Publications

Translocations have been widely used to restore and conserve bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations in North America. Some translocations have been successful, but many populations remain small and genetically isolated. Population structure can influence the viability and long-term success of reintroductions. Social ungulates often function as interconnected subpopulations...

Pervasive marine pollution can have devastating effects on ocean health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), and Organochlorine Pesticides (OCP) are of particular concern given their high level of toxicity and carcinogenicity. These compounds originate from anthropogenic activity, therefore are often ubiquitous in coastal environments close to human...

Background: As solar energy development expands in desert regions, new installation practices and solar technologies seek to balance ecosystem conservation and energy generation (ecovoltaics). The Gemini Solar Project, a large ecovoltaic facility located in the northeastern Mojave Desert, employed low impact installation methods to reduce disturbance of the desert ecosystem within arrays...

The flea-borne agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, is lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFFs) and the prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PDs) on which BFFs depend for habitat and prey. We developed bait pellets containing insecticides for flea control with PDs. Individual baits contained 0.46, 0.91, 1.21, or 1.52 mg fipronil, 5.40 mg afoxolaner, 50.62 mg fluralaner, or...

Objective: Introduction of non-native salmonids to western United States streams has resulted in extirpation and even extinction of native cutthroat trout. Once thought to be extinct, a genetically verified population of Greenback Cutthroat Trout (GBCT) Oncorhynchus virginalis stomias was identified and used for population re-establishment efforts. To restore native trout habitat, stream...

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is an antioxidant and antiozonant widely used in tires. When 6PPD reacts with ozone, it transforms into a breakdown product called 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ). Both compounds are currently being studied because of their high aquatic toxicity to fish, particularly coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). The Washington State Legislature...

Objective Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. reared in production hatcheries are typically fed high-lipid, energy-dense diets to achieve large size and high body condition prior to release. In contrast, juveniles in natural environments tend to consume low-lipid, high-protein diets, and fish reared for research or conservation purposes are sometimes fed diets that are formulated to mimic...

The frequent detection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment raises concern for aquatic systems. Carbamazepine (CBZ), an antiepileptic drug, is among the most detected PPCP globally, with concentrations in surface water exceeding those that induce toxicity to aquatic organisms. Non-targeted transcriptomic profiling was conducted in zebrafish (Danio...

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona, conducted a study to assess the effects of climate change on the Fort Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona. Although weather refers to short-term conditions of the atmosphere, such as air temperature, humidity, presence or absence of precipitation, wind...

Volcanic plumes are important because they spread volcanic material, can impact climate, and pose hazards to aviation. Among eruption processes, column collapse is arguably the most consequential in terms of direct impacts, as it marks the onset of ground-hugging pyroclastic density currents that pose the greatest immediate threat to life and infrastructure. This study inves- tigates how...

We evaluated the effects of fipronil bait pellets on two cricetids that commonly occupy colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; BTPDs): western deer mice (Peromyscus sonoriensis) and northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster). In one experiment, bait pellets (0.96 mg fipronil/bait) were applied at 75 baits/ha to three 1.44-ha plots on a BTPD colony. Mouse...

Stable isotope analysis is used often in ecological studies to examine dietary patterns of consumers and food web structure, yet we still know little regarding some underlying assumptions, including for well-studied species like rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. We assessed δ13C and δ15N discrimination (∆) and turnover rates in blood, liver and white muscle of rainbow trout fed natural...