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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Filter Total Items: 175920
Integration of GNSS-R derived soil moisture into the USGS Wildland Fire Potential Index Integration of GNSS-R derived soil moisture into the USGS Wildland Fire Potential Index
Observations of soil moisture have been found to improve predictions of fire danger as soil moisture impacts both fuel load and fuel moisture. A relative soil moisture process was developed and integrated into the USGS Wildland Fire Potential Index data products. The process uses soil moisture estimates from the CYGNSS GNSS-R constellation and compares current to historical values which...
Authors
Kurtis Nelson, Sreeja Roy-SIngh, Vinay Ravindra, Mahta Moghaddam, Archana Kannan, Amer Melebari
Grass-Cast Southwest: A seasonal rangeland productivity forecast for the southwestern United States Grass-Cast Southwest: A seasonal rangeland productivity forecast for the southwestern United States
Here, we present a first assessment of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “Grass-Cast Southwest,” which is a forecasting tool for rangeland aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) for the southwest region of the United States. Our results show that ANPP forecasts in early April were relatively close to the observation-based ANPP estimates in late May for all years evaluated (R...
Authors
Emilio Aguilar-Cubilla, Malannie D. Hartman, William J. Parton, Sasha C. Reed, Justin D. Derner, Darin K. Schulte, Elise S. Gornish, David J.P. Moore, Emile Elias, Dannele E. Peck, Brian A. Fuchs, William K. Smith
Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor
The central–marginal hypothesis (CMH) predicts reduced genetic diversity and increased differentiation in range-edge populations due to ecological marginality and limited gene flow. Deviations from this pattern, however, can result from historical demographic processes, variation in reproductive strategies or interspecific hybridization. The genus Quercus, known for hybridization and...
Authors
Jesse B. Parker, Sean Hoban, Laura Thompson, Scott E. Schlarbaum
Water residence time and water depth influence on nutrient conditions, eutrophication endpoints and habitat quality in backwater lakes of a large floodplain river Water residence time and water depth influence on nutrient conditions, eutrophication endpoints and habitat quality in backwater lakes of a large floodplain river
Many eutrophication studies focus on the external supply of critical nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, but hydrology and geomorphology can enhance or dampen the effects of excessive nutrient supply. We studied six backwater lakes in the Upper Mississippi River that varied in water residence time and water depth. Eutrophication in these systems is responsible for negative impacts...
Authors
Shawn M. Giblin, James H. Larson, Jeremy D. King
Causal networks to inform decisions for ecological restoration Causal networks to inform decisions for ecological restoration
The release of contaminants into the environment can occur from anthropogenic activities, such as oil extraction and transportation, mining, and industrial processes. Remediation associated with reducing contaminant concentrations, and restoration that improves animals and supporting habitat, are often needed to restore ecosystems to their pre-release, baseline condition. We demonstrated...
Authors
Christopher James Kotalik, Freya Elizabeth Rowland, Bruce G. Marcot, Kristin E. Skrabis, David Walters, Jo Ellen Hinck, William H. Clements, Eric E. Richer, John P. Isanhart
Spatial occupancy patterns of the endangered northern long‐eared bat in New England Spatial occupancy patterns of the endangered northern long‐eared bat in New England
Aim White-nose syndrome has caused severe declines in eastern North American cave bats, leading to the federal listing of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered in the United States and Canada. This has heightened the importance of long-term monitoring to inform species status assessments. We employed a combination of long-term repeated and single-season...
Authors
Jesse L De La Cruz, Sabrina M. Deeley, Elizabeth Ann Hunter, W. Mark Ford
Development of high-throughput genomic resources to inform white-tailed deer population and disease management Development of high-throughput genomic resources to inform white-tailed deer population and disease management
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the most abundant and widespread cervid in North America. Genetic data are used as a tool to monitor populations and make management decisions for this game species. However, the development and use of genomic tools that can generate a set of markers suitable for longitudinal genomic data collection, whether for management purposes or to...
Authors
David Navarro, Emily K. Latch, Anaïs K. Tallon, Caitlin N. Ott-Conn, Randy W. DeYoung, Daniel P. Walsh, Peter T. Euclide, R.G. Chandika, Wes A. Larson, Arun S. Seetharam, Andrew J. Severin, Andrew J. Severin, James M. Reecy, Zhi-Liang Hu, Jay R. Cantrell, Michelle Carstensen, Joe N. Caudell, Charlie H. Killmaster, Mitch L. Lockwood, William T. McKinley, Andrew S. Norton, Krysten L. Schuler, Daniel J. Storm, Jason A. Sumners, W. David Walter, Julie A. Blanchong
Assessing the topographic distribution of legacy soil phosphorus in agricultural fields of the Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA Assessing the topographic distribution of legacy soil phosphorus in agricultural fields of the Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA
Phosphorus (P) management remains a challenge in agricultural watersheds. The Choptank River Conservation Effects Assessment Project watershed, located in Maryland and Delaware and draining to the Chesapeake Bay, contains legacy soil P from historical dairy and poultry manure applications. These practices elevated soil P beyond crop needs, contributing to persistent P export to aquatic...
Authors
Maryam Foroughi, Ling Du, Isis P Scott, W. Dean Hively, Zachary P. Simpson, Zacharias J. Smith, Cathleen J. Hapeman, Martin C. Rabenhorst, Raymond R. Weil, Greg W. McCarty
Improved ground-truthing and benthic habitat characterization with machine learning models and 3D photogrammetry Improved ground-truthing and benthic habitat characterization with machine learning models and 3D photogrammetry
Benthic mapping relies on a range of methods to ground truth remotely sensed data to map physical and biotic features. Traditional methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming with limited scalability. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remote operated vehicles (ROVs) can collect high volumes of quality data but require automated processing routines and pose other logistic...
Authors
Phillipe Wernette, Peter C. Esselman, Anthony J. Geglio, Angus Galloway, Shadi Moradi, Jordan Pierce
Detection of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in paired large- and small-volume water samples Detection of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in paired large- and small-volume water samples
When sampling for waterborne microbes, researchers may need to diverge from recommended sample volumes due to logistical constraints, novel targets, or challenging matrices, with little guidance about the potential impact on results. In field studies, we measured bacteria, viruses, and protozoa (15 quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays) in paired large- and small-volume samples...
Authors
Joe Heffron, Joel P. Stokdyk, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Rachel M. Cook, Claire E. Hruby, Mark A. Borchardt
Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective approach to conduct inland surveys for marbled murrelets Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective approach to conduct inland surveys for marbled murrelets
The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a seabird of conservation concern that nests in late-successional, old-growth forests in Oregon, Washington, and California, USA. Traditional audio-visual surveys have been the standard method for detecting murrelets in forests. Given that murrelets can be extremely cryptic in forest environments, audio-visual surveys are difficult, time...
Authors
Alaina D. Thomas, Adam Duarte, Matt J. Gostin, James T. Peterson, Damon B. Lesmeister
Estimating flood discharges at selected annual exceedance probabilities for unregulated, rural streams in Vermont, 2023 Estimating flood discharges at selected annual exceedance probabilities for unregulated, rural streams in Vermont, 2023
This report provides estimates of flood discharge at selected annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for streamgages in and adjacent to Vermont and equations for estimating flood discharges at AEPs of 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent (recurrence intervals of 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, and 500-years, respectively) for ungaged, unregulated, rural streams in Vermont with...
Authors
Scott A. Olson