Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16785
Traffic effects on bird counts on North American Breeding Bird Survey routes
The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is an annual roadside survey used to estimate population change in >420 species of birds that breed in North America. Roadside sampling has been criticized, in part because traffic noise can interfere with bird counts. Since 1997, data have been collected on the numbers of vehicles that pass during counts at each stop. We assessed the effect of traffic
Authors
Emily H. Griffith, John R. Sauer, J. Andrew Royle
Two new species of shrews (Soricidae) from the western highlands of Guatemala
The broad-clawed shrews (Soricomorpha: Soricidae: Cryptotis) encompass a clade of 5 species—Cryptotis alticolus (Merriam), C. goldmani (Merriam), C. goodwini Jackson, C. griseoventris Jackson, and C. peregrinus (Merriam)—that is known collectively as the Cryptotis goldmani group and is characterized by broadened forefeet, elongated and broadened fore claws, and broadened humeri. These shrews are d
Authors
Neal Woodman
An integrated sampling and analysis approach for improved biodiversity monitoring
Successful biodiversity conservation requires high quality monitoring data and analyses to ensure scientifically defensible policy, legislation, and management. Although monitoring is a critical component in assessing population status and trends, many governmental and non-governmental organizations struggle to develop and implement effective sampling protocols and statistical analyses because of
Authors
Amielle A. DeWan, Elise F. Zipkin
The national assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts
Sandy ocean beaches are a popular recreational destination, often surrounded by communities containing valuable real estate. Development is on the rise despite the fact that coastal infrastructure is subjected to flooding and erosion. As a result, there is an increased demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Assessment of
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Cheryl Hapke, E. Robert Thieler, Jeffrey List
Hydrostratigraphy, soil/sediment chemistry, and water quality, Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system, Puchack Well Field Superfund site and vicinity, Pennsauken Township, Camden County, New Jersey, 1997-2001
Drinking-water supplies from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system at the Puchack well field in Pennsauken Township, Camden County, New Jersey, have been contaminated by hexavalent chromium-the most toxic and mobile form-at concentrations exceeding the New Jersey maximum contaminant level of 100 micrograms per liter. Also, scattered but widespread instances of volatile organic compounds (prim
Authors
Julia L. Barringer, Richard L. Walker, Eric Jacobsen, Pamela Jankowski
Global mineral resource assessment
Introduction
In response to the growing demand for information on the global mineral-resource base, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting the Quantitative Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project (GMRAP), a cooperative international project, begun in 2002, to assess the world's undiscovered nonfuel mineral resources.
Primary Objectives
The USGS conducts national and global assessments
Whooping crane titers in response to eastern equine encephalitis immunization
No abstract available.
Authors
Glenn H. Olsen
On the road again for a bird survey that counts
No abstract available.
Authors
Dave Ziolkowski, Keith Pardieck, John R. Sauer
Molecular phylogeny of the spoonbills (Aves: Threskiornithidae) based on mitochondrial DNA
Spoonbills (genus Platalea) are a small group of wading birds, generally considered to constitute the subfamily Plataleinae (Aves: Threskiornithidae). We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships among the six species of spoonbills using variation in sequences of the mitochondrial genes ND2 and cytochrome b (total 1796 bp). Topologies of phylogenetic trees reconstructed using maximum likelihood, ma
Authors
R. Terry Chesser, Carol K.L. Yeung, Cheng-Te Yao, Xiu-Hua Tian, Shou-Hsien Li
Models for inference in dynamic metacommunity systems
A variety of processes are thought to be involved in the formation and dynamics of species assemblages. For example, various metacommunity theories are based on differences in the relative contributions of dispersal of species among local communities and interactions of species within local communities. Interestingly, metacommunity theories continue to be advanced without much empirical validation
Authors
Robert M. Dorazio, Marc Kery, J. Andrew Royle, Matthias Plattner
Estimation of selected seasonal streamflow statistics representative of 1930–2002 in West Virginia
Regional equations and procedures were developed for estimating seasonal 1-day 10-year, 7-day 10-year, and 30-day 5-year hydrologically based low-flow frequency values for unregulated streams in West Virginia. Regional equations and procedures also were developed for estimating the seasonal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency harmonic-mean flows and the 50-percent flow-duration values. The season
Authors
Jeffrey B. Wiley, John T. Atkins
Coastal vulnerability assessment of the Northern Gulf of Mexico to sea-level rise and coastal change
A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) was used to map the relative vulnerability of the coast to future sea-level rise along the Northern Gulf of Mexico from Galveston, TX, to Panama City, FL. The CVI ranks the following in terms of their physical contribution to sea-level rise-related coastal change: geomorphology, regional coastal slope, rate of relative sea-level rise, historical shoreline change
Authors
E.A. Pendleton, J.A. Barras, S.J. Williams, D. C. Twichell