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
Estimates of predator densities using mobile DIDSON surveys: Implications for survival of Central Valley Chinook Salmon Estimates of predator densities using mobile DIDSON surveys: Implications for survival of Central Valley Chinook Salmon
The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (hereafter, “the Delta”) is one of the estuaries with the most invasive species in the world, and nonnative predators may be a major factor in the observed decline of Central Valley Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha over recent decades. In order for managers to take actions that might reduce predation-related mortality for these ecologically...
Authors
Mark J. Henderson, Chris Loomis, Cyril Michel, Joe Smith, Ilysa Iglesias, Brendan Lehman, David Huff
A Fisherman's Tale: An unusual observation of the Ozark Cavefish, Troglichthys (= Amblyopsis) Rosae (Eigenmann) A Fisherman's Tale: An unusual observation of the Ozark Cavefish, Troglichthys (= Amblyopsis) Rosae (Eigenmann)
Troglichthys (= Amblyopsis) rosae (Ozark Cavefish) is currently known from 83 locations within the Ozark Highlands ecoregion. We found a cavefish at a new location in the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees on the western side of the Neosho River (Delaware County, OK), which is on the northwest periphery of the Ozark Cavefish range. Examination of the mitochondrial ND2 gene supports that the...
Authors
Joshua. B. Mouser, Josh Johnston, Matthew L. Niemiller, Shannon K. Brewer
Evaluating regional length limits in freshwater fisheries Evaluating regional length limits in freshwater fisheries
Length limits are often used in recreational fisheries management to prevent overharvest and manipulate fish size distributions. These regulations are ideally customized to meet water-specific stock dynamics and fishery objectives. However, in districts with numerous discrete waters, fisheries are commonly managed with a universal regional regulation. Evaluating alternative regional...
Authors
Andrew C. Shamaskin, Michael E. Colvin, Leandro E. Miranda
Climate change risks to freshwater subsistence fisheries in Arctic Alaska: Insights and uncertainty from broad whitefish Coregonus nasus Climate change risks to freshwater subsistence fisheries in Arctic Alaska: Insights and uncertainty from broad whitefish Coregonus nasus
Arctic freshwater ecosystems and fish populations are largely shaped by seasonal and long-term watershed hydrology. In this paper, we hypothesize how changing air temperature and precipitation will alter freeze and thaw processes, hydrology, and instream habitat to assess potential indirect effects, such as the change to the foraging and behavioral ecology, on Arctic fishes, using Broad...
Authors
Jason C. Leppi, Daniel J. Rinella, Mark S. Wipfli, Anna K. Liljedahl, Andrew C. Seitz, Jeffrey A. Falke
Migrating mule deer compensate en route for phenological mismatches Migrating mule deer compensate en route for phenological mismatches
Billions of animals migrate to track seasonal pulses in resources. Optimally timing migration is a key strategy, yet the ability of animals to compensate for phenological mismatches en route is largely unknown. Using GPS movement data collected from 72 adult female deer over a 10-year duration, we study a population of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming that lack reliable cues on...
Authors
Anna C. Ortega, Ellen O. Aikens, Jerod A. Merkle, Kevin L. Monteith, Matthew J. Kauffman
Laying sequence and oceanographic factors affect egg size in Scripps's Murrelets Synthliboramphus scrippsi at Santa Barbara Island Laying sequence and oceanographic factors affect egg size in Scripps's Murrelets Synthliboramphus scrippsi at Santa Barbara Island
Egg size is an important avian life history parameter, with larger eggs indicating greater investment of resources in the chick. Prey availability can affect such investment. We investigated the effects of oceanographic conditions and laying sequence on Scripps's Murrelet Synthliboramphus scrippsi egg size at Santa Barbara Island, California during 2009-2017. We evaluated oceanographic...
Authors
Marcela I. Todd Zaragoza, Amelia J. DuVall, Jim A. Howard, David M. Mazurkiewicz, Sarah J. Converse
Effects of large-scale disturbance on animal space use: Functional responses by greater sage-grouse after megafire Effects of large-scale disturbance on animal space use: Functional responses by greater sage-grouse after megafire
Global change has altered the nature of disturbance regimes, and megafire events are increasingly common. Megafires result in immediate changes to habitat available to terrestrial wildlife over broad landscapes, yet we know surprisingly little about how such changes shape space use of sensitive species in habitat that remains. Functional responses provide a framework for understanding...
Authors
Bryan S. Stevens, Shane Roberts, Courtney J. Conway, Devin K. Engelstead
Impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent on the winter thermal regime of two urban Colorado South Platte tributaries Impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent on the winter thermal regime of two urban Colorado South Platte tributaries
Wastewater treatment plant effluent can increase stream water temperature from near freezing to 5°C–12°C in winter months. Recent research in the South Platte River Basin in Colorado showed that this warming alters the reproductive timing of some fishes. However, the spatial extent and magnitude of this warming are unknown. Thus, we created winter water temperature models both upstream...
Authors
Catherine M. Adams, Dana L. Winkelman, Ryan M. Fitzpatrick
Hypoxia and anoxia tolerance in diploid and triploid eastern oysters at high temperature Hypoxia and anoxia tolerance in diploid and triploid eastern oysters at high temperature
Increasing reliance on the use of triploid oysters to support aquaculture production relies on their generally superior growth rate and meat quality over that of diploid oysters. Reports of elevated triploid mortality have generated questions about potential trade-offs between growth and tolerance to environmental stressors. These questions are particularly relevant as climate change...
Authors
Nicholas Coxe, Genesis Mize, Sandra M. Casas, Megan K. La Peyre, Romain Lavaud, Brian Callam, Scott Rikard, Jerome F. La Peyre
High-resolution recording of foraging behaviour over multiple annual cycles shows decline in old Adélie penguins’ performance High-resolution recording of foraging behaviour over multiple annual cycles shows decline in old Adélie penguins’ performance
Age-related variation in foraging performance can result from both within-individual change and selection processes. These mechanisms can only be disentangled by using logistically challenging long-term, longitudinal studies. Coupling a long-term demographic data set with high-temporal-resolution tracking of 18 Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, age 4–15 yrs old) over three consecutive...
Authors
Amélie Lescroël, Annie Schmidt, David G. Ainley, Katie M. Dugger, Megan Elrod, Dennis Jongsomjit, Virginia Morandini, Suzanne Winquist, Grant Ballard
Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment
Diurnal basking (“sunning”) is common in many ectotherms and is generally thought to be a behavioural mechanism for thermoregulation. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of nocturnal basking in a few distantly-related species of freshwater turtles, but the true extent of this behaviour is unknown, and it may be underreported due to sampling biases (e.g., not surveying for turtles...
Authors
Donald T. McKnight, Kendall Ard, Renoir J. Auguste, Gaurav Barhadiya, Michael F. Benard, Paige Boban, Martin L. Dillon, Colleen T. Downs, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Brad Glorioso, Rachel M. Goodman, Coen Hird, Ethan C. Hollender, Malcolm Kennedy, Rosie A. Kidman, Andrhea Massey, Pearson McGovern, Max Muhlenhaupt, Kayhan Ostovar, Danusia Podgorski, Cormac Price, Beth A. Reinke, Louise M. Streeting, Jane Venezia, Jeanne Young, Eric J. Nordberg
Predicting climate change impacts on poikilotherms using physiologically guided species abundance models Predicting climate change impacts on poikilotherms using physiologically guided species abundance models
Poikilothermic animals comprise most species on Earth and are especially sensitive to changes in environmental temperatures. Species conservation in a changing climate relies upon predictions of species responses to future conditions, yet predicting species responses to climate change when temperatures exceed the bounds of observed data is fraught with challenges. We present a...
Authors
Tyler Wagner, Erin M. Schliep, Joshua S. North, Holly Kundel, Christopher A. Custer, Jenna K. Ruzich, Gretchen J.A. Hansen