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Book Chapters

Browse more than 5,500 book chapters authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

Filter Total Items: 6063

Metadata squared: enhancing its usability for volunteered geographic information and the GeoWeb

The Internet has brought many changes to the way geographic information is created and shared. One aspect that has not changed is metadata. Static spatial data quality descriptions were standardized in the mid-1990s and cannot accommodate the current climate of data creation where nonexperts are using mobile phones and other location-based devices on a continuous basis to contribute data to Intern
Authors
Barbara S. Poore, Eric B. Wolf

Minnesota wolf 2407: a research pioneer

The International Wolf Center has assembled in this book stories from over 30 wolf biologists from throughout North America and Europe. These tales provide a glimpse into the amazing lives of individual wolves, revealing their unique personalities, highlighting their struggles and triumphs, and illustrating the unique influence the individual can have on the survival of its pack and the population
Authors
L. David Mech

Nyamulagira’s magma plumbing system inferred from 15 years of InSAR

Nyamulagira, located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the western branch of the East African rift, is Africa’s most active volcano, with an average of one eruption every 3 years since 1938. Owing to the socio-economical context of that region, the volcano lacks ground-based geodetic measurements but has been monitored by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) since 1996
Authors
Christelle Wauthier, Valérie Cayol, Michael P. Poland, François Kervyn, Nicolas D'Oreye, Andrew Hooper, Sergei Samsonov, Kristy Tiampo, Benoit Smets

Observed ices in the Solar System

Ices have been detected and mapped on the Earth and all planets and/or their satellites further from the sun. Water ice is the most common frozen volatile observed and is also unambiguously detected or inferred in every planet and/or their moon(s) except Venus. Carbon dioxide is also extensively found in all systems beyond the Earth except Pluto although it sometimes appears to be trapped rather t
Authors
Roger N. Clark, Will Grundy, Robert R. Carlson, Keith Noll

On estimating the economic value of insectivorous bats: Prospects and priorities for biologists

Bats are among the most economically important nondomesticated mammals in the world. They are well-known pollinators and seed dispersers, but crop pest suppression is probably the most valuable ecosystem service provided by bats. Scientific literature and popular media often include reports of crop pests in the diet of bats and anecdotal or extrapolated estimates of how many insects are eaten by b
Authors
Justin G. Boyles, Catherine L. Sole, Paul M. Cryan, Gary F. McCracken

Predator-prey relationships and managements

No abstract available.
Authors
Clint W. Boal, Warren B. Ballard

Predicting tamarisk current and future distribution

No abstract available.
Authors
C. S. Jarnevich, P. Evangelista, J. Graham

Re-introduction of Bobcats to Cumberland Island, Georgia, USA: Status and lessons learned after 25 years

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized spotted cat (4 - 18 kg), widely distributed in North America. Bobcats are legally harvestable in most of their range, and are currently classified as Least Concern by IUCN and listed in Appendix II of CITES, due to similarity of appearance with other spotted cat species. Bobcats in the coastal plain region of Georgia, USA, occur at densities of 0.4 - 0.6 p
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, Leslie A. Hansen, Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, Justin H. Bohling, Robert J. Warren, Michael J. Conroy

Re-introduction of tule elk to Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes), a subspecies endemic to California, was historically found in large herds throughout much of central and coastal California. Market hunting during the California Gold Rush decimated these herds, and by 1895, only two to 10 elk remained. This remnant group was protected and served as the source for early relocation efforts (McCullough, 1971). Early efforts were g
Authors
Peter J. Gogan, McCrea A. Cobb, Natalie B. Gates, Reginald H. Barrett

Research strategies for addressing uncertainties

Research Strategies for Addressing Uncertainties builds on descriptions of research needs presented elsewhere in the book; describes current research efforts and the challenges and opportunities to reduce the uncertainties of climate change; explores ways to improve the understanding of changes in climate and hydrology; and emphasizes the use of research to inform decision making.
Authors
David E. Busch, Levi D. Brekke, Kristen Averyt, Angela Jardine, Leigh Welling

Riparian restoration in the context of Tamarix control in the western United States: Chapter 23

This chapter focuses on the restoration of riparian systems in the context of Tamarix control—that is, Tamarix-dominated sites are converted to a replacement vegetation type that achieves specific management goals and helps return parts of the system to a desired and more natural state or dynamic. It reviews research related to restoring native riparian vegetation following tamarix control or remo
Authors
Patrick B. Shafroth, David M. Merritt, Mark K. Briggs, Vanessa B. Beauchamp, Kenneth D. Lair, Michael L. Scott, Anna Sher