Publications
Below is a list of WERC's peer-reviewed publications. If you are searching for a specific publication and cannot find it in this list, please contact werc_web@usgs.gov
Filter Total Items: 3617
Two myxozoans from the urinary tract of topsmelt, Atherinops affinis
Two myxozoan species were observed in the kidney of topsmelt, Atherinops affinis, during a survey of parasites of estuarine fishes in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, California. Fish collected on 3 dates in 2012 and 2013 were sectioned and examined histologically. Large extrasporogonic stages occurred in the renal interstitium of several fish from the first 2 collections (5/8, 11/20, respectiv
Authors
Justin L. Sanders, Alejandra G. Jaramillo, Jacob E. Ashford, Stephen W. Feist, Kevin D. Lafferty, Michael L. Kent
Towards understanding resprouting at the global scale
Understanding and predicting plant response to disturbance is of paramount importance in our changing world. Resprouting ability is often considered a simple qualitative trait and used in many ecological studies. Our aim is to show some of the complexities of resprouting while highlighting cautions that need be taken in using resprouting ability to predict vegetation responses across disturbance t
Authors
Juli G. Pausas, R. Brandon Pratt, Jon E. Keeley, Anna L. Jacobsen, Aaron R. Ramirez, Alberto Vilagrosa, Susana Paula, Iolana N. Kanekua-Pia, Stephen D. Davis
Fire activity as a function of fire–weather seasonal severity and antecedent climate across spatial scales in southern Europe and Pacific western USA
Climate has a strong influence on fire activity, varying across time and space. We analyzed the relationships between fire–weather conditions during the main fire season and antecedent water-balance conditions and fires in two Mediterranean-type regions with contrasted management histories: five southern countries of the European Union (EUMED)(all fires); the Pacific western coast of the USA (Cali
Authors
Itziar R. Urbieta, Gonzalo Zavala, Joaquin Bedia, Jose M. Gutierrez, Jesus San Miguel-Ayanz, Andrea Camia, Jon E. Keeley, Jose M. Moreno
Wintering ecology of sympatric subspecies of Sandhill Crane: Correlations between body size, site fidelity, and movement patterns
Body size is known to correlate with many aspects of life history in birds, and this knowledge can be used to manage and conserve bird species. However, few studies have compared the wintering ecology of sympatric subspecies that vary significantly in body size. We used radiotelemetry to examine the relationship between body size and site fidelity, movements, and home range in 2 subspecies of Sand
Authors
Gary L. Ivey, Bruce D. Dugger, Caroline P. Herziger, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes
Deep divergence and structure in the Tropical Oceanic Pacific: a multilocus phylogeography of a widespread gekkonid lizard (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Gehyra oceanica)
Aim
The islands of the Tropical Oceanic Pacific (TOP) host both local radiations and widespread, colonizing species. The few phylogeographical analyses of widespread species often point to recent human-aided expansions through the Pacific, suggesting that the communities are recently assembled. Here we apply multilocus data to infer biogeographical history of the gekkonid lizard, Gehyra oceanica
Authors
Maria A. Tonione, Robert N. Fisher, Catherine Zhu, Craig Moritz
Niche divergence builds the case for ecological speciation in skinks of the Plestiodon skiltonianus species complex
Adaptation to different thermal environments has the potential to cause evolutionary changes that are sufficient to drive ecological speciation. Here, we examine whether climate-based niche divergence in lizards of the Plestiodon skiltonianus species complex is consistent with the outcomes of such a process. Previous work on this group shows that a mechanical sexual barrier has evolved between spe
Authors
Guinevere O.U. Wogan, Jonathan Q. Richmond
Integrating spatially explicit indices of abundance and habitat quality: an applied example for greater sage-grouse management
Predictive species distributional models are a cornerstone of wildlife conservation planning. Constructing such models requires robust underpinning science that integrates formerly disparate data types to achieve effective species management.
Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter “sage-grouse” populations are declining throughout sagebrush-steppe ecosystems in North America,
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Mark A. Ricca, Brianne E. Brussee, Erik J. Blomberg, K. Benjamin Gustafson, Cory T. Overton, Dawn M. Davis, Lara E. Niell, Shawn P. Espinosa, Scott C. Gardner, David J. Delehanty
Habitat selection and survival of pronghorn fawns at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California
On the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM), California, little is
known about survival rates and habitat characteristics of pronghorn fawns
(Antilocapra americana). A marked decline in pronghorn numbers on the
CPNM (from approximately 200 to
Authors
Diego R. Johnson, Kathleen M. Longshore, Chris E. Lowrey, Daniel B. Thompson
Short-term response of Holcus lanatus L. (Common Velvetgrass) to chemical and manual control at Yosemite National Park, USA
One of the highest priority invasive species at both Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks is Holcus lanatus L. (common velvetgrass), a perennial bunchgrass that invades mid-elevation montane meadows. Despite velvetgrass being a high priority species, there is little information available on control techniques. The goal of this project was to evaluate the short-term response of a si
Authors
Laura J. Jones, Steven M. Ostoja, Matthew L. Brooks, Martin Hutten
Realized detection and capture probabilities for giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) using modified floating aquatic funnel traps
Executive Summary
Rigorous analysis and management of animal populations requires that observers account for limitations inherent to the detection of those populations and the individuals within them. Researchers are usually unable to see every individual of a population or to even detect some entire populations. Ignoring this imperfect detectability can bias estimates of population characteristic
Authors
Brian J. Halstead, Shannon M. Skalos, Michael L. Casazza, Glenn D. Wylie
Black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits in the American West: History, ecology, ecological significance, and survey methods
Across the western United States, Leporidae are the most important prey item in the diet of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Leporids inhabiting the western United States include black-tailed (Lepus californicus) and white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) and various species of cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.). Jackrabbits (Lepus spp.) are particularly important components of the ecologi
Authors
Matthew Simes, Kathleen M. Longshore, Kenneth E. Nussear, Greg L. Beatty, David E. Brown, Todd C. Esque
A preliminary investigation of the variables affecting the distribution of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California
Giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) comprise a species of rare, semi-aquatic snake precinctive to the Central Valley of California. Because of the loss of more than 90% of their natural habitat, giant gartersnakes are listed as Threatened by the United States and California endangered species acts. Little is known, however, about the distribution of giant gartersnakes in the Sacramento Valley, w
Authors
Brian J. Halstead, Shannon M. Skalos, Michael L. Casazza, Glenn D. Wylie