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Browse more than 65,000 articles authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

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Applying mark-resight, count, and telemetry data to estimate effective sampling area and fish density with stationary underwater cameras Applying mark-resight, count, and telemetry data to estimate effective sampling area and fish density with stationary underwater cameras

Accurate estimates of abundance and density for geographically open populations must account for the effective sampling area (ESA) of sampling gears. We describe a Marked N-Mixture model to estimate ESA and density (number of individuals/unit area) from repeated counts of unmarked and marked individuals, integrating mark-resight, camera counts, and telemetry data of red snapper (Lutjanus
Authors
Viviane Zulian, Krishna Pacifici, Nathan M. Bacheler, Jeffrey A. Buckel, William F. Patterson III, Brian J. Reich, Kyle W. Shertzer, Nathan J. Hostetter

Distinguishing natural sources from anthropogenic events in seismic data Distinguishing natural sources from anthropogenic events in seismic data

As seismic data are increasingly used to investigate a diverse range of subsurface phenomena beyond regular fast-rupturing earthquakes (Peng and Gomberg, 2010; Beroza and Ide, 2011), it is important to acknowledge that human-generated ground vibrations may be mistaken for naturally generated subsurface processes (Larose et al., 2015; Li et al., 2018). Correct discrimination of natural...
Authors
Sean Maher, Margaret Elizabeth Glasgow, Elizabeth S. Cochran, Zhigang Peng

Roles of host and environment in shift of primary anthrax host species in Kruger National Park Roles of host and environment in shift of primary anthrax host species in Kruger National Park

Environmental and climatic factors, as well as host demographics and behaviour, significantly influence the exposure of herbivorous mammalian hosts to pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Until the early 1990s in Kruger National Park (KNP), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) was the host species most affected by anthrax, with outbreaks occurring...
Authors
Sunday O. Ochai, Lourens Snyman, Amelie C. Dolfi, Abel Ramoelo, Brian K. Reilly, Judith M. Botha, Edgar H. Dekker, O. Louis van Schalkwyk, Pauline L. Kamath, Emma Archer, Wendy Christine Turner, Henriette van Heerden

Bayesian networks facilitate updating of species distribution and habitat suitability models Bayesian networks facilitate updating of species distribution and habitat suitability models

Managers often rely on predictions of species distributions and habitat suitability to inform conservation and management decisions. Although numerous approaches are available to develop models to make these predictions, few approaches exist to update existing models as new data accumulate. There is a need for updatable models to ensure good modeling practices in an aim to keep pace with...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Robert S. Spaan, James T. Peterson, Christopher Pearl, Michael J. Adams

Evolutionary perspectives on thiamine supplementation of managed Pacific salmonid populations Evolutionary perspectives on thiamine supplementation of managed Pacific salmonid populations

Thiamine deficiency complex (TDC) has been identified in an ever-expanding list of species and populations. In many documented occurrences of TDC in fishes, juvenile mortality can be high—up to 90% at the population level. Such sweeping demographic losses and concomitant decreases in genetic diversity due to TDC can be prevented by treating pre-spawn females or fertilized eggs with...
Authors
Avril M. Harder, Aimee N. Reed, Freya Elizabeth Rowland

Using remote sensing to identify habitat for wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii) Using remote sensing to identify habitat for wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii)

The Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) is a grassland bird species that overwinters in the southeastern United States and is a species of conservation concern due to population declines primarily caused by habitat loss. Henslow's Sparrows often overwinter in marginal habitats, such as powerline rights-of-way (ROWs), clear cuts, and field edges that provide some of their desired...
Authors
Sierra A. Moore, Abigail W. Dwire, Thomas J. Prebyl, Todd M. Schneider, Elizabeth Ann Hunter

A meta-analysis highlights the idiosyncratic nature of tradeoffs in laboratory models of virus evolution A meta-analysis highlights the idiosyncratic nature of tradeoffs in laboratory models of virus evolution

Different theoretical frameworks have been invoked to guide the study of virus evolution. Three of the more prominent ones are (i) the evolution of virulence, (ii) life history theory, and (iii) the generalism–specialism dichotomy. All involve purported tradeoffs between traits that define the evolvability and constraint of virus-associated phenotypes. However, as popular as these...
Authors
Ketty Kabengele, Wendy Christine Turner, Paul E. Turner, C. Brandon Ogbunugafor

Disparities in Perimyotis subflavus body mass between cave and culvert hibernacula in Georgia, USA Disparities in Perimyotis subflavus body mass between cave and culvert hibernacula in Georgia, USA

The tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), once common in the eastern United States, has experienced significant mortality due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that primarily affects bats hibernating in caves and mines. In coastal regions of the southeastern United States, where caves and mines are scarce, tricolored bats often use roadway culverts as hibernacula. However...
Authors
Emily Ferrall, S. Perea, K.M. Morris, P.E. Pattavina, Brian J. Irwin, J. Hepinstall-Cymerman, S.B. Castleberry

An audience segmentation study of native plant gardening behaviors in the United States An audience segmentation study of native plant gardening behaviors in the United States

Audience segmentation can be used to identify target audiences in environmental public engagement and communication, but few studies have used segmentation to study biodiversity conservation behavior. This study used segmentation to better understand perceptions and behaviors around different types of actions related to native plant gardening. With a United States representative survey...
Authors
Veronica M. Champine, Kaiya Tamlyn, Megan Siobhan Jones, Meena M. Balgopal, Brett Bruyere, Jennifer N. Solomon, Rebecca M. Niemiec

Gray wolf breeders are more vulnerable to harvest during the breeding season Gray wolf breeders are more vulnerable to harvest during the breeding season

In cooperatively breeding carnivores, breeders are vital to perpetuating the group; the death or removal of an individual breeder can greatly affect group composition, genetic content, and short-term population growth. Understanding the number of breeders harvested and timing of harvest can increase our knowledge of how mortality affects groups of cooperative breeders. Gray wolves (Canis...
Authors
Peter F. Rebholz, Lisette P. Waits, David Edward Ausband

Cosmogenic 21Ne exposure ages on late Pleistocene moraines in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA Cosmogenic 21Ne exposure ages on late Pleistocene moraines in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA

We report new cosmogenic 21Ne in quartz exposure ages from 18 samples on three distinct moraines deposited in the Lost Creek drainage, approximately 3–7 km down-valley from Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Although measuring 21Ne in quartz is generally straightforward, accurate 21Ne exposure dating of deposits of late Pleistocene is rarely possible due to the significant...
Authors
Joseph P. Tulenko, Greg Balco, Michael A. Clynne, L.J. Patrick Muffler

High genetic diversity, low population genetic structure, strong natal philopatry, and longevity revealed in the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger borealis) High genetic diversity, low population genetic structure, strong natal philopatry, and longevity revealed in the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger borealis)

Genetic diversity is a critical cornerstone of biodiversity and is a central goal in management and conservation biology. Such diversity has implications for survivability, adaptability, and resiliency of a species. This study aimed to determine levels of genetic diversity and population genetic structure in the Northern Black Swift (Cypseloides niger borealis). This species nests across...
Authors
Carolyn Gunn, Kim Potter, Jennifer A. Fike, Sara J. Oyler-McCance
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