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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: 5350

Nocturnal flight call monitoring reveals in-flight behavioral alteration by avian migrants in response to artificial light at night Nocturnal flight call monitoring reveals in-flight behavioral alteration by avian migrants in response to artificial light at night

The world in which birds evolved to migrate has been drastically altered in the Anthropocene by artificial light. Sources of light such as urban centers or bright upward-facing lights attract migrants, altering their behavior, especially during inclement weather, often leading to mortality. Seemingly less extreme sources, such as pole-mounted floodlighting, ubiquitous throughout much of...
Authors
Dylan M. Osterhaus, Kelley C. Boland, Abigail Jean Lawson, Kyle G. Horton, Benjamin M. Van Doren, Patricia L. Cutler, Timothy F. Wright, Martha J. Desmond

Food habits of nonnative Smallmouth Bass in Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho Food habits of nonnative Smallmouth Bass in Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) has been widely introduced beyond its native distribution where interactions with other organisms are largely unknown. We examined the food habits of Smallmouth Bass in Coeur d'Alene Lake, Idaho. Smallmouth Bass were sampled monthly from March 2012 to May 2013 using short duration (1–2 hr sets) gill netting and electrofishing. In total, food habits...
Authors
Michael C. Quist, John D. Walrath, Jon A. Firehammer

Detection of deer at remote camera sites in relation to snow conditions Detection of deer at remote camera sites in relation to snow conditions

In the rain-snow transition zone of the Pacific Northwest, climate change is expected to alter the incidence of rain-on-snow and freeze-thaw events, which will change snow density and hardness dynamics. In winter, the ability of economically and ecologically important wildlife species, such as deer (Odocoileus spp.), to efficiently move through the landscape and access forage is mediated...
Authors
Kaitlyn S. Vega, Adrienne M. Marshall, Leona Kay Svancara, David Edward Ausband, Timothy E Link

Suspended sediment and fisheries: An exploration of empirical relationships Suspended sediment and fisheries: An exploration of empirical relationships

Objective: Sediment has an important role in aquatic ecosystems, however, excess sediment can negatively impact fish and other aquatic life. Quantifying the response of aquatic life, particularly fish, to suspended sediment is important for natural resource managers tasked with developing sediment management guidelines to protect aquatic ecosystems. Our goal was to assess the ability of
Authors
Ashleigh M. Pilkerton, Sara M. McCullough, Lindsay S. Patterson, Frank J. Rahel, Annika W. Walters

Perceptions and management of chronic wasting disease in Washington State: A survey of cervid hunters Perceptions and management of chronic wasting disease in Washington State: A survey of cervid hunters

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease caused by a misfolded protein, or prion, and is found in cervids (e.g., deer, elk, moose). It represents a serious threat to cervid populations and is one of the most important ungulate management issues facing state wildlife management agencies. Issues associated with CWD can affect many groups including hunters, tribal...
Authors
Megan Callahan, Melia DeVivo, Brian Kertson, Hunter Westacott, Michael C Mcinturff

The bat signal: An ultraviolet light lure to increase acoustic detection of bats The bat signal: An ultraviolet light lure to increase acoustic detection of bats

Bats are a taxa of high conservation concern and are facing numerous threats including widespread mortality due to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in North America. With this decline comes increasing difficulty in monitoring imperiled bat species due to lower detection probabilities of both mist-netting and acoustic surveys. Lure technology shows promise to increase detection while decreasing...
Authors
Samuel R. Freeze, Sabrina M. Deeley, Amber S. Litterer, J. Mark Freeze, W. Mark Ford

The story of the Penobscot River Ecology Mural: A 10-step process for scientists to create public art The story of the Penobscot River Ecology Mural: A 10-step process for scientists to create public art

Rivers are home to a wide variety of biota, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, freshwater mussels, aquatic insects, and microscopic organisms that fill unique niches to support broader ecosystem functions. While the general public may be aware of recreationally relevant biological life (e.g., fishes and insects to model flyfishing flies from), they may not be aware of more...
Authors
Jillian Fedarick, Christina Amy Murphy, Sydne Record, Allison H. Roy, Annette Dodd, Susan L. Smith

Assessing American eel (Anguilla rostrata) distribution in a heavily dammed watershed using eDNA : The Penobscot River watershed, Maine, USA Assessing American eel (Anguilla rostrata) distribution in a heavily dammed watershed using eDNA : The Penobscot River watershed, Maine, USA

Catadromous American eel ( Anguilla rostrata ) are native to Maine's Penobscot River watershed and historically have migrated through many of its tributaries prior to extensive damming. Recent restoration efforts, including dam removals, have improved connectivity in the lower reaches of the Penobscot River. Characterizing the extent of the American eel's distribution is important to...
Authors
Shawn Snyder, Cody Dillingham, Lara S. Katz, Michael T. Kinnison, Joseph D. Zydlewski

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors simultaneously modulated the use of roadways by golden eagles during winter. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors simultaneously modulated the use of roadways by golden eagles during winter.

Animals often face trade-offs wherein foraging opportunities may coincide spatiotemporally with higher risk of mortality, especially within landscapes altered by humans. Resolving such trade-offs can depend on intrinsic factors such as age and sex, and extrinsic factors (e.g., resource availability) within the surrounding environment. Yet both are rarely assessed simultaneously. Roads...
Authors
Joshua F. Layfield, Bryan Bedrosian, Anna D. Chalfoun, Robert Domenech, Stephen B. Lewis, Brian W. Smith, Jerod A. Merkle

Multi-scale habitat characteristics influence Paleback Darter occupancy and detection probability Multi-scale habitat characteristics influence Paleback Darter occupancy and detection probability

Objective The limited distribution of the Paleback Darter Etheostoma pallididorsum, which is often associated with dynamic headwater streams, makes the species vulnerable to changes in its environment in west-central Arkansas. A detailed understanding of habitat characteristics that support the species at multiple spatial scales is limited. This project assessed the relative influences...
Authors
Maxwell L. Hartman, Katie M. Morris, Jonathan J. Spurgeon, Steve E. Lochmann

Spatially explicit power analyses to inform occupancy‐based multi‐species wildlife monitoring programmes Spatially explicit power analyses to inform occupancy‐based multi‐species wildlife monitoring programmes

1. Current and accurate information on wildlife populations is integral to successful biodiversity management and conservation globally. Nevertheless, many monitoring programs fail in their attempts to accurately monitor populations of interest due to interlinked issues including insufficient sample sizes, inappropriate duration, lack of reproducibility, and lack of clearly stated...
Authors
Joshua P. Twining, Angela K. Fuller
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