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The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
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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Development of high-throughput genomic resources to inform white-tailed deer population and disease management Development of high-throughput genomic resources to inform white-tailed deer population and disease management
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the most abundant and widespread cervid in North America. Genetic data are used as a tool to monitor populations and make management decisions for this game species. However, the development and use of genomic tools that can generate a set of markers suitable for longitudinal genomic data collection, whether for management purposes or to...
Authors
David Navarro, Emily K. Latch, Anaïs K. Tallon, Caitlin N. Ott-Conn, Randy W. DeYoung, Daniel P. Walsh, Peter T. Euclide, R.G. Chandika, Wes A. Larson, Arun S. Seetharam, Andrew J. Severin, Andrew J. Severin, James M. Reecy, Zhi-Liang Hu, Jay R. Cantrell, Michelle Carstensen, Joe N. Caudell, Charlie H. Killmaster, Mitch L. Lockwood, William T. McKinley, Andrew S. Norton, Krysten L. Schuler, Daniel J. Storm, Jason A. Sumners, W. David Walter, Julie A. Blanchong
Assessing the topographic distribution of legacy soil phosphorus in agricultural fields of the Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA Assessing the topographic distribution of legacy soil phosphorus in agricultural fields of the Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA
Phosphorus (P) management remains a challenge in agricultural watersheds. The Choptank River Conservation Effects Assessment Project watershed, located in Maryland and Delaware and draining to the Chesapeake Bay, contains legacy soil P from historical dairy and poultry manure applications. These practices elevated soil P beyond crop needs, contributing to persistent P export to aquatic...
Authors
Maryam Foroughi, Ling Du, Isis P Scott, W. Dean Hively, Zachary P. Simpson, Zacharias J. Smith, Cathleen J. Hapeman, Martin C. Rabenhorst, Raymond R. Weil, Greg W. McCarty
Detection of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in paired large- and small-volume water samples Detection of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in paired large- and small-volume water samples
When sampling for waterborne microbes, researchers may need to diverge from recommended sample volumes due to logistical constraints, novel targets, or challenging matrices, with little guidance about the potential impact on results. In field studies, we measured bacteria, viruses, and protozoa (15 quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays) in paired large- and small-volume samples...
Authors
Joe Heffron, Joel P. Stokdyk, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Rachel M. Cook, Claire E. Hruby, Mark A. Borchardt
Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective approach to conduct inland surveys for marbled murrelets Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective approach to conduct inland surveys for marbled murrelets
The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a seabird of conservation concern that nests in late-successional, old-growth forests in Oregon, Washington, and California, USA. Traditional audio-visual surveys have been the standard method for detecting murrelets in forests. Given that murrelets can be extremely cryptic in forest environments, audio-visual surveys are difficult, time...
Authors
Alaina D. Thomas, Adam Duarte, Matt J. Gostin, James T. Peterson, Damon B. Lesmeister
Tracking the sources of metals to the San Juan River, Four Corners Region, USA: An introduction to the thematic issue Tracking the sources of metals to the San Juan River, Four Corners Region, USA: An introduction to the thematic issue
Surface water quantity and quality is important for arid and semi-arid regions where many people, including underserved and Indigenous communities, rely on a scarce resource for drinking water, irrigation, livestock and ceremonial uses. The southwestern United States, and specifically the Four Corners Region (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah), is an example of this situation...
Authors
Johanna Blake, Stephen A. Austin, Fred Johnson, Jeb E. Brown, Shaleene Chavarria, Rachel Lynn Mixon, C.A. Van Zante, Kate Wilkins, Michael Ray Whiting, Christina L. Ferguson, Zachary Shephard, K. Bosch, Tristan Joel Austring, Zoreya (Zev) Eden Ratigan, Anani Atahnibaa Shomour, Douglas Yager
Tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) causes non-negligible and multigenerational reproductive toxicity in zebrafish Tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) causes non-negligible and multigenerational reproductive toxicity in zebrafish
Tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) is one of the most extensively used brominated flame retardants detected in the environment. Despite its widespread presence, the effects of persistent environmental exposure to TBBPS on the reproductive system remain unclear, raising significant health concerns. Here, using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model, we identified significant intergenerational...
Authors
Wenhui Qiu, Shuai Liu, Xinyuan Kang, Yu Liu, Bentuo Xu, Chenyuan Pan, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Xin Yang, Jing Zheng, Chunmiao Zheng, Elvis Genbo Xu
Diversity of polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses in penguins from eastern and western Antarctica Diversity of polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses in penguins from eastern and western Antarctica
Polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses are icosahedral viruses with small circular dsDNA genomes. Limited information on their diversity and evolution in avian hosts is available, with even less known regarding Antarctic penguins. Prior to this study, only one polyomavirus and two papillomaviruses had been identified in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). To expand our knowledge of these...
Authors
Melanie Regney, Virginia Morandini, Annie E. Schmidt, Josabel Belliure, Amélie Lescroël, Megan Elrod, Amy Li, Aidan Cox, Danny Khor, Dennis Jongsomjit, Jean Pennycook, Christina Burnham, Nadia Swanson, Suzanne Winquist, Katie M. Dugger, David G. Ainley, Grant Ballard, Simona Kraberger, Arvind Varsani
Predictors of mercury and pesticide fluxes by emerging adult aquatic insects from prairie pothole wetlands Predictors of mercury and pesticide fluxes by emerging adult aquatic insects from prairie pothole wetlands
Aquatic and terrestrial food webs are linked by movements of aquatic insects during their development from larvae to adults. Contaminants can affect these linkages by reducing insect survival and increasing tissue contaminant concentrations through adult metamorphosis, thus changing contaminant flux from water to land. Most anthropogenically influenced freshwater ecosystems are exposed...
Authors
Johanna M. Kraus, Freya Elizabeth Rowland, Michelle L. Hladik, Kelen Dowdy, Matthew M. Chumchal
Late Quaternary pollen record from southwest Seward Peninsula, western Alaska, and the vegetation history of central Beringia Late Quaternary pollen record from southwest Seward Peninsula, western Alaska, and the vegetation history of central Beringia
Pollen analysis of samples from a coastal exposure near Teller, southwestern Seward Peninsula, Alaska, provides a record of vegetation and climate spanning the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) through the Holocene. The site is near the center of the former Bering Land Bridge (BLB). The oldest pollen-bearing sediment unit is a loess deposit of LGM age, with pollen assemblages that closely...
Authors
Thomas A. Ager
Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection
Temperature is a primary driver of heterogeneity in host–pathogen dynamics and understanding how patch-scale temperature affects landscape-scale patterns of pathogen infection is key to effective monitoring and management. In field studies, both temperature variability and mean temperature are often related to infection of ectothermic animals by fungal pathogens, and although these...
Authors
Brendan K Hobart, Daniel A. Grear, Megan Winzeler, Travis Mcdevitt-Galles, Timothy M Korpita, Erin L. Muths, Valerie J McKenzie
How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration
Introduction Coastal marshes are highly valuable ecosystems facing threats from rising sea levels and intensifying storm events. To elevate marsh surfaces and prevent loss of ecosystem services, the beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM) is increasingly being implemented across the United States. Objectives The objective of this study was to aid decision-makers and restoration...
Authors
Emily N. Fromenthal, Camille L. Stagg, Jena A. Moon, Taylor Abshier, Omar Alawneh, Jack A. Cadigan, Daniel A. Gallegos, Brian D. Harris, Nia R. Hurst, Navid H. Jafari, Todd Merendino, Matthew R. Nelson, Michael J. Osland, Philip Pauling, Michael Rezsutek, Colt R. Sanspree, Rachel Katherine Villani
Overestimated natural biological nitrogen fixation translates to an exaggerated CO2 fertilization effect in Earth System Models Overestimated natural biological nitrogen fixation translates to an exaggerated CO2 fertilization effect in Earth System Models
CO2 fertilization of the terrestrial biosphere is limited by nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the dominant natural nitrogen source to the terrestrial biosphere and can alleviate nitrogen limitation but is poorly constrained in Earth system models (ESMs). Here, we compare terrestrial BNF from an ensemble of ESMs of the 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project to a new...
Authors
Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, Carla R. Reis Ely, Steven S. Perakis, Cory C. Cleveland, Duncan N.L. Menge, Sasha C. Reed, Benton N. Taylor, Sarah A. Batterman, Timothy E. Crews, Katherine A. Dynarski, Maga G. Gei, Michael J. Gundale, David F. Herridge, Sarah E. Jovan, Mark B. Peoples, Johannes Piipponen, Emilio Rodríguez-Caballero, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Anika P. Staccone, Bettina Weber, Christopher A. Williams, Nina Wurzburger