Katy O'Donnell
Katy O'Donnell - California Water Science Center
Science and Products
Biogeochemistry Group
The Biogeochemistry (BGC) Group uses an interdisciplinary approach to address surface water quality issues and food web dynamics throughout California, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.
Causes and Relevance of Phytoplankton Blooms in the Northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Phytoplankton are an important part of aquatic food webs and ecosystems. These single-celled plants grow faster in the stronger light of spring or summer, resulting in population explosions called phytoplankton blooms. These blooms in turn feed zooplankton (free-floating aquatic microorganisms), providing food for many aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, crabs, and other invertebrates.
Filter Total Items: 17
Above-water hyperspectral field spectroscopy measurements at Franks Tract in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
Hand-held hyperspectral spectroscopy data were collected in 2022 in Franks Tract, a flooded area located in the central Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California. The data were collected from a boat and co-located within pixels from the Ocean Land Color Imaging (OLCI) sensor on the Sentinel-3A and 3-B satellites. Data from 16 sites within 7 OLCI pixels were collected on three days: July...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the San Francisco Bay, California: 2021-2022 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the San Francisco Bay of California, USA in 2021 and 2022. The dataset includes nitrate, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as information about phytoplankton community composition. Data-collection cruises were...
Water quality, nutrient, and phytoplankton data from Franks Tract, Mildred Island, and neighboring channels in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: 2022 and 2023 High-resolution mapping surveys
Surface water quality, water isotope, and phytoplankton enumeration data were collected to evaluate the impact of an Emergency Drought Barrier (EDB) in False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Data were collected on six days during 2022 and 2023 (June 7, June 21, July 27, August 9, October 12, November 30, 2022, and February 21, 2023). Sampling occurred in Franks Tract, Mildred...
KdPAR and surface water-quality data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 2013 and 2014
Data release provides diffuse light attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) derived from in-situ light measurements, along with surface water-quality and atmospheric data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rive Delta in California between January 2013 and May 2014. These associated surface level water-quality and atmospheric data, and categorical...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale: 2020-2021 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Suisun Bay of California, USA. The dataset includes nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during treated wastewater effluent holds: August and September 2019 high resolution mapping surveys
The study is comprised of daily survey data consisting of high resolution mapping and discrete sample collection of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents conducted in the Sacramento River, Georgiana Slough, and the North and South Forks of the Mokelumne River on August 28 and September 10-12, 2019, coincident with planned holds of treated wastewater effluent...
Phytoplankton Species Composition and Abundance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Microscopic Enumeration of USGS Samples, beginning in 2016 (ver. 1.1, December 2023)
This dataset contains taxonomy, density (cells/mL), and biovolume (μm3/mL) data for phytoplankton sampled across the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta) beginning in 2016. Whole water phytoplankton samples were collected intermittently during special projects and during routine visits to service continuous monitoring stations. Samples were preserved with...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta related to the 2015 installation of the False River Emergency Drought Barrier: 2015 and 2016 high-resolution m
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the western and central portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes water residence time, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen...
High resolution and discrete temporal and spatial water-quality measurements in support of modeling mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
The Sacramento / San Joaquin River Delta (SSJRD) is contaminated with legacy mercury (Hg) from historical mining and mineral processing activities throughout the watershed, as well as from contemporary atmospheric and industrial inputs. The current project was designed for the purpose of developing high-resolution spatial and temporal models for estimating concentrations of mercury...
Characterization of water residence time, nutrients, phytoplankton and related water quality constituents in the Cache Slough Complex of the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in 2017 and 2018
Data was collected in the Cache Slough Complex located in the northern San Francisco Estuary to characterize water quality parameters at high spatial resolution. Data collection was conducted on three separate occasions: October 2017, May 2018, and October 2018. Data set includes nitrate, ammonium, ortho-phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen...
Spatial assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in Suisun Marsh with the salinity control gate reoperation experiment; a Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy experiment 2018
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in Suisun Marsh and Suisun Bay in the San Francisco Estuary of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue-green algal...
Assessment of water-quality in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during a North Delta directed flow action: August - October 2018
This report documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll . Data-collection...
Filter Total Items: 14
Amphibian and reptile conservation in the United States of America
Wildlife stewardship is of utmost importance in the United States, where management for sustainable natural resources is extended to native species including amphibians and reptiles. The U.S. wildlife conservation framework is a nested system of authorities regulating species and habitats, science-based management and policy decisions, and adaptive management as new knowledge is applied...
Authors
Deanna H. Olson, David Pilliod
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale—2018 high resolution mapping surveys
Executive Summary This study examined the abundance and distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton in the tidal aquatic environments of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun Bay, comprising three spatial surveys conducted in May, July, and October of 2018 that used continuous underway high frequency sampling and measurements onboard a high-speed boat to characterize...
Authors
Brian Bergamaschi, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Katy O'Donnell, Jeffrey A. Hansen, Jeniffer Soto Perez, Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Alan Gelber
A simple approach to modeling light attenuation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta using commonly available data
The diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) is commonly used to predict light attenuation in aquatic productivity models, but obtaining measurements of PAR to compute KdPAR is difficult. In situ calculations of KdPAR require multiple measurements of PAR through the water column, and these measurements are infeasible for real-time recording. Instead...
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Katy O'Donnell, Brian Bergamaschi
A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems
Documenting dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and form at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is key to understanding aquatic ecosystem health, particularly as DIN fuels primary productivity. In addition to point and non-point source nutrient inputs, factors such as hydrology, geomorphology, temperature, light, and biogeochemical transformations influence nutrient...
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Don Forsberg, John Stillian, Katy O'Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Brian Bergamaschi
Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene
The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence-based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Staci M. Amburgey, Brian Gratwicke, Victor Acosta Chaves, Anat M. Belasen, David Bickford, Carsten Brühl, Natalie E. Calatayud, Nick Clemann, Simon Clulow, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jeff Dawson, David A. De Angelis, C. Kenneth Dodd, Annette E. Evans, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Sergio González-Mollinedo, David E. Green, Roseanna Gamlen-Greene, Richard A. Griffiths, Brian Halstead, Craig Hassapakis, Geoffrey Heard, Catharina Karlsson, Tom Kirschey, Blake Klocke, Tiffany A. Kosch, Sophia Kusterko Novaes, Luke Linhoff, John C. Maerz, Brittany Mosher, Katy O'Donnell, Leticia M. Ochoa-Ochoa, Deanna H. Olson, Kristiina Ovaska, J. Dale Roberts, Aimee J. Silla, Tariq Stark, Jeanne Tarrant, R. Upton, Judit Vörös, Erin L. Muths
Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA
Environmental (e)DNA tools are sensitive and cost-effective for early detection of invasive species. However, the uncertainty associated with the interpretation of positive eDNA detections makes it challenging to determine appropriate natural resource management responses. Multiple sources of error can give rise to positive detections of eDNA in a sample when individuals of that species...
Authors
Adam Sepulveda, David R. Smith, Katy O'Donnell, Nathan Owens, Brittany White, Catherine A. Richter, Christopher M. Merkes, Skylar L. Wolf, Mike Rau, Matthew E. Neilson, Wesley M. Daniel, Christine E. Dumoulin, Margaret E. Hunter
Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency
Occurrence data used to build species distribution models often include historical records from locations in which the species no longer exists. When these records are paired with contemporary environmental values that no longer represent the conditions the species experienced, the model creates false associations that hurt predictive performance. The extent of mismatching increases with...
Authors
Jason T. Bracken, Amélie Y. Davis, Katy O'Donnell, William J. Barichivich, Susan C. Walls, Tereza Jezkova
Moving from decision to action in conservation science
Biodiversity loss is a major threat to the integrity of ecosystems and is projected to worsen, yet the path to successful conservation remains elusive. Decision support frameworks (DSFs) are increasingly applied by resource managers to navigate the complexity, uncertainty, and differing socio-ecological objectives inherent to conservation problems. Most published conservation research...
Authors
Alexander D. Wright, Riley Fehr Bernard, Brittany Mosher, Katy O'Donnell, Taylor Braunagel, Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo, Jillian Elizabeth Fleming, Charles Shafer, Adrianne Brand, Elise Zipkin, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander
Managing spatially structured populations of imperiled species presents many challenges. Spatial structure can make it difficult to predict population responses to potential recovery activities, and learning through experimentation may not be advised if it could harm threatened populations. Adaptive management provides an appealing framework when experimentation is considered too risky...
Authors
Katy O'Donnell, Paul L. Fackler, Fred A. Johnson, Mathieu Bonneau, Julien Martin, Susan C. Walls
Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate
Climate change is anticipated to exacerbate the extinction risk of species whose persistence is already compromised by habitat loss, invasive species, disease, or other stressors. In coastal areas of the southeastern United States (USA), many imperiled vertebrates are vulnerable to hurricanes, which climate models predict to become more severe in the 21st century. Despite this escalating...
Authors
Susan C. Walls, William J. Barichivich, Jonathan Chandler, Ashley M. Meade, Marysa Milinichik, Katy O'Donnell, Megan E. Owens, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Rebecca C. Watling, Olivia E. Wetsch
Using paired in situ high frequency nitrate measurements to better understand controls on nitrate concentrations and estimate nitrification rates in a wastewater-impacted river
We used paired continuous nitrate ( ) measurements along a tidally affected river receiving wastewater discharge rich in ammonium ( ) to quantify rates of change in concentration ( ) and estimate nitrification rates. sensors were deployed 30 km apart in the Sacramento River, California (USA), with the upstream station located immediately above the regional wastewater treatment plant...
Authors
Tamara E. C. Kraus, Katy O'Donnell, Bryan D. Downing, Jon R. Burau, Brian Bergamaschi
Structured decision making as a conservation tool for recovery planning of two endangered salamanders
At least one-third of all amphibian species face the threat of extinction, and current amphibian extinction rates are four orders of magnitude greater than background rates. Preventing extirpation often requires both ex situ (i.e., conservation breeding programs) and in situ strategies (i.e., protecting natural habitats). Flatwoods salamanders (Ambystoma bishopi and A. cingulatum) are...
Authors
Katy O'Donnell, Arianne F Messerman, William J. Barichivich, Raymond D. Semlitsch, Thomas A. Gorman, Harold G Mitchell, Nathan L. Allan, Dante B. Fenolio, Adam Green, Fred A. Johnson, Allison Keever, Mark Mandica, Julien Martin, Jana Mott, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Stephanie S. Romañach, Greg Titus, Conor P. McGowan, Susan C. Walls
Bay- Delta Water Quality, Nutrient and Phytoplankton Mapping | US Geological Survey
Data visualization tool created for California's Bay-Delta Regional Monitoring Program. This web applicaton visualizes nutrients and phytoplankton spatially and temporally.
Science and Products
Biogeochemistry Group
The Biogeochemistry (BGC) Group uses an interdisciplinary approach to address surface water quality issues and food web dynamics throughout California, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.
Causes and Relevance of Phytoplankton Blooms in the Northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Phytoplankton are an important part of aquatic food webs and ecosystems. These single-celled plants grow faster in the stronger light of spring or summer, resulting in population explosions called phytoplankton blooms. These blooms in turn feed zooplankton (free-floating aquatic microorganisms), providing food for many aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, crabs, and other invertebrates.
Filter Total Items: 17
Above-water hyperspectral field spectroscopy measurements at Franks Tract in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
Hand-held hyperspectral spectroscopy data were collected in 2022 in Franks Tract, a flooded area located in the central Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California. The data were collected from a boat and co-located within pixels from the Ocean Land Color Imaging (OLCI) sensor on the Sentinel-3A and 3-B satellites. Data from 16 sites within 7 OLCI pixels were collected on three days: July...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the San Francisco Bay, California: 2021-2022 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the San Francisco Bay of California, USA in 2021 and 2022. The dataset includes nitrate, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as information about phytoplankton community composition. Data-collection cruises were...
Water quality, nutrient, and phytoplankton data from Franks Tract, Mildred Island, and neighboring channels in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: 2022 and 2023 High-resolution mapping surveys
Surface water quality, water isotope, and phytoplankton enumeration data were collected to evaluate the impact of an Emergency Drought Barrier (EDB) in False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Data were collected on six days during 2022 and 2023 (June 7, June 21, July 27, August 9, October 12, November 30, 2022, and February 21, 2023). Sampling occurred in Franks Tract, Mildred...
KdPAR and surface water-quality data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 2013 and 2014
Data release provides diffuse light attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) derived from in-situ light measurements, along with surface water-quality and atmospheric data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rive Delta in California between January 2013 and May 2014. These associated surface level water-quality and atmospheric data, and categorical...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale: 2020-2021 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Suisun Bay of California, USA. The dataset includes nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during treated wastewater effluent holds: August and September 2019 high resolution mapping surveys
The study is comprised of daily survey data consisting of high resolution mapping and discrete sample collection of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents conducted in the Sacramento River, Georgiana Slough, and the North and South Forks of the Mokelumne River on August 28 and September 10-12, 2019, coincident with planned holds of treated wastewater effluent...
Phytoplankton Species Composition and Abundance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Microscopic Enumeration of USGS Samples, beginning in 2016 (ver. 1.1, December 2023)
This dataset contains taxonomy, density (cells/mL), and biovolume (μm3/mL) data for phytoplankton sampled across the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta) beginning in 2016. Whole water phytoplankton samples were collected intermittently during special projects and during routine visits to service continuous monitoring stations. Samples were preserved with...
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta related to the 2015 installation of the False River Emergency Drought Barrier: 2015 and 2016 high-resolution m
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the western and central portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes water residence time, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen...
High resolution and discrete temporal and spatial water-quality measurements in support of modeling mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
The Sacramento / San Joaquin River Delta (SSJRD) is contaminated with legacy mercury (Hg) from historical mining and mineral processing activities throughout the watershed, as well as from contemporary atmospheric and industrial inputs. The current project was designed for the purpose of developing high-resolution spatial and temporal models for estimating concentrations of mercury...
Characterization of water residence time, nutrients, phytoplankton and related water quality constituents in the Cache Slough Complex of the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in 2017 and 2018
Data was collected in the Cache Slough Complex located in the northern San Francisco Estuary to characterize water quality parameters at high spatial resolution. Data collection was conducted on three separate occasions: October 2017, May 2018, and October 2018. Data set includes nitrate, ammonium, ortho-phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen...
Spatial assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in Suisun Marsh with the salinity control gate reoperation experiment; a Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy experiment 2018
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in Suisun Marsh and Suisun Bay in the San Francisco Estuary of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue-green algal...
Assessment of water-quality in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during a North Delta directed flow action: August - October 2018
This report documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll . Data-collection...
Filter Total Items: 14
Amphibian and reptile conservation in the United States of America
Wildlife stewardship is of utmost importance in the United States, where management for sustainable natural resources is extended to native species including amphibians and reptiles. The U.S. wildlife conservation framework is a nested system of authorities regulating species and habitats, science-based management and policy decisions, and adaptive management as new knowledge is applied...
Authors
Deanna H. Olson, David Pilliod
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale—2018 high resolution mapping surveys
Executive Summary This study examined the abundance and distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton in the tidal aquatic environments of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun Bay, comprising three spatial surveys conducted in May, July, and October of 2018 that used continuous underway high frequency sampling and measurements onboard a high-speed boat to characterize...
Authors
Brian Bergamaschi, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Katy O'Donnell, Jeffrey A. Hansen, Jeniffer Soto Perez, Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Alan Gelber
A simple approach to modeling light attenuation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta using commonly available data
The diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) is commonly used to predict light attenuation in aquatic productivity models, but obtaining measurements of PAR to compute KdPAR is difficult. In situ calculations of KdPAR require multiple measurements of PAR through the water column, and these measurements are infeasible for real-time recording. Instead...
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Katy O'Donnell, Brian Bergamaschi
A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems
Documenting dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and form at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is key to understanding aquatic ecosystem health, particularly as DIN fuels primary productivity. In addition to point and non-point source nutrient inputs, factors such as hydrology, geomorphology, temperature, light, and biogeochemical transformations influence nutrient...
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Don Forsberg, John Stillian, Katy O'Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Brian Bergamaschi
Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene
The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence-based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Staci M. Amburgey, Brian Gratwicke, Victor Acosta Chaves, Anat M. Belasen, David Bickford, Carsten Brühl, Natalie E. Calatayud, Nick Clemann, Simon Clulow, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jeff Dawson, David A. De Angelis, C. Kenneth Dodd, Annette E. Evans, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Sergio González-Mollinedo, David E. Green, Roseanna Gamlen-Greene, Richard A. Griffiths, Brian Halstead, Craig Hassapakis, Geoffrey Heard, Catharina Karlsson, Tom Kirschey, Blake Klocke, Tiffany A. Kosch, Sophia Kusterko Novaes, Luke Linhoff, John C. Maerz, Brittany Mosher, Katy O'Donnell, Leticia M. Ochoa-Ochoa, Deanna H. Olson, Kristiina Ovaska, J. Dale Roberts, Aimee J. Silla, Tariq Stark, Jeanne Tarrant, R. Upton, Judit Vörös, Erin L. Muths
Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA
Environmental (e)DNA tools are sensitive and cost-effective for early detection of invasive species. However, the uncertainty associated with the interpretation of positive eDNA detections makes it challenging to determine appropriate natural resource management responses. Multiple sources of error can give rise to positive detections of eDNA in a sample when individuals of that species...
Authors
Adam Sepulveda, David R. Smith, Katy O'Donnell, Nathan Owens, Brittany White, Catherine A. Richter, Christopher M. Merkes, Skylar L. Wolf, Mike Rau, Matthew E. Neilson, Wesley M. Daniel, Christine E. Dumoulin, Margaret E. Hunter
Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency
Occurrence data used to build species distribution models often include historical records from locations in which the species no longer exists. When these records are paired with contemporary environmental values that no longer represent the conditions the species experienced, the model creates false associations that hurt predictive performance. The extent of mismatching increases with...
Authors
Jason T. Bracken, Amélie Y. Davis, Katy O'Donnell, William J. Barichivich, Susan C. Walls, Tereza Jezkova
Moving from decision to action in conservation science
Biodiversity loss is a major threat to the integrity of ecosystems and is projected to worsen, yet the path to successful conservation remains elusive. Decision support frameworks (DSFs) are increasingly applied by resource managers to navigate the complexity, uncertainty, and differing socio-ecological objectives inherent to conservation problems. Most published conservation research...
Authors
Alexander D. Wright, Riley Fehr Bernard, Brittany Mosher, Katy O'Donnell, Taylor Braunagel, Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo, Jillian Elizabeth Fleming, Charles Shafer, Adrianne Brand, Elise Zipkin, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander
Managing spatially structured populations of imperiled species presents many challenges. Spatial structure can make it difficult to predict population responses to potential recovery activities, and learning through experimentation may not be advised if it could harm threatened populations. Adaptive management provides an appealing framework when experimentation is considered too risky...
Authors
Katy O'Donnell, Paul L. Fackler, Fred A. Johnson, Mathieu Bonneau, Julien Martin, Susan C. Walls
Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate
Climate change is anticipated to exacerbate the extinction risk of species whose persistence is already compromised by habitat loss, invasive species, disease, or other stressors. In coastal areas of the southeastern United States (USA), many imperiled vertebrates are vulnerable to hurricanes, which climate models predict to become more severe in the 21st century. Despite this escalating...
Authors
Susan C. Walls, William J. Barichivich, Jonathan Chandler, Ashley M. Meade, Marysa Milinichik, Katy O'Donnell, Megan E. Owens, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Rebecca C. Watling, Olivia E. Wetsch
Using paired in situ high frequency nitrate measurements to better understand controls on nitrate concentrations and estimate nitrification rates in a wastewater-impacted river
We used paired continuous nitrate ( ) measurements along a tidally affected river receiving wastewater discharge rich in ammonium ( ) to quantify rates of change in concentration ( ) and estimate nitrification rates. sensors were deployed 30 km apart in the Sacramento River, California (USA), with the upstream station located immediately above the regional wastewater treatment plant...
Authors
Tamara E. C. Kraus, Katy O'Donnell, Bryan D. Downing, Jon R. Burau, Brian Bergamaschi
Structured decision making as a conservation tool for recovery planning of two endangered salamanders
At least one-third of all amphibian species face the threat of extinction, and current amphibian extinction rates are four orders of magnitude greater than background rates. Preventing extirpation often requires both ex situ (i.e., conservation breeding programs) and in situ strategies (i.e., protecting natural habitats). Flatwoods salamanders (Ambystoma bishopi and A. cingulatum) are...
Authors
Katy O'Donnell, Arianne F Messerman, William J. Barichivich, Raymond D. Semlitsch, Thomas A. Gorman, Harold G Mitchell, Nathan L. Allan, Dante B. Fenolio, Adam Green, Fred A. Johnson, Allison Keever, Mark Mandica, Julien Martin, Jana Mott, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Stephanie S. Romañach, Greg Titus, Conor P. McGowan, Susan C. Walls
Bay- Delta Water Quality, Nutrient and Phytoplankton Mapping | US Geological Survey
Data visualization tool created for California's Bay-Delta Regional Monitoring Program. This web applicaton visualizes nutrients and phytoplankton spatially and temporally.