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: 5011

Roost selection by Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in a pristine habitat at three spatial scales Roost selection by Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in a pristine habitat at three spatial scales

Although several studies have described roost use by Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), few studies have examined roost selection. We examined roost use and selection by Rafinesque's big-eared bat at the tree, stand, and landscape scales during the maternity season in pristine old-growth habitat in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. We located 43 roosts (14...
Authors
Jessica S. Lucas, Susan C. Loeb, Patrick G.R. Jodice

Reach-scale stream restoration in agricultural streams of southern Minnesota alters structural and functional responses of macroinvertebrates Reach-scale stream restoration in agricultural streams of southern Minnesota alters structural and functional responses of macroinvertebrates

Recent studies suggest that stream restoration at the reach scale may not increase stream biodiversity, raising concerns about the utility of this conservation practice. We examined whether reach-scale restoration in disturbed agricultural streams was associated with changes in macroinvertebrate community structure (total macroinvertebrate taxon richness, total macroinvertebrate density
Authors
Christine L. Dolph, Susan L. Eggert, Joe Magner, Leonard C. Ferrington, Bruce C. Vondracek

Incidental captures of Eastern Spotted Skunk in a high-elevation Red Spruce forest in Virginia Incidental captures of Eastern Spotted Skunk in a high-elevation Red Spruce forest in Virginia

Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk) is considered rare in the southern Appalachian Mountains and throughout much of its range. We report incidental captures of 6 Eastern Spotted Skunks in a high-elevation Picea rubens (Red Spruce) forest in southwestern Virginia during late February and March 2014. At 1520 m, these observations are the highest-elevation records for Eastern Spotted...
Authors
Corinne A. Diggins, David S. Jachowski, Jay Martin, W. Mark Ford

A formalized approach to making effective natural resource management decisions for Alaska National Parks A formalized approach to making effective natural resource management decisions for Alaska National Parks

A fundamental goal of the National Park Service (NPS) is the long-term protection and management of resources in the National Park System. Reaching this goal requires multiple approaches, including the conservation of essential habitats and the identification and elimination of potential threats to biota and habitats. To accomplish these goals, the NPS has implemented the Alaska Region...
Authors
Margaret C. MacCluskie, Angela Romito, James Peterson, James P. Lawler

Recent changes in annual area burned in interior Alaska: The impact of fire management Recent changes in annual area burned in interior Alaska: The impact of fire management

The Alaskan boreal forest is characterized by frequent extensive wildfires whose spatial extent has been mapped for the past 70 years. Simple predictions based on this record indicate that area burned will increase as a response to climate warming in Alaska. However, two additional factors have affected the area burned in this time record: the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) switched...
Authors
M.P. Calef, Anna Varvak, A. David McGuire, F. S. Chapin, K. B. Reinhold

Testing hypotheses on distribution shifts and changes in phenology of imperfectly detectable species Testing hypotheses on distribution shifts and changes in phenology of imperfectly detectable species

With ongoing climate change, many species are expected to shift their spatial and temporal distributions. To document changes in species distribution and phenology, detection/non-detection data have proven very useful. Occupancy models provide a robust way to analyse such data, but inference is usually focused on species spatial distribution, not phenology.We present a multi-season...
Authors
Thierry A. Chambert, William L. Kendall, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Paolo Pedrini, J. Hardin Waddle, Giacomo Tavecchia, Susan C. Walls, Simone Tenan

Fall spawning of Atlantic sturgeon in the Roanoke River, North Carolina Fall spawning of Atlantic sturgeon in the Roanoke River, North Carolina

In 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus to be threatened or endangered throughout its range in U.S. waters. Restoration of the subspecies will require much new information, particularly on the location and timing of spawning. We used a combination of acoustic telemetry and sampling with anchored...
Authors
Joseph A. Smith, Joseph E. Hightower, H. Jared Flowers

Effectiveness of two commercial rotenone formulations in the eradication of virile crayfish Orconectes virillis Effectiveness of two commercial rotenone formulations in the eradication of virile crayfish Orconectes virillis

The virile or northern crayfish Orconectes virilis is an invasive species throughout much of the USA, damaging aquatic communities where it is introduced. Therefore, identification of effective methods for its eradication from areas in which it is unwanted is important. We studied the effectiveness of two commercial formulations of rotenone, Chem Fish Regular and CFT Legumine, for virile...
Authors
Matthew S. Recsetar, Scott A. Bonar

Initiation of migration and movement rates of Atlantic salmon smolts in fresh water Initiation of migration and movement rates of Atlantic salmon smolts in fresh water

Timing of ocean entry is critical for marine survival of both hatchery and wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts. Management practices and barriers to migration such as dams may constrain timing of smolt migrations resulting in suboptimal performance at saltwater entry. We modeled influences of stocking location, smolt development, and environmental conditions on (i) initiation of...
Authors
Daniel S. Stich, Michael T. Kinnison, John F. Kocik, Joseph D. Zydlewski

Agonistic behavior among three stocked trout species in a novel reservoir fish community Agonistic behavior among three stocked trout species in a novel reservoir fish community

The popularity of reservoirs to support sport fisheries has led to the stocking of species that did not co-evolve, creating novel reservoir fish communities. In Utah, the Bear Lake strain of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii utah and tiger trout (female Brown Trout Salmo trutta × male Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis) are being more frequently added to a traditional...
Authors
Phaedra Budy, Konrad Hafen

An evaluation of the efficiency of minnow traps for estimating the abundance of minnows in desert spring systems An evaluation of the efficiency of minnow traps for estimating the abundance of minnows in desert spring systems

Desert springs are sensitive aquatic ecosystems that pose unique challenges to natural resource managers and researchers. Among the most important of these is the need to accurately quantify population parameters for resident fish, particularly when the species are of special conservation concern. We evaluated the efficiency of baited minnow traps for estimating the abundance of two at...
Authors
James Peterson, Paul D. Scheerer, Shaun Clements

Optimizing water depth for wetland-dependent wildlife could increase wetland restoration success, water efficiency, and water security Optimizing water depth for wetland-dependent wildlife could increase wetland restoration success, water efficiency, and water security

Securing water for wetland restoration efforts will be increasingly difficult as human populations demand more water and climate change alters the hydrologic cycle. Minimizing water use at a restoration site could help justify water use to competing users, thereby increasing future water security. Moreover, optimizing water depth for focal species will increase habitat quality and the...
Authors
Christopher P. Nadeau, Courtney J. Conway
Was this page helpful?