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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Hunting mode and habitat selection mediate the success of human hunters Hunting mode and habitat selection mediate the success of human hunters
Background As a globally widespread apex predator, humans have unprecedented lethal and non-lethal effects on prey populations and ecosystems. Yet compared to non-human predators, little is known about the movement ecology of human hunters, including how hunting behavior interacts with the environment.Methods We characterized the hunting modes, habitat selection, and harvest success of...
Authors
Kaitlyn M. Gaynor, Michael C Mcinturff, Briana L. Abrahms, Alison M. Smith, Justin S. Brashares
High-quality, chromosome-level reference genomes of the viviparous Caribbean skinks Spondylurus nitidus and S. culebrae High-quality, chromosome-level reference genomes of the viviparous Caribbean skinks Spondylurus nitidus and S. culebrae
New World mabuyine skinks are a diverse radiation of morphologically cryptic lizards with unique reproductive biologies. Recent studies examining population-level data (morphological, ecological, and genomic) have uncovered novel biodiversity and phenotypes, including the description of dozens of new species and insights into the evolution of their highly complex placental structures...
Authors
Danielle Rivera, James B. Henderson, Athena W. Lam, Nathan J. Hostetter, Jaime A. Collazo, Rayna C. Bell
Passive acoustic monitoring and convolutional neural networks facilitate high-resolution and broadscale monitoring of a threatened species Passive acoustic monitoring and convolutional neural networks facilitate high-resolution and broadscale monitoring of a threatened species
Population monitoring is an essential component of biodiversity conservation and management, but low detection probabilities for rare and/or cryptic species makes estimating abundance and occupancy challenging. Passive acoustic monitoring combined with machine learning algorithms represents a potential path forward to effectively and efficiently monitor the occurrence of rare vocalizing...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Matthew J. Weldy, Damon B. Lesmeister, Zachary J. Ruff, Julianna Jenkins, Jonathon Joseph Valente, Matthew G. Betts
Estimating age and growth of Largemouth Bass in southwestern reservoirs using otoliths and scales Estimating age and growth of Largemouth Bass in southwestern reservoirs using otoliths and scales
Age and growth data are frequently used to monitor and manage important North American sport fishes such as Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Continental and regional growth standards have been developed for this species to assess fish growth over time and across space. However, Largemouth Bass age and growth data are infrequently collected in Arizona and the reliability of age...
Authors
Steven J. Ingram, Joshua D. Grant, Zachary S. Beard, Nathan Berg, Anna M. Ringelman, Scott A. Bonar
Evaluating streamflow and temperature effects on Bull Trout migration and survival with linear spatial capture-recapture models Evaluating streamflow and temperature effects on Bull Trout migration and survival with linear spatial capture-recapture models
Objective In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, climate change is increasing air temperatures, decreasing warm season (April–September) streamflow, and increasing cool season (October–March) streamflow. Warmer water temperatures may alter conditions for migratory coldwater fishes like the Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus. Consequently, an understanding of Bull Trout migration and survival is...
Authors
Patti Wohner, Russell F. Thurow, James T. Peterson
Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4 Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4
Broadly distributed across the Western United States, ungulates (hooved mammals) play an important role in ecosystem function by affecting vegetation communities and forming the prey base for large carnivores. Additionally, ungulates provide economic benefits to regional communities through tourism and hunting and hold cultural significance for many Tribal communities. Many ungulates...
Authors
Matthew Kauffman, Blake Lowrey, Chloe Beaupre, Scott Bergen, Stefanie Bergh, Kevin Blecha, Samantha Bundick, Hunter Burkett, James W. Cain, Peyton Carl, David Casady, Corey Class, Alyson Courtemanch, Michelle Cowardin, Jennifer Diamond, Katie Dugger, Orrin Duvuvuei, Joanna R. Ennis, Michelle Flenner, Jessica Fort, Gary Fralick, Ian Freeman, Jeff Gagnon, David Garcelon, Kyle Garrison, Emily Gelzer, Evan Greenspan, Valerie Hinojoza-Rood, Pat Hnilicka, Andy Holland, Brian Hudgens, Bart Kroger, Art Lawson, Cody McKee, Jennifer L. McKee, Jerod Merkle, Tony W. Mong, Haley Nelson, Brendan Oates, Marie-Pier Poulin, Craig Reddell, Robert Ritson, Hall Sawyer, Cody Schroeder, Jessie Shapiro, Scott Sprague, Erik Steiner, Alethea Steingisser, Sam Stephens, Blair Stringham, Patrick Ryan Swazo-Hinds, Nicole Tatman, Cody F. Wallace, Don Whittaker, Benjamin Wise, Heiko U. Wittmer, Erin Wood
Artificial structure selection by economically important reef fishes at North Carolina artificial reefs Artificial structure selection by economically important reef fishes at North Carolina artificial reefs
Artificial reefs can play an important role in marine fisheries management by supplementing or enhancing natural habitats. Despite their increased use in recent years, the choice of structures used at artificial reefs remains largely haphazard due to the lack of information on reef structure performance. Few studies have examined the use of different artificial reef structures by...
Authors
Ryan M. Tharp, Nathan J. Hostetter, Avery B. Paxton, J. Christopher Taylor, Jeffrey A. Buckel
Communication approaches and specialists that can improve fisheries management Communication approaches and specialists that can improve fisheries management
This paper aims to expand fisheries managers' understanding of how the science of communication can facilitate effective fisheries management. We offer context-specific definitions of four communication approaches that are commonly performed by fisheries managers but poorly defined and can easily be confused or conflated. These are as follows:Outreach,Education,Social Marketing...
Authors
Vaughn Robison, Megan Siobhan Jones, Brian Erickson, Kelly Biedenweg
Seasonal roost characteristics and fall behavior of coastal populations of Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) Seasonal roost characteristics and fall behavior of coastal populations of Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)
Temperate bats exhibit seasonal and sex differences in resource selection and activity patterns that are influenced by ambient conditions. During fall, individuals face energetic trade-offs as they make choices relating to migration, mating, and hibernation that may diverge for populations throughout their range. However, research has largely focused on the summer maternity and winter...
Authors
Samantha Hoff, Casey Pendergast, Luanne Johnson, Elizabeth Olson, Danielle O’Dell, Zara R. Dowling, Katherine M. Gorman, Carl Herzog, Wendy Christine Turner
Food, water quality, and the growth of a freshwater mussel: Implications for population restoration Food, water quality, and the growth of a freshwater mussel: Implications for population restoration
Unknown causes behind the loss of freshwater mussel populations have prompted population restoration as a tool to recover these imperiled species. However, water quality conditions that support mussel species within natural environments and potential causes of water quality impairment in systems with declining populations are typically unknown and may be critical knowledge needed before
Authors
Ayla J. Skorupa, Allison H. Roy, Peter D. Hazelton, David Perkins, Timothy Timothy Warren, Brian S. Cheng
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) resource selection: Trade-offs between forage and predation risk Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) resource selection: Trade-offs between forage and predation risk
Ungulates commonly select habitat with higher forage biomass and or nutritional quality to improve body condition and fitness. However, predation risk can alter ungulate habitat selection and foraging behavior and may affect their nutritional condition. Ungulates often choose areas with lower predation risk, sometimes sacrificing higher quality forage. This forage–predation risk trade...
Authors
James W. Cain, Jacob H. Kay, Stewart G. Liley, Jay V. Gedir
Can cover crops help grassland-breeding birds? Corn Belt Insights from Iowa Can cover crops help grassland-breeding birds? Corn Belt Insights from Iowa
No abstract available.
Authors
Adam K. Janke, Taylor R. Shirley, Maggie Figura, Joshua D. Stafford