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Publications

These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16731

Synthesis and interpretation of surface-water quality and aquatic biota data collected in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, 1979-2009 Synthesis and interpretation of surface-water quality and aquatic biota data collected in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, 1979-2009

Shenandoah National Park in northern and central Virginia protects 777 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Blue Ridge physiographic province and more than 90 streams containing diverse aquatic biota. Park managers and visitors are interested in the water quality of park streams and its ability to support healthy coldwater communities and species, such as the native brook trout...
Authors
John D. Jastram, Craig D. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karen C. Rice

Morphological distinctiveness of Javan Tupaia hypochrysa (Scandentia, Tupaiidae) Morphological distinctiveness of Javan Tupaia hypochrysa (Scandentia, Tupaiidae)

The common treeshrew, Tupaia glis, represents a species complex with a complicated taxonomic history. It is distributed mostly south of the Isthmus of Kra on the Malay Peninsula and surrounding islands. In our recent revision of a portion of this species complex, we did not fully assess the population from Java (T. “glis” hypochrysa) because of our limited sample. Herein, we revisit this...
Authors
Eric J. Sargis, Neal Woodman, Natalie C. Morningstar, Aspen T. Reese, Link E. Olson

Golden eagle population trends in the western United States: 1968-2010 Golden eagle population trends in the western United States: 1968-2010

In 2009, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service promulgated permit regulations for the unintentional lethal take (anthropogenic mortality) and disturbance of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Accurate population trend and size information for golden eagles are needed so agency biologists can make informed decisions when eagle take permits are requested. To address this need with...
Authors
Brian A. Millsap, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, John R. Sauer, Ryan M. Nielson, Mark Otto, Emily Bjerre, Robert K. Murphy

The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes

The balance between organic matter production and decay determines how fast coastal wetlands accumulate soil organic matter. Despite the importance of soil organic matter accumulation rates in influencing marsh elevation and resistance to sea-level rise, relatively little is known about how decomposition rates will respond to sea-level rise. Here, we estimate the sensitivity of...
Authors
M.L. Kirwanm, J.A. Langley, Gleen R. Guntenspergen, J.P. Megonigal

Comparative embryotoxicity of a pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture to common terns (Sterna hirundo) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius) Comparative embryotoxicity of a pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture to common terns (Sterna hirundo) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) eggs from San Francisco Bay have been reported to range up to 63 μg g−1 lipid weight. This value exceeds the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (1.8 μg g−1 egg wet weight; ∼32 μg−1 lipid weight) reported in an embryotoxicity study with American kestrels (Falco sparverius). As a surrogate for...
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, Rebecca S. Lazarus, Gary H. Heinz, Natalie K. Karouna-Reiner, Sandra L. Schultz, Robert C. Hale

Social learning of migratory performance Social learning of migratory performance

Successful bird migration can depend on individual learning, social learning, and innate navigation programs. Using 8 years of data on migrating whooping cranes, we were able to partition genetic and socially learned aspects of migration. Specifically, we analyzed data from a reintroduced population wherein all birds were captive bred and artificially trained by ultralight aircraft on...
Authors
Thomas Mueller, Robert B. O’Hara, Sarah J. Converse, Richard P. Urbanek, William F. Fagan

Spatial capture-recapture Spatial capture-recapture

Spatial Capture-Recapture provides a revolutionary extension of traditional capture-recapture methods for studying animal populations using data from live trapping, camera trapping, DNA sampling, acoustic sampling, and related field methods. This book is a conceptual and methodological synthesis of spatial capture-recapture modeling. As a comprehensive how-to manual, this reference...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, Richard B. Chandler, Rahel Sollmann, Beth Gardner

Mitigating the effects of landscape development on streams in urbanizing watersheds Mitigating the effects of landscape development on streams in urbanizing watersheds

This collaborative study examined urbanization and impacts on area streams while using the best available sediment and erosion control (S&EC) practices in developing watersheds in Maryland, United States. During conversion of the agricultural and forested watersheds to urban land use, land surface topography was graded and vegetation was removed creating a high potential for sediment...
Authors
Dianna M. Hogan, S. Taylor Jarnagin, John V. Loperfido, Keith Van Ness

Untested pesticide mitigation requirements: ecological, agricultural, and legal implications Untested pesticide mitigation requirements: ecological, agricultural, and legal implications

Every pesticide sold in the United States must have a U.S. Environmental Agency approved label on its container. The label provides directions for the pesticide’s use and is legally enforceable under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. For a pesticide with high ecological risks, mitigation statements may be included on the label to reduce the pesticide’s risks and to...
Authors
Nimish B. Vyas

Wintering and breeding bird monitoring data analysis 2010-2013: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Wintering and breeding bird monitoring data analysis 2010-2013: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Following guidance issued within the Avian Inventory and Monitoring in National Parks of the Gulf Coast Network: Gulf Coast Network Avian Monitoring Plan, 40 point locations were established and monitored within San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. During three breeding seasons (May – Jun) and winters (Dec – Feb) between 2010 and 2013, birds were monitored at 20 or 30 of these...
Authors
Daniel J. Twedt

Reply to “Ranking filter methods for concentrating pathogens in lake water” Reply to “Ranking filter methods for concentrating pathogens in lake water”

Accurately comparing filtration methods is indeed difficult. Our method (1) and the method described by Borchardt et al. for determining recoveries are both acceptable approaches; however, each is designed to achieve a different research goal. Our study was designed to compare recoveries of multiple microorganisms in surface-water samples. Because, in practice, water-matrix effects come...
Authors
Rebecca N. Bushon, Donna S. Francy, Vicente J. Gallardo, H.D. Alan Lindquist, Eric N. Villegas, Michael W. Ware

The importance of record length in estimating the magnitude of climatic changes: an example using 175 years of lake ice-out dates in New England The importance of record length in estimating the magnitude of climatic changes: an example using 175 years of lake ice-out dates in New England

Many studies have shown that lake ice-out (break-up) dates in the Northern Hemisphere are useful indicators of late winter/early spring climate change. Trends in lake ice-out dates in New England, USA, were analyzed for 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, and 175 year periods ending in 2008. More than 100 years of ice-out data were available for 19 of the 28 lakes in this study. The magnitude of...
Authors
Glenn A. Hodgkins
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