Publications
Browse publications authored by our scientists. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Filter Total Items: 5050
Using remote sensing to identify habitat for wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii) Using remote sensing to identify habitat for wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii)
The Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) is a grassland bird species that overwinters in the southeastern United States and is a species of conservation concern due to population declines primarily caused by habitat loss. Henslow's Sparrows often overwinter in marginal habitats, such as powerline rights-of-way (ROWs), clear cuts, and field edges that provide some of their desired...
Authors
Sierra A. Moore, Abigail W. Dwire, Thomas J. Prebyl, Todd M. Schneider, Elizabeth Ann Hunter
Structured decision-making workshop: Chronic wasting disease management in free-ranging cervids in Massachusetts Structured decision-making workshop: Chronic wasting disease management in free-ranging cervids in Massachusetts
This document describes the results of a 2.5-day rapid decision prototype workshop that evaluated management activities for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Massachusetts (MA) that were either proactive (i.e., actions taken prior to CWD arrival/detection) or reactive (i.e., actions taken after CWD arrival/detection). The workshop was led by members of the Wildlife Section of the MA...
Authors
Martin J. R Feehan, Jonathan D. Cook, Margaret McEachran, Susan M. McCarthy, David Wattles, Meghan Crawford, Michael Huguenin, Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo
A meta-analysis highlights the idiosyncratic nature of tradeoffs in laboratory models of virus evolution A meta-analysis highlights the idiosyncratic nature of tradeoffs in laboratory models of virus evolution
Different theoretical frameworks have been invoked to guide the study of virus evolution. Three of the more prominent ones are (i) the evolution of virulence, (ii) life history theory, and (iii) the generalism–specialism dichotomy. All involve purported tradeoffs between traits that define the evolvability and constraint of virus-associated phenotypes. However, as popular as these...
Authors
Ketty Kabengele, Wendy Christine Turner, Paul E. Turner, C. Brandon Ogbunugafor
Cumulative effects assessment of restoration programs: A framework to assess achievement of regional and programmatic goals Cumulative effects assessment of restoration programs: A framework to assess achievement of regional and programmatic goals
Increasing global investments focused on conservation and restoration of natural resources aim to address challenges presented by climate change and biodiversity loss. Many restoration and conservation program assessments examine individual actions, assuming additive effects only, failing to acknowledge or capture potential synergistic or antagonistic effects across a region or program...
Authors
T. M. Davenport, D. A. Comba, P. S. Dalyander, Nicholas Enwright, Margaret L. Palmsten, Gregory Steyer, Megan La Peyre
Disparities in Perimyotis subflavus body mass between cave and culvert hibernacula in Georgia, USA Disparities in Perimyotis subflavus body mass between cave and culvert hibernacula in Georgia, USA
The tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), once common in the eastern United States, has experienced significant mortality due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that primarily affects bats hibernating in caves and mines. In coastal regions of the southeastern United States, where caves and mines are scarce, tricolored bats often use roadway culverts as hibernacula. However...
Authors
Emily Ferrall, S. Perea, K.M. Morris, P.E. Pattavina, Brian J. Irwin, J. Hepinstall-Cymerman, S.B. Castleberry
An audience segmentation study of native plant gardening behaviors in the United States An audience segmentation study of native plant gardening behaviors in the United States
Audience segmentation can be used to identify target audiences in environmental public engagement and communication, but few studies have used segmentation to study biodiversity conservation behavior. This study used segmentation to better understand perceptions and behaviors around different types of actions related to native plant gardening. With a United States representative survey...
Authors
Veronica M. Champine, Kaiya Tamlyn, Megan Siobhan Jones, Meena M. Balgopal, Brett Bruyere, Jennifer N. Solomon, Rebecca M. Niemiec
Gray wolf breeders are more vulnerable to harvest during the breeding season Gray wolf breeders are more vulnerable to harvest during the breeding season
In cooperatively breeding carnivores, breeders are vital to perpetuating the group; the death or removal of an individual breeder can greatly affect group composition, genetic content, and short-term population growth. Understanding the number of breeders harvested and timing of harvest can increase our knowledge of how mortality affects groups of cooperative breeders. Gray wolves (Canis...
Authors
Peter F. Rebholz, Lisette P. Waits, David Edward Ausband
Abundance-mediated species interactions Abundance-mediated species interactions
Species interactions shape biodiversity patterns, community assemblage, and the dynamics of wildlife populations. Ecological theory posits that the strength of interspecific interactions is fundamentally underpinned by the population sizes of the involved species. Nonetheless, prevalent approaches for modeling species interactions predominantly center around occupancy states. Here, we...
Authors
Joshua P. Twining, Ben Augustine, Andy Royle, Angela K. Fuller
Evidence of extensive home range sharing among mother–daughter bobcat pairs in the wildland–urban interface of the Tucson Mountains Evidence of extensive home range sharing among mother–daughter bobcat pairs in the wildland–urban interface of the Tucson Mountains
Urbanization impacts the structure and viability of wildlife populations. Some habitat generalists, such as bobcats (Lynx rufus), maintain populations at the intersection of wild and urban habitats (wildland urban interface, WUI), but impacts of urbanization on bobcat social structure are not well understood. Although commonly thought to establish exclusive home ranges among females...
Authors
Natalie Payne, Desiree Andersen, Robert A. Davis, Cheryl Mollohan, Kerry Baldwin, Albert L. LeCount, Melanie Culver
Rowing in the same direction using MIX— A tool to initiate the melding of individual disciplinary experts into an integrated interdisciplinary team Rowing in the same direction using MIX— A tool to initiate the melding of individual disciplinary experts into an integrated interdisciplinary team
A common problem for interdisciplinary sustainability research is that scientists trained in different disciplines are often not rowing their boat effectively in the same direction. Sustainability tools can aid the implementation of this team-melding process. Here, our purpose is to illustrate our Multi-step Integrated graphical and structured discussion e Xercise ( MIX) tool that...
Authors
Martha E. Mather, Jason Bergtold, Marcellus Caldas, Ethan Bernick, Trisha Moore, Gabriel Granco, Aleksey Sheshukov, Ignacio Ciampitti
Neonatal antipredator tactics shape female movement patterns in large herbivores Neonatal antipredator tactics shape female movement patterns in large herbivores
Caring for newborn offspring hampers resource acquisition of mammalian females, curbing their ability to meet the high energy expenditure of early lactation. Newborns are particularly vulnerable, and large herbivores have evolved a continuum of neonatal anti-predator tactics, ranging from immobile hider to highly mobile follower offspring. How these tactics constrain female movements...
Authors
Kamal Atmeh, Christophe Bonenfant, Jean-Michel Gaillard, Mathieu Garel, A.J. Mark Hewison, Pascal Marchand, Nicolas Morellet, Pia Anderwald, Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar, Jeffrey L. Beck, Matthew S. Becker, Floris M. van Beest, Jodi Berg, Ulrika A. Bergvall, Randall B. Boone, Mark S. Boyce, Simon Chamaill'e-Jammes, Yannick Chaval, Chimeddorj Buyanaa, David A Christianson, Simone Ciuti, Steeve D. Côté, Duane R. Diefenbach, Egil Droge, Johan T. Du Toit, Samantha P. Dwinnell, Julian Fennessy, Flurin Filli, Daniel Fortin, Emma E. Hart, Matthew Hayes, Mark Hebblewhite, Morten Heim, Ivar Herfindal, Marco Heurich, Christian von Hoermann, Katey Huggler, Craig Jackson, Andrew F. Jakes, Paul F. Jones, Petra Kaczensky, Matthew J. Kauffman, Petter Kjellander, Tayler N LaSharr, Leif Egil Loe, Roel May, Philip McLoughlin, Erling L. Meisingset, Evelyn Merrill, Kevin L. Monteith, Thomas Mueller, Atle Mysterud, Dejid Nandintsetseg, Kirk A. Olson, John Payne, Scott Pearson, Ashild Ønvik Pedersen, Dustin H. Ranglack, Adele K. Reinking, Thomas Rempfler, Clifford G Rice, Eivin Røskaft, Bernt-Erik Sæther, Sonia Saïd, Hugo Santacreu, Niels Martin Schmidt, Daan Smit, Jared A. Stabach, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent, Joëlle Taillon, W. David Walter, Kevin White, Guillaume Péron, Anne Loison
Monitoring animal populations with cameras using open, multistate, N-mixture models Monitoring animal populations with cameras using open, multistate, N-mixture models
Remote cameras have become a mainstream tool for studying wildlife populations. For species whose developmental stages or states are identifiable in photographs, there are opportunities for tracking population changes and estimating demographic rates. Recent developments in hierarchical models allow for the estimation of ecological states and rates over time for unmarked animals whose...
Authors
Alexej P.K. Siren, Michael T. Hallworth, Jillian R. Kilborn, Chris A. Bernier, Nicholas L. Fortin, Katherina D. Geider, Riley K. Patry, Rachel M. Cliche, Leighlan S. Prout, Suzanne J. Gifford, Scott Wixsom, Toni Lyn Morelli, Tammy L. Wilson