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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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A 21st Century butterfly net: Using eDNA to detect the imperiled Dakota skipper A 21st Century butterfly net: Using eDNA to detect the imperiled Dakota skipper

The development of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for terrestrial arthropods could be transformative for the difficult task of assessing the status of species of conservation concern. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of detecting the Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) from its DNA left behind on inflorescences as a means of inferring species presence. We...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Michaela Ray Grossklaus, Stacie A. Kageyama, Cale Nordmeyer, Jerry Reinisch, Erik Runquist, Stephen Frank Spear

New constraints on location and timing of the Great Lakes tectonic zone, central Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA New constraints on location and timing of the Great Lakes tectonic zone, central Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA

The Great Lakes tectonic zone (GLTZ) forms the boundary between the Wawa–Abitibi and Minnesota River Valley subprovinces within the Archean Superior Province. The GLTZ is concealed for all of its 1100 km length, except for a segment in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There, it is exposed as a northwest-striking mylonite zone along a 11 km segment, extending to the onlap of...
Authors
Benjamin J. Drenth, Amanda Kate Souders, William F. Cannon, Jay M. Thompson

Desert ecosystems shape diversification in glossy snakes (genus Arizona) requiring a re-alignment of evolutionary and conservation units Desert ecosystems shape diversification in glossy snakes (genus Arizona) requiring a re-alignment of evolutionary and conservation units

Subspecies are often targets for conservation, yet many lack the genetic data necessary to validate their status as distinctive evolutionary lineages. In 2016, conservationists faced this issue when designating the California glossy snake, Arizona elegans occidentalis, as a Species of Special Concern in California, a decision prompted by population declines and habitat loss but absent of...
Authors
Dustin Wood, Jonathan Q. Richmond, Michael F. Westphal, Bradford D. Hollingsworth, Robert D. Fisher, Amy G. Vandergast

Contribution of traffic emissions to PM2.5 concentrations at bus stops in Denver, Colorado Contribution of traffic emissions to PM2.5 concentrations at bus stops in Denver, Colorado

Individuals are routinely exposed to traffic-related air pollution on their commutes, which has significant health impacts. Mitigating exposure to traffic-related pollution is a key urban sustainability concern. In Denver, Colorado, low-income Americans are more likely to rely on buses and spend time waiting at bus stops. Evaluating the contribution of traffic emissions at bus stops can...
Authors
Priyanka deSouza, Phillip Hopke, Christian L'Orange, Peter Christian Ibsen, Carl Green, Brady Graeber, Brendan Cicione, Ruth Mekonnen, Saadhana Purushothama, Patrick Kinney, John Volckens

High-resolution multi-pollutant mapping in Denver, Colorado High-resolution multi-pollutant mapping in Denver, Colorado

Characterizing traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs), which significantly impact health, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) can be challenging in urban environments. Mobile monitoring has the potential to capture the spatial distribution of these pollutants. We present results from a campaign using the Denver Mobile Monitoring Laboratory (DMML) in the summer of 2023 when we measured ultrafine...
Authors
Priyanka deSouza, Benjamin Crawford, John L. Durant, Neelakshi Hudda, Peter Christian Ibsen, Christian L'Orange, Jose Jimenez, Brady Graeber, Brendan Cicione, Ruth Mekonnen, Saadhana Purushothama, Ralph Kahn, Patrick L. Kinney, John Volckens

Suspended sediment and fisheries: An exploration of empirical relationships Suspended sediment and fisheries: An exploration of empirical relationships

Objective: Sediment has an important role in aquatic ecosystems, however, excess sediment can negatively impact fish and other aquatic life. Quantifying the response of aquatic life, particularly fish, to suspended sediment is important for natural resource managers tasked with developing sediment management guidelines to protect aquatic ecosystems. Our goal was to assess the ability of
Authors
Ashleigh M. Pilkerton, Sara M. McCullough, Lindsay S. Patterson, Frank J. Rahel, Annika W. Walters

The morphological response to the 13 May 2022 major explosive event at Stromboli volcano, Italy, characterised by high-resolution UAS surveys The morphological response to the 13 May 2022 major explosive event at Stromboli volcano, Italy, characterised by high-resolution UAS surveys

Since 2019, the frequency of major explosive eruptions at Stromboli volcano (Italy) has increased, heightening the exposure of population and scientists to the hazards posed by ejecta. Morphological changes can directly alter the hazard potential associated with these phenomena. Here, we present a quantitative morphological analysis of changes of the crater terrace area linked to the 13...
Authors
Markus Schmid, Ulrich Kueppers, Tullio Ricci, Riccardo Civico, Valeria Cigala, David Fee, Julia E. Gestrich, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Corrado Cimarelli, Caron E.J. Vossen, Richard Michael Buzard, Maurizio Ripepe, Giorgio Lacanna, Donald B. Dingwell

Monitoring cyanobacteria temporal trends in a hypereutrophic lake using remote sensing: From multispectral to hyperspectral Monitoring cyanobacteria temporal trends in a hypereutrophic lake using remote sensing: From multispectral to hyperspectral

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated cyanotoxins are a concern for inland waters. Due to the extensive spatial coverage and frequent availability of satellite images, multispectral remote sensing tools demonstrate utility for monitoring these blooms. The next frontier for remote sensing of cyanoHABs in inland waters is hyperspectral data. Recent and upcoming...
Authors
Samantha L. Sharp, Alicia Cortes, Alexander L. Forrest, Carl J. Legleiter, Liane S. Guild, Yufang Jin, S. Geoffrey Schladow

Favorability mapping for hydrothermal power resource assessments of the Great Basin, USA Favorability mapping for hydrothermal power resource assessments of the Great Basin, USA

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is updating the 2008 assessment of conventional hydrothermal resources for the Great Basin in the western United States. As part of this work, the workflow for hydrothermal resource favorability maps is being modified to integrate modern data-driven machine learning (ML) methods. Improvements include: [1] using new and refined evidence layers (features)...
Authors
Stanley Paul Mordensky, Erick R. Burns, John Lipor, Jacob DeAngelo

Ten lessons for controlling invasive species: Wisdom from the long-standing sea lamprey control program on the Laurentian Great Lakes Ten lessons for controlling invasive species: Wisdom from the long-standing sea lamprey control program on the Laurentian Great Lakes

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America is among the largest and most successful control programs of an invasive species anywhere on the planet. The effort began more than 75 years ago; it unites multiple nations, states, and provinces with the common goal of controlling this invasive species and protecting a valuable fishery. The science...
Authors
Steven J. Cooke, Carrie Baker, Julie L. Mida Hinderer, Michael Siefkes, Jessica Barber, Todd B. Steeves, Margaret F. Docker, Weiming Li, Michael Wilkie, Michael L. Jones, Kelly Filer Robinson, Erin S. Dunlop, Cory O. Brant, Nicholas S. Johnson, William Mattes, Marc Gaden, Andrew M. Muir

First record of twin and triplet embryos found in the clutch of a wild Burmese python in southern Florida First record of twin and triplet embryos found in the clutch of a wild Burmese python in southern Florida

No abstract available.
Authors
Génesis Aponte Santiago, Judith E. Baird-Lujano, Jacquelyn C. Guzy, Derrick G. Biglin, John-Kaarli M. Rentof, George F. Bancroft, Christina M. Romagosa, Matthew McCollister, Kristen Hart

The role of fire on Earth The role of fire on Earth

Fire is a defining feature of our biosphere, having appeared when the first plants colonized the land, and it continues to occur across the planet at different frequencies and intensities. Fire has been and remains as an evolutionary force in many plant and animal lineages and contributes to explaining the variability of our biodiversity. Fire has also shaped the structure of many...
Authors
Juli G. Pausas, Jon Keeley, William J. Bond
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