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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: 175538

Estimating detection and occupancy of secretive marsh bird species in low and high saline marshes in southwestern Louisiana using automated recording units Estimating detection and occupancy of secretive marsh bird species in low and high saline marshes in southwestern Louisiana using automated recording units

Secretive marsh birds (SMBs) are important indicator species of coastal wetlands but are difficult to detect and monitor. In coastal Louisiana, an important stronghold for these species, climate and hydrological models predict that freshwater and intermediate marshes will expand in the next 50 years, while brackish marshes will shrink. We used a multi-species Bayesian hierarchical...
Authors
Hardin Waddle, Landon R. Jones, Phillip L. Vasseur, Clint W. Jeske

Heterogeneous patterns of aged organic carbon export driven by hydrologic flow paths, soil texture, fire, and thaw in discontinuous permafrost headwaters Heterogeneous patterns of aged organic carbon export driven by hydrologic flow paths, soil texture, fire, and thaw in discontinuous permafrost headwaters

Climate change is thawing and potentially mobilizing vast quantities of organic carbon (OC) previously stored for millennia in permafrost soils of northern circumpolar landscapes. Climate-driven increases in fire and thermokarst may play a key role in OC mobilization by thawing permafrost and promoting transport of OC. Yet, the extent of OC mobilization and mechanisms controlling...
Authors
Joshua C. Koch, Matthew Bogard, David Butman, Kerri Finlay, Brian A. Ebel, Jason James, Sarah Ellen Johnston, M. Torre Jorgenson, Neal Pastick, Rob Spencer, Rob Striegl, Michelle A. Walvoord, Kimberly Wickland

A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter Percina nasuta in Missouri A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter Percina nasuta in Missouri

The longnose darter Percina nasuta is a rare and cryptic fish that recently disappeared from much of its historic range. We developed and used an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for longnose darter paired with visual surveys to better determine the species’ range and compare detection probability between sampling approaches in an occupancy modeling framework. We detected longnose darter...
Authors
Jacob Thomas Westhoff, Leah K. Berkman, Katy E. Klymus, Nathan Thompson, Cathy A. Richter

Errors in aerial survey count data: Identifying pitfalls and solutions Errors in aerial survey count data: Identifying pitfalls and solutions

Accurate estimates of animal abundance are essential for guiding effective management, and poor survey data can produce misleading inferences. Aerial surveys are an efficient survey platform, capable of collecting wildlife data across large spatial extents in short timeframes. However, these surveys can yield unreliable data if not carefully executed. Despite a long history of aerial...
Authors
Kayla L. Davis, Emily D Silverman, Allison Sussman, R. Randy Wilson, Elise F. Zipkin

Estimating the aboveground biomass and carbon stocks of tall shrubs in a prerestoration degraded salt marsh Estimating the aboveground biomass and carbon stocks of tall shrubs in a prerestoration degraded salt marsh

Wetlands play a vital role in Earth's carbon cycle and provide important ecosystem services. Their ability to perform their roles can be compromised by human activities that destroy or impair their functioning. The restoration of degraded wetlands may allow carbon cycle functioning, as well as other services, to be recovered. Predicting the potential outcomes from any restoration project...
Authors
Jacqualyn Fouse, Meagan J. Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Timothy P. Smith

Comparative virulence of spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) genotypes in two koi varieties Comparative virulence of spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) genotypes in two koi varieties

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), is a lethal freshwater pathogen of cyprinid fish, and Cyprinus carpio koi is a primary host species. The virus was initially described in the 1960s after outbreaks occurred in Europe, but a global expansion of SVCV has been ongoing since the late 1990s. Genetic typing of SVCV isolates separates them into 4 genotypes that are correlated with geographic...
Authors
Eveline J. Emmenegger, Emma K. Bueren, Peng Jia, Noble Hendrix, Hong Liu

Inherit the kingdom or storm the castle? Breeding strategies in a social carnivore Inherit the kingdom or storm the castle? Breeding strategies in a social carnivore

Breeding opportunities are inherently limited for animals that live and breed in groups. Turnover in breeding positions can have marked effects on groups of cooperative breeders, particularly social carnivores. We generally know little about how breeding vacancies are filled in social carnivores and what factors might influence an individual's ability to successfully fill a vacancy. I...
Authors
David Edward Ausband

Pedigree analysis and estimates of effective breeding size characterize sea lamprey reproductive biology Pedigree analysis and estimates of effective breeding size characterize sea lamprey reproductive biology

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive species in the Great Lakes and the focus of a large control and assessment program. Current assessment methods provide information on the census size of spawning adult sea lamprey in a small number of streams, but information characterizing reproductive success of spawning adults is rarely available. We used RAD-capture sequencing to...
Authors
Ellen M. Weise, Kim T. Scribner, Jean V. Adams, Olivia Boeberitz, Aaron K. Jubar, Gale Bravener, Nicholas S. Johnson, John D. Robinson

Climate change and plant regeneration from seeds in Mediterranean regions of the Northern Hemisphere Climate change and plant regeneration from seeds in Mediterranean regions of the Northern Hemisphere

Mediterranean regions are biodiversity hotspots whose landscapes are characterized by evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation, mild-wet winters, and hot-dry summers. In the Northern Hemisphere, they occur in the Mediterranean Basin and California regions. In these areas, whose habitats are heavily shaped by centuries of anthropic activities, the main effects of climate change include a...
Authors
Efsio Mattana, Angelino Carta, Eduardo Fernandez-Pascual, Jon Keeley, Hugh W. Pritchard

Temporal greenness trends in stable natural land cover and relationships with climatic variability across the conterminous United States Temporal greenness trends in stable natural land cover and relationships with climatic variability across the conterminous United States

Assessment of temporal trends in vegetation greenness and related influences aids understanding of recent change in terrestrial ecosystems and feedbacks from weather, climate, and environment. We analyzed 1-km normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) timeseries data (1989–2016) derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and developed growing season time...
Authors
Lei Ji, Jesslyn F. Brown

Regional-scale liquefaction analyses Regional-scale liquefaction analyses

Regional-scale liquefaction hazard analyses are necessary for resilience planning and prioritization of seismic upgrades for critical distributed infrastructure such as levees, pipelines, roadways, and electrical transmission facilities. Two approaches are often considered for liquefaction hazard analysis of distributed infrastructure: (1) conventional, site-specific probe or borehole...
Authors
Michael W. Greenfield, Alex R. Grant
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