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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Seasonal increases in global dryland gross primary production are modulated by root soil moisture and temperature Seasonal increases in global dryland gross primary production are modulated by root soil moisture and temperature
Dryland ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to environmental variability across space and through time, play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. To understand the carbon sink role of drylands, this study used different sources of global dryland gross primary productivity (GPP) and evaluated the spatiotemporal variations in seasonal GPP in response to climatic and soil water...
Authors
Lihua Lan, Seth M. Munson, Kailiang Yu, Zhongxiang Fang, Xiuzhi Chen, Weiguang Zhao, Siao Sun, Zhenbo Wang, Fei He, Yuan Liang
Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas
Headwater streams are diverse ecosystems and important sources of water and dissolved and particulate resources to the downstream river network. However, across the world, they are rapidly being degraded or lost through human activities, particularly urban development. This degradation and loss have negative consequences for the structure and function of headwater streams, as well as...
Authors
Belinda Hatt, Chamantha Athapaththu, Jonathan Behrens, Sally Boer, Matthew J. Burns, Ryan Burrows, Riley de Jong, Caroline Elsner, Vaughn Grey, Moss Imberger, Brianna Williams, Rhys Coleman
Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern
Context Interspecific interactions shape ecological communities, influence community dynamics, and drive co-evolution. Despite their ecological significance, predation and competition remain understudied in plains spotted skunks (Spilogale interrupta), a species of conservation concern. Clarifying how predator management influences their occurrence is crucial for effective conservation...
Authors
Kara M. White, Amanda E. Cheeseman, Joshua D. Stafford, Robert Charles Lonsinger
Relationship of basin structure and bedrock lithology to faulting in the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake region, California, from gravity and aeromagnetic data Relationship of basin structure and bedrock lithology to faulting in the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake region, California, from gravity and aeromagnetic data
We investigate patterns of cumulative offsets on the faults that ruptured in 2019 and along the Garlock Fault in the Ridgecrest region, California using recently published gravity and aeromagnetic data. We also examine the relationship of basin structure and bedrock structure to the 2019 M7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake ruptures (Fig. 1A), which were primarily along a dextral northwest...
Authors
Victoria Langenheim, Elizabeth Haddon
Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef
In 2023, a record-setting marine heat wave triggered the ninth mass coral bleaching event on Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR). We examined spatial patterns of heat exposure along the ~560-kilometer length of FCR and the mortality of two ecologically important, critically endangered reef-building corals. Sea surface temperatures were ≥31°C for an average of 40.7 days, leading to heat exposures...
Authors
Derek P. Manzello, Ross Cunning, Richard F. Karp, Andrew C. Baker, Erich Bartels, Ryan Bonhag, Alexandra Borreil, Amanda Bourque, Kristen T. Brown, Andrew W. Bruckner, Bryce Corbett, Martine D’Alessandro, Craig Dahlgren, Jenna Dilworth, Erick Gieger, David S. Gilliam, Maya Gomez, Grace Hanson, Cailin Harrell, Dalton Hesley, Lindsay K. Huebner, Carly D. Kenkel, Hannah R. Koch, Joe Kuehl, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Mark C. Ladd, Sophia Lee, Kathryn C. Lesneski, Amanda Lewan, Diego Lirman, Gang Liu, Shayla B. Matsuda, Phanor H. Montoya-Maya, Jennifer Moore, Erinn M. Muller, Ken Nedimeyer, John E. Parkinson, Rob Ruzicka, Jason Spadaro, Blake L. Spady, Jennifer Stein, Joseph D. Unsworth, Alexandra D. Wen, Dana E. Williams, Sara Williams, Olivia M. Williamson
Zircon as a pathfinder to REE mineralization Zircon as a pathfinder to REE mineralization
Carbonatites and alkaline silicate rocks are major primary sources of the rare earth elements (REE) and other critical metals, such as Nb. Despite the economic significance of these rocks, their formation and the processes of REE enrichment are poorly understood. Here, statistical analysis of a global dataset demonstrates that zircon geochemistry is a powerful recorder of REE...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand
Precipitation timing mediates life-stage and population-level associations with climate for an indicator species Precipitation timing mediates life-stage and population-level associations with climate for an indicator species
Global climate change is contributing to declines in biodiversity, although changes vary across geographic regions and species. The iconic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) is central to conservation within the North American sagebrush ecosystem, yet its vulnerability to climate effects remains poorly understood. We used hierarchical models to explore weather...
Authors
Shawn T. O’Neil, Carl Gregory Lundblad, Brianne E. Brussee, John Christopher Tull, Michael L. Casazza, Justin R. Small, Cameron L. Aldridge, Peter S. Coates
Linking bathythermal habitat selection to management of a migratory freshwater fish Linking bathythermal habitat selection to management of a migratory freshwater fish
Background For migratory fishes, habitat selection in dimensions of temperature and depth may be jointly used to define the bathythermal niche. Seasonal and long-term changes in the availability of bathythermal habitat can cause behavioral responses that have consequences for managing interjurisdictional fisheries that target migratory fishes. Management of such fisheries typically...
Authors
Richard Kraus, Matthew Faust, Scott F. Colborne, Christopher Vandergoot
Greenhouse gas emissions from ditches in oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands in Malaysia Greenhouse gas emissions from ditches in oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands in Malaysia
Tropical peatlands, which store 20% of global peat carbon, are increasingly threatened by conversion to alternative land-uses such as oil palm plantations, pulp wood plantations, crop growth or other economic activities. This transformation involves peatland drainage, which lowers water tables, exposes peat to oxygen, and alters greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: increasing carbon dioxide...
Authors
Kuno Kasak, Iryna Dronova, Kaido Soosaar, Lulie Melling, Wong Guan Xhuan, Faustina Sangok, Reti Ranniku, Jorge A. Villa, Sheel Bansal, Michael Peacock, Ülo Mander
Year-round daytime pCO2 undersaturation in an instream series of urban reservoirs with a history of harmful algal blooms Year-round daytime pCO2 undersaturation in an instream series of urban reservoirs with a history of harmful algal blooms
Daytime water quality was determined monthly over two years in an instream series of four urban reservoirs with recurring blooms of Prymnesium parvum—a cool-season toxigenic species. Temperature, pH, and laboratory-measured total alkalinity were used to estimate pCO2. System-wide, pCO2 was negatively associated with dissolved oxygen. Chlorophyll-a, phycocyanin (cyanobacterial pigment)...
Authors
Reynaldo Patino, Samantha Lehker
An approach to urban waterway assessment using holistic values and reciprocity An approach to urban waterway assessment using holistic values and reciprocity
Current aquatic ecosystem assessment methods and tools often focus on physical, chemical, and biological indicators of ecosystem health. This approach to ecosystem assessment is not always straightforward to execute in urban environments and ignores potential connectivity between social and environmental outcomes. During a workshop at the Symposium on Urbanization and Stream Ecology in...
Authors
Mateo Scoggins, Isabelle C. Barrett, Belinda I. Margetts, Eugenia Martí, Brian M. Murphy, Allison H. Roy, Ruth I. Shear, Sergia S. Sabat-Bonilla, Natalie A. Griffiths, Vinitha Nanjappa, Kate Mussett, Kasey M. Stirling, Susan Chiblow, Shayenna Nolan
Geochemical evidence for the origin of late Quaternary loess, Seward Peninsula, Alaska Geochemical evidence for the origin of late Quaternary loess, Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Loess is the most widespread surficial deposit in the state of Alaska. Although loess of last glacial age is common in mid-continental North America, records of last glacial loess in Alaska have been elusive. Here we report a record of last glacial loess on the Seward Peninsula, along with studies of a transect of loess localities also thought to date to the last glacial period. Highly...
Authors
Daniel R. Muhs, Jeffrey S. Pigati