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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

Seabirds

No abstract available.
Authors
Patrick Jodice, Evan Adams, Juliet S. Lamb, Yvan Satgé, Jeffrey S. Gleason

Predicting paleoclimate from compositional data using multivariate Gaussian process inverse prediction

Multivariate compositional count data arise in many applications including ecology, microbiology, genetics and paleoclimate. A frequent question in the analysis of multivariate compositional count data is what underlying values of a covariate(s) give rise to the observed composition. Learning the relationship between covariates and the compositional count allows for inverse prediction of unobserve
Authors
John R. Tipton, Mevin Hooten, Connor Nolan, Robert K. Booth, Jason McLachlan

Population characteristics and the potential suppression of common carp in Lake Spokane, Washington

Common Carp Cyprinus carpio is a nonnative species that often has deleterious effects on aquatic systems. As such, there is interest in suppressing nonnative Common Carp populations in areas where humans have introduced them. The objectives of this study were to 1) provide insight on efficient techniques for capturing Common Carp, 2) describe their population demographics and dynamics, 3) evaluate
Authors
Stacey Feeken, Zachary B. Klein, Michael C. Quist, Ned Horner

Predicting wildlife distribution patterns in New England USA with expert elicitation techniques

Understanding the impacts of landscape change on species distributions can help inform decision-making and conservation planning. Unfortunately, empirical data that span large spatial extents across multiple taxa are limited. In this study, we used expert elicitation techniques to develop species distribution models (SDMs) for harvested wildlife species (n = 10) in the New England region of the no
Authors
Schuyler B. Pearman-Gillman, Jonathan E. Katz, Ruth M. Mickey, James D. Murdoch, Therese M. Donovan

Public access for pheasant hunters: Understanding an emerging need

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus; i.e., pheasant) hunting participation is declining across North America, reflecting a larger downward trend in American hunting participation and threatening benefits to grassland conservation and rural economies. To stabilize and expand the pheasant hunting population, we must first identify factors that influence pheasant hunter participation. We used a
Authors
L.S. Wszola, A.L. Madsen, E.F. Stuber, Christopher J. Chizinski, J.J. Lusk, J.S. Taylor, Kevin L. Pope, Joseph J. Fontaine

Social status, forest disturbance, and Barred Owls shape long-term trends in breeding dispersal distance of Northern Spotted Owls

Dispersal among breeding sites in territorial animals (i.e. breeding dispersal) is driven by numerous selection pressures, including competition and spatiotemporal variation in habitat quality. The scale and trend of dispersal movements over time may signal changing conditions within the population or on the landscape. We examined 2,158 breeding dispersal events from 694 male and 608 female indivi
Authors
Julianna M. A. Jenkins, Damon B. Lesmeister, Eric D. Forsman, Steven H. Ackers, Katie Dugger, L. Steven Andrews, Chris E. McCafferty, M. Shane Pruett, Janice A. Reid, Stan G. Sovern, Rob B. Horn, Scott A. Gremel, David Wiens, Zhiqiang Yang

Energetic status of Alaskan Chinook Salmon: Interpopulation comparisons and predictive modeling using bioelectrical impedance analysis

Adult Pacific Salmon Oncorhynchus spp. undertake energetically demanding migrations wherein they must have adequate energy reserves to survive to spawning locations and reproduce. Proximate analysis provides insight into available energy stores (e.g., lipids), but the ability to non-lethally monitor energetic status may be useful for managers to better understand how energetic status affects salmo
Authors
Kristin R. Courtney, Jeffrey A. Falke, M. Keith Cox, Jeff Nichols

Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass

Seasonal and life stage variation in microhabitat use is an important driver of fish survival and bioenergetics, but knowledge of microhabitat selection during colder periods is generally lacking in warmwater streams. Our objective was to examine changes in microhabitat selection by age‐0 (TL ≤ 85 mm) and age‐1+ (TL > 85 mm) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu from autumn to winter in streams of
Authors
S. L. Wolf, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer

Salinity and water clarity dictate seasonal variability in coastal submerged aquatic vegetation in subtropical estuarine environments

Spatial and temporal variability characterize submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) assemblages, but understanding the complex interactions of environmental drivers of SAV assemblages remains elusive. We documented SAV composition and biomass across a salinity gradient in a coastal estuary over 12 mo. Ten macrophyte species were identified. The dominant species, Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllu
Authors
Eva R. Hillmann, Kristin DeMarco, Megan K. La Peyre

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) movement and survival after removal of two dams on the West Branch of the Wolf River, Wisconsin

Dam removals allow fish to access habitats that may provide ecological benefits and risks, but the extent of fish movements through former dam sites has not been thoroughly evaluated for many species. We installed stationary PIT antennas in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate movements and survival of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the West Branch of the Wolf River (WBWR) in central Wisconsin followin
Authors
Emma G. Easterly, Daniel A. Isermann, Joshua K. Raabe, Joshua W. Pyatskowit

Potential threats facing a globally important population of the magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Tracking of seabirds has been used to identify foraging hotspots, migratory routes and to assess at-sea threats facing populations. One such threat is the potential negative interaction between seabirds and fisheries through incidental by-catch. In 2012, 60 magnificent frigatebirds Fregata magnificens were found dead, entangled in fishing line, at the globally important breeding site in the Britis
Authors
S. Zaluski, L.M. Soanes, J.A. Bright, A. Georges, Patrick G.R. Jodice, K. Meyer, Woodfield- Pascoe N., J.A Green

Nonlinear patterns in mercury bioaccumulation in American alligators are a function of predicted age

Mercury is a widespread, naturally occurring contaminant that biomagnifies in wetlands due to the methylation of this element by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Species that feed at the top trophic level within wetlands are predicted to have higher mercury loads compared to species feeding at lower trophic levels and are therefore often used for mercury biomonitoring. However, mechanisms for mercury bi
Authors
A.J. Lawson, Clinton T. Moore, T.R. Rainwater, F.M. Nilsen, P.M. Wilkinson, R.H. Lowers, L.J. Jr Guillett, Katherine W. McFadden, Patrick G.R. Jodice