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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: 3984

The dilemma of pest suppression in the conservation of endangered species

In the conservation of endangered species, active suppression of a population of one native species to benefit another native species poses particular challenges. Obvious examples include predator control and nest parasite reduction. Less obvious is the control of blood-feeding arthropods. We present a case study on the effect of blood-feeding black flies (Simulium spp.) on reintroduced Whooping C
Authors
Peter H. Adler, Jeb A. Barzen, Elmer Gray, Anne E Lacy, Richard P. Urbanek, Sarah J. Converse

Low survey response! Can I still use the data?

Natural resource agencies often use mail surveys to collect stakeholder information. However, a major concern of mail surveys have long been relatively low response rates compared to telephone or face-to-face interviews. Survey research has largely focused on achieving high response rates; however, in some situations even well designed surveys can have low response rates. We present an example of
Authors
Larry M. Gigliotti, Seth Fompa

Patterns in fish assemblage structure in a small western stream

Knowledge of how patterns in fish assemblages are spatially structured is important for guiding management and conservation actions. However, most studies have taken place in the eastern and midwestern U.S., resulting in a poor understanding of factors influencing western stream fishes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate habitat and species associations of fishes in Deep Creek, a small
Authors
Michael Quist, Zachary S. Beard, Ryan S. Hardy, Tyler J. Ross

Submerged aquatic vegetation mapping in coastal Louisiana through development of a spatial likelihood occurrence (SLOO) model

Determining the spatial distribution of coastal foundation species is essential to accurately determine restoration goals, predict the ecological effects of climate change, and develop habitat management strategies. Mapping the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species assemblages, which provide important habitat resource and ecological services in Louisiana, has been difficult du
Authors
Kristin DeMarco, Brady Couvillion, Stuart Brown, Megan La Peyre

Functional attributes of ungulate migration: Landscape features facilitate movement and access to forage

Long‐distance migration by terrestrial mammals is a phenomenon critical to the persistence of populations, but such migrations are declining globally because of over‐harvest, habitat loss, and movement barriers. Increasingly, there is a need to improve existing routes, mitigate route segments affected by anthropogenic disturbance, and in some instances, determine whether alternative routes are ava
Authors
Kevin L. Monteith, Matthew M. Hayes, Matthew Kauffman, Holly Copeland, Hall Sawyer

Prevalence of three-chick nests in Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae at Cape Crozier, Ross Island

In 2017/18, we recorded multiple instances of Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae nests containing three chicks at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, Antarctica. In one sub-colony, 0.67 % of nests had three chicks, or two chicks and one egg. We found that some Adelie Penguin pairs were willing to brood three chicks, as well as chicks that were not their own. Many factors could lead to supra-normal clutches
Authors
Virginia Morandini, Amelie Lescröel, Dennis Jongsomjit, Suzanne Winquist, Annie Schmidt, Grant Ballard, Peter Kappes, Katie Dugger

Efficacy of a passive use-estimation system for estimating fishing effort on a multi-lake fishery

No abstract available.
Authors
Hunter J. Roop, Neelam C. Poudyal, Cecil A. Jennings

Diet and condition of age‐0 Scaphirhynchus Sturgeon: Implications for shallow‐water habitat restoration

Insufficient food during early life could limit the population growth of endangered Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus in the lower Missouri River. Shallow‐water habitat restoration is intended to provide nursery benefits, including food, for young sturgeon, but the effect of shallow‐water habitat on their diet is unknown. Age‐0 Pallid Sturgeon are rare, providing little opportunity for direct e
Authors
A. P. Civiello, N. J. C. Gosch, T. R. Gemeinhardt, M. L. Miller, J. L. Bonneau, Kimberly Chojnacki, Aaron J. Delonay, James M. Long

Microhabitat use of native fishes in the Kootenai River: A fine‐scale evaluation of large‐scale habitat rehabilitation efforts

Fish and microhabitat data were collected at 542 prepositioned electrofishing sites (surface area of each site = 4 m2) in the Kootenai River, Idaho, during 2014 and 2015 to evaluate small‐scale habitat use by fishes, as it relates to large‐scale habitat rehabilitation efforts. Samples were collected from a 12‐km braided segment of river that had received localized habitat rehabilitation treatments
Authors
Philip R. Branigan, Michael C. Quist, Bradley B. Shepard, Susan C. Ireland

Effects of large-scale wetland loss on network connectivity of the Rainwater Basin, Nebraska

ContextThe Rainwater Basin region in south-central Nebraska supports a complex network of spatially-isolated wetlands that harbor diverse floral and faunal communities. Since European settlement, many wetlands have been lost from the network, which has increased distances among remaining wetlands. As a result, populations of wildlife species with limited dispersal capabilities may have become isol
Authors
Bram H. F. Verheijen, Dana M. Varner, David A. Haukos

Artelle et al. (2018) miss the science underlying North American wildlife management

Artelle et al. (2018) conclude that “hallmarks of science” are largely missing from North American wildlife management based on a desk review of selected hunting management plans and related documents found through Internet searches and email requests to state and provincial wildlife agencies. We highlight three fundamental problems that compromise the validity of the conclusions posited: missing
Authors
Jonathan R. Mawdsley, John F. Organ, Daniel J. Decker, Ann Forstchen, Ronald J. Regan, Shawn J. Riley, Mark S. Boyce, John E. Mcdonald, Chris Dwyer, Shane P. Mahoney

Relationships between landscape constraints and a crayfish assemblage with consideration of competitor presence

AimCrayfish are globally diverse and one of the most important taxa in North American streams. Despite their importance, many species are of conservation concern and efforts to improve conditions are limited. Here, we address two major impediments to improving conditions: (a) our lack of knowledge of the interplay among natural landscape and human-induced changes; and (b) a very limited understand
Authors
J.B. Mouser, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer