Publications
Find out more about the Land Management Research Program through our publications.
The U.S. Geological Survey Landscape Science Strategy 2020-2030 gives an in-depth explanation of the focus and vision for USGS landscape science.
Filter Total Items: 276
Ecological effects of pinyon-juniper removal in the Western United States—A synthesis of scientific research, January 2014–March 2021 Ecological effects of pinyon-juniper removal in the Western United States—A synthesis of scientific research, January 2014–March 2021
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Susan K. McIlroy, Sharon A Poessel, Rosemary L. Downing, Tracey N. Johnson, Aaron C. Young, Todd E. Katzner
Northwest Forest Plan — The first 25 years (1994–2018): Watershed condition status and trends Northwest Forest Plan — The first 25 years (1994–2018): Watershed condition status and trends
This report describes status and trends in watershed condition across the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) area over the first 25 years since its inception in 1994. The program charged with this task is the Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program (AREMP), which has assembled information from field data collection, spatial datasets, and a host of landscape models to evaluate the...
Authors
Jason Dunham, Christine Hirsch, Sean Gordon, Rebecca L. Flitcroft, Nathan Chelgren, Marcia N. Snyder, David P Hockman-Wert, Gordon H. Reeves, Heidi V. Andersen, Scott K. Anderson, William A. Battaglin, Tom A. Black, Jason Brown, Shannon Claeson, Lauren Hay, Emily D. Heaston, Charles H. Luce, Nathan Nelson, Colin Penn, Mark Raggon
Implications of tree expansion in shrubland ecosystems for two generalist avian predators Implications of tree expansion in shrubland ecosystems for two generalist avian predators
Shrublands globally have undergone structural changes due to plant invasions, including the expansion of native trees. Removal of native conifer trees, especially juniper (Juniperus spp.), is occurring across the Great Basin of the western U.S. to support declining sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats and associated wildlife species, such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)...
Authors
Aaron C. Young, Todd E. Katzner, Douglas J. Shinneman, Tracey N. Johnson
A retrospective assessment of fuel break effectiveness for containing rangeland wildfires in the sagebrush biome A retrospective assessment of fuel break effectiveness for containing rangeland wildfires in the sagebrush biome
Escalated wildfire activity within the western U.S. has widespread societal impacts and long-term consequences for the imperiled sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome. Shifts from historical fire regimes and the interplay between frequent disturbance and invasive annual grasses may initiate permanent state transitions as wildfire frequency outpaces sagebrush communities’ innate capacity to...
Authors
Cali L. Weise, Brianne E. Brussee, Peter S. Coates, Douglas J. Shinneman, Michele R. Crist, Cameron L. Aldridge, Julie A. Heinrichs, Mark A. Ricca
A targeted annual warning system developed for the conservation of a sagebrush indicator species A targeted annual warning system developed for the conservation of a sagebrush indicator species
A fundamental goal of population ecologists is to identify drivers responsible for temporal variation in abundance. Understanding whether variation is associated with environmental stochasticity or anthropogenic disturbances, which are more amenable to management action, is crucial yet difficult to achieve. Here, we present a hierarchical monitoring framework that models rates of change...
Authors
Brian G. Prochazka, Peter S. Coates, Michael S. O’Donnell, David R. Edmunds, Adrian P. Monroe, Mark A. Ricca, Gregory T. Wann, Steve E. Hanser, Lief A. Wiechman, Kevin E. Doherty, Michael P. Chenaille, Cameron L. Aldridge
Forecasting natural regeneration of sagebrush after wildfires using population models and spatial matching Forecasting natural regeneration of sagebrush after wildfires using population models and spatial matching
Context
Authors
Andrii Zaiats, Megan E Cattau, David S. Pilliod, Liu Rongsong, Juan M. Requena-Mullor, Trevor Caughlin
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation does not stimulate soil phosphatase activity under temperate and tropical trees Symbiotic nitrogen fixation does not stimulate soil phosphatase activity under temperate and tropical trees
Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing plants can enrich ecosystems with N, which can alter the cycling and demand for other nutrients. Researchers have hypothesized that fixed N could be used by plants and soil microbes to produce extracellular phosphatase enzymes, which release P from organic matter. Consistent with this speculation, the presence of N-fixing plants is often associated with high
Authors
Emily Jager, Andrew Quebbeman, Amelia A. Wolf, Steven S. Perakis, Jennifer L. Funk, Duncan N.L. Menge
Using public litigation records to identify priority science needs for managing public lands Using public litigation records to identify priority science needs for managing public lands
Relevant science is essential for effective natural resource decision making, including on public lands managed by the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), that cover 1/10th of the United States. Most of the BLM’s management decisions require analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act, and the use of science in these decisions is often
Authors
Alison C. Foster, Sarah K. Carter, Travis S. Haby, Leigh Espy, Malia K. Barton
Experimental manipulation of soil-surface albedo alters phenology and growth of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) Experimental manipulation of soil-surface albedo alters phenology and growth of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass)
Purpose
Authors
Toby M. Maxwell, Matthew J. Germino, Seth Romero, Lauren M. Porensky, Dana M. Blumenthal, Cynthia S. Brown, Peter B. Adler
Integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan completion assessment—Fire topic, 2015–20 Integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan completion assessment—Fire topic, 2015–20
Loss and degradation of sagebrush rangelands due to an accelerated invasive annual grass-wildfire cycle and other stressors are significant management, conservation, and economic issues in the western United States. These sagebrush rangelands comprise a unique biome spanning 11 states, support over 350 wildlife species, and provide important ecosystem services that include stabilizing...
Authors
Matthew J Holloran, Christopher R. Anthony, Mark A. Ricca, Steven E. Hanser, Sue L. Phillips, Paul F. Steblein, Lief A. Wiechman
Integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan completion assessment: Invasives topic, 2015–20 Integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan completion assessment: Invasives topic, 2015–20
Loss and degradation of sagebrush rangelands due to an accelerated invasive annual grass-wildfire cycle and other stressors are significant management, conservation, and economic issues in the western United States. These sagebrush rangelands comprise a unique biome spanning 11 states, support over 350 wildlife species, and provide important ecosystem services that include stabilizing...
Authors
Christopher R. Anthony, Matthew J Holloran, Mark A. Ricca, Steven E. Hanser, Sue L. Phillips, Paul F. Steblein, Lief A. Wiechman
Effects of structure and volcanic stratigraphy on groundwater and surface water flow: Hat Creek basin, California, USA Effects of structure and volcanic stratigraphy on groundwater and surface water flow: Hat Creek basin, California, USA
Hydrogeologic systems in the southern Cascade Range in California (USA) develop in volcanic rocks where morphology, stratigraphy, extensional structures, and attendant basin geometry play a central role in groundwater flow paths, groundwater/surface-water interactions, and spring discharge locations. High-volume springs (greater than 3 m3/s) flow from basin-filling (
Authors
Marina Francesca Marcelli, Erick R. Burns, L.J. Patrick Muffler, Andrew J Meigs, Jennifer A. Curtis, Christian E. Torgersen