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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.

Filter Total Items: 175531

A validation of satellite derived cyanobacteria detections with state reported events and recreation advisories across U.S. lakes A validation of satellite derived cyanobacteria detections with state reported events and recreation advisories across U.S. lakes

Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) negatively affect ecological, human, and animal health. Traditional methods of validating satellite algorithms with data from water samples are often inhibited by the expense of quantifying cyanobacteria indicators in the field and the lack of public data. However, state recreation advisories and other recorded events of cyanoHAB occurrence...
Authors
Peter Whitman, Blake Schaeffer, Wilson Salls, Megan Coffer, Sachidananda Mishra, Bridget Seegers, Keith A. Loftin, Richard Stumpf, P. Jeremy Werdell

Factors affecting interannual variation in diet and body lipid content of age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon in the lower Missouri River, USA Factors affecting interannual variation in diet and body lipid content of age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon in the lower Missouri River, USA

The ability of young fish to find and consume food during early life history is an important factor affecting survival and recruitment. While dietary assessments for age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon (shovelnose sturgeon and pallid sturgeon) in the Missouri River, USA have received increased attention over the last 15 years, there is currently limited information available to evaluate long...
Authors
A. Gonzalez, James M. Long, N.J.C. Gosch, A.P. Civiello, T.R. Gemeinhardt

Fuel reduction treatments reduce modeled fire intensity in the sagebrush steppe Fuel reduction treatments reduce modeled fire intensity in the sagebrush steppe

Increased fire size and frequency coupled with annual grass invasion pose major challenges to sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem conservation, which is currently focused on protecting sagebrush community composition and structure. A common strategy for mitigating potential fire is to use fuel treatments that alter the structure and amount of burnable material, thus reducing fire...
Authors
Lisa M. Ellsworth, Beth A. Newingham, Scott E. Shaff, C. F. Rick Williams, Eva K. Strand, Matt Reeves, David A. Pyke, Eugene W. Schupp, Jeanne C. Chambers

The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science?

The researcher's lament is shared by many environmental and conservation scientists who complain about the little support they receive for their research proposals during the review and selection process. Understandably, any hopes of having their anticipated scientific findings applied toward the formulation of environmental management decisions or natural resource policy action are...
Authors
Gustavo A. Bisbal

Characterization of and relations among precipitation, streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water-quality data at the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado, water years 2016–18 Characterization of and relations among precipitation, streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water-quality data at the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado, water years 2016–18

Frequent and prolonged military training maneuvers are an intensive type of land use that may disturb land cover, compact soils, and have lasting effects on adjacent stream hydrology and ecosystems. To better understand the potential effect of military training on hydrologic and environmental processes, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army established hydrologic...
Authors
William A. Battaglin, Zachary D. Kisfalusi

Quantitative method development to determine feed consumption using a dye Quantitative method development to determine feed consumption using a dye

Although there are many methods to determine ingestion and absorption of aquafeeds, none exist that are simple, cost-effective, and quantitative and that can mark fish with a long-lasting, visible indicator. In addition to aquafeed development, selective baits are needed that can be used for aquatic invasive species removal efforts, including for Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. Bait
Authors
James J. Wamboldt, Justine Nelson, Linnea M Thomas, J. Nolan Steiner, Jillian Hebert, Richard A. Erickson, Joel G. Putnam

Heterogeneity of recreationists in a park and protected area Heterogeneity of recreationists in a park and protected area

Limited information and resources have caused many parks and protected areas (PPAs) to functionally manage recreationists as a single homogeneous group, despite potential negative social and ecological consequences. We aimed to evaluate the homogeneity of recreationists at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) by 1) quantifying frequencies of consumptive (i.e., hunting)...
Authors
O.A. DaRugna, M.A. Kaemingk, C.J. Chizinski, Kevin L. Pope

Scale dependence of coral reef oases and their environmental correlates Scale dependence of coral reef oases and their environmental correlates

Identifying relatively intact areas within ecosystems and determining the conditions favoring their existence is necessary for effective management in the context of widespread environmental degradation. In this study, we used 3766 surveys of randomly selected sites in the United States and U.S. Territories to identify the correlates of sites categorized as “oases” (defined as sites with
Authors
Robin Elahi, Peter J. Edmunds, Ruth D. Gates, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Brian B. Barnes, Iliana Chollett, Travis A. Courtney, James R. Guest, Elizabeth A. Lenz, Lauren T. Toth, T. Shay Viehman, Ivor D. Williams

Trophic interactions and feedbacks maintain intact and degraded states of Hawaiian tropical forests Trophic interactions and feedbacks maintain intact and degraded states of Hawaiian tropical forests

Feedbacks within ecosystems can lead to internal reinforcement of the current state providing ecosystem resilience. Often, multiple biotic interactions across trophic levels play a role in such feedbacks, yet these are generally studied independently, obscuring the relative importance of interactions among different factors. We look at various potential feedbacks in intact and degraded...
Authors
Stephanie G. Yelenik, Eli T. Rose, Eben H. Paxton

Marine mammal hotspots across the circumpolar Arctic Marine mammal hotspots across the circumpolar Arctic

Aim Identify hotspots and areas of high species richness for Arctic marine mammals.Location Circumpolar Arctic.Methods A total of 2115 biologging devices were deployed on marine mammals from 13 species in the Arctic from 2005 to 2019. Getis-Ord Gi* hotspots were calculated based on the number of individuals in grid cells for each species and for phylogenetic groups (nine pinnipeds, three...
Authors
Charmain Hamilton, Christian Lydersen, Jon Aars, Mario Acquarone, Todd C. Atwood, Alastair Baylis, Martin Biuw, Andrei N. Boltunov, Erik W. Born, Peter L. Boveng, Tanya M. Brown, Michael Cameron, John J. Citta, Justin A. Crawford, Rune Dietz, Jim Elias, Steven H. Ferguson, Aaron T. Fisk, Lars P. Folkow, Kathryn J. Frost, Dmitri M. Glazov, Sandra M. Granquist, Rowenna Gryba, Lois A. Harwood, Tore Haug, Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen, Nigel E. Hussey, Jimmy Kalinek, Kristin L. Laidre, Dennis I. Litovka, Josh M. London, Lisa Loseto, Shannon MacPhee, Marianne Marcoux, Cory J. D. Matthews, Kjell J Nilssen, Erling S. Nordoy, Greg O’Corry-Crowe, Nils Oien, Morten Tange Olsen, Lori T. Quakenbush, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Varvara Semenova, Kim E. W. Shelden, Olga V. Shpak, Garry Stenson, Luke Storrie, Signe Sveegaard, Jonas Teilmann, Fernando Ugarte, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Cortney Watt, Oystein Wiig, Ryan R. Wilson, David J. Yurkowski, Kit M. Kovacs

The gap between experts, farmers and non-farmers on perceived environmental vulnerability and the influence of values and beliefs The gap between experts, farmers and non-farmers on perceived environmental vulnerability and the influence of values and beliefs

Science has played a mixed role in guiding conservation and sustainability-oriented decision-making by individuals, policymakers, institutions, and governments. Not all science-based conservation and sustainability initiatives that address issues facing humanity and ecosystems and global problems have gained public support. Conservation decisions and policy prescriptions are and may be...
Authors
J.S. Bergtold, M.M. Caldas, S.R. Ramsey, M.R. Sanderson, G. Granco, Martha E. Mather
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