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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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Near-surface material and topography generate anomalous high-frequency ground motion amplification in Chugiak, Alaska Near-surface material and topography generate anomalous high-frequency ground motion amplification in Chugiak, Alaska

An ∼3 km long nodal array oriented approximately east–west was deployed in Chugiak, Alaska, by the U.S. Geological Survey during 2021. The array intersects with the permanent NetQuakes station NP.ARTY, where peak ground acceleration (PGA) value of 1.98g was recorded during the 2018 Mw 7.1 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake, in sharp contrast to the PGA of ∼0.3g at a site just 4 km to the west...
Authors
Te-Yang Yeh, Kim B. Olsen, Jamison Haase Steidl, Peter J. Haeussler

Using periodic matrix models to simulate the effectiveness of alternative reintroduction strategies for lizards on a seasonal tropical island Using periodic matrix models to simulate the effectiveness of alternative reintroduction strategies for lizards on a seasonal tropical island

Conservation translocations and reintroductions are widely used to improve conservation outcomes for declining species. Reintroductions are unlikely to be successful if the threats that led to the extirpation of the focal species, such as non-native predators, have not been ameliorated. The non-native brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) was introduced to Guam in the mid-20th century and...
Authors
Jonathan P. Rose, Brian J. Halstead, Melia G. Nafus

The bat signal: An ultraviolet light lure to increase acoustic detection of bats The bat signal: An ultraviolet light lure to increase acoustic detection of bats

Bats are a taxa of high conservation concern and are facing numerous threats including widespread mortality due to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in North America. With this decline comes increasing difficulty in monitoring imperiled bat species due to lower detection probabilities of both mist-netting and acoustic surveys. Lure technology shows promise to increase detection while decreasing...
Authors
Samuel R. Freeze, Sabrina M. Deeley, Amber S. Litterer, J. Mark Freeze, W. Mark Ford

Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound

Release of methane, as gas bubbles or in the dissolved phase, from the seafloor has been observed in coastal waters ( 1000 m). Methane dissolution within the water column affects the geochemistry of the surrounding water, leading to localized oxygen loss and potential escape to the atmosphere, particularly from shallower sites. Traditional methods for detecting and quantifying dissolved...
Authors
Alexandra M. Padilla, William Pardis, Jason Kapit, Tor A. Bjorklund, Nicholas D. Ward, Daniel J. Fornari, Susan Hautala, William F. Waite, H. Paul Johnson, Anna P. Michel

Home range, seasonality, and the importance of canopy cover for Texas Tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri) Home range, seasonality, and the importance of canopy cover for Texas Tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri)

Texas Tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri) are understudied compared to federally protected congeners. Despite important early studies on the basic ecology of G. berlandieri, quantitative identification of habitat associations with specific environmental conditions has been limited. Gopherus berlandieri inhabits Tamaulipan thornscrub across its range, and coastal populations are historically
Authors
Daniel A. Guerra, Todd C. Esque, Drew R. Davis, Joseph A. Veech

The story of the Penobscot River Ecology Mural: A 10-step process for scientists to create public art The story of the Penobscot River Ecology Mural: A 10-step process for scientists to create public art

Rivers are home to a wide variety of biota, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, freshwater mussels, aquatic insects, and microscopic organisms that fill unique niches to support broader ecosystem functions. While the general public may be aware of recreationally relevant biological life (e.g., fishes and insects to model flyfishing flies from), they may not be aware of more...
Authors
Jillian Fedarick, Christina Amy Murphy, Sydne Record, Allison H. Roy, Annette Dodd, Susan L. Smith

Development of PCR blocking primers enabling DNA metabarcoding analysis of dietary composition in hematophagous sea lamprey Development of PCR blocking primers enabling DNA metabarcoding analysis of dietary composition in hematophagous sea lamprey

Conventional dietary assessments are challenging in hematophagous species, particularly in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). However, recent technological developments and molecular approaches have provided an attractive alternative through the use of DNA metabarcoding. While DNA metabarcoding has been used for dietary analyses in numerous species, including lampreys, applications of...
Authors
Conor O'Kane, Nicholas S. Johnson, Kim T. Scribner, Jeannette Kanefsky, Weiming Li, John D. Robinson

Divergent trends in fluvial suspended-sediment concentrations following improved land-use practices, southwest Washington State Divergent trends in fluvial suspended-sediment concentrations following improved land-use practices, southwest Washington State

Improvements in logging practices since the mid-20th century are widely presumed to have reduced suspended sediment loads in streams across the Pacific Northwest. However, there have been few opportunities to directly assess this, particularly in larger rivers. We compare modern (2019–22) and historical (1960s) suspended sediment monitoring in three large, actively managed watersheds in...
Authors
Scott W Anderson, Christopher A. Curran, Oscar A. Wilkerson, Katie Seguin

Invasive hitchhiking organisms on aquarium plants: An emerging pathway of introduction Invasive hitchhiking organisms on aquarium plants: An emerging pathway of introduction

The aquarium trade is a global industry responsible for the movement of live plants and animals, but it also serves as a major pathway for the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. Invasive species contribute to biodiversity loss, disrupt ecosystems, and can have widespread economic and societal impacts. A significant but poorly understood invasion risk in the plant...
Authors
Kathryn A. O'Shaughnessy, Wesley M. Daniel, Zoey C.W. Hendrickson, Samantha N. Smith, Ashley M. McDonald, Charles W. Martin

A compilation pipeline for wildlife tracking datasets collected from ground-based and satellite-based telemetry transmission devices A compilation pipeline for wildlife tracking datasets collected from ground-based and satellite-based telemetry transmission devices

Wildlife conservation planning increasingly requires collaboration and integration of research from discrete studies spanning large geographic areas. Tracking datasets are essential for analyzing animal movements and species distributions in relation to environmental conditions and combining them can enable powerful analyses to further aid planning efforts. However, combining datasets...
Authors
Gregory T. Wann, Ashley L. Whipple, Michael S. O’Donnell, Cameron L. Aldridge

Assessing policy effectiveness trends in nonindigenous aquatic species introduction in the Ohio River basin Assessing policy effectiveness trends in nonindigenous aquatic species introduction in the Ohio River basin

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) create costly, detrimental effects when established. Recognition of this in the United States reached a threshold in 1990 with the federal passage of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. This act created six regional panels, the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, and incentivized state-level AIS planning. The management...
Authors
Abigail N. Clasgens, Brent A. Murry, Kaylyn Zipp, Caroline C. Arantes, Matthew Neilson

Improved prediction of postfire debris flows through rainfall anomaly maps Improved prediction of postfire debris flows through rainfall anomaly maps

Predicting where runoff-generated debris flows might occur during rainfall on steep, recently burned terrain is challenging. Studies of mass-movement processes in unburned areas indicate that event locations are well-predicted by rainfall anomaly, R*, in which peak observed rainfall is normalized by local rainfall climatology. Here, we use remote and field methods to map debris flows...
Authors
David B. Cavagnaro, Scott W. McCoy, Matthew A. Thomas, Jaime Kostelnik, Donald N. Lindsay
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