Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42177
Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species
Natural resource agencies need effective strategies to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as invasive fish, which can expand their range using rivers as hydrological pathways to access new areas. Lock and dam structures within major rivers are prospective locations to deploy techniques, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion into lock water, that could impede...
Authors
Thomas J. Zolper, David R. Smith, P. Ryan Jackson, Aaron R. Cupp
Optimizing trilateration estimates for tracking fine-scale movement of wildlife using automated radio telemetry networks
A major advancement in the use of radio telemetry has been the development of automated radio tracking systems (ARTS), which allow animal movements to be tracked continuously. A new ARTS approach is the use of a network of simple radio receivers (nodes) that collect radio signal strength (RSS) values from animal-borne radio transmitters. However, the use of RSS-based localization methods...
Authors
Kristina L. Paxton, Kayla M. Baker, Zia Crytser, Ray Mark Provido Guinto, Kevin W. Brinck, Haldre Rogers, Eben H. Paxton
A novel approach for directly incorporating disease into fish stock assessment: A case study with seroprevalence data
When estimating mortality from disease with fish population models, common disease surveillance data such as infection prevalence are not always informative, especially for fast-acting diseases that may go unobserved in infrequently sampled populations. In these cases, seroprevalence — the proportion of fish with measurable antibody levels in their blood — may be more informative. In...
Authors
John T. Trochta, Maya Groner, Paul K Hershberger, Trevor A. Branch
Plant effects on and response to soil microbes in native and non-native Phragmites australis
Plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) mediate plant community dynamics and may plausibly facilitate plant invasions. Microbially mediated PSFs are defined by plant effects on soil microbes and subsequent changes in plant performance (responses), both positive and negative. For microbial interactions to benefit invasive plants disproportionately, native and invasive plants must either (1) have...
Authors
Wesley A. Bickford, Deborah E. Goldberg, Donald R. Zak, Danielle S. Snow, Kurt P. Kowalski
Foreword to the special Issue on ‘The rapidly expanding role of drones as a tool for wildlife research’
Drones have emerged as a popular wildlife research tool, but their use for many species and environments remains untested and research is needed on validation of sampling approaches that are optimised for unpiloted aircraft. Here, we present a foreword to a special issue that features studies pushing the taxonomic and innovation boundaries of drone research and thus helps address these...
Authors
Aaron J Wirsing, Aaron N. Johnston, Jeremy J. Kiszka
Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm
Health diagnostics of wildlife have historically relied on the evaluation of select serum biomarkers and the identification of a contaminant or pathogen burden within specific tissues as an indicator of a level of insult. However, these approaches fail to measure the physiological reaction of the individual to stressors, thus limiting the scope of interpretation. Gene-based health...
Authors
Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon C. Waters, Jeffrey L. Stott, Ann Duncan, Randi Meyerson, Sarah Woodhouse
Behavioral state-dependent habitat selection and implications for animal translocations
Post-release monitoring of translocated animals is often used to inform future translocation protocols. Quantifying habitat selection of translocated individuals may help identify features that characterize good settlement habitat and thus inform the choice of future release sites. However, translocated animals often undergo post-release behavioural modification, and their habitat...
Authors
Simona Picardi, Peter S. Coates, Jesse L. Kolar, Shawn T. O'Neil, Steven R. Mathews, David K. Dahlgren
Invasion of Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) along the South Platte River: The roles of seed source, human influence, and river geomorphology
Riparian ecosystems in the western USA have been invaded by non-native woody species deliberately introduced for stream bank stabilization, agricultural windbreaks, and urban shade. Recent work suggests that the non-native tree Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm) is capable of significant spread in western riparian ecosystems, that range infilling is still incomplete, and that the invasion is...
Authors
Lindsay Reynolds, Laura Perry, Patrick B. Shafroth, Gabrielle L. Katz, Andrew S. Norton
Assessment of cereal grain waste densities to aid waterfowl conservation planning in the Klamath Basin
Postharvest waste seed from cereal grains is a major dietary component of waterfowl in the Klamath Basin in northeastern California and southeastern Oregon, a region that plays host to over a million waterfowl annually. Understanding food abundance is critical to local waterfowl management; therefore, we conducted a study in 2008 to investigate waste grain densities in barley, oat, and...
Authors
Daniel A. Skalos, Joseph P. Fleskes, Jeffery D. Kohl, Mark P. Herzog, Michael L. Casazza
The Pacific as the world’s greatest theater of bird migration: Extreme flights spark questions about physiological capabilities, behavior, and the evolution of migratory pathways
The Pacific Basin, by virtue of its vastness and its complex aeroscape, provides unique opportunities to address questions about the behavioral and physiological capabilities and mechanisms through which birds can complete spectacular flights. No longer is the Pacific seen just as a formidable barrier between terrestrial habitats in the north and the south, but rather as a gateway for...
Authors
Theunis Piersma, Robert E. Gill, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Christopher G. Guglielmo, Jesse R. Conklin, Colleen M. Handel
Post-release survival of translocated fishers: Implications for translocation success
As a vital tool for the conservation of species at risk, translocations are also opportunities to identify factors that influence translocation success. We evaluated factors associated with post-release survival of 90 radio-tracked fishers (Pekania pennanti) translocated from central British Columbia, Canada, to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, USA, from 2008 to 2011. We hypothesized...
Authors
Jeffrey C. Lewis, Kurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, David J. Manson, Paul Griffin
Landsat data ecosystem case study: Actor perceptions of the use and value of landsat
It is well-known that Earth observation (EO) data plays a critical role in scientific understanding about the global environment. There is also growing support for the use of EO data to provide context-specific insights, with significant implications for their use in decision support systems. Technological development over recent years, including cloud computing infrastructure, machine...
Authors
Edmund B. Molder, Sarah Ferer Schenkein, Abby Elizabeth McConnell, Karl K Benedict, Crista L. Straub