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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: 5294

A semi-automated method of monitoring dam passage of American Eels Anguilla rostrata A semi-automated method of monitoring dam passage of American Eels Anguilla rostrata

Fish passage facilities at dams have become an important focus of fishery management in riverine systems. Given the personnel and travel costs associated with physical monitoring programs, automated or semi-automated systems are an attractive alternative for monitoring fish passage facilities. We designed and tested a semi-automated system for eel ladder monitoring at Millville Dam on...
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Joni L. Aldinger

Population dynamics of bowfin in a south Georgia reservoir: latitudinal comparisons of population structure, growth, and mortality Population dynamics of bowfin in a south Georgia reservoir: latitudinal comparisons of population structure, growth, and mortality

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the population dynamics of bowfin (Amia calva) in Lake Lindsay Grace, Georgia, and to compare those dynamics to other bowfin populations. Relative abundance of bowfin sampled in 2010 in Lake Lindsay Grace was low and variable (mean±SD; 2.7±4.7 fish per hour of electrofishing). Total length (TL) of bowfin collected in Lake Lindsay Grace varied...
Authors
Nicholas J. Porter, Timothy F. Bonvechio, Joshua L. McCormick, Michael Quist

Distribution and population genetics of walleye and sauger Distribution and population genetics of walleye and sauger

Conserving genetic diversity and local adaptations are management priorities for wild populations of exploited species, which increasingly are subject to climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. These constitute growing concerns for the walleye Sander vitreus, an ecologically and economically valuable North American temperate fish with large Laurentian Great Lakes' fisheries. This...
Authors
Amanda E. Haponski, Brian L. Sloss

Health status of Largescale Sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus) collected along an organic contaminant gradient in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, USA Health status of Largescale Sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus) collected along an organic contaminant gradient in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, USA

The health of Largescale Sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus) in the lower Columbia River (USA) was evaluated using morphometric and histopathological approaches, and its association with organic contaminants accumulated in liver was evaluated in males. Fish were sampled from three sites along a contaminant gradient In 2009, body length and mass, condition factor, gonadosomatic index, and...
Authors
Leticia Torres, Elena B. Nilsen, Robert A. Grove, Reynaldo Patino

Nesting ecology and nest survival of lesser prairie-chickens on the Southern High Plains of Texas Nesting ecology and nest survival of lesser prairie-chickens on the Southern High Plains of Texas

The decline in population and range of lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) throughout the central and southern Great Plains has raised concerns considering their candidate status under the United States Endangered Species Act. Baseline ecological data for lesser prairie-chickens are limited, especially for the shinnery oak-grassland communities of Texas. This information...
Authors
Blake A. Grisham, Philip K. Borsdorf, Clint W. Boal, Kathy K. Boydston

Population trends of smallmouth bass in the upper Colorado River basin with an evaluation of removal effects Population trends of smallmouth bass in the upper Colorado River basin with an evaluation of removal effects

Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu were rare in the upper Colorado River basin until the early 1990’s when their abundance dramatically increased in the Yampa River sub-basin. Increased abundance was due primarily to colonization from Elkhead Reservoir, which was rapidly drawn down twice, first to make improvements to the dam (1992) and a second time for reservoir expansion (2005), and...
Authors
André R. Breton, Dana L. Winkelman, John A. Hawkins, Kevin R. Bestgen

Comparative bioenergetics modeling of two Lake Trout morphotypes Comparative bioenergetics modeling of two Lake Trout morphotypes

Efforts to restore Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in the Laurentian Great Lakes have been hampered for decades by several factors, including overfishing and invasive species (e.g., parasitism by Sea Lampreys Petromyzon marinus and reproductive deficiencies associated with consumption of Alewives Alosa pseudoharengus). Restoration efforts are complicated by the presence of multiple body...
Authors
Megan V. Kepler, Tyler Wagner, John A. Sweka

Setting objectives for managing Key deer Setting objectives for managing Key deer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is responsible for the protection and management of Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) because the species is listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The purpose of the ESA is to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. There are a host of actions that could possibly be undertaken...
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, Tyler Wagner, Glenn E. Stauffer

Brood surveys and hunter observations used to predict gobbling activity wild turkeys in Mississippi Brood surveys and hunter observations used to predict gobbling activity wild turkeys in Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks utilize data from turkey hunter observations and brood surveys from across the state to manage wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo populations. Since 1995, hunters have collected gobbling and jake observation data, while the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks' personnel and cooperating wildlife managers of...
Authors
Matthew D. Palumbo, Francisco Vilella, Bronson K. Strickland, Guiming Wang, Dave Godwin

Habitat availability is a more plausible explanation than insecticide acute toxicity for U.S. grassland bird species declines Habitat availability is a more plausible explanation than insecticide acute toxicity for U.S. grassland bird species declines

Grassland bird species have experienced substantial declines in North America. These declines have been largely attributed to habitat loss and degradation, especially from agricultural practices and intensification (the habitat-availability hypothesis). A recent analysis of North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) “grassland breeding” bird trends reported the surprising conclusion that
Authors
Jason M. Hill, J. Franklin Egan, Glenn E. Stauffer, Duane R. Diefenbach

Food consumption and growth rates of juvenile black carp fed natural and prepared feeds Food consumption and growth rates of juvenile black carp fed natural and prepared feeds

The introduced mollusciphagic black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus poses a significant threat to native mollusks in temperate waters throughout the northern hemisphere, but consumption rates necessary to estimate the magnitude of impact on mollusks have not been established. We measured food consumption and growth rates for small (77–245 g) and large (466–1,071 g) triploid black carp held
Authors
Nathaniel C. Hodgins, Harold L. Schramm, Patrick D. Gerard

Angler effort and catch within a spatially complex system of small lakes. Angler effort and catch within a spatially complex system of small lakes.

Spatial layout of waterbodies and waterbody size can affect a creel clerk’s ability to intercept anglers for interviews and to accurately count anglers, which will affect the accuracy and precision of estimates of effort and catch. This study aimed to quantify angling effort and catch across a spatially complex system of 19 small (
Authors
Kevin L. Pope, Christopher J. Chizinski, Dustin R. Martin, Tony J. Barada, Jeffrey J. Schuckman
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