Articles
Science Quality and Integrity
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
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.
Filter Total Items: 78116
Revisiting chlorophyll a thresholds for San Francisco Bay: Insights from observations of phytoplankton molecular abundance Revisiting chlorophyll a thresholds for San Francisco Bay: Insights from observations of phytoplankton molecular abundance
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a hazard for coastal environments worldwide; identifying screening thresholds of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) associated with increased risk of HABs is a management priority. Molecular surveillance of coastal phytoplankton and bivalve biotoxins could be used to link chl-a with HAB risk, but requires an understanding of whether the HAB risks increase uniformly as...
Authors
Daniel Killam, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Martha Sutula, Raphael Kudela, James Hagy, Stephanie Anderson, David Senn
Invasion potential of nonnative fishes through a large western dam into an iconic and vulnerable ecosystem Invasion potential of nonnative fishes through a large western dam into an iconic and vulnerable ecosystem
Native fishes face imperilment due to habitat loss and fragmentation, megadrought, invasive species, and synergies amongst threats. These threats coalesce at Glen Canyon Dam (GCD), which impounds the Colorado River to create Lake Powell, a reservoir inhabited by a suite of nonnative fishes. Water level in Lake Powell has declined precipitously due to water overallocation and megadrought
Authors
Barrett Friesen, Casey A. Pennock, Phaedra E. Budy
Constructed value of information with iterative scoring and parametric uncertainty to identify management-relevant research priorities for a declining raptor species Constructed value of information with iterative scoring and parametric uncertainty to identify management-relevant research priorities for a declining raptor species
Constructed value of information (CVoI) is an expert elicitation decision-analytic tool used to prioritize sources of uncertainty based on their potential to improve decision outcomes if resolved. Despite increased application of CVoI, the robustness of CVoI prioritization of sources of uncertainty relative to differences in expert elicitation and scoring methods has not been evaluated...
Authors
Kristin P. Davis, Mitchell J. Eaton, Emily R. Bjerre, Hillary M. White, Clint W. Boal, Jennifer H. Herner-Thogmartin, Orin J. Robinson, Abigail Jean Lawson
Habitat-based predictions of bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) in the northeastern U.S. Habitat-based predictions of bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) in the northeastern U.S.
We sought to assess bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) habitat associations at local and regional scales across southern Maine and New Hampshire. We used local habitat data at 95 Maine sites to predict occupancy with classification and regression trees (CART). We then used ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) to model the historical (1898–2008) and current (2009–2022) ranges of...
Authors
Lara S. Katz, Stephen M. Coghlan, Matthew A. Carpenter, Michael T. Kinnison, Joseph D. Zydlewski
Inference of pattern-based geological CO2 sequestration and oil recovery potential in a commingled main pay and residual oil zone CO2-EOR flood Inference of pattern-based geological CO2 sequestration and oil recovery potential in a commingled main pay and residual oil zone CO2-EOR flood
Several detailed studies have shown that residual oil zones (ROZs) can present significant resources for additional hydrocarbon recovery as well as subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration via enhanced oil recovery by injecting CO2 (CO2-EOR). Field development strategies included new wells drilled dedicated to main pay zones (MPZ) and ROZs, or existing wells in MPZs deepened to ROZs...
Authors
C. Ozgen Karacan, Emil Attanasi, Sean T. Brennan, Peter D. Warwick
Experimental translocation of a rare Hawaiian tree reveals disparity between remnant and potential habitat Experimental translocation of a rare Hawaiian tree reveals disparity between remnant and potential habitat
Translocation is implemented worldwide as a conservation strategy for rare and endangered plant species, yet the factors that influence long-term success remain poorly understood. Remnant wild populations are often used as indicators to model habitat preference and select translocation sites, but such populations may be refugia from past biological or anthropogenic stressors and...
Authors
Julia Douglas, Mingzhou Bai, Lucas Berio Fortini, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Nina Rønsted
Intraspecific contact among white-tailed deer: A literature review and chronic wasting disease case study Intraspecific contact among white-tailed deer: A literature review and chronic wasting disease case study
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a valuable game mammal in the eastern United States necessitating detailed understanding of disease transmission. We conducted a literature review on intraspecific contact (i.e., interactions wherein disease transmission may occur) among deer. From 69 studies, we identified five themes underlying research on intraspecific deer contact...
Authors
Nathaniel H. Wehr, Kristin J. Bondo, Christopher S. Rosenberry, David Stainbrook, Bret D. Wallingford, W. David Walter
Groundwater quality near an oil field in a stream-dominated recharge setting, California, USA Groundwater quality near an oil field in a stream-dominated recharge setting, California, USA
Alluvial valley aquifers are important sources of water supply in many areas but effects of co-located oil and gas development on these resources have not been widely reported, especially in settings where recharge is dominated by stream infiltration. Interpreting the presence of geochemical indicators in the context of hydrology, geology, and other factors provides a more complete...
Authors
Jennifer S. Stanton, Michael J. Stephens, Matthew K. Landon, David H. Shimabukuro, Andrew G. Hunt, Justin T. Kulongoski, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Theron A. Sowers
Monitoring changes in Landsat thermal features in urban and non-urban interfaces from 1986 to 2023 in two international urban centers: Implications for climate and global issues Monitoring changes in Landsat thermal features in urban and non-urban interfaces from 1986 to 2023 in two international urban centers: Implications for climate and global issues
Rapid urbanization is reshaping thermal environments worldwide, with the strongest impacts occurring at the interface between urban and non-urban areas. Impervious surfaces, as key indicators of urban expansion, are critical for monitoring urban growth and assessing surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects. Land use and land cover change (LULCC) provides an essential link between urban...
Authors
Hua Shi, Christopher P. Barber, Kristi L. Sayler, Kelcy Smith, Reza Hussain
Tracking baseflow supply dynamics using SWOT data from small groundwater-dominated lakes Tracking baseflow supply dynamics using SWOT data from small groundwater-dominated lakes
In situ surface-water monitoring strategies are biased towards larger perennial streams and lakes and are generally not designed to track mechanisms of baseflow supply contributed by the dynamic storage of aquifers. Additionally, small (
Authors
Martin A. Briggs, Merritt Elizabeth Harlan, David M. Rey, Danielle K. Hare, Denis R. LeBlanc, David F. Boutt, Michael N. Gooseff
Hierarchical mixture models and high-resolution monitoring data can inform siting and operational strategies to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines Hierarchical mixture models and high-resolution monitoring data can inform siting and operational strategies to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines
Bats provide critical ecosystem services, but bat fatalities due to wind energy development may imperil some bat populations. Statistical models are used to estimate the total fatalities that occur based on carcasses observed during monitoring surveys. Current models often estimate fatalities aggregated across species, time, and/or turbines, but fall short of reliably informing siting...
Authors
Charles J. Labuzzetta, Arnold (Contractor) Johnsen, Amber Andress, Teresa Bohner, Alejandro Grajal-Puche, Megan Seymour, Bethany R. Straw, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Bradley James Udell, Ashton M. Wiens, James E. Diffendorfer
Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response
Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland...
Authors
Samantha J. Worthy, Justin C. Luong, Brooke E. Wainwright, Jonathan Aguiñaga, Harald Auge, Anca C. Barcu, Amgaa Batbaatar, Karen H. Beard, Edward W. Bork, Katherine E. Brafford, Kerry M. Byrne, James F. Cahill, Michele Carbognani, Cameron N. Carlyle, Karen Castillioni, Manjunatha H. Chandregowda, Scott X. Chang, Jeff Chieppa, Amber C. Churchill, Jennifer E. Cribbs, Thomas Deola, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Anne Ebeling, Nico Eisenhauer, Elise C. Elwood, Regina A. Fairbanks, T'ai G.W. Forte, Flavia A. Funk, Anjum K. Gujral, Siri V. Haugum, Yann Hautier, Hugh A. L. Henry, Forest Isbell, Anke Jentsch, Samuel E. Jordan, Sally E. Koerner, Juergen Kreyling, György Kröel-Dulay, Andrew Kulmatiski, Eric G. Lamb, Michael E. Loik, María G. Longo, Alejandro Loydi, Dylan J. MacArthur-Waltz, Clara Milano, John W. Morgan, Akira S. Mori, Seth M. Munson, Gregory S. Newman, Uffe N. Nielsen, Rory C. O'Connor, Timothy J. Ohlert, Brooke Bossert Osborne, Rafael Otfinowski, Meelis Pärtel, Guadalupe Peter, Pablo L. Peri, Alessandro Petraglia, Juan M. Piñeiro-Guerra, Laura W. Ploughe, Cristy Portales-Reyes, Sally A. Power, Suzanne M. Prober, Yolanda Pueyo, Christiane Roscher, Bráulio A. Santos, Melinda D. Smith, Lara A. Souza, Andreas Stampfli, Rachel J. Standish, Marie Sünnemann, Michelle J. Tedder, Pål Thorvaldsen, Katja Tielbörger, Alejandro Valdecantos, Liesbeth van den Brink, Vigdis Vandvik, Liv G. Velle, Jennifer L. Williams, Amelia A. Wolf, Laura Yahdjian, Alyssa L. Young, Juan M. Zeberio, Michaela Zeiter, Richard P. Phillips, Jennifer L. Funk