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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: 5011

Abiotic and biotic factors reduce the viability of a high-elevation salamander in its native range Abiotic and biotic factors reduce the viability of a high-elevation salamander in its native range

Amphibian populations are undergoing worldwide declines, and high-elevation, range-restricted amphibian species may be particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors. In particular, future climate change may have disproportional impacts to these ecosystems. Evaluating the combined effects of abiotic changes and biotic interactions simultaneously is important for forecasting the range...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo, Adrianne Brand

Multi-level thresholds of residential and agricultural land use for elk avoidance across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Multi-level thresholds of residential and agricultural land use for elk avoidance across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

1. Conversion of land for settlements and agriculture is increasing globally and can influence wildlife space use. However, there is limited research to identify the thresholds of land-use change that incur wildlife avoidance and how these thresh-olds might vary across levels of selection. 2. We evaluated multi-level avoidance thresholds of elk Cervus canadensis impacted by residential...
Authors
Laura Christine Gigliotti, M. Paul Atwood, Eric K. Cole, Alyson Courtemanche, Sarah Dewey, Justin A. Gude, Mark Hurley, Matthew Kauffman, Kailin Kroetz, Bryan Leonard, Daniel R. MacNulty, Eric Maichak, Douglas McWhirter, Tony W. Mong, Kelly Proffitt, Brandon Scurlock, Daniel Stahler, Arthur D. Middleton

Toward absolute abundance for conservation applications: Estimating the number of contributors via microhaplotype genotyping of mixed-DNA sample Toward absolute abundance for conservation applications: Estimating the number of contributors via microhaplotype genotyping of mixed-DNA sample

Molecular methods including metabarcoding and quantitative polymerase chain reaction have shown promise for estimating species abundance by quantifying the concentration of genetic material in field samples. However, the relationship between specimen abundance and detectable concentrations of genetic material is often variable in practice. DNA mixture analysis represents an alternative...
Authors
Yue Shi, Cory Dick, Kirby Karpan, Diana S. Baetscher, Mark J. Henderson, Suresh A Sethi, Megan V. McPhee, Wesley A. Larson

Biotic and abiotic factors affecting short-term survival of two age-0 Rainbow Trout strains in Colorado streams Biotic and abiotic factors affecting short-term survival of two age-0 Rainbow Trout strains in Colorado streams

Both biotic and abiotic factors can influence the survival and growth of age-0 salmonids. Diseases, such as whirling disease, can also affect salmonid demographics and population dynamics. Here, we conducted a supplementary analysis and evaluated specific stream characteristics that may have been responsible for the differences in growth and survival of two whirling disease resistant...
Authors
B.W. Avila, Dana L. Winkelman, E.R. Fetherman

Landscape-scale drivers of tayra abundance in the Ecuadorian Andes Landscape-scale drivers of tayra abundance in the Ecuadorian Andes

Habitat conversion to agriculture and overexploitation of wildlife are the two largest drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Biodiversity loss is especially prevalent in areas undergoing rapid economic development at the expense of natural land cover as is the case across much of South America. Despite expected declines in wildlife populations associated with ongoing large-scale land...
Authors
Joshua P. Twining, Vanessa L. Springer, Evan Cooch, Angela K. Fuller

Patterns of water use by raptors in the southern Great Plains Patterns of water use by raptors in the southern Great Plains

There is a paucity of data evaluating water use by raptors. Although raptors are believed to satisfy their water requirements through metabolic processes, they are known to experience reduced reproductive success during periods of drought, and there is evidence of water being important for site occupancy in arid landscapes. Several raptor species have a seasonal or year-round presence in...
Authors
Clint W. Boal, Brent D. Bibles, Trevor S. Gicklhorn

Flight capacity and response to habitat drying of endemic diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Arkansas (USA) Flight capacity and response to habitat drying of endemic diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Arkansas (USA)

The ability to colonize new habitat is essential for wild populations affected by disturbance or other forms of habitat change. For aquatic insects in small streams, overland flight is an important strategy for dispersal when barriers to in-stream migration exist and when populations are isolated in upland habitats. Two Ozark-endemic water beetles (Heterosternuta sulphuria and...
Authors
Scott Longing, Daniel D. Magoulick

Estimating northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) pair detection probabilities based on call-back surveys associated with long-term mark-recapture studies, 1993–2018 Estimating northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) pair detection probabilities based on call-back surveys associated with long-term mark-recapture studies, 1993–2018

The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina; hereinafter NSO) was listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 1990 and population declines have continued since that listing. Given the species’ protected status, any proposed activities on Federal lands that might impact NSO require consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and part of that consultation often...
Authors
Katie M. Dugger, Alan B. Franklin, Damon B. Lesmeister, Raymond J. Davis, J. David Wiens, Gary C. White, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Charles B. Yackulic, Carl J. Schwarz, Steven H. Ackers, L. Steven Andrews, Larissa L. Bailey, Robin Bown, Jesse Burgher, Kenneth P. Burnham, Peter C. Carlson, Tara Chestnut, Mary M Conner, Krista E. Dilione, Eric D. Forsman, Scott A. Gremel, Keith A. Hamm, Dale R. Herter, J. Mark Higley, Rob B. Horn, Julianna M Jenkins, William L. Kendall, David W Lamphear, Christopher McCafferty, Trent L. McDonald, Janice A Reid, Jeremy T. Rockweit, David C. Simon, Stan G Sovern, James K. Swingle, Heather Wise

Temperature and winter duration requirements for reproductive success in johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum in the South Platte River basin, Colorado Temperature and winter duration requirements for reproductive success in johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum in the South Platte River basin, Colorado

Changes in water temperature and its seasonal timing influences the physiological processes of many aquatic ectotherms. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) contribute to warmer and more consistent water temperatures in streams draining the North American Great Plains, particularly during winter months. Reduced variation in seasonal water temperature may adversely affect fishes that rely...
Authors
C.M. Baum, Dana L. Winkelman, R.M. Fitzpatrick

Effects of population density and environmental conditions on life-history prevalence in a migratory fish Effects of population density and environmental conditions on life-history prevalence in a migratory fish

Individual variation in life-history traits can have important implications for the ability of populations to respond to environmental variability and change. In migratory animals, flexibility in the timing of life-history events, such as juvenile emigration from natal areas, can influence the effects of population density and environmental conditions on habitat use and population...
Authors
Mark H. Sorel, Andrew R. Murdoch, Richard W. Zabel, Cory M. Kamphaus, Eric R. Buhle, Mark David Scheuerell, Sarah J. Converse

Contemporary distribution of non-native Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in South America Contemporary distribution of non-native Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in South America

Chinook salmon represent one of the most successful salmonid introductions in South America, and today multiple naturalized populations exist across Patagonia. Here, we present an updated regional distribution of Chinook salmon that includes new records of occurrences collected between 2006 and 2022. We found a significant range expansion in terms of occurrences for adult (18 new basins...
Authors
Guillermo Figueroa-Munoz, J. Andres Olivos, Ivan Arismendi, Graciela Fabiano, Martin Laporta, Santiago Silveira, Ivan González-Bergonzoni, Guido Pavez, Billy Ernst, Javier E. Ciancio, Chris Harrod, Cecilia Y. Di Prinzio, Tomás Chalde, Christina Amy Murphy, Daniel Gomez-Uchida

Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data

Rapid and targeted management actions are a prerequisite to efficiently mitigate disease outbreaks. Targeted actions, however, require accurate spatial information on disease occurrence and spread. Frequently, targeted management actions are guided by non-statistical approaches that define the affected area by a pre-determined distance surrounding a small number of disease detections. As...
Authors
Jonathan D Cook, David M. Williams, Daniel P. Walsh, Trevor J. Hefley
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