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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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Projected impact of sea-level rise and urbanization on mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) habitat along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas through 2100 Projected impact of sea-level rise and urbanization on mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) habitat along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas through 2100

Coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico support a wide diversity of wildlife, are important nurseries for sport and commercial fisheries, provide erosion and flood control, and serve many other ecological functions and services. These marshes have been declining in area and degrading at alarming rates since the 1930s. Effective conservation planning is vital to protect these ecosystems...
Authors
J.A. Moon, S.E. Lehnen, K.L. Metzger, M.A. Squires, M.G. Brasher, B.C. Wilson, W.C. Conway, David A. Haukos, B.E. Davis, F.C. Rohwer, E.M. Wehland, B.M. Ballard

Applying assessments of adaptive capacity to inform natural-resource management in a changing climate Applying assessments of adaptive capacity to inform natural-resource management in a changing climate

Adaptive capacity (AC)—the ability of a species to cope with or accommodate climate change—is a critical determinant of species vulnerability. Using information on species’ AC in conservation planning is key to ensuring successful outcomes. We identified connections between a list of species’ attributes (e.g., traits, population metrics, and behaviors) that were recently proposed for...
Authors
Lindsey Thurman, John E. Gross, Claudia Mengelt, Erik A. Beever, Laura Thompson, Gregor W. Schuurman, Christopher Hoving, Julian D. Olden

The climate envelope of Alaska’s northern treelines: Implications for controlling factors and future treeline advance The climate envelope of Alaska’s northern treelines: Implications for controlling factors and future treeline advance

Understanding the key mechanisms that control northern treelines is important to accurately predict biome shifts and terrestrial feedbacks to climate. At a global scale, it has long been observed that elevational and latitudinal treelines occur at similar mean growing season air temperature (GSAT) isotherms, inspiring the growth limitation hypothesis (GLH) that cold GSAT limits...
Authors
Colin T. Maher, Roman J. Dial, Neal J. Pastick, Rebecca E. Hewitt, M. Torre Jorgenson, Patrick F. Sullivan

Loss of branches due to winter storms could favor deciduousness in oaks Loss of branches due to winter storms could favor deciduousness in oaks

Premise Ecologists have an incomplete understanding of the factors that select for deciduous, evergreen, and marcescent leaf habits. Evergreens have more opportunities for photosynthesis but may experience costs when abiotic conditions are unfavorable such as during ice and windstorms.Methods We documented branch loss for species of oaks (Quercus spp.) in a common garden in California...
Authors
Richard Karban, Ian S. Pearse

Development of a multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to identify coinfections in young-of-the-year smallmouth bass Development of a multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to identify coinfections in young-of-the-year smallmouth bass

Histopathological assessments of young-of-the-year (age-0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu in the Susquehanna River drainage identified a high prevalence of the myxozoan Myxobolus inornatus. This myxozoan infects the connective tissue of the muscle below the skin but is sometimes observed in the esophagus and buccal cavity. In some instances, shallow infections cause breaks in the...
Authors
Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, Patricia M. Mazik

Hydrous pyrolysis of New Albany Shale: A study examining maturation changes and porosity development Hydrous pyrolysis of New Albany Shale: A study examining maturation changes and porosity development

The characterization of nanoscale organic structures has improved our understanding of porosity development within source-rock reservoirs, but research linking organic porosity evolution to thermal maturity has generated conflicting results. To better understand this connection, an immature (0.25% solid bitumen reflectance; BRo) sample of the New Albany Shale was used in four isothermal...
Authors
Brett J. Valentine, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. Hatcherian

Landscape-scale drivers of endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) presence using an ensemble modeling approach Landscape-scale drivers of endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) presence using an ensemble modeling approach

The Florida Everglades is a vast and iconic wetland ecosystem in the southern United States that has undergone dramatic changes from habitat degradation, development encroachment, and water impoundment. Starting in the past few decades, large restoration projects have been undertaken to restore the landscape, including improving conditions for threatened and imperiled taxa. One focus of
Authors
Saira M. Haider, Allison Benscoter, Leonard G. Pearlstine, Laura D’Acunto, Stephanie Romanach

Use of carbon dioxide to prevent zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) settlement and effects on native mussels (Order Unionoida) and benthic communities Use of carbon dioxide to prevent zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) settlement and effects on native mussels (Order Unionoida) and benthic communities

We determined the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) for preventing larval (veliger) settlement of the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and compared the response of native juvenile mussels and macroinvertebrate and periphyton communities to hypercapnia. A microcosm system of control (ambient Camb) and CO2 treatments [low PCO2 (Clow)=35,094 µatm, and high PCO2 (Chigh)=66,685...
Authors
Diane L. Waller, Lynn A. Bartsch, Michelle Bartsch, Matthew Meulemans, Thomas J. Zolper, Todd J. Severson

Genome-wide SNP analysis of three moose subspecies at the southern range limit in the contiguous United States Genome-wide SNP analysis of three moose subspecies at the southern range limit in the contiguous United States

Genome-wide evaluations of genetic diversity and population structure are important for informing management and conservation of trailing-edge populations. North American moose (Alces alces) are declining along portions of the southern edge of their range due to disease, species interactions, and marginal habitat, all of which may be exacerbated by climate change. We employed a...
Authors
Jason Ferrante, Chase H. Smith, Laura Thompson, Margaret Hunter

Geodetic constraints on a 25-year magmatic inflation episode near Three Sisters, central Oregon Geodetic constraints on a 25-year magmatic inflation episode near Three Sisters, central Oregon

Crustal inflation near the Three Sisters volcanic center documented since the mid-1990s has persisted for more than two decades. We update past analyses of the event through 2020 by simultaneously inverting InSAR interferograms, GPS time series, and leveling data for time-dependent volcanic deformation source parameters. We explore several source models to estimate how the deformation...
Authors
Michael Lisowski, Robert McCaffrey, Charles Wicks, Daniel Dzurisin

Megafires and thick smoke portend big problems for migratory birds Megafires and thick smoke portend big problems for migratory birds

In 2020, the fire season affecting the western United States reached unprecedented levels. The 116 fires active in September consumed nearly 20,822 km2 (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/accessible-view/ Accessed 2020-09-29) with eighty percent of this footprint (16,567 km2) from 68 fires occurring within California, Oregon, and Washington. Although the 2020 fire season was the most extreme on...
Authors
Cory T. Overton, Austen Lorenz, Eric P. James, Ravan Ahmadov, John M. Eadie, Fiona McDuie, Mark J. Petrie, Chris A. Nicolai, Melanie L. Weaver, Daniel A. Skalos, Shannon Skalos, Andrea Lynn Mott, Desmond Alexander Mackell, Anna Kennedy, Elliott Matchett, Michael L. Casazza
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