Publications
Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
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DNA metabarcoding of biocrust lichen-forming fungi detects responses to disturbance and invasion DNA metabarcoding of biocrust lichen-forming fungi detects responses to disturbance and invasion
Biocrusts dominated by bryophytes and lichens perform important functions in dryland ecosystems but monitoring these communities can be cost prohibitive over broad scales. We explored DNA metabarcoding as a potential tool for monitoring biocrust lichen communities at a site in Washington (U.S.A.) that had already been surveyed for lichen diversity and community composition. We developed...
Authors
Heather T Root, Bruce McCune, David A. Pyke, Steven D. Leavitt
Reply to, “Comment on ‘The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture,’ by Roger Bilham and Susan E. Hough” Reply to, “Comment on ‘The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture,’ by Roger Bilham and Susan E. Hough”
We welcome this opportunity to respond to Pratt et al. (2024) (hereinafter P24). Bilham and Hough (2023) proposed a “first-cut” elastic deformation model for the 1886 earthquake, a quantitative source model constrained by identified coseismic constraints. A key observation was the measurement of a lateral offset of a railroad line south of Summerville, leading to a model with...
Authors
Roger Bilham, Susan E. Hough
Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022) Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022)
Background The southeastern United States (‘Southeast’) experiences high levels of fire activity, but the preponderance of small and prescribed fires means that existing burn severity products are incomplete across the region. Aims We developed and applied a burn severity model across the Southeast to enhance our understanding of regional burn severity patterns. Methods We used Composite...
Authors
Melanie K. Vanderhoof, Casey Elizabeth Menick, Joshua J. Picotte, Kevin Robertson, Holly Nowell, Chris Matechik, Todd Hawbaker
Geochemical processes related to mined, milled, or natural metal deposits in a rapidly changing global environment Geochemical processes related to mined, milled, or natural metal deposits in a rapidly changing global environment
The demand for metals and raw materials, such as nickel and copper, has been projected to expand in the coming decades, driven by the global energy transition, the need for green technologies, and expanding infrastructure. Consequently, the increasing extraction and production of mining waste can have adverse impacts on surrounding environments and human health. The aim of this thematic...
Authors
Annika Parviainen, Kimberly R. Beisner, Johanna Blake, Edel Mary O'Sullivan, Clare Miller, Carolina Rosca
Stream discharge determinations using slug additions and specific conductance Stream discharge determinations using slug additions and specific conductance
Stream discharge is often determined by wading the stream and measuring the velocity at fixed widths and depths. However, there are conditions when wading measurements are not safe or the measurements are poor because of high turbulence, rocky streambeds, shallow or sheet flow, aquatic plants, or inaccessibility due to ice. Under these conditions, it is often preferable to determine...
Authors
R. Blaine McCleskey, Robert L. Runkel, Sheila F. Murphy, David A. Roth
The ichnology of White Sands (New Mexico): Linear traces and human footprints, evidence of transport technology? The ichnology of White Sands (New Mexico): Linear traces and human footprints, evidence of transport technology?
A travois is crafted from one or more wooden poles and is one of the simplest pre-historic vehicles. Although these devices likely played vital roles in the lives of ancient peoples, they have low preservation potential in the archaeological record. Here we report linear features associated with human footprints, some of which are dated to ~22,000 years old, preserved in fine-grained...
Authors
Matthew R. Bennett, Thomas M. Urban, David Bustos, Sally C. Reynolds, Edward A. Jolie, Hannah C. Strehlau, Daniel Odess, Kathleen B. Springer, Jeffrey S. Pigati
Comment on “The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture” by Roger Bilham and Susan E Hough Comment on “The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Relic railroad offset reveals rupture” by Roger Bilham and Susan E Hough
No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas Pratt, Martin C. Chapman, Qimin Wu
Parentage and sibship relationships among captive snakes at the Phoenix Zoo—2024 data summary Parentage and sibship relationships among captive snakes at the Phoenix Zoo—2024 data summary
Introduction The narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2014). This species has a strong association with aquatic habitats, and these habitats have been highly altered by impoundments, land-use changes, and the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic species, which contributed to...
Authors
Dustin A. Wood, Anna Mitelberg, Amy G. Vandergast
Validation of the U37K' paleotemperature proxy in the South Brazilian Bight from core-top sediments Validation of the U37K' paleotemperature proxy in the South Brazilian Bight from core-top sediments
The paleothermometer based on the alkenone unsaturation index (U37K′) is often used to reconstruct past sea surface temperatures (SST). In the SW Atlantic Ocean, however, a limited understanding of the seasonal and depth distribution of coccolithophores, which generates the U37K′ signal preserved in ocean sediments, hinders accurate estimates of past regional SSTs. We analyzed 45 core...
Authors
Felipe Stanchak, Julie N. Richey, Amanda Gerotto, Amelia Shevenell, Marcia C. Bicego, Felipe A. Toledo, Michel M. de Mahiques, Renata H. Nagai
Phenology in higher education Phenology in higher education
Phenological data collection and analysis are well-suited to higher education settings, providing valuable opportunities for hands-on data collection, manipulation, and interpretation. Few subjects are more conducive or accessible for engaging diverse learners in meaningful and impactful science at such large scales and minimal cost. In this chapter, we provide a range of examples of how
Authors
Theresa Crimmins, Brittany S. Barker, Darby D. Bergl, Samantha Brewer, Kirsten de Beurs, Sarah Jones, Tammy Long, Emily Mohl, Emma Oschrin, Andrew D. Richardson, Tiffany A. Schriever, Jessica J. Walker, Tanisha M. Williams
Widespread occurrence of former anhydrite phenocrysts in Laramide-age magmas related to porphyry-skarn Cu mineralization at Santa Rita and Hanover-Fierro, New Mexico, USA Widespread occurrence of former anhydrite phenocrysts in Laramide-age magmas related to porphyry-skarn Cu mineralization at Santa Rita and Hanover-Fierro, New Mexico, USA
Reports of magmatic anhydrite are relatively rare, with only ~30 occurrences documented worldwide so far. However, magmatic anhydrite saturation is difficult to recognize because anhydrite decomposes rapidly in near-surface environments. In most cases, only anhydrite inclusions shielded within other phenocryst phases were able to survive. Alternatively, since anhydrite phenocrysts...
Authors
Andreas Audétat, Jia Chang, Sean Patrick Gaynor
Site-level connectivity identified from multiple sources of movement data to inform conservation of a migratory bird Site-level connectivity identified from multiple sources of movement data to inform conservation of a migratory bird
Migratory birds depend on a suite of sites across their annual cycles, making them vulnerable to a wide variety of anthropogenic pressures. Current area-based conservation measures have been found inadequate to safeguard migratory birds, in part due to a lack of consideration for the connectivity between sites mediated by the movements of individuals.To address this issue, we develop a...
Authors
M. Beal, J. Nightingale, J.R. Belo, C. Batey, H. Belting, P. Bocher, M. Burgess, T.B. Craft, N. Crockford, P. Delaporte, L. Donaldson, G. Gelinaud, J.A. Gill, T.G. Gunnarsson, B. J. Morrison, J.S. Gutierrez, J. Hooijmeijer, R.A. Howison, P. Hunke, L. Jomat, H. Lemke, J. P. Ludwig, F.A. Majoor, C. Marlow, J.A. Masero, J. Melter, I. Nicholson, M. Parejo, B. O'Mahony, E. Pasanen, J. Pessa, T. Piersma, A.D. Rocha, F. Robin, M. Roodbergen, P. Rousseau, V. Salewski, L. Schmidt, J. Smart, A. Staneva, T. Lee Tibbitts, S. Timonen, J.A. Alves, M.P. Dias