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.
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Current status, issues and applications of GIS to inland fisheries Current status, issues and applications of GIS to inland fisheries
This chapter is concerned with GIS applications made to inland fisheries. These include fisheries in freshwater rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Although these GIS applications have increased rapidly since the late 1980s, this area of fish production receives less attention than either aquaculture or marine fisheries. This is probably because inland fisheries are often practised in remote...
Authors
William Fisher
Choosing a DIVA: a comparison of emerging digital imagery vegetation analysis techniques Choosing a DIVA: a comparison of emerging digital imagery vegetation analysis techniques
Question: What is the precision of five methods of measuring vegetation structure using ground-based digital imagery and processing techniques? Location: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Methods: Vertical herbaceous cover was recorded using digital imagery techniques at two distinct locations in a mixed-grass prairie. The precision of five ground-based digital imagery vegetation analysis (DIVA)...
Authors
Christopher F. Jorgensen, Ryan J. Stutzman, Lars C. Anderson, Suzanne E. Decker, Larkin A. Powell, Walter H. Schacht, Joseph J. Fontaine
Channel unit use by Smallmouth Bass: Do land-use constraints or quantity of habitat matter? Channel unit use by Smallmouth Bass: Do land-use constraints or quantity of habitat matter?
I examined how land use influenced the distribution of Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu in channel units (discrete morphological features—e.g., pools) of streams in the Midwestern USA. Stream segments (n = 36), from four clusters of different soil and runoff conditions, were identified that had the highest percent of forest (n = 12), pasture (n = 12), and urban land use (n = 12)...
Authors
Shannon K. Brewer
Intrinsic vs. extrinsic influences on life history expression: metabolism and parentally induced temperature influences on embryo development rate Intrinsic vs. extrinsic influences on life history expression: metabolism and parentally induced temperature influences on embryo development rate
Intrinsic processes are assumed to underlie life history expression and trade-offs, but extrinsic inputs are theorised to shift trait expression and mask trade-offs within species. Here, we explore application of this theory across species. We do this based on parentally induced embryo temperature as an extrinsic input, and mass-specific embryo metabolism as an intrinsic process...
Authors
Thomas E. Martin, Riccardo Ton, Alina Nikilson
Diablotin Pterodroma hasitata: a biography of the endangered Black-capped Petrel Diablotin Pterodroma hasitata: a biography of the endangered Black-capped Petrel
The Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata was believed extinct throughout much of the 20th century. It is the only gadfly petrel currently known to breed in the Caribbean Basin. Now seriously endangered, the species is presumed extirpated from Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe, and breeding populations currently occur only on Hispaniola and perhaps Cuba. A related form (now...
Authors
Theodore R. Simons, David S. Lee, J. Christopher Haney
Evaluation of habitat quality for selected wildlife species associated with back channels. Evaluation of habitat quality for selected wildlife species associated with back channels.
The islands and associated back channels on the Ohio River, USA, are believed to provide critical habitat features for several wildlife species. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated habitat quality in these areas. Our main objective was to evaluate the habitat quality of back and main channel areas for several species using habitat suitability index (HSI) models. To test...
Authors
James T. Anderson, Andrew K. Zadnik, Petra Bohall Wood, Kerry Bledsoe
Effects of dietary exposure to brominated flame retardant BDE-47 on thyroid condition, gonadal development and growth of zebrafish Effects of dietary exposure to brominated flame retardant BDE-47 on thyroid condition, gonadal development and growth of zebrafish
Little is known about the effects of brominated flame retardants in teleosts and some of the information currently available is inconsistent. This study examined effects of dietary exposure to 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on thyroid condition, body mass and size, and gonadal development of zebrafish. Pubertal, 49-day-old (posthatch) fish were fed diets without BDE-47...
Authors
Leticia Torres, Carl E. Orazio, Paul H. Peterman, Reynaldo Patino
Monitoring gray wolf populations using multiple survey methods Monitoring gray wolf populations using multiple survey methods
The behavioral patterns and large territories of large carnivores make them challenging to monitor. Occupancy modeling provides a framework for monitoring population dynamics and distribution of territorial carnivores. We combined data from hunter surveys, howling and sign surveys conducted at predicted wolf rendezvous sites, and locations of radiocollared wolves to model occupancy and...
Authors
David E. Ausband, Lindsey N. Rich, Elizabeth M. Glenn, Michael S. Mitchell, Pete Zager, David A.W. Miller, Lisette P. Waits, Bruce B. Ackerman, Curt M. Mack
Experimental evaluation of size-dependent predation by adult post-spawned rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) on larval lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Experimental evaluation of size-dependent predation by adult post-spawned rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) on larval lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Introduced landlocked Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax are hypothesized to be a major factor in the decline of Lake Whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis populations in many lakes. We sought to identify the size of Lake Whitefish preyed upon by adult Rainbow Smelt and how the efficiency of Rainbow Smelt predation changes Lake Whitefish ontogeny. In a laboratory setting, we exposed larval Lake...
Authors
Joseph D. Zydlewski, Dimitry Gorsky
Semi-automted analysis of high-resolution aerial images to quantify docks in Upper Midwest glacial lakes Semi-automted analysis of high-resolution aerial images to quantify docks in Upper Midwest glacial lakes
Lake resources can be negatively affected by environmental stressors originating from multiple sources and different spatial scales. Shoreline development, in particular, can negatively affect lake resources through decline in habitat quality, physical disturbance, and impacts on fisheries. The development of remote sensing techniques that efficiently characterize shoreline development...
Authors
Marcus W. Beck, Bruce C. Vondracek, Lorin K. Hatch, Jason Vinje
Insights and issues with simulating terrestrial DOC loading of Arctic river networks Insights and issues with simulating terrestrial DOC loading of Arctic river networks
Terrestrial carbon dynamics influence the contribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to river networks in addition to hydrology. In this study, we use a biogeochemical process model to simulate the lateral transfer of DOC from land to the Arctic Ocean via riverine transport. We estimate that, over the 20th century, the pan-Arctic watershed has contributed, on average, 32 Tg C/yr of...
Authors
David W. Kicklighter, Daniel J. Hayes, James W. McClelland, Bruce J. Peterson, A. David McGuire, Jerry M. Melillo
The effects of force-fledging and premature fledging on the survival of nestling songbirds The effects of force-fledging and premature fledging on the survival of nestling songbirds
Despite the broad consensus that force-fledging of nestling songbirds lowers their probability of survival and therefore should be generally avoided by researchers, that presumption has not been tested. We used radiotelemetry to monitor the survival of fledglings of OvenbirdsSeiurus aurocapilla and Golden-winged Warblers Vermivora chrysoptera that we unintentionally force-fledged (i.e...
Authors
Henry M. Streby, Sean M. Peterson, Justin A. Lehman, Gunnar R. Kramer, Kelly J. Iknayan, David E. Andersen