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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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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 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
Foreword to the special Issue on ‘The rapidly expanding role of drones as a tool for wildlife research’ Foreword to the special Issue on ‘The rapidly expanding role of drones as a tool for wildlife research’
Drones have emerged as a popular wildlife research tool, but their use for many species and environments remains untested and research is needed on validation of sampling approaches that are optimised for unpiloted aircraft. Here, we present a foreword to a special issue that features studies pushing the taxonomic and innovation boundaries of drone research and thus helps address these...
Authors
Aaron J Wirsing, Aaron N. Johnston, Jeremy J. Kiszka
Prospective and retrospective evaluation of the U.S. Geological Survey public aftershock forecast for the 2019-2021 Southwest Puerto Rico Earthquake and aftershocks Prospective and retrospective evaluation of the U.S. Geological Survey public aftershock forecast for the 2019-2021 Southwest Puerto Rico Earthquake and aftershocks
The Mw 6.4 Southwest Puerto Rico Earthquake of 7 January 2020 was accompanied by a robust fore‐ and aftershock sequence. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has issued regular aftershock forecasts for more than a year since the mainshock, available on a public webpage. Forecasts were accompanied by interpretive and informational material, published in English and Spanish. Informational...
Authors
Nicholas van der Elst, Jeanne L. Hardebeck, Andrew J. Michael, Sara K. McBride, Elizabeth Vanacore
Multi-species inference of exotic annual and native perennial grasses in rangelands of the western United States using Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 data Multi-species inference of exotic annual and native perennial grasses in rangelands of the western United States using Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 data
The invasion of exotic annual grass (EAG), e.g., cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), into rangeland ecosystems of the western United States is a broad-scale problem that affects wildlife habitats, increases wildfire frequency, and adds to land management costs. However, identifying individual species of EAG abundance from remote sensing, particularly...
Authors
Devendra Dahal, Neal J. Pastick, Stephen P. Boyte, Sujan Parajuli, Michael J. Oimoen, Logan J. Megard
Ground failure triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake Ground failure triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake
The 7 January 2020 M 6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake, the mainshock of an extended earthquake sequence, triggered significant ground failure. In this study, we detail the ground failure that occurred based largely on a postearthquake field reconnaissance campaign that we conducted. We documented more than 300 landslides, mainly rock falls that were concentrated in areas where peak ground...
Authors
Kate E. Allstadt, Eric M. Thompson, Desiree Bayouth Garcia, Edwin Irizarry Brugman, K. Stephen Hughes, Robert G. Schmitt
Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm
Health diagnostics of wildlife have historically relied on the evaluation of select serum biomarkers and the identification of a contaminant or pathogen burden within specific tissues as an indicator of a level of insult. However, these approaches fail to measure the physiological reaction of the individual to stressors, thus limiting the scope of interpretation. Gene-based health...
Authors
Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon C. Waters-Dynes, Jeffrey L Stott, Ann Duncan, Randi Meyerson, Sarah Woodhouse