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
Using global remote camera data of a solitary species complex to evaluate the drivers of group formation Using global remote camera data of a solitary species complex to evaluate the drivers of group formation
The social system of animals involves a complex interplay between physiology, natural history, and the environment. Long relied upon discrete categorizations of “social” and “solitary” inhibit our capacity to understand species and their interactions with the world around them. Here, we use a globally distributed camera trapping dataset to test the drivers of aggregating into groups in a...
Authors
Joshua P. Twining, Chris Sutherland, Andrzej Zalewski, Michael V. Cove, Johnny Birks, Oliver R. Wearn, Jessica Haysom, Anna Wereszczuk, Emiliano Manzo, Paola Bartolommei, Alessio Mortelliti, Bryn Evans, Brian D. Gerber, Thomas J. McGreevy, Laken S. Ganoe, Juliana Masseloux, Amy E. Mayer, Izabela Wierzbowska, Jan Loch, Jocelyn Akins, Donovan Drummey, William McShea, Stephanie Manke, Lain Pardo, Andy Boyce, Sheng Li, Roslina Binti Ragai, Ronglarp Sukmasuang, Alvaro Jose Villafane Trujillo, Carlos Lopez-Gonzalez, Nalleli Elvira Lara-Diaz, Olivia Cosby, Cristian N. Waggershauser, Jack Bamber, Frances Stewart, Jason Fisher, Angela K. Fuller, Kelly Perkins, Roger A. Powell
Habitat amount and edge effects, not perch proximity, nest exposure, or vegetation diversity affect cowbird parasitism in agricultural landscapes Habitat amount and edge effects, not perch proximity, nest exposure, or vegetation diversity affect cowbird parasitism in agricultural landscapes
Context Prior research documented relationships between brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) brood parasitism and edge effects, proximity of perches, and nest exposure. Those relationships have not been evaluated in agroecosystems containing extremes of fragmentation and vegetation diversity.Objectives We compared three existing hypotheses on how cowbirds locate host nests with two new...
Authors
Matthew D. Stephenson, Kyla L. Yuza, Lisa A. Schulte, Robert W. Klaver
Demographic patterns of walleye (Sander vitreus) reproductive success in a Wisconsin population Demographic patterns of walleye (Sander vitreus) reproductive success in a Wisconsin population
Harvest in walleye Sander vitreus fisheries is size-selective and could influence phenotypic traits of spawners; however, contributions of individual spawners to recruitment are unknown. We used parentage analyses using single nucleotide polymorphisms to test whether parental traits were related to the probability of offspring survival in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin. From 2017 to 2020, 1339...
Authors
Robert P. Davis, Levi M. Simmons, Stephanie L. Shaw, Greg G. Sass, Nicholas M. Sard, Daniel A. Isermann, Wesley A. Larson, Jared Joseph Homola
Self-determination theory as an alternate conceptual foundation for motivation in natural resource research Self-determination theory as an alternate conceptual foundation for motivation in natural resource research
Motivation is a topic that receives substantial interest across the social sciences. However, in the human dimensions of natural resource literature, scholars have primarily treated motivation as a construct narrowly defined by the individual’s desired goal state. In contrast, self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that multiple forms of motivation can influence levels of self...
Authors
Kyle Smith, Adam Landon, David C. Fulton, Gerard Kyle
A multi-sensor approach to characterize winter water-level drawdown patterns in lakes A multi-sensor approach to characterize winter water-level drawdown patterns in lakes
Artificial manipulation of lake water levels through practices like winter water-level drawdown (WD) is prevalent across many regions, but the spatiotemporal patterns are not well documented due to limited in situ monitoring. Multi-sensor satellite remote sensing provides an opportunity to map and analyze drawdown frequency and metrics (timing, magnitude, duration) at broad scales. This...
Authors
Abhishek Kumar, Allison H. Roy, Konstantinos Andreadis, Xinchen He, Caitlyn Butler
Multiple records of the introduced parthenogenetic Smooth-scaled Tegulet, Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Grant 1958, in Puerto Rico Multiple records of the introduced parthenogenetic Smooth-scaled Tegulet, Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Grant 1958, in Puerto Rico
The introduction of invasive species to islands can be devastating to local biota. While many invasive species’ successful colonization of new habitats can be attributed to features like high fecundity or low mate selectivity, parthenogenetic species pose a unique threat in their ability to reproduce asexually at high rates. The Smooth-scaled Tegulet (Gymnophthalmus underwoodi), first...
Authors
Danielle Rivera, Jan P. Zegarra, Alberto R. Puente-Rolon, Nahíra Arocho-Hernandez, Nathan J. Hostetter, Jaime A. Collazo, Rayna C. Bell
Deposited sediment influences occurrence of functional traits of stream fishes Deposited sediment influences occurrence of functional traits of stream fishes
To better understand stream-fish sensitivity to fine sediment, we documented assemblage-wide responses by selected traits along a sedimentation gradient. We then discuss the management implications of these ‘dose–response’ relations in the contexts of biotic assessments and conservation of sediment-sensitive species. We identified a spatial gradient in sediment deposition among streams...
Authors
Mallory Hirschler, Amy M. Villamagna, Paul L. Angermeier, Eric Laflamme
Diurnal habitat selection and survival of elk neonates Diurnal habitat selection and survival of elk neonates
Natural selection should favor development of behaviors that increase survival, including juvenile survival. Habitat characteristics (e.g., hiding cover, forage quality and availability), maternal habitat selection, and microhabitat selection by the calf may influence elk (Cervus canadensis) calf survival and recruitment. We assessed diurnal microhabitat selection of bed sites by elk...
Authors
James W. Pitman, James W. Cain, William R. Gould, Nicole M. Tatman, Stewart G. Liley
Shellfish aquaculture farms as foraging habitat for nearshore fishes and crabs Shellfish aquaculture farms as foraging habitat for nearshore fishes and crabs
Objective Oyster reefs across North America have declined precipitously over the past 140 years. In Washington State, Olympia oyster Ostrea lurida reefs historically provided water filtration and nearshore structural habitat for fishes and invertebrates, but this species is now functionally extinct across its historical range. In place of these naturally occurring reefs, shellfish farms...
Authors
Karl Veggerby, Mark David Scheuerell, Beth Sanderson, Peter Kiffney, Bridget Ferriss
Evaluating the context dependency of large river nursery habitats for fishes in the lower Red River catchment Evaluating the context dependency of large river nursery habitats for fishes in the lower Red River catchment
Both fine- and coarse-scale physicochemical conditions affect the quantity and quality of nursery habitats within riverine ecosystems. Nursery habitats in large, braided, and sandbed streams such as the lower Red River of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas are not well described and likely vary among species. Identification of nursery habitats is important for developing proper conservation...
Authors
Paul Q. Ramsey, John Dattilo, Dennis DeVries, Shannon K. Brewer
Nonbreeding waterfowl behavioral response to crewed and uncrewed aerial surveys on conservation areas in Missouri Nonbreeding waterfowl behavioral response to crewed and uncrewed aerial surveys on conservation areas in Missouri
Monitoring waterfowl populations provides the basis for improving habitat quantity and quality, establishing harvest regulations, and ensuring sustainable waterfowl populations through appropriate management. Waterfowl biologists currently use a variety of population and habitat monitoring methods ranging from informal ground observations to low-level occupied aircraft surveys. Although...
Authors
Reid A. Viegut, Elisabeth B. Webb, Andrew H. Raedeke, Zhicheng Tang, Yang Zhang, Yi Shang
Comparison of two otolith processing methods for silver carp age estimation Comparison of two otolith processing methods for silver carp age estimation
Accurate age estimates are critical in the development, implementation, and assessment of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) management plans. Lapilli otoliths are the most commonly used calcified structures for silver carp age estimation, but studies on the precision of two established preparation methods [i.e., grind-and-burn (GB), thin-section (TS)] are lacking. Therefore, we...
Authors
Jeff N. Stevens, Cooper E. Barshinger, Jonathan J. Spurgeon, Michael A. Eggleton, Steve E. Lochmann