Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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: 5022

Accuracy of stream habitat interpolations across spatial scales Accuracy of stream habitat interpolations across spatial scales

Stream habitat data are often collected across spatial scales because relationships among habitat, species occurrence, and management plans are linked at multiple spatial scales. Unfortunately, scale is often a factor limiting insight gained from spatial analysis of stream habitat data. Considerable cost is often expended to collect data at several spatial scales to provide accurate...
Authors
Kenneth R. Sheehan, Stuart A. Welsh

Comparison of point counts and territory mapping for detecting effects of forest management on songbirds Comparison of point counts and territory mapping for detecting effects of forest management on songbirds

Point counts are commonly used to assess changes in bird abundance, including analytical approaches such as distance sampling that estimate density. Point-count methods have come under increasing scrutiny because effects of detection probability and field error are difficult to quantify. For seven forest songbirds, we compared fixed-radii counts (50 m and 100 m) and density estimates...
Authors
Felicity L. Newell, James Sheehan, Petra Bohall Wood, Amanda D. Rodewald, David A. Buehler, Patrick D. Keyser, Jeffrey L. Larkin, Tiffany A. Beachy, Marja H. Bakermans, Than J. Boves, Andrea Evans, Gregory A. George, Molly E. McDermott, Kelly A. Perkins, Matthew White, T. Bently Wigley

Estimating spatial and temporal components of variation in count data using negative binomial mixed models Estimating spatial and temporal components of variation in count data using negative binomial mixed models

Partitioning total variability into its component temporal and spatial sources is a powerful way to better understand time series and elucidate trends. The data available for such analyses of fish and other populations are usually nonnegative integer counts of the number of organisms, often dominated by many low values with few observations of relatively high abundance. These...
Authors
Brian J. Irwin, Tyler Wagner, James R. Bence, Megan V. Kepler, Weihai Liu, Daniel B. Hayes

Influence of sex and reproductive status on seasonal movement of Lake Sturgeon in Namakan Reservoir, Minnesota–Ontario Influence of sex and reproductive status on seasonal movement of Lake Sturgeon in Namakan Reservoir, Minnesota–Ontario

We evaluated the influence of sex and reproductive condition on seasonal distribution and movement patterns of Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in Namakan Reservoir, Minnesota–Ontario. Blood samples were collected from 133 Lake Sturgeon prior to spawning and plasma concentrations of testosterone and estradiol-17ß were analyzed using radioimmunoassay. Steroid concentrations were used to...
Authors
Stephanie L. Shaw, Steven R. Chipps, Steve K. Windels, Molly A. H. Webb, Darryl T. McLeod

Spring migratory pathways and migration chronology of Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior) wintering at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina Spring migratory pathways and migration chronology of Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior) wintering at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina

We assessed the migratory pathways, migration chronology, and breeding ground affiliation of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis interior) that winter in and adjacent to the Santee National Wildlife Refuge in Summerton, South Carolina, United States. Satellite transmitters were fitted to eight Canada Geese at Santee National Wildlife Refuge during the winter of 2009–2010. Canada Geese...
Authors
Molly M. Giles, Patrick G.R. Jodice, Robert F. Baldwin, John D. Stanton, Marc Epstein

Adventures on the roof of the world Adventures on the roof of the world

To conduct field biology requires tenacity, grit, and flexibility; to endeavor to achieve conservation success requires patience, persistence, and passion. The essence of field biology and the hope for conservation success are both reflected admirably in George B. Schaller's most recent book, Tibet Wild: A Naturalist's Journeys on the Roof of the World. I can think of no living biologist...
Authors
David M. Leslie

Variation in clinical phenotype of human infection among genetic groups of Blastomyces dermatitidis Variation in clinical phenotype of human infection among genetic groups of Blastomyces dermatitidis

Background. Blastomyces dermatitidis, the etiologic agent of blastomycosis, has 2 genetic groups and shows varied clinical presentation, ranging from silent infections to fulminant respiratory disease and dissemination. The objective of this study was to determine whether clinical phenotype and outcomes vary based on the infecting organism's genetic group. Methods. We used...
Authors
Jennifer K. Meece, Jennifer L. Anderson, Sarah Gruszka, Brian L. Sloss, Bradley Sullivan, Kurt D. Reed

Food availability and foraging near human developments by black bears Food availability and foraging near human developments by black bears

Understanding the relationship between foraging ecology and the presence of human-dominated landscapes is important, particularly for American black bears (Ursus americanus), which sometimes move between wildlands and urban areas to forage. The food-related factors influencing this movement have not been explored, but can be important for understanding the benefits and costs to black...
Authors
Jerod Merkle, Hugh S. Robinson, Paul R. Krausman, Paul B. Alaback

Capture-recapture methodology Capture-recapture methodology

Capture-recapture methods were initially developed to estimate human population abundance, but since that time have seen widespread use for fish and wildlife populations to estimate and model various parameters of population, metapopulation, and disease dynamics. Repeated sampling of marked animals provides information for estimating abundance and tracking the fate of individuals in the...
Authors
William R. Gould, William L. Kendall

Diurnal activity patterns of Black-Necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) during the non-breeding season in the eastern Caribbean Diurnal activity patterns of Black-Necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) during the non-breeding season in the eastern Caribbean

Diurnal activity patterns of resident Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) were observed on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, during October 2010. Stilts were principally engaged in foraging and idle behaviors. The amount of time engaged in particular behaviors was relatively constant throughout the day, except during mid-afternoon when idleness increased and foraging decreased...
Authors
Laura Navarrete, Blake A. Grisham, Maria Kalyvaki, E. Kathleen McGaughey, Krista Mougey, Ben R. Skipper, Gad Perry, Clint W. Boal

Vertical structure use by the Stout Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) on Guana Island, BVI Vertical structure use by the Stout Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) on Guana Island, BVI

The Stout Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) is a critically endangered species endemic to the Puerto Rico Bank and currently restricted to the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Our study on Guana Island, BVI, focused on vertical structure use. Based on previous incidental observations, we hypothesized that Stout Iguanas use vertical structures and that adults and juveniles use such structures...
Authors
Christopher A. Cheek, Shay Hlavaty, Rebecca N. Perkins, Mark A. Peyton, Caitlin N. Ryan, Jennifer C. Zavaleta, Clint W. Boal, Gad Perry

Anadromous sea lampreys recolonize a Maine coastal river tributary after dam removal Anadromous sea lampreys recolonize a Maine coastal river tributary after dam removal

Sedgeunkedunk Stream, a third-order tributary to the Penobscot River, Maine, historically supported several anadromous fishes, including the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, AlewifeAlosa pseudoharengus, and Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus. However, two small dams constructed in the 1800s reduced or eliminated spawning runs entirely. In 2009, efforts to restore marine–freshwater connectivity...
Authors
Robert Hogg, Stephen M. Coghlan, Joseph D. Zydlewski
Was this page helpful?