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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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Epidemiological differences between sexes affect management efficacy in simulated chronic wasting disease systems Epidemiological differences between sexes affect management efficacy in simulated chronic wasting disease systems
Sex-based differences in physiology, behaviour and demography commonly result in differences in disease prevalence. However, sex differences in prevalence may reflect exposure rather than transmission, which could affect disease control programmes. One potential example is chronic wasting disease (CWD), which has been observed at greater prevalence among male than female deer.We used an...
Authors
William J. Rogers, Ellen E. Brandell, Paul C. Cross
Population structure, intergroup interaction, and human contact govern infectious disease impacts in mountain gorilla populations Population structure, intergroup interaction, and human contact govern infectious disease impacts in mountain gorilla populations
Infectious zoonotic diseases are a threat to wildlife conservation and global health. They are especially a concern for wild apes, which are vulnerable to many human infectious diseases. As ecotourism, deforestation, and great ape field research increase, the threat of human-sourced infections to wild populations becomes more substantial and could result in devastating population...
Authors
Christopher A. Whittier, Felicia B. Nutter, Philip L. F. Johnson, Paul C. Cross, James O. Lloyd-Smith, Barrett D. Slenning, Michael K. Stoskopf
Variation in foraging patterns as reflected by floral resources used by male vs female bees of selected species at Badlands National Park, SD Variation in foraging patterns as reflected by floral resources used by male vs female bees of selected species at Badlands National Park, SD
Female and male bees forage for different reasons: females provision nests with pollen appropriate for larval development and consume nectar for energy while males need only fuel their own energetic requirements. The expectation, therefore, is that females should visit fewer floral resource species than males, due to females’ focus on host plant species and their tie to the nest location...
Authors
Diane L. Larson, Zachary M. Portman, Jennifer Larson, Deborah A. Buhl
Stable isotopes provide insight into sources and cycling of N compounds in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, USA Stable isotopes provide insight into sources and cycling of N compounds in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, USA
River deltas and their diverse array of aquatic environments are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N). These inputs can alter the N biogeochemistry of these systems and promote undesirable phenomena including harmful algae blooms and invasive aquatic macrophytes. To examine N sources and biogeochemical processes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a river delta...
Authors
Joseph K. Fackrell, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Megan B. Young, Carol Kendall, Sara Peek
Diverse native island flora shows rapid initial passive recovery after exotic herbivore removal on Santa Rosa Island, California Diverse native island flora shows rapid initial passive recovery after exotic herbivore removal on Santa Rosa Island, California
Removing exotic vertebrates from islands is an increasingly common and potentially effective strategy for protecting biodiversity. Yet, surprisingly few studies evaluate large-scale effects of island removals on native plants. We surveyed 431 hectares of habitat in 7 canyons on Santa Rosa Island just after exotic herbivore control began (1994–1996), and again after two herbivore species...
Authors
Diane M Thomson, Kathryn McEachern, Emily L Schultz, Kenneth G. Niessen, Dieter Wilken, Katherine A. Chess, Lauren F Cole, Ruth Y Oliver, Jennifer D Phillips, Acadia Tucker
Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species
Natural resource agencies need effective strategies to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as invasive fish, which can expand their range using rivers as hydrological pathways to access new areas. Lock and dam structures within major rivers are prospective locations to deploy techniques, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion into lock water, that could impede...
Authors
Thomas J. Zolper, David Smith, P. Ryan Jackson, Aaron R. Cupp
In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane
Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle that has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory studies suggest that complex carbon-containing nutrients (e.g., yeast or algae extract) can stimulate methane production, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients within coal beds is unknown. Here, we use...
Authors
Elliott P. Barnhart, Leslie F. Ruppert, Randy Heibert, Heidi J. Smith, Hannah Schweitzer, Arthur Clark, Edwin Weeks, William H. Orem, Matthew S. Varonka, George A. Platt, Jenna L. Shelton, Katherine J Davis, Robert Hyatt, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Kilian Ashley, Shuhei Ono, Anna M. Martini, Keith Hackley, Robin Gerlach, Lee Spangler, Adrienne Phillips, Mark Barry, Alfred B. Cunningham, Matthew W. Fields
Optimizing trilateration estimates for tracking fine-scale movement of wildlife using automated radio telemetry networks Optimizing trilateration estimates for tracking fine-scale movement of wildlife using automated radio telemetry networks
A major advancement in the use of radio telemetry has been the development of automated radio tracking systems (ARTS), which allow animal movements to be tracked continuously. A new ARTS approach is the use of a network of simple radio receivers (nodes) that collect radio signal strength (RSS) values from animal-borne radio transmitters. However, the use of RSS-based localization methods...
Authors
Kristina L. Paxton, Kayla M Baker, Zia Crytser, Ray Mark Provido Guinto, Kevin W. Brinck, Haldre Rogers, Eben H. Paxton
Seed treatments containing neonicotinoids and fungicides reduce aquatic insect richness and abundance in midwestern USA–managed floodplain wetlands Seed treatments containing neonicotinoids and fungicides reduce aquatic insect richness and abundance in midwestern USA–managed floodplain wetlands
Agrochemicals including neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides are frequently applied as seed treatments on corn, soybeans, and other common row crops. Crops grown from pesticide-treated seed are often directly planted in managed floodplain wetlands and used as a soil disturbance or food resource for wildlife. We quantified invertebrate communities within mid-latitude floodplain...
Authors
K.J. Kuechle, Elisabeth B. Webb, D. Mengel, A.R. Main
A novel approach for directly incorporating disease into fish stock assessment: A case study with seroprevalence data A novel approach for directly incorporating disease into fish stock assessment: A case study with seroprevalence data
When estimating mortality from disease with fish population models, common disease surveillance data such as infection prevalence are not always informative, especially for fast-acting diseases that may go unobserved in infrequently sampled populations. In these cases, seroprevalence — the proportion of fish with measurable antibody levels in their blood — may be more informative. In...
Authors
John T. Trochta, Maya Groner, Paul Hershberger, Trevor A. Branch
Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions
Disastrous floods in the twin cities of Nogales, Arizona, USA, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (collectively referred to as Ambos Nogales) occur annually in response to monsoonal summer rains. Flood-related hazards include property damage, impairment to sewage systems, sewage discharge, water contamination, erosion, and loss of life. Flood risk, particularly in Nogales, Sonora, is amplified...
Authors
Christopher A. Freimund, Gregg M. Garfin, Laura M. Norman, Larry A. Fisher, James Buizer
Plant effects on and response to soil microbes in native and non-native Phragmites australis Plant effects on and response to soil microbes in native and non-native Phragmites australis
Plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) mediate plant community dynamics and may plausibly facilitate plant invasions. Microbially mediated PSFs are defined by plant effects on soil microbes and subsequent changes in plant performance (responses), both positive and negative. For microbial interactions to benefit invasive plants disproportionately, native and invasive plants must either (1) have...
Authors
Wesley A. Bickford, Deborah E. Goldberg, Donald R. Zak, Danielle S. Snow, Kurt P. Kowalski