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: 5084
Environmental conditions associated with occurrences of the threatened Yaqui Catfish in the Yaqui River Basin, Mexico Environmental conditions associated with occurrences of the threatened Yaqui Catfish in the Yaqui River Basin, Mexico
The Yaqui Catfish Ictalurus pricei is an understudied species, with limited information available on its ecology, distribution, and local habitat use. Native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, Yaqui Catfish populations are declining, which has prompted listing of the species as threatened in the United States and as a species of concern in Mexico. Water...
Authors
T. Hafen, A.T. Taylor, D.A. Hendrickson, D.R. Stewart, James M. Long
Range-wide declines of northern spotted owl populations in the Pacific Northwest: A meta-analysis Range-wide declines of northern spotted owl populations in the Pacific Northwest: A meta-analysis
The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) inhabits older coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest and has been at the center of forest management issues in this region. The immediate threats to this federally listed species include habitat loss and competition with barred owls (Strix varia), which invaded from eastern North America. We conducted a prospective meta-analysis...
Authors
Alan B. Franklin, Katie M. Dugger, 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, Andrew L. Stevens, Larissa L. Bailey, Robin Bown, Jesse Burgher, Kenneth P. Burnham, Peter C. Carlson, Tara Chestnut, Mary M Conner, Krista E. Dilione, Eric D. Forsman, Elizabeth M. Glenn, 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 Swingle, Heather Wise
Hydrologic variation influences stream fish assemblage dynamics through flow regime and drought Hydrologic variation influences stream fish assemblage dynamics through flow regime and drought
Hydrologic variation can play a major role in structuring stream fish assemblages and relationships between hydrology and biology are likely to be influenced by flow regime. We hypothesized that more variable flow regimes would have lower and more variable species richness, higher species turnover and lower assemblage stability, and greater abiotic environment-fish relationships than...
Authors
Daniel D. Magoulick, M. P. Dekar, S. W. Hodges, M. K. Scott, M. R. Rabalais, C. M. Bare
Threading the needle: How humans influence predator–prey spatiotemporal interactions in a multiple‐predator system Threading the needle: How humans influence predator–prey spatiotemporal interactions in a multiple‐predator system
Perceived predation risk and the resulting antipredator behaviour varies across space, time and predator identity. Communities with multiple predators that interact and differ in their use of space, time of activity and hunting mode create a complex landscape for prey to avoid predation. Anthropogenic presence and disturbance have the potential to shift interactions among predators and...
Authors
Asia Murphy, Duane R. Diefenbach, Mark Ternent, Matt Lovallo, David Miller
Modeling effects of disturbance across life history strategies of stream fishes Modeling effects of disturbance across life history strategies of stream fishes
A central goal of population ecology is to establish linkages between life history strategy, disturbance, and population dynamics. Globally, disturbance events such as drought and invasive species have dramatically impacted stream fish populations and contributed to sharp declines in freshwater biodiversity. Here, we used RAMAS-Metapop to construct stage-based demographic metapopulation...
Authors
Robert J. Fournier, Nick R. Bond, Daniel D. Magoulick
An empirically based simulation model to inform flow management for endangered species conservation An empirically based simulation model to inform flow management for endangered species conservation
Increasing water demand, water development, and ongoing climate change have driven extensive changes to the hydrology, geomorphology and biology of arid-land rivers globally, driving an increasing need to understand how annual hydrologic conditions affect the distribution and abundance of imperiled desert fish populations. We analyzed the relationship between annual hydrologic conditions...
Authors
Timothy E. Walsworth, Phaedra E. Budy
Moose habitat selection and fitness consequences during two critical winter tick life stages in Vermont, United States Moose habitat selection and fitness consequences during two critical winter tick life stages in Vermont, United States
The moose (Alces alces) is a charismatic species in decline across much of their southern distribution in North America. In the northeastern United States, much of the reduction has been attributed to winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) infestations. Winter ticks are fairly immobile throughout all life stages, and therefore their distribution patterns at any given time are shaped...
Authors
Joshua Blouin, Jacob Debow, Elias Rosenblatt, James E. Hines, Cedric Alexander, Katherina Gieder, Nicholas Fortin, James Murdoch, Therese M. Donovan
The effect of group size on reproduction in cooperatively breeding gray wolves depends on density The effect of group size on reproduction in cooperatively breeding gray wolves depends on density
In cooperatively breeding species, large group size is often positively related to reproductive success and group persistence. We have a poor understanding, however, of how group sizes within a population affect reproduction particularly as density varies. We hypothesized that at low densities, wolves in both small and large groups would have similar reproductive rates. At high densities...
Authors
D.E. Ausband, Michael S. Mitchell
Short-term responses to a human-altered landscape do not affect fat dynamics of a migratory ungulate Short-term responses to a human-altered landscape do not affect fat dynamics of a migratory ungulate
According to risk-sensitive foraging theory, animals should make foraging decisions that balance nutritional costs and gains to promote fitness. Human disturbance is a form of perceived risk that can prompt avoidance of risky habitat over acquisition of food. Consequently, behavioural responses to perceived risk could induce nutritional costs.Population declines often coincide with...
Authors
Samantha P. H. Dwinnell, Hall Sawyer, Matthew Kauffman, Jill E. Randall, Rusty Kaiser, Mark A. Thonhoff, Gary L. Fralick, Kevin L. Monteith
Comparison of sample types from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for DNA extraction and analyses Comparison of sample types from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for DNA extraction and analyses
Collection of biological samples for DNA is necessary in a variety of disciplines including disease epidemiology, landscape genetics, and forensics. Quantity and quality of DNA varies depending on the method of collection or media available for collection (e.g., blood, tissue, fecal). Blood is the most common sample collected in vials or on Whatman Flinders Technology Associates (FTA)...
Authors
Jessie Edson, Justin Brown, William L. Miller, W. David Walter
Managing wildlife at landscape scales Managing wildlife at landscape scales
Managing wildlife populations on a landscape is not a new concept to the field of wildlife management. However, a variety of barriers exist to effectively manage wildlife species at landscape scales. For example, competing management objectives for the same population can occur in parts of two adjoining states and 3-4 agencies within a single state may be charged with managing the...
Authors
John W. Connelly, Courtney J. Conway
White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient
Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed the area with mist netting and active acoustic sampling (2016–2018) and compared findings to pre-WNS (2003–2004) data.Results The results indicated...
Authors
Sabrina M. Deeley, Joshua B. Johnson, W. Mark Ford, J. Edward Gates