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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: 5350

Movement and genomic methods reveal mechanisms promoting connectivity in a declining shorebird: The lesser yellowlegs Movement and genomic methods reveal mechanisms promoting connectivity in a declining shorebird: The lesser yellowlegs

Integrating tracking technology and molecular approaches provides a comprehensive picture of contemporary and evolutionary mechanisms promoting connectivity. We used mitochondrial DNA and double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing combined with satellite telemetry to investigate the connectivity of geographically disparate breeding populations of a declining boreal...
Authors
Katherine Christie, Robert E. Wilson, James A. Johnson, Christian Friis, Christopher Harwood, Laura Anne McDuffie, Erica Nol, Sarah A. Sonsthagen

Ancient bears provide insights into Pleistocene ice age refugia in Southeast Alaska Ancient bears provide insights into Pleistocene ice age refugia in Southeast Alaska

During the Late Pleistocene, major parts of North America were periodically covered by ice sheets. However, there are still questions about whether ice-free refugia were present in the Alexander Archipelago along the Southeast (SE) Alaska coast during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Numerous subfossils have been recovered from caves in SE Alaska, including American black (Ursus...
Authors
Flavio Augusto da Silva Coelho, Stephanie Gill, Crystal M. Tomlin, Marilena Papavassiliou, Sean D. Farley, Joseph A. Cook, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Timothy H. Heaton, Sandra L. Talbot, Charlotte Lindqvist

Seasonal abundance and habitat associations of American Kestrels on the Southern High Plains of Texas Seasonal abundance and habitat associations of American Kestrels on the Southern High Plains of Texas

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations are generally declining across the species' North American distribution but the population in the Southern High Plains region currently appears to be stable. Historical evidence suggests the region formerly had a low abundance of kestrels, and that their current numbers are due to landscape changes associated with European settlement. We...
Authors
Kristen Linner-Warren, Brent D. Bibles, Clint W. Boal

A coupled human and natural systems framework to characterize emerging infectious diseases: The case of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles A coupled human and natural systems framework to characterize emerging infectious diseases: The case of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles

Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife have markedly increased in the last few decades. Unsustainable, continuous, and rapid alterations within and between coupled human and natural systems have significantly disrupted wildlife disease dynamics. Direct and indirect anthropogenic effects, such as climate change, pollution, encroachment, urbanization, travel, and trade, can promote...
Authors
Costanza Manes, Raymond Carthy, Vanessa Hull

Parallel shifts in trout feeding morphology suggest rapid adaptation to alpine lake environments Parallel shifts in trout feeding morphology suggest rapid adaptation to alpine lake environments

Eco-evolutionary interactions following ecosystem change provide critical insight into the ability of organisms to adapt to shifting resource landscapes. Here we explore evidence for the rapid parallel evolution of trout feeding morphology following eco-evolutionary interactions with zooplankton in alpine lakes stocked at different points in time in the Wind River Range (Wyoming, USA)...
Authors
Lucia L. Combrink, William C. Rosenthal, Lindsey J. Boyle, Jessica A. Rick, Amy C Krist, Elizabeth G. Mandeville, Annika W. Walters, Catherine E. Wagner

Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment

Context Understanding the temporal and spatial scales at which wildlife move is vital for conservation and management. This is especially important for semi-aquatic species that make frequent inter-wetland movements to fulfil life-history requirements. Aims We aimed to investigate the drivers of movement and space-use of the imperilled spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a seasonal wetland...
Authors
Ellery Lassiter, Jinelle Sperry, Brett Alexander DeGregorio

Survey evaluation of Florida’s freshwater fisheries long-term monitoring program Survey evaluation of Florida’s freshwater fisheries long-term monitoring program

Natural resource monitoring programs benefit from routine evaluation. Here, Florida’s statewide Freshwater Fisheries Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) program is used to show how stakeholder surveys can be integral to this process. In 2022, an online questionnaire was sent to internal stakeholders, i.e., state agency personnel who collect, enter, or use freshwater fisheries data for fisheries...
Authors
Kimberly I. Bonvechio, Ramesh Paudyal, Chelsey Crandall, Andrew Kenneth Carlson

Geographic distribution of the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly (Atlantea tulita): An ensemble modeling approach Geographic distribution of the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly (Atlantea tulita): An ensemble modeling approach

Species distribution models have become increasingly important tools for species conservation. This modeling approach can help guide conservation practitioners and inform decisions. Distribution models are particularly relevant for rare species, whose habitat associations are often not well understood. Using species occurrence data, and a variety of predictor variables, we developed...
Authors
Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Francisco Vilella, Kristine O. Evans, Garrett Street, Carlos Pacheco, Omar Monzon, Alcides L. Morales Perez

Environment affects sucker catch rate, size structure, species composition, and precision in boat electrofishing samples Environment affects sucker catch rate, size structure, species composition, and precision in boat electrofishing samples

Catostomidae (catostomids) are suckers of the order Cypriniformes, and the majority of species are native to North America; however, species in this group are understudied and rarely managed. The popularity in bowfishing and gigging for suckers in the United States has increased concerns related to overfishing. Little information exists about the relative gear effectiveness for sampling
Authors
Douglas L. Zentner, Shannon K. Brewer, D. E. Shoup

Investing in a nest egg: Intraspecific variation in the timing of egg laying across a latitudinal gradient Investing in a nest egg: Intraspecific variation in the timing of egg laying across a latitudinal gradient

Avian reproductive strategies vary widely, and many studies of life-history variation have focused on the incubation and hatching stages of nesting. Birds make proximate decisions regarding reproductive investment during the laying stage, and these decisions likely constrain and tradeoff with other traits and subsequent behaviors. However, we know relatively little about egg-laying stage...
Authors
Carl G. Lundblad, Courtney J. Conway

Fish functional gradients along a reservoir cascade Fish functional gradients along a reservoir cascade

1.The transformations of fish assemblages caused by reservoir cascades can be severe at the reach scale, but basin-scale effects are less clear. However, prevailing river concepts provide a framework for predicting basin-scale effects. 2. To determine if predictions made by the River Continuum Concept relative to the function of fish assemblages are sustained in a temperate river...
Authors
Jordan C. Besson, Joshua J. Neary, Joshua D. Stafford, Corey Garland Dunn, Leandro E. Miranda
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