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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.

Filter Total Items: 175380

Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow

Impact craters, with their well-defined initial shapes, have proven useful as heat flow probes of a number of icy bodies, provided characteristics of viscous relaxation can be identified. For Pluto's numerous craters, such identifications are hampered/complicated by infilling and erosion by mobile volatile ices, but not in every case. Large craters offer relatively deep probes of...
Authors
W. B. McKinnon, Michael T. Bland, K. Singer, P. M. Schenk, S. Robbins

Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control

Excluding non-target species from invasive species control efforts can be challenging due to non-target attraction to trap structure, baits, and lures. Various methods have been used to deter non-target species from entering or disturbing traps including altered features (e.g., mesh size, trip mechanism, or entrances), staking traps, and chemical deterrents. Invasive populations of...
Authors
Lance D McBrayer, Daniel Haro, Michael Brennan, Bryan G. Falk, Amy A. Yackel Adams

Assessing environmental change associated with early Eocene hyperthermals in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA Assessing environmental change associated with early Eocene hyperthermals in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA

Eocene transient global warming events (hyperthermals) can provide insight into a future warmer world. While much research has focused on the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), hyperthermals of a smaller magnitude can be used to characterize climatic responses over different magnitudes of forcing. This study identifies two events, namely the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2 and H2)...
Authors
William Rush, Jean Self-Trail, Yan Zhan, Appy Sluijs, Henk Brinkhuis, James Zachos, James G. Ogg, Marci M. Robinson

Trace elements and consequent ecological risks in mining- influenced streams of Appalachia Trace elements and consequent ecological risks in mining- influenced streams of Appalachia

Appalachian coal surface mines fracture geologic materials, causing release of both major ions and trace elements to water via accelerated weathering. When elevated above natural background, trace elements in streams may produce adverse effects to biota via direct exposure from water and sediment and via dietary exposure in food sources. Other studies have found elevated water...
Authors
Elyse V. Clark, David J. Soucek, Stephen H. Schoenholtz, Keridwen M. Whitmore, Carl E. Zipper

The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN): Reflections on 20 years of progress The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN): Reflections on 20 years of progress

No abstract available.
Authors
Claire J. Horwell, Peter J. Baxter, David Damby, Tamar Elias, Evgenia Ilyinskaya, R Stephen J Sparks, Carol Stewart, Ines Tomasek

Fire characteristics and hydrologic connectivity influence short-term responses of north temperate lakes to wildfire Fire characteristics and hydrologic connectivity influence short-term responses of north temperate lakes to wildfire

Despite increasing wildfires, few studies have investigated seasonal water quality responses to wildfire characteristics (e.g., burn severity) across a large number of lakes. We monitored 30 total lakes (15 burned, 15 control) monthly following the Greenwood Fire in Minnesota, USA, a lake-rich region with historically prevalent wildfire. We found increases in median concentrations of...
Authors
Ian M. McCullough, Jennifer A. Brentrup, Tyler Wagner, Jean-Francois Lapierre, Jerald Henneck, Andrea M. Paul, Mathilde Belair, Max. A. Moritz, Christopher T. Filstrup

Discrete streamflow measurements and waterborne self-potential logging of a 43-kilometer-long reach of the Elm Fork Trinity River upstream from Dallas, Texas Discrete streamflow measurements and waterborne self-potential logging of a 43-kilometer-long reach of the Elm Fork Trinity River upstream from Dallas, Texas

Continuous and discrete streamflow data were combined with waterborne self-potential (WaSP), surface-water temperature and surface-water conductivity surveys obtained along an approximately 43-kilometer (26.7 mile) surveyed reach of the Elm Fork Trinity River (hereinafter referred to as “Elm Fork”) upstream from Dallas, Texas, to investigate areas of gaining and losing streamflow under...
Authors
Jonathan V. Thomas, Scott Ikard, Roger K. Trader, David Rodriguez

The challenges of success: Future wolf conservation and management in the United States The challenges of success: Future wolf conservation and management in the United States

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) recovery and conservation has been a remarkable success over the last 30 years in the United States. Remarkable success yields remarkable challenges, however. As populations expand, wolves will colonize more human-dominated landscapes and face numerous challenges, such as fragmented habitats, barriers to dispersal, and increased encounters with humans, pets, and...
Authors
David Edward Ausband, L. David Mech

Mapping planetary bodies Mapping planetary bodies

As the United States and its space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), looks to send humans back to the Moon, many other countries and their space agencies are also sending orbiters, rovers, and sample return missions across the Solar System. We are living in an extraordinary age of planetary exploration, where every mission builds on the decades of...
Authors
Trent M. Hare

Global methane emissions from rivers and streams Global methane emissions from rivers and streams

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas and its concentrations have tripled in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. There is evidence that global warming has increased CH4 emissions from freshwater ecosystems1,2, providing positive feedback to the global climate. Yet for rivers and streams, the controls and the magnitude of CH4 emissions remain highly uncertain3,4. Here we...
Authors
Gerard Rocher-Ros, Emily H. Stanley, Luke C. Loken, Nora J. Casson, Peter A. Raymond, Shaoda Liu, Giuseppe Amatulli, Ryan A. Sponseller

Functional traits explain waterbirds’ host status, subtype richness, and community-level infection risk for avian influenza Functional traits explain waterbirds’ host status, subtype richness, and community-level infection risk for avian influenza

Species functional traits can influence pathogen transmission processes, and consequently affect species' host status, pathogen diversity, and community-level infection risk. We here investigated, for 143 European waterbird species, effects of functional traits on host status and pathogen diversity (subtype richness) for avian influenza virus at species level. We then explored the...
Authors
Shenglai Yin, Ning Li, Wenjie Xu, Daniel Becker, Willem F. de Boer, Chi Xu, Taej Mundkur, Nicholas M Fountain-Jones, Chunlin Li, Guan-zhu Han, Qiang Wu, Diann Prosser, Lijuan Cui, Zheng Huang

A multi-ecosystem prioritization framework to balance competing habitat conservation needs of multiple species in decline A multi-ecosystem prioritization framework to balance competing habitat conservation needs of multiple species in decline

Context Individual species often drive habitat restoration action; however, management under this paradigm may negatively affect non-target species. Prioritization frameworks which explicitly consider benefits to target species while minimizing consequences for non-target species may improve management strategies and outcomes.Objectives We examined extents to which conifer removal, an...
Authors
Nicholas J. Van Lanen, Jessica E. Shyvers, Courtney J. Duchardt, Cameron L. Aldridge
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