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Publications

Publications from USGS science centers throughout the Southeast Region.

Filter Total Items: 9969

Macrobenthic infaunal communities associated with deep‐sea hydrocarbon seeps in the northern Gulf of Mexico

There are thousands of seeps in the deep ocean worldwide; however, many questions remain about their contributions to global biodiversity and the surrounding deep‐sea environment. In addition to being globally distributed, seeps provide several benefits to humans such as unique habitats, organisms with novel genes, and carbon regulation. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are
Authors
Travis W. Washburn, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Paul A. Montagna

Assessment of water resources in areas that affect the habitat of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly in the Lower Des Plaines River Valley, Illinois

Review of previous investigations indicates that potential decreases in groundwater recharge and increased groundwater extraction in the vicinity of the Lower Des Plaines River Valley in Will County, Illinois, may reduce the amount of groundwater flow in the Silurian aquifer in this area. Groundwater discharge from the Silurian aquifer to wetlands in the Lower Des Plaines River Valley plays an imp
Authors
Robert T. Kay, Amy M. Gahala, Clinton Bailey

A novel technique for isolating DNA from Tempus™ blood RNA tubes after RNA isolation

ObjectiveWe use Tempus blood RNA tubes (Applied Biosystems) during health assessments of American moose (Alces alces spp.) as a minimally invasive means to obtain RNA. Here we describe a novel protocol to additionally isolate high-quality DNA from the supernatant remaining after the RNA isolation methodology. Metrics used to qualify DNA quality included measuring the concentration, obtaining a DNA
Authors
Jason A. Ferrante, Michelle R. Giles, Emily Benzie, Margaret Hunter

The confluences of ideas leading to, and the flow of ideas emerging from, individual-based modeling of riverine fishes

In this review article, we trace the history of events leading to the development of individual-based models (IBMs) to represent aquatic organisms in rivers and streams. As a metaphor, we present this history as a series of confluences between individual scientists (tributaries) sharing ideas. We describe contributions of these models to science and management. One iconic feature of river IBMs is
Authors
Henriette I. Jager, Donald L. DeAngelis

Growth stress response to sea level rise in species with contrasting functional traits: A case study in tidal freshwater forested wetlands

With rising sea levels, mortality of glycophytes can be caused by water and nutrient stress under increasing salinity. However, the relative effects of these two stressors may vary by species-specific functional traits. For example, deciduous species, with leaves typically emerging during low salinity periods of the year, may suffer less from water stress than evergreen species. We sampled two woo
Authors
Lu Zhai, Ken W. Krauss, Xin Liu, Jamie A. Duberstein, William H. Conner, Donald L. DeAngelis, Leonel d.S.L Sternberg

Salinity tolerance among three freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from Gulf Coastal Plain drainages

An important physiological constraint influencing distributions of coastal freshwater organisms is their tolerance for saline conditions. We experimentally evaluated salinity tolerance for three freshwater mussel species (Utterbackia imbecillis, Elliptio jayensis, and Glebula rotundata). Mussels were transferred abruptly from well water to one of five treatments (0 [control], 6, 12, 18 or 24 parts
Authors
Nathan A. Johnson, Pamela J. Schofield, James D. Williams, James D. Austin

Next‐generation conservation genetics and biodiversity monitoring

This special issue of Evolutionary Applications consists of 10 publications investigating the use of next‐generation tools and techniques in population genetic analyses and biodiversity assessment. The special issue stems from a 2016 Next Generation Genetic Monitoring Workshop, hosted by the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) in Tennessee, USA. The improved acce
Authors
Margaret E. Hunter, Sean M. Hoban, Michael W. Bruford, Gernot Segelbacher, Louis Bernatchez

Nymphoides humboldtiana (Menyanthaceae) in Florida (U.S.A.) verified by DNA data

Certain Nymphoides populations in Florida, U.S.A., previously identified as the non-native N. indica (L.) Kuntze, are actually N. humboldtiana (Kunth) Kuntze, as verified using nuclear and plastid DNA data. These new records of N. humboldtiana in Florida are the only known localities in the U.S.A. outside of Uvalde County, Texas. Nymphoides humboldtiana is native to Texas, México, the Caribbean, a
Authors
Beth A. Middleton, Evelyn R. Anemaet, Tracy Elsey Quirk, Nicholas P. Tippery

Dynamic modeling of barrier island response to hurricane storm surge under future sea level rise

Sea level rise (SLR) has the potential to exacerbate the impacts of extreme storm events on the coastal landscape. This study examines the coupled interactions of SLR on storm-driven hydrodynamics and barrier island morphology. A numerical model is used to simulate the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic impacts of two Gulf of Mexico hurricanes under present-day and future sea levels. SLR increased sur
Authors
Davina Passeri, Matthew V. Bilskie, Nathaniel G. Plant, Joseph W. Long, Scott C. Hagen

Flow hydraulics and mixing characteristics in and downstream from Brandon Road Lock, Joliet, Illinois

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River near Joliet, Illinois, has been identified for potential implementation of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) control measures. To provide additional information concerning the flow hydraulics and mixing characteristics of the lock and downstream approach channel, the U.S. Geological Survey performed a detailed study of the site between December 2
Authors
Frank L. Engel, P. Ryan Jackson, Elizabeth A. Murphy

Everglades Invasive Reptile and Amphibian Monitoring Program

The Everglades Invasive Reptile and Amphibian Monitoring Program (EIRAMP) provides a scientific framework for integrated EDRR, outreach, and monitoring for invasive wildlife in South Florida. EIRAMP also monitors native reptiles, amphibians and mammals to assess impacts of invasive species. South Florida has more nonnative species of reptiles and amphibians than anywhere else in the world. Some o
Authors
Rebecca G. Harvey, Mike Rochford, Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles, Edward Metzger, Jennifer Nestler, Frank J. Mazzotti

Mississippi Delta: Chapter G in Emergent wetlands status and trends in the northern Gulf of Mexico: 1950-2010

The Mississippi River Delta, the tip of the longest river in North America, is located in the coastal plains of southeastern Louisiana. The study area included in the Mississippi River Delta vignette of southeastern Louisiana follows the Mississippi River southward from Port Sulphur within the modern Plaquemines-Balize Delta lobe (Figure 1). It extends eastward through Long Bay into California Bay
Authors
Lawrence Handley, Kathryn A. Spear, Mirka Zapletal, Cindy A. Thatcher, William R. Jones, Scott A. Wilson