Publications
Read publications and other informational products to learn more about USGS science occurring in the Mississippi Basin.
Filter Total Items: 5585
Estimating detection and occupancy of secretive marsh bird species in low and high saline marshes in southwestern Louisiana using automated recording units Estimating detection and occupancy of secretive marsh bird species in low and high saline marshes in southwestern Louisiana using automated recording units
Secretive marsh birds (SMBs) are important indicator species of coastal wetlands but are difficult to detect and monitor. In coastal Louisiana, an important stronghold for these species, climate and hydrological models predict that freshwater and intermediate marshes will expand in the next 50 years, while brackish marshes will shrink. We used a multi-species Bayesian hierarchical...
Authors
Hardin Waddle, Landon R. Jones, Phillip L. Vasseur, Clint W. Jeske
A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter Percina nasuta in Missouri A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter Percina nasuta in Missouri
The longnose darter Percina nasuta is a rare and cryptic fish that recently disappeared from much of its historic range. We developed and used an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for longnose darter paired with visual surveys to better determine the species’ range and compare detection probability between sampling approaches in an occupancy modeling framework. We detected longnose darter...
Authors
Jacob Thomas Westhoff, Leah K. Berkman, Katy E. Klymus, Nathan Thompson, Cathy A. Richter
Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity
Offshore platforms, subsea pipelines, wells and related fixed structures supporting the oil and gas (O&G) industry are prevalent in oceans across the globe, with many approaching the end of their operational life and requiring decommissioning. Although structures can possess high ecological diversity and productivity, information on how they interact with broader ecological processes...
Authors
Dianne L McLean, Luciana C. Ferreira, Jessica A Benthuysen, Karen J. Miller, Marie-Lise Schlappy, Matthew J. Ajemian, Oliver Berry, Silvana N. R. Birchenough, Todd Bond, Fabio Boschetti, Ann S Bull, Jeremy T Claisse, Scott A Condie, Pierpaolo Consoli, Joop W. P. Coolen, Michael R. Elliott, Irene S Fortune, Ashley M Fowler, Bronwyn M Gillanders, Hugo B Harrison, Kristen Hart, Lea-Anne Henry, Chad L Hewitt, Natalie Hicks, Karlo Hock, Kieran Hyder, Milton S. Love, Peter I Macreadie, Robert J. Miller, William A Montevecchi, Mary M Nishimoto, Henry M. Page, David M Paterson, Charitha B Pattiaratchi, Gretta T Pecl, Joanne S Porter, David B. Reeves, Cynthia Riginos, Sally Rouse, Debbie J. F. Russell, Craig D. H. Sherman, Jonas Teilmann, Victoria L. G. Todd, Eric A. Treml, David H. Williamson, Michele Thums
Risk assessment of chanchita Cichlasoma dimerus (Heckel, 1840), a newly identified non-native cichlid fish in Florida Risk assessment of chanchita Cichlasoma dimerus (Heckel, 1840), a newly identified non-native cichlid fish in Florida
The risk of a newly discovered non-native fish species in Florida (USA): Cichlasoma dimerus ([Heckel, 1840]; Family: Cichlidae) is assessed. Its tolerance to cold temperatures was experimentally evaluated and information on its biology and ecology was synthesized. In the cold-temperature tolerance experiment, temperature was lowered from 24 °C by increments of 1 °C per hour, mimicking a...
Authors
Mary Brown, Robert H. Robins, Pam Schofield
Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency 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, Amelie Y. Davis, Katherine M. O’Donnell, William Barichivich, Susan C. Walls, Tereza Jezkova
Porewater chemistry of Louisiana marshes with contrasting salinities and its implications for coastal acidification Porewater chemistry of Louisiana marshes with contrasting salinities and its implications for coastal acidification
Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) are fundamental components of carbonate systems that control pH and buffering capacity of the receiving water body. Three coastal marshes with contrasting salinities in Barataria Basin, Louisiana, USA, were sampled to understand seasonal changes in porewater carbonate chemistry and its impact on surrounding water bodies. Each...
Authors
Songjie He, Kanchan Maiti, Christopher Swarzenski, Tracy Elsey-Quirk, Gina Groseclose, Dubravko Justic
Evidence of a dietary shift by the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Indian River Lagoon inferred from stomach content analyses Evidence of a dietary shift by the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Indian River Lagoon inferred from stomach content analyses
Investigating the long-term fluctuations of the feeding ecology of megaherbivores such as sirenians is important, as any changes could be indicative of shifts in resource availability. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL), eastern Florida, USA, is a critical habitat for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). However, the IRL has experienced a substantial decline in seagrass due...
Authors
Aarin Conrad Allen, Cathy Beck, Danielle C. Sattelberger, Jeremy J. Kiszka
DEEP SEARCH project completes last year of field work with two successful expeditions DEEP SEARCH project completes last year of field work with two successful expeditions
In 2019, the Deep Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral/Canyon/Cold seep Habitats (DEEP SEARCH) project completed its third and final field season with two successful expeditions aboard NOAA Ships Ronald H. Brown and Nancy Foster.
Authors
Erik E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Michael Rasser, Caitlin Adams
Floods of June 21–July 1, 2018, in the Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins, northwestern Iowa Floods of June 21–July 1, 2018, in the Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins, northwestern Iowa
The Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins in northwestern Iowa flooded on June 21–July 1, 2018, after sustained rainfall on June 14–27, 2018. Within the Floyd River Basin, rainfall totals from June 14 to 21 preceding flooding were 3.01 inches (in.) at Le Mars, 4.50 in. at Orange City, and 7.44 in. at Sheldon. Within the Little Sioux River Basin, rainfall amounts for the 2-week period...
Authors
Padraic S. O’Shea, Jordan L. Wilson, Jared C. Vegrzyn, Kimberlee K. Barnes
Biomass allocation of tidal freshwater marsh species in response to natural and manipulated hydroperiod in coastal deltaic floodplains Biomass allocation of tidal freshwater marsh species in response to natural and manipulated hydroperiod in coastal deltaic floodplains
Deltaic floodplains are highly vulnerable to relative sea level rise (RSLR) depending on the sediment supply from river channels that provides elevation capital as adaptation mechanism. In river channels where levees have restricted sediment supply to coastal deltaic floodplains, river sediment diversions have been proposed as a restoration strategy to increase elevation allowing for...
Authors
Andre S. Rovai, Robert R. Twilley, Alexandra Christiensen, Annabeth McCall, Daniel J. Jensen, Gregg Snedden, James T. Morris, John A. Cavell
Exploring genetic variation and population structure in a threatened species, Noturus placidus, with whole-genome sequence data Exploring genetic variation and population structure in a threatened species, Noturus placidus, with whole-genome sequence data
The Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus) is a small catfish, generally less than 3 inches in length, unique to the Neosho-Spring River system within the Arkansas River Basin. It was federally listed as threatened in 1990, largely due to habitat loss. For conservation efforts, we generated whole-genome sequence data from 10 Neosho madtom individuals originating from 3 geographically separated
Authors
Lynsey K. Whitacre, Mark L. Wildhaber, Gary S. Johnson, Harly J. Durbin, Troy N. Rowan, Robert D. Schnabel, Tendai Mhlanga-Mutangadura, Vernon M. Tabor, Daniel Fenner, Jared E. Decker
Occurrence and sources of lead in private wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts Occurrence and sources of lead in private wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Lead (Pb) occurrence and sources and aqueous geochemistry were assessed in private wellhead and tap water at a targeted area of concern for possible exceedances and at a control area in the same geologic formation, and in wells at a nearby landfill in south-central Massachusetts (MA). Total Pb concentrations were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Action Level of 15...
Authors
Leah M. Santangelo, Craig J. Brown, James B. Shanley, Michael J. Pribil, Danny Rutherford