Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16727
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Federal agencies need credible scientific information to determine the production and value of ecosystem services in an efficient and timely manner. The U.S. Geological Survey addresses this scientific information need through the Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative project. The project has relied on U.S. Geological Survey expertise related to water, fisheries, advanced modeling...
Authors
Christopher Huber, James Meldrum, Rudy Schuster, Zachary H. Ancona, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Scott M. Beck, Daren M. Carlisle, Peter R. Claggett, Fabiano Franco, Heather S. Galbraith, Michelle Haefele, Kristin R Hoelting, Dianna M. Hogan, Kristina G. Hopkins, Tim Kern, Collin B. Lawrence, Stacy Lischka, John B. Loomis, Julie M. Mueller, Gregory E. Noe, Emily Pindilli, Brian Quay, Darius J. Semmens, Wilson Sinclair, Daniel E. Spooner, Brian Voigt, Barabara St. John White
Integrating side-scan sonar and acoustic telemetry to estimate the annual spawning run size of Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River Integrating side-scan sonar and acoustic telemetry to estimate the annual spawning run size of Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River
There is considerable interest in evaluating the status and trends of sturgeon populations, yet many traditional approaches to estimating the abundance of fishes are intractable due to their biology and rarity. Side-scan sonar has recently emerged as an effective tool for censusing sturgeon in rivers, yet challenges remain for censusing open populations that may visit specific habitats...
Authors
David C. Kazyak, Amy M Flowers, Nathan J. Hostetter, John A Madsen, Matthew W. Breece, Amanda Higgs, Lori M. Brown, Andy Royle, Dewayne A. Fox
Estimating abundance from capture-recapture data Estimating abundance from capture-recapture data
No abstract available.
Authors
Sarah J. Converse, J. Andrew Royle
Nuisance Neonatives Guidelines for Assessing Range-Shifting Species Nuisance Neonatives Guidelines for Assessing Range-Shifting Species
Native species will need to shift their ranges northward and upslope to keep pace with climate change in the Northeast U.S. However, this may cause some range-shifting species to have undesirable consequences in their expanded range. We provide a framework to identify the likelihood that a range-shifting species will become problematic and offer suggestions to minimize impacts from these...
Authors
Brittany B. Laginhas, Toni Lyn Morelli, Audrey Barker-Plotkin, Evelyn M. Beaury, Elsa Cousins, Sydni Joubran, Michael Nelson, Sam Talbot, Bethany A. Bradley
Decision context as an essential component of population viability analysis Decision context as an essential component of population viability analysis
Population viability analysis (PVA) is a widely used tool that applies demographic data in simulation frameworks to assess extinction risk for species or populations. It is used in diverse conservation applications, including evaluating management effectiveness, relative risk of threats, and potential changes to protective status (Beissinger & McCullough, 2002), and can be a critical...
Authors
Abigail Jean Lawson, Brian Folt, Anna Maureen Tucker, Francesca T. Erickson, Conor P. McGowan
Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic resources of 11 critical minerals in the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico—Aluminum, cobalt, graphite, lithium, niobium, platinum-group elements, rare earth elements, tantalum, tin, Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic resources of 11 critical minerals in the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico—Aluminum, cobalt, graphite, lithium, niobium, platinum-group elements, rare earth elements, tantalum, tin,
In response to a need for information on potential domestic sources of critical minerals, the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) was established to identify and prioritize areas for acquisition of new geologic mapping, geophysical data, and elevation data to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework of the United States. Phase 1 of Earth MRI concentrated on those...
Authors
Jane M. Hammarstrom, Connie L. Dicken, Warren C. Day, Albert H. Hofstra, Benjamin J. Drenth, Anjana K. Shah, Anne E. McCafferty, Laurel G. Woodruff, Nora K. Foley, David A. Ponce, Thomas P. Frost, Lisa L. Stillings
When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes - and when it cannot When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes - and when it cannot
Variability among climate change scenarios produces great uncertainty in what is the best allocation of resources among investments to protect environmental goods in the future. Previous research shows Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) can help optimize environmental investment targeting to reduce outcome risk with minimal loss of expected level of environmental benefits, but no work has yet
Authors
Amy W. Ando, Jennifer M. Fraterrigo, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Aparna Howlader, Mindy L. Mallory, Jennifer H. Olker, Samuel Stickley
2020 drought in New England 2020 drought in New England
Below average and infrequent rainfall from May through September 2020 led to an extreme hydrologic drought across much of New England, with some areas experiencing a flash drought, reflecting its quick onset. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded record-low streamflow and groundwater levels throughout the region. In September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2020) declared...
Authors
Pamela J. Lombard, Janet R. Barclay, Dee-Ann E. Crozier
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) climate scenario planning pilot report Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) climate scenario planning pilot report
Scenario planning is a structured process that embraces uncertainty and explores plausible alternative future conditions under different assumptions to help manage risk and prioritize actions ( Schwartz 1996, Peterson et al. 2003). It has been used by a variety of organizations to explore and help prepare for the future, lends itself well to exploring the uncertainty surrounding changing
Authors
Diane Borggaard, Dori Dick, Jonathan Star, Mike Alexander, M. Bernier, Matt Collins, Kelly Damon-Randall, Robert W. Dudley, Roger Roger Griffis, Sean Hayes, Mike Johnson, Dan Kircheis, John Kocik, Benjamin Letcher, Nate Mantua, Wendy Morrison, Keith Nislow, Vince Saba, R. Saunders, Tim Sheehan, Michelle D. Staudinger
Final Report for Phase 1 - USGS-NE CSC and USFS-NRS Cooperative Research on Climate-Vulnerable Habitats and Species in the Northeast Final Report for Phase 1 - USGS-NE CSC and USFS-NRS Cooperative Research on Climate-Vulnerable Habitats and Species in the Northeast
The US Forest Service (USFS) and Northeast Climate (Adaptation) Science Center (NE CASC) came together to focus research and management cooperation on the topic of the impacts of climate change on forested ecosystems. This work had 3 primary components: 1) modeling headwater stream refugia; 2) investigating resilience and resistance strategies for New England forests; and 3) studying the...
Authors
Keith Nislow, Toni Lyn Morelli
Micrometer-scale characterization of solid mine waste aids in closure due diligence Micrometer-scale characterization of solid mine waste aids in closure due diligence
Precious- and base-metal mining often occurs in deposits with high acid-generating potential, resulting in mine waste that contains metals in forms of varying bioavailability, and therefore toxicity. The solids that host these metals are often noncrystalline, nanometer to micrometer in size, or undetectable by readily available analytical techniques (e.g., X-ray diffraction). This...
Authors
Bryn E. Kimball, Heather E. Jamieson, Robert R. Seal,, Agatha Dobosz, Nadine M. Piatak
Local climate determines vulnerability to camouflage mismatch in snowshoe hares Local climate determines vulnerability to camouflage mismatch in snowshoe hares
Aim Phenological mismatches, when life‐events become mistimed with optimal environmental conditions, have become increasingly common under climate change. Population‐level susceptibility to mismatches depends on how phenology and phenotypic plasticity vary across a species’ distributional range. Here, we quantify the environmental drivers of colour moult phenology, phenotypic plasticity...
Authors
Marketa Zimova, Alexej P. K. Siren, Joshua J. Nowak, Alexander Bryan, Jacob S. Ivan, Toni Lyn Morelli, Skyler L. Suhrer, Jesse Whittington, L. Scott Mills