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.
Mission Area Publications
Mission Area Publications
We are focused on some of the most significant issues society faces, and our science is making a substantial contribution to the well-being of the Nation and the world. Learn more about the major topics our research covers and the programs focused on those topics.
Filter Total Items: 175573
Modeling forest snow using relative canopy structure metrics Modeling forest snow using relative canopy structure metrics
Snow and watershed models typically do not account for forest structure and shading; therefore, they display substantial uncertainty when attempting to account for forest change or when comparing hydrological response between forests with varying characteristics. This study collected snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements in a snow-dominated forest in Colorado, the United States, with...
Authors
C. David Moeser, Graham A. Sexstone, Jake Kurzweil
A two-dimensional, reach-scale implementation of space-time image velocimetry (STIV) and comparison to particle image velocimetry (PIV) A two-dimensional, reach-scale implementation of space-time image velocimetry (STIV) and comparison to particle image velocimetry (PIV)
Image-based algorithms have become a powerful tool for estimating flow velocities in rivers. In this study, we generalize the space-time image velocimetry (STIV) framework for reach-scale application rather than along a cross section. The new algorithm provides information on both the magnitude and orientation of velocity vectors, and we refer to the algorithm as two-dimensional STIV, or...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Frank L. Engel, Lee R. Harrison, Gregory Hewitt
A model for evaluation of sediment exposure and burial for freshwater mussels from heavy particle sedimentation A model for evaluation of sediment exposure and burial for freshwater mussels from heavy particle sedimentation
Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida) are an ecologically important faunal group. Excessive sediments, both in suspended and deposited formats, are believed to have negative effects on survival of freshwater mussels. However, there is a lack of quantitative tools for assessing the impact of abrupt and excessive sedimentation on freshwater mussel habitats. This gap in knowledge poses...
Authors
Bin Wang, Brandon James Sansom, Wenyu Zhu, James L. Kunz, M. Christopher Barnhart, Henry Brown, Stephen E. McMurray, Andrew D Roberts, Christopher Shulse, Caleb Knerr, Kathleen Trauth, Jeffery A. Steevens, Baolin Deng
Evidence on the ecological and physical effects of built structures in shallow, tropical coral reefs: A systematic map Evidence on the ecological and physical effects of built structures in shallow, tropical coral reefs: A systematic map
Shallow, tropical coral reefs face compounding threats from climate change, habitat degradation due to coastal development and pollution, impacts from storms and sea-level rise, and pulse disturbances like blast fishing, mining, dredging, and ship groundings that reduce reef height and complexity. One approach toward restoring coral reef physical structure from such impacts is deploying...
Authors
Avery Paxton, Iris R. Foxfoot, Christina Cutshaw, D’amy Steward, Leanne Poussard, Trevor Riley, Todd M. Swannack, Candice Piercy, Safra Altman, Brandon Puckett, Curt D. Storlazzi, Shay Viehman
Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) best practices for remote sensing system evaluation and reporting Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) best practices for remote sensing system evaluation and reporting
Executive Summary The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) partnership consists of six agencies representing the U.S. Government’s commitment to promoting the use of high-quality remotely sensed data to meet scientific and other Federal needs. These agencies are large consumers of remotely sensed data and bring extensive experience in the assessment and use of these data...
Authors
Simon J. Cantrell, Jon B. Christopherson
Duckling survival increased with availability of flooded wetland habitat and decreased with salinity concentrations in a brackish marsh Duckling survival increased with availability of flooded wetland habitat and decreased with salinity concentrations in a brackish marsh
Waterfowl population recruitment is sensitive to duckling survival. We quantified predator types and survival rates for Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) and Mareca strepera (Gadwall) ducklings in one of the largest brackish water marshes in western North America (Suisun Marsh, California) using 556 radio-tagged ducklings from 284 broods tracked during the 2016 to 2019 breeding seasons...
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Andrew C. Greenawalt, Michael L. Casazza, Mark P. Herzog
Unexpected effect of geographic origin on post-translocation survival in a long-lived reptile, the gopher tortoise Unexpected effect of geographic origin on post-translocation survival in a long-lived reptile, the gopher tortoise
Mitigation translocations move wildlife from specific areas due to conflict with humans over land use at the site. A critical decision when carrying out mitigation translocation is the acceptable distance across which animals can be moved. This decision trades off logistical expediency of unrestricted translocation with the risk of reducing translocation success due to environmental...
Authors
Kevin J. Loope, Rebecca A. Cozad, Derek. B. Breakfield, Matthew J. Aresco, Elizabeth Ann Hunter
Monitoring and assessment of urban stormwater best management practices at selected Chicago public schools in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017 Monitoring and assessment of urban stormwater best management practices at selected Chicago public schools in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017
The Space to Grow program helps transform aging and neglected schoolyards of Chicago Public Schools into outdoor community spaces with the goal of promoting health and learning while addressing neighborhood flooding issues. Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School and Donald L. Morrill Math and Science School were selected in 2014 for schoolyard upgrades and the installation of various green
Authors
Clinton R. Bailey, Carolyn M. Soderstrom, James J. Duncker
Final report to the Gulf Coast Joint Venture: Black Skimmer and Gull-billed Tern Final report to the Gulf Coast Joint Venture: Black Skimmer and Gull-billed Tern
Many bird species are of conservation concern across the Northern Gulf of Mexico from stressors such as human disturbance, predation, and habitat loss due to directional environmental change (e.g., increased sea-level rise and storm frequency and intensity, human infrastructure, changes in land use). Consequently, managers need decision-support tools that can help to answer important...
Authors
James P. Cronin, William Vermillion, Barry C Wilson
Impacts of artificial rearing on cisco Coregonus artedi morphology, including pugheadedness Impacts of artificial rearing on cisco Coregonus artedi morphology, including pugheadedness
Cisco (Coregonus artedi Lesueur, 1818) in the Laurentian Great Lakes declined throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Managers are attempting to restore Great Lakes cisco and other coregonines using multiple approaches, including stocking. A potential obstacle to these efforts is that artificially reared coregonines can display deformities and morphological differences compared to wild...
Authors
Andrew Edgar Honsey, Katie Victoria Anweiler, David Bunnell, Cory Brant, Georgia Wende Hoffman, Brian O’Malley, Kevin Keeler, Chris Olds, Jeremy Kraus, Yu-Chun Kao, Wendylee Stott
Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S. Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S.
In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted individual and social behaviors and norms, including outdoor activities. A recreational angling survey of 18,000 licensed anglers from 10 states (AR, CT, FL, IA, MO, NC, SC, TX, UT, WY) was conducted in summer 2020 to characterize recreational fishing trends during the first few months of the pandemic. The study presented here builds...
Authors
Anna L. Kaz, Michael D. Kaller, Abigail Lynch, Stephen R. Midway
Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change
Inland recreational fishing is primarily considered a leisure-driven activity in freshwaters, yet its harvest can contribute to food systems. Here we estimate that the harvest from inland recreational fishing equates to just over one-tenth of all reported inland fisheries catch globally. The estimated total consumptive use value of inland recreational fish destined for human consumption...
Authors
Abigail J. Lynch, Holly Susan Embke, Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Louisa E. Wood, Andy Thorpe, Sui C. Phang, Daniel F. Viana, Christopher D. Golden, Marco Milardi, Robert Arlinghaus, Claudio Baigun, T. Douglas Beard, Steve J. Cooke, Ian G. Cowx, John D. Koehn, Roman Lyach, Warren M. Potts, Ashley Robertson, Josef Schmidhuber, Olaf L. F. Weyl