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Publications

Browse publications authored by our scientists.  Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more. **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Filter Total Items: 4348

Structural and functional landscape connectivity for lesser prairie-chickens in the Sand Shinnery Oak Prairie Ecoregion

The lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is a species of conservation concern on the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico, USA. Because fragmentation and isolation have increased since pre-settlement, dispersal through this heterogeneous landscape may be constrained, with serious implications for conservation and management of this species. Our objectives were to quantify la
Authors
L.J. Schilder, L.J. Heintzman, N.E. Mcintyre, S. Harryman, C.A. Hagen, R. E. Martin, Clint W. Boal, B.A. Grisham

Climatic drivers and ecological impacts of a rapid range expansion by non-native smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are a globally introduced fish species that have experienced widespread range expansions in recent decades and which can have deleterious effects on native fish communities. Rapidly assessing their expansions will aid conservation and management actions geared towards controlling their spread and mitigating their impacts. Smallmouth bass have recently experie
Authors
Mark A. Kirk, Bryan M. Maitland, Brian T. Hickerson, Annika W. Walters, Frank J. Rahel

Matching of resource use and investment according to waterbody size in recreational fisheries

The size of an ecosystem affects ecological interactions, but less is known about how ecosystem size may affect social interactions. We posit that ecosystem size could serve as a basis for understanding and contextualizing social interactions, connecting how ecosystem size influences natural resource investment decisions and the use of ecosystem services. We leverage international (Canada, Czech R
Authors
M.A. Kaemingk, R. Arlinghaus, M.H. Birdsong, C.J. Chizinski, R. Lyach, K.L. Wilson, Kevin L. Pope

Agent-based modeling of movements and habitat selection by mid-continent mallards

We found that the absence of existing conservation measures would reduce wintering mallard population size by ~70-80%, underlining the importance of current wetland easements for waterfowl foraging. Under standard conditions, the partial active flooding of easements later in the season and the upgrading of unmanaged wetlands to managed status resulted in greatest mallard populations, indicating th
Authors
Florian G. Weller, Elisabeth B. Webb, William S. Beatty, Sean Fogenburg, Dylan Kesler, Robert H. Blenk, John M. Eadie, Kevin Ringelman, Matt L. Miller

Density-dependent processes and population dynamics of native sculpin in a mountain river

Understanding the processes governing population dynamics is important for effective conservation and environmental management. Disentangling the relative role of density-dependent versus density-independent processes on population dynamics is often made difficult by the inability to control for abiotic or biotic factors, but long-term datasets are invaluable in this pursuit. We used a 14-year dat
Authors
Casey A. Pennock, Gary P. Thiede, Phaedra E. Budy

Why let the dogs out? Exploring variables associated with dog confinement and general characteristics of the free-ranging owned-dog population in a peri-urban area

Free-ranging dogs (FRDs), are a problem in several countries, with impacts on humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, although increasing evidence suggests that most FRDs are owned. Therefore, understanding dog ownership on a fine scale is critical. The main objectives of this study were to explore dog management in rural localities from central Chile focusing on modeling owner-related variables a
Authors
Francisca Astorga, Daniela Alejandra Poo-Muñoz, John F. Organ, Gonzalo Medina-Vogel

Novel circoviruses detected in feces of Sonoran felids

Sonoran felids are threatened by drought and habitat fragmentation. Vector range expansion and anthropogenic factors such as habitat encroachment and climate change are altering viral evolutionary dynamics and exposure. However, little is known about the diversity of viruses present in these populations. Small felid populations with lower genetic diversity are likely to be most threatened with ext
Authors
Natalie Payne, Simona Kraberger, Rafaela S. Fontenele, Kara Schmidlin, Melissa H. Bergeman, Ivonne Cassaigne, Melanie Culver, Arvind Varsani, Koenraad Van Doorslaer

Extending body condition scoring beyond measurable rump fat to estimate full range of nutritional condition for moose

Moose (Alces alces) populations along the southern extent of their range are largely declining, and there is growing evidence that nutritional condition — which influences several vital rates – is a contributing factor. Moose body condition can presently be estimated only when there is measurable subcutaneous rump fat, which equates to animals with >6% ingesta-free body fat (IFBFat). There is need
Authors
Rebecca L. Levine, Rachel A. Smiley, Brett R. Jesmer, Brendan A. Oates, Jacob R. Goheen, Thomas R. Stephenson, Matthew Kauffman, Gary L. Fralick, Kevin L. Monteith

How shall we meet? Embracing the opportunities of virtual conferencing

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic triggered dramatic shifts in the way that ecologists teach, research, and interact (e.g., Cooke et al. 2021). As the world now adjusts to a “new normal” era, there is notable and open discussion about the merits or desire to return to practices used prior to the pandemic (e.g., Roulson 2021). A dominant aspect of these discussions is when and how researchers can
Authors
Robert J. Rolls, Jane Rogosch, Lauren M. Kuehne

Homeowners’ willingness to adopt environmentally beneficial landscape practices in an urbanizing watershed

Streams in urbanizing watersheds often experience low flows in summer due to increased water use for residential landscaping and decreased base flow as impervious land cover limits aquifer recharge. Environmentally beneficial landscape practices that save water and infiltrate runoff have the potential to provide multiple ecological benefits including reducing stress on urban streams, but can face
Authors
Johanna Stacy, Robert L. Ryan, Allison H. Roy, Anita Milman

Secretive marsh bird habitat associations in the Mississippi Flyway: A meta-analysis

Secretive marsh birds, including rails and bitterns, have experienced widespread population declines due to the loss of wetland habitat on which they depend. Because of their cryptic behavior, secretive marsh birds are challenging to study and information on their habitat requirements is limited, especially across the full annual cycle. Quantifying habitat associations throughout the annual cycle
Authors
K.M. Malone, Elisabeth B. Webb, D. Mengel, L. Kearns, S.W. Matteson, A.E. McKellar
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