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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

Arctic and boreal carbon

This chapter summarizes the current knowledge in high-latitude (mostly permafrost) carbon storage and dynamics. Arctic and boreal regions contain large carbon stock, especially in permafrost soils. The factors that control carbon storage have been changing rapidly over the last several decades. As a result, this large carbon pool is highly vulnerable for carbon loss in a future warming climate. Th
Authors
Ted Schuur, A. David McGuire, Vladimir E. Romanovsky, Christina Schadel, Michelle Mack

Burrowing owls: Happy urbanite or disgruntled tenant?

No abstract available.
Authors
Courtney J. Conway

Assessing historical and projected carbon balance of Alaska: A synthesis of results and policy/management implications

We summarize the results of a recent interagency assessment of land carbon dynamics in Alaska, in which carbon dynamics were estimated for all major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for the historical period (1950–2009) and a projection period (2010–2099). Between 1950 and 2009, upland and wetland (i.e., terrestrial) ecosystems of the state gained 0.4 Tg C/yr (0.1% of net primary production, NPP
Authors
A. David McGuire, Hélène Genet, Zhou Lyu, Neal J. Pastick, Sarah M. Stackpoole, Richard Birdsey, David D'Amore, Yujie He, T. Scott Rupp, Robert G. Striegl, Bruce K. Wylie, Xiaoping Zhou, Qianlai Zhuang, Zhiliang Zhu

Fitness consequences of interspecific nesting associations among cavity-nesting birds

Interspecific aggregations of prey may provide benefits by mitigating predation risk, but they can also create costs if they increase competition for resources or are more easily detectable by predators. Variation in predation risk and resource availability may influence the occurrence and fitness effects of aggregating in nature. Yet tests of such possibilities are lacking. Cavity-nesting birds p
Authors
James C. Mouton, Thomas E. Martin

Intensive sampling reveals underreported use of great-river tributaries by large-river fishes in Missouri

Large tributaries may help sustain large-river fish populations by mitigating fish-habitat losses within the highly modified great rivers of the Mississippi River basin. These tributaries are likely most beneficial for fish species specializing on non-degraded large-river habitat for some portion of their life histories. Few great-river tributaries, however, have been surveyed using methods that c
Authors
Corey G. Dunn, Brandon L. Brooke, Robert A. Hrabik, Craig P. Paukert

Brook Floater rapid assessment monitoring protocol

The Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) is a small (<100 mm), stream dwelling freshwater mussel (Family: Unionidae) from Atlantic Slope drainages in the eastern U.S. (Nedeau 2008). Brook Floater have dramatically contracted in distribution over recent decades, and there is limited evidence of recruitment in most locations, despite minimal effort to document population status (Wicklow et al., 2017
Authors
Sean Sterrett, Allison H. Roy, Peter Hazelton, Brian Watson, Beth Swartz, T. R. Russ, Lisa Holst, Mike Marchand, Jason Wisniewski, Matt Ashton, Barry Wicklow

Hybridization and genetic structure of Neosho Smallmouth Bass in the Ozark Highlands

The Neosho Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu velox is endemic to Arkansas River tributaries originating in the Ozark Highlands and Boston Mountains. Although morphologically and genetically distinct from other populations of Smallmouth Bass M. dolomieu, the conservation‐genetic status of Neosho Smallmouth Bass is largely unknown. To assist in filling this data gap, we quantified introgressive h
Authors
A. T. Taylor, James M. Long, M. R. Schwemm, Shannon K. Brewer

Incorporating detection probability to estimate pheasant density

ndices of abundance, such as point counts, commonly are used to monitor trends in bird populations. In some circumstances, however, an index of abundance provides insufficient information for making management decisions and accurate density estimates are necessary. Wild ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were translocated to 10 study areas in Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2014 with the goal o
Authors
Lacey T. Williamson, W. David Walter, Scott R. Klinger, Duane R. Diefenbach

Interactive effects of severe drought and grazing on the life history cycle of a bioindicator species on the edge of its range

Recurring drought and grazing are ecological drivers of semi-arid grasslands on the Southern High Plains, USA; however, ecological drivers are currently undergoing human-induced alterations, which likely have implications for wildlife. We used the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), an iconic grouse species that exhibits a boom-bust life history strategy, on the Southern High Plai
Authors
David A. Haukos, Clint W. Boal, S. R. Fritts1, B. A. Grisham1, R. D. Cox1, P. McDaniel4, C. A. Hagen, D. U. Greene6

Post-fledging survival of Adélie Penguins at multiple colonies: chicks raised on fish do well

We assessed whether the mass of Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae fledglings at 3 colonies of markedly disparate size on Ross Island, Ross Sea, correlated with their eventual return as subadults. We compared our results with those from Anvers Island, Bellingshausen Sea. Colony sizes at Ross Island have been increasing, contrary to decreasing size at Anvers Island. At Ross Island, during the month
Authors
David G. Ainley, Katie Dugger, Mario La Mesa, Grant Ballard, Kerry J. Barton, Scott Jennings, Brian J. Karl, Amelie Lescroël, Phil O’B. Lyver, Annie Schmid, Peter Wilson

Long-term spotlight surveys of American alligators in Mississippi, USA

Accurate population estimates and assessments of trajectory are an essential part of harvest management for game species and conservation action plans for protected species. Long-term monitoring can lead to ecological understanding by identifying biotic and abiotic drivers of population dynamics. Spotlight surveys are a widely used method to monitor abundance and size-class structure of crocodilia
Authors
Bradley A. Strickland, Francisco Vilella, Ricky D. Flynt

What is the value of wild bee pollination for wild blueberries and cranberries, and who values it?

Pollinator conservation efforts and growing interest in wild bee pollination have increased markedly in the last decade, making it increasingly important to have clear and practical estimates of the value of pollinators to agriculture. We used agricultural statistics, socio-economic producer surveys, and agronomic field research data to estimate traditional pollination value metrics and create nov
Authors
Aaron K. Hoshide, Francis A. Drummond, Thomas H. Stevens, Eric M. Venturini, Samuel P. Hanes, Martha M. Sylvia, Cynthia S. Loftin, David E. Yarborough, Anne L. Averill