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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Stacked machine learning for timber identification with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) Stacked machine learning for timber identification with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
This study presents a new approach to wood species identification using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with stacked machine learning techniques. The research analyzed 700 samples comprising nine Dalbergia species and nine additional tropical timber species, utilizing a handheld LIBS analyzer. A stacking methodology was developed by integrating three support vector...
Authors
Helder V. Carneiro, Erin R. Price, Kierra R. Cano, Caelin P. Celani, James A. Jordan, Kent M. Elliott, Karl S. Booksh
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Overview of model and hazard results 2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Overview of model and hazard results
The U.S. Geological Survey recently updated the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (PRVI). The first version of the PRVI NSHM was released in 2003, and therefore this 2025 update includes over 20 years of new geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, methods, and models. Updates follow similar efforts performed in the recent 2023 50-state...
Authors
Allison M. Shumway, Kevin Ross Milner, Peter M. Powers, Morgan P. Moschetti, Jason M. Altekruse, Julie A. Herrick, Andrea L. Llenos, Kyle B. Withers, Edward H. Field, Brad T. Aagaard, Richard W. Briggs, Alexandra Elise Hatem, Kirstie Lafon Haynie, Andrew J. Michael, Jessica A. Thompson Jobe, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Brandon S. Clayton, Nico Luco, Mark D. Petersen, Sanaz Rezaeian, Thomas L. Pratt, Yuehua Zeng
Tissue metal concentrations and toxicity in wild turkeys following chronic exposure to mining-contaminated soils in southeast Missouri, USA Tissue metal concentrations and toxicity in wild turkeys following chronic exposure to mining-contaminated soils in southeast Missouri, USA
The Big River watershed in southeast Missouri (SEMO) is a Superfund site with an extensive history of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) mining; cadmium (Cd) and other metals also occur in the ore and waste materials. We examined whether SEMO wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) exposed to mining-contaminated floodplain soils and food resources in the Big River watershed had elevated metal...
Authors
Katrina K. Knott, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jason L. Isabelle, Nicole M. Nemeth, Emma Coleman, Michelle Seers, Nicholas Sievert, Emily Sinnott, Jeff Wenzel, Paul Blanchard, Timothy Lyons
Computational electromagnetic geophysics for groundwater system studies: A review on established practices and recent advances Computational electromagnetic geophysics for groundwater system studies: A review on established practices and recent advances
Identifying effective solutions for locating groundwater resources and ensuring the quality of drinking water is increasingly urgent, given the challenges posed by climate change and population growth. This review investigates electromagnetic geophysical imaging techniques, in both time- and frequency-domain, that can provide valuable insights for groundwater assessment. We explore...
Authors
Paula Rulff, Octavio Castillo-Reyes, Wouter Deleersnyder, Maria C. Mascarell, Burke J. Minsley, Jude King
Rethinking seed selection based on climate matching during restoration: Geography, soils and climate explain species-specific mortality Rethinking seed selection based on climate matching during restoration: Geography, soils and climate explain species-specific mortality
Implicit in the construction of seed transfer zones (STZs) are the assumptions that plant populations are adapted to their home climates and that transferring native seed across climate gradients risks maladaptation and poor performance. However, plants are adapted to multiple aspects of their environments that are often excluded from STZ development. Here, we used models integrating...
Authors
Carla Maria Roybal, Ella M. Samuel, Rachel M. Mitchell, Daniel E. Winkler, Robert Massatti
Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed
Upstream migrating fish must balance energetic costs with environmental and ecological constraints. Theoretical models predict that fish can conserve energy by adjusting swim speed in response to changing water velocity, but detailed field tests of these predictions remain rare. We used fine-scale acoustic telemetry and hydrodynamic modeling to track adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus...
Authors
Kandace R. Griffin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel P. Zielinski, Theodore Castro-Santos, Christopher L. Cahill, C. Michael Wagner
GT-Seq panel development for species identification and parentage analysis of closely related hybridising Scaphirhynchus sturgeons GT-Seq panel development for species identification and parentage analysis of closely related hybridising Scaphirhynchus sturgeons
Hatchery supplementation is vital for conserving dwindling fish populations. Effective augmentation requires distinguishing hatchery-origin from wild individuals and accurately identifying species, particularly in systems where closely related species coexist. Genetic monitoring is key to quantifying genetic differences, but conventional markers do not distinguish hybrids, especially...
Authors
Junman Huang, Richard Flamio Jr., Nathan R. Campbell, Aaron J. DeLonay, Amy C. Buhman, Edward J. Heist
The interplay of habitat quality and temperature shape demographic patterns of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in North America The interplay of habitat quality and temperature shape demographic patterns of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in North America
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are declining in abundance across their broad distribution in western North America. Identifying drivers of mule deer demography could inform habitat restoration. However, linking habitat quality to vital rates is challenging and often done indirectly using proxy metrics. We combine habitat selection with climate-related effects to identify synergistic...
Authors
William Michael Janousek, Aaron N. Johnston, Sarah Bullock, Sarah Dewey, L. Embere Hall, Teagan A. Hayes, Katey Huggler, Matthew J. Kauffman, Tayler N LaSharr, Blake Lowrey, Rhiannon P. Jakopak, Kevin Monteith, Tabitha A. Graves
Indirect mineral import reliance and provenance Indirect mineral import reliance and provenance
Mineral commodity supply chain analyses rely on international trade data reported by individual countries as quantities of a mineral commodity form imported from (or exported to) a partner. However, export quantities frequently exceed a country’s domestic production, or occur when no production data are reported, suggesting that the trade partner is merely an intermediary in a...
Authors
Jamie L. Brainard, Andrew L. Gulley, Nedal T. Nassar
Engaging adult R3 outdoor educational program design to strengthen participation in hunting and fishing Engaging adult R3 outdoor educational program design to strengthen participation in hunting and fishing
Declining participation in hunting and fishing has been slowed by women who are learning numerous outdoor skills through recruitment, retention, and reactivation [R3] programs. R3 programs are hosted by state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that take a variety of approaches to develop participant skills and confidence. To understand how R3 program design...
Authors
Lauren Redmore, Shelby Isensee, Joshua D. Stafford, Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek
Case report: Observations on expulsions from 20 years of radiotransmitter implantation in adult Burmese pythons Case report: Observations on expulsions from 20 years of radiotransmitter implantation in adult Burmese pythons
Background
Authors
Brandon A. Gross, Jacquelyn C. Guzy, Michael Cherkiss, Shannon G. Thrasher, Mark Robert Sandfoss, Lisa Marie McBride, Gretchen E. Anderson, Sarah Rae Sherburne, Christina Romagosa, Amanda Marie Kissel, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Andrea F. Currylow, Matthew F. McCollister, Frank Ridgley, Frank J. Mazzotti, George F. Bancroft, Kristen Hart
3D semantic mapping of surface geological features 3D semantic mapping of surface geological features
Semantic mapping in 3D is fundamental to a wide range of geoscientific studies and applications, including geomorphology, hazard assessment, and environmental monitoring. However, automatically segmenting geological features from large-scale photogrammetric datasets remains a significant challenge. We present a methodology to address this gap. Using overlapping images collected over...
Authors
Zhiang Chen, Devin McPhillips, Katherine M. Scharer, Zachary Ross