized by a high number of rare and endemic species, which persist alongside a major urban epicenter. San Diego County has implemented a strategic management plan that identifies species, based on low...
Authors
Elizabeth R. Milano, Amy G. Vandergast
Provenance of invaders has scale-dependent impacts in a changing wetland ecosystem Provenance of invaders has scale-dependent impacts in a changing wetland ecosystem
Exotic species are associated with a variety of impacts on biodiversity, but it is unclear whether impacts of exotic species differ from those of native species with similar growth forms or native species invading disturbed sites. We compared presence and abundance of native and exotic invaders with changes in wetland plant species diversity over a 28-year period by re-surveying 22 ponds...
Authors
Kathryn L. Amatangelo, Lee Stevens, Douglas A. Wilcox, Stephen Jackson, Dov F. Sax
Factors affecting disaster preparedness, response, and recovery using the community capitals framework Factors affecting disaster preparedness, response, and recovery using the community capitals framework
Disaster research often focuses on how and why communities are affected by a discrete extreme event. We used the community capitals framework to understand how community characteristics influence their preparedness, response to, and recovery from successive or multiple disasters using the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake and the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill as case studies. This study assesses...
Authors
Amber Himes-Cornell, Carlos Ormond, Kristin R Hoelting, Natalie C. Ban, J. Zachary Koehn, Edward H. Allison, Eric R. Larson, Daniel Monson, Henry P. Huntington, Tom Okey
Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures? Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures?
Temporary wetlands have value to both ecological and social systems. Interactions between local climate and the surrounding landscape result in patterns of hydrology that are unique to temporary wetlands. These seasonal and annual fluctuations in wetland inundation contribute to community composition and richness. Thus, predicting wetland community responses to environmental change is...
Authors
Davis C, Miller D, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Brian J. Halstead, Patrick M. Kleeman, Susan Walls, William Barichivich
Landscape drivers and social dynamics shaping microbial contamination risk in three Maya communities in southern Belize, Central America Landscape drivers and social dynamics shaping microbial contamination risk in three Maya communities in southern Belize, Central America
Land transformation can have cascading effects on hydrology, water quality, and human users of water resources, with serious implications for human health. An interdisciplinary analysis is presented, whereby remote-sensing data of changing land use and cover are related to surface hydrology and microbial contamination in domestic use areas of three indigenous Maya communities in Belize...
Authors
Peter C. Esselman, Shiguo Jiang, Henry A Peller, David N. Bucklin, Joel D Wainwright
Construction of a compact low-cost radiation shield for air-temperature sensors in ecological field studies Construction of a compact low-cost radiation shield for air-temperature sensors in ecological field studies
With the advent of small, low-cost environmental sensors, it is now possible to deploy high-density networks of sensors to measure hyper localized temperature variation. Here, we provide a detailed methodology for constructing a compact version of a previously described custom-fabricated radiation shield for use with inexpensive thermochrons.
Authors
Adam J. Terando, Sara G. Prado, Elsa Youngsteadt
Evidence for widespread microbivory of endophytic bacteria in roots of vascularplants through oxidative degradation in root cell periplasmic spaces Evidence for widespread microbivory of endophytic bacteria in roots of vascularplants through oxidative degradation in root cell periplasmic spaces
In this chapter we present a hypothesis, and data supporting it, that vascular plants in diverse families possess symbiotic/endophytic bacteria that frequently vector on or within their seeds; seedlings degrade symbiotic bacteria within roots. Evidence of widespread microbivory was found in a survey for intracellular bacteria that we conducted including seedlings in 36 species of...
Authors
James F. White, Monica S. Torres, Satish Kumar Verma, Matthew T. Elmore, Kurt P. Kowalski, Kathryn L. Kingsley
American Recent Eulipotyphla: Nesophontids, Solenodons, Moles, and Shrews in the New World American Recent Eulipotyphla: Nesophontids, Solenodons, Moles, and Shrews in the New World
The mammalian taxonomic order Eulipotyphla is comprised of the living taxonomic families Erinaceidae (gymnures, hedgehogs, and moonrats), Solenodontidae (solenodonts), Soricidae (shrews), and Talpidae (desmans and moles). Morphological and molecular studies continue to alter our view of relationships within and among these families, and this research has added considerably to our...
Authors
Neal Woodman
The influence of seep habitats on sediment macrofaunal biodiversity and functional traits The influence of seep habitats on sediment macrofaunal biodiversity and functional traits
Chemosynthetic ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) support dense communities of seep megafaunal invertebrates that rely on endosymbiotic bacteria for nutrition. Distinct infaunal communities are associated with the biogenic habitats created by seep biota, where habitat heterogeneity and sediment geochemistry influence local macrofaunal community structure. Here we examine the...
Authors
Amanda W. J. Demopoulos, Jill R. Bourque, Alanna Durkin, Erik E. Cordes
Effect of heat and singeing on stable hydrogen isotope ratios of bird feathers and implications for their use in determining geographic origin Effect of heat and singeing on stable hydrogen isotope ratios of bird feathers and implications for their use in determining geographic origin
Rationale Stable hydrogen isotope (δ2H) ratios of animal tissues are useful for assessing movement and geographic origin of mobile organisms. However, it is uncertain whether heat and singeing affects feather δ2H values and thus subsequent geographic assignments. This is relevant for birds of conservation interest that are burned and killed at concentrating solar‐energy facilities that...
Authors
Hannah B. Vander Zanden, Abigail Reid, Todd E. Katzner, David M. Nelson
New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: A report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: A report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project
Forest ecosystems will face direct and indirect impacts from a changing climate over the 21st century. This assessment evaluates the vulnerability of forest ecosystems across the New England region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, northern New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont) under a range of future climates. We synthesized and summarized information on the contemporary...
Authors
M.K. Janowiak, A D’Amato, C.W. Swanston, Louis R. Iverson, Frank R. Thompson, William D. Dijak, Stephen Matthews, Matthew P. Peters, Anantha Prasad, Jacob S. Fraser, Leslie A. Brandt, Patricia R. Butler-Leopold, Stephen D. Handler, P. Danielle Shannon, Diane Burbank, John Campbell, Charles Cogbill, Matthew J. Duveneck, Marla R. Emery, Nicholas Fisichelli, Jane Foster, Jennifer Hushaw, Laura Kenefic, Amanda Mahaffey, Toni Lyn Morelli, Nicholas Reo, Paul G. Schaberg, K. Rogers Simmons, Aaron Weiskittel, Sandy Wilmot, David Hollinger, Erin Lane, Lindsey Rustad, Pamela H. Templar
Shared habitat use by juveniles of three sea turtle species Shared habitat use by juveniles of three sea turtle species
The first step in understanding how sympatric species share habitat is defining spatial boundaries. While home range data for juvenile sea turtles exists, few studies have examined spatial overlap of multiple species in foraging habitat. Using satellite tracking technology, we define home ranges for juveniles of 3 sea turtle species (loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, and green; n = 21) captured...
Authors
Margaret M. Lamont, Autumn R. Iverson