Publications
Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
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Relatedness of white-tailed deer from culling efforts within chronic wasting disease management zones in Minnesota Relatedness of white-tailed deer from culling efforts within chronic wasting disease management zones in Minnesota
In white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), closely related females form social groups, avoiding other social groups. Consequently, females infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are more likely to infect social group members. Culling has been used to reduce CWD transmission in high-risk areas; however, its effectiveness in removing related individuals has not been assessed. We...
Authors
Alberto F. Fameli, Christopher S. Jennelle, Jessie Edson, Erik C. Hildebrand, Michelle Carstensen, W. David Walter
Microbial ecology of permafrost soils: Populations, processes, and perspectives Microbial ecology of permafrost soils: Populations, processes, and perspectives
Permafrost microbial research has flourished in the past decades, due in part to improvements in sampling and molecular techniques, but also the increased focus on the permafrost greenhouse gas feedback to climate change and other ecological processes in high latitude and alpine permafrost soils. Permafrost microorganisms are adapted to these extreme environments and remain active at low
Authors
Mark Waldrop, Jessica Ernakovich, Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya, Sean Schaefer, Rachel Mackelprang, Jiri Barta, Joy O’Brien, Matthias Winkel, Robyn A. Barbato, Liam Heffernan, Mary-Cathrine Leewis, Rebecca E. Hewitt, Jenni Hultman, Yanchen Sun, Christina Biasi, James A. Bradley, Susanne Liebner, Michael P. Ricketts, Mario Muscarella, Ursel Schuette, Fumnanya Abuah, Emily Whalen, Ina Timling, Carolina Voigt, Neslihan Tas, Karen G. Lloyd, Henri M.P. Siljanen, Elizaveta M. Rivkina, Jana Voriskova, Jing Tao, Renxing Liang, Zhen Li, Jay T. Lennon, T.C. Onstott
Enhancing One Health outcomes using decision science and negotiation Enhancing One Health outcomes using decision science and negotiation
One Health initiatives have advanced zoonotic disease management by recognizing the interconnectedness of three sectors of governance (human, ecosystem, and animal) and by identifying options that can improve full-system health. Although One Health has had many successes, its full realization may be inhibited by a lack of strategies to overcome simultaneous impediments in decision making...
Authors
Jonathan D. Cook, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Howard S. Ginsberg, Diann Prosser, Michael C. Runge
Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution
We document chemostratigraphy in an outcrop of late Albian to early Campanian (∼103–82 Ma) marine source rocks to better understand paleoenvironmental controls on trace element (TE) enrichment and organic matter accumulation in the distal Colville foreland basin of Arctic Alaska and how those drivers are linked to arc volcanism and successions of Cretaceous oceanographic and climatic
Authors
Palma J. Botterell, Margaret M. Sanders, David W. Houseknecht, Richard O. Lease, William A. Rouse, Katherine J. Whidden, Julie A. Dumoulin, Rebecca A. Smith, Christina A. DeVera, Brett J. Valentine
History of terrestrial ecosystem development in southern Alexander Archipelago, Alaska since the onset of deglaciation History of terrestrial ecosystem development in southern Alexander Archipelago, Alaska since the onset of deglaciation
This chapter focuses on reconstructing the history of vegetation development in southern Alexander Archipelago (AA) of southeast Alaska during and after deglaciation up to the present day. It also summarizes key findings from recent paleoceanographic research in the Gulf of Alaska to provide a detailed, well-dated record of late Quaternary climate changes for the region. Understanding...
Authors
Thomas A. Ager, James F Baichtal
An enigmatic wild passerine mortality event in the eastern United States An enigmatic wild passerine mortality event in the eastern United States
The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons learned from past investigations. We report on the response to a...
Authors
Sabrina S. Greening, Julie C. Ellis, Nicole L. Lewis, David B. Needle, Cristina M. Tato, Susan Knowles, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Jaimie L. Miller, Daniel A. Grear, Jeffrey M. Lorch, David S. Blehert, Caitlin Burrell, Lisa A. Murphy, Erica A. Miller, C. Brandon Ogbunugafor, Andrea J. Ayala, W. Kelley Thomas, Megan S. Kirchgessner, Christine Casey, Ethan P. Barton, Michael J. Yabsley, Eman Anis, Roderick B. Gagne, Patrice Klein, Cindy P. Driscoll, Chelsea Sykes, Robert H. Poppenga, Nicole M. Nemeth
Understanding and predicting infection dynamics for an endangered amphibian using long-term surveys of wild and translocated frogs Understanding and predicting infection dynamics for an endangered amphibian using long-term surveys of wild and translocated frogs
Amphibians are a prominent component of Earth's sixth mass extinction and the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a primary driver of declines. Although Bd dynamics are well studied, the environmental drivers, exacerbating risk factors, and value of conservation interventions like translocations remain challenging to predict. Here, we present results from two decades...
Authors
Talisin T. Hammond, Adam R. Backlin, Elizabeth Gallegos, Debra M. Shier, Ronald R. Swaisgood, Robert N. Fisher
Integrated Hydro-terrestrial Modeling 2.0: Progress and path forward on building a national capability Integrated Hydro-terrestrial Modeling 2.0: Progress and path forward on building a national capability
Growing societal pressures on U.S. water resources and the challenges inherent in understanding how future water risks may evolve are driving major investments to improve our knowledge of the integrated water cycle. This improved understanding as captured in innovations in our data, knowledge, and modeling capabilities, needs to be accelerated through better integration and coordination...
Authors
Katherine Skalak, Nathalie Voisin, Patrick Read, Ying Fan Reinfelder
DNA metabarcoding of biocrust lichen-forming fungi detects responses to disturbance and invasion DNA metabarcoding of biocrust lichen-forming fungi detects responses to disturbance and invasion
Biocrusts dominated by bryophytes and lichens perform important functions in dryland ecosystems but monitoring these communities can be cost prohibitive over broad scales. We explored DNA metabarcoding as a potential tool for monitoring biocrust lichen communities at a site in Washington (U.S.A.) that had already been surveyed for lichen diversity and community composition. We developed...
Authors
Heather T Root, Bruce McCune, David A. Pyke, Steven D. Leavitt
Reply to, “Comment on ‘The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture,’ by Roger Bilham and Susan E. Hough” Reply to, “Comment on ‘The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture,’ by Roger Bilham and Susan E. Hough”
We welcome this opportunity to respond to Pratt et al. (2024) (hereinafter P24). Bilham and Hough (2023) proposed a “first-cut” elastic deformation model for the 1886 earthquake, a quantitative source model constrained by identified coseismic constraints. A key observation was the measurement of a lateral offset of a railroad line south of Summerville, leading to a model with...
Authors
Roger Bilham, Susan E. Hough
Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022) Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022)
Background The southeastern United States (‘Southeast’) experiences high levels of fire activity, but the preponderance of small and prescribed fires means that existing burn severity products are incomplete across the region. Aims We developed and applied a burn severity model across the Southeast to enhance our understanding of regional burn severity patterns. Methods We used Composite...
Authors
Melanie K. Vanderhoof, Casey Elizabeth Menick, Joshua J. Picotte, Kevin Robertson, Holly Nowell, Chris Matechik, Todd Hawbaker
Geochemical processes related to mined, milled, or natural metal deposits in a rapidly changing global environment Geochemical processes related to mined, milled, or natural metal deposits in a rapidly changing global environment
The demand for metals and raw materials, such as nickel and copper, has been projected to expand in the coming decades, driven by the global energy transition, the need for green technologies, and expanding infrastructure. Consequently, the increasing extraction and production of mining waste can have adverse impacts on surrounding environments and human health. The aim of this thematic...
Authors
Annika Parviainen, Kimberly R. Beisner, Johanna Blake, Edel Mary O'Sullivan, Clare Miller, Carolina Rosca