Total shortening estimates across the western Greater Caucasus Mountains from balanced cross sections and area balancing
Charles Cashman Trexler, Eric S. Cowgill, Dylan A Vasey, Nathan A. Niemi
2023, Tektonika (1) 198-208
The Greater Caucasus orogen forms the northern edge of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone. Although the orogen has long been assumed to exhibit dominantly thick-skinned style deformation via reactivation of high-angle extensional faults, recent work suggests the range may have accommodated several hundred kilometers or more of shortening...
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Jill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Travis L. Wooten, Betty R. Euliss
2023, Professional Paper 1842-LL
Keys to Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) management are providing large areas of suitable habitat (for example, native or tame grasslands of moderate vegetative height and density, low shrub density, and moderate litter and forb cover), and protecting nesting habitat from disturbance during the breeding season. Bobolinks have been reported to use...
Preliminary geologic map of the Southern Santa Rosa Mountains and Borrego Badlands, San Diego County, Southern California
Jarg R. Pettinga, Stephanie L. Dudash, Pamela M. Cossette
2023, Open-File Report 2023-1076
This investigation delineates the geologic framework of an area of 75 square kilometers (km2) located west of the Salton Sea in southern California (fig. 1, on sheet 1). The study area encompasses the south flank of the Santa Rosa Mountains and the eastern part of the Borrego Badlands (sheet 1)....
Your land, your water—Using research to guide conservation practices on local farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
James S. Webber, John W. Clune, Alexander M. Soroka, Kenneth Hyer
2023, Fact Sheet 2023-3050
Agricultural lands are an important part of the economy and heritage of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are a focus of conservation activities. Streams and rivers around farms provide communities with drinking water and recreational opportunities, but these local benefits can be impaired by elevated nutrient and sediment concentrations. Compared...
Influence of a guide net on the presence and behavior of fish near the selective water withdrawal structure in Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon, 2022
Collin D. Smith, Tyson W. Hatton
2023, Open-File Report 2023-1090
Imaging sonar was used to assess the influence of a fish guidance net, installed at the entrances to the selective water withdrawal (SWW) intake structure, in the forebay of Round Butte Dam, Oregon, on behavior, abundance, and timing of fish during the spring of 2022. The purposes of the SWW...
An amplicon genotyping panel suitable for species identification and population genetics in sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus)
Jared Joseph Homola, Wesley A. Larson, Paul Albosta
2023, Conservation Genetics Resources (16) 103-110
Sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus) are closely related North American fish species that are often managed by fishery agencies throughout their ranges. However, genotyping resources for sauger are presently limited to a small set of microsatellite loci. We evaluated whether primers in an existing walleye genotyping-in-thousands panel could...
Examining the complex relations between climate and streamflow in the mid-atlantic region of the United States
Karen C. Rice, Christopher A. Mason, Aaron L. Mills
2023, Environmental Research Communications (5)
We explored the complex relations between climate and streamflow in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. In 124 watersheds across this region, we quantified spatial and temporal variation in air temperature (AT), precipitation (P), and streamflow (Q) from 1981 through 2020. Upward directional trends in monthly...
Using a coupled integral projection model to investigate interspecific competition during an invasion: An application to silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)
James P Peirce, Gregory Sandland, David Schumann, Hannah Mann Thompson, Richard A. Erickson
2023, Letters in Biomathematics (10) 175-184
As a generalization of stage-based matrix models, integral projection models (IPMs) have been used to describe the size-based dynamics of wildlife and fisheries populations. Although some matrix models have explicitly included species interactions, few IPMs have expanded beyond single species, which limits their ability to describe the competitive dynamics of co-occuring...
Two-dimensional inverse energy cascade in a laboratory surf zone for varying wave directional spread
Christine Baker, Melissa Moulton, C Chris Chickadel, Emma Nuss, Margaret L. Palmsten, Katherine L. Brodie
2023, Physics of Fluids (35)
Surfzone eddies enhance the dispersion and transport of contaminants, bacteria, and larvae across the nearshore, altering coastal water quality and ecosystem health. During directionally spread wave conditions, vertical vortices (horizontal eddies) are injected near the ends of breaking crests. Energy associated with these eddies may be transferred to larger-scale, low-frequency...
Applying intrinsic potential models to evaluate salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) introduction into main-stem and tributary habitats upstream from the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, northern Washington
Jeffrey J. Duda, Jill M. Hardiman
2023, Open-File Report 2023-1077
We assessed habitat suitability for salmonids across selected tributaries upstream from three hydroelectric dams on the upper Skagit River in Whatcom County, northern Washington. We used NetMap, a commercial toolset within the ArcMap geographic information system (GIS), to analyze stream attributes based upon a synthetic stream channel network derived from...
The context dependency of fish-habitat associations in separated karst ecoregions
Dusty A. Swedberg, Robert M. Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer
2023, Ecology and Evolution (13)
Fish populations may be isolated via natural conditions in geographically separated ecoregions. Although reconnecting these populations is not a management goal, we need to understand how these populations persist across landscapes to develop meaningful conservation actions, particularly for species occupying sensitive karst ecosystems. Our study objective was to determine the...
Forage senescence and disease influence elk pregnancy across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Owen R. Bidder, Thomas Connor, Juan M. Morales, Gregory J.M. Rickbeil, Jerod A. Merkle, Rebecca K. Fuda, Jared D. Rogerson, Brandon M. Scurlock, William H Edwards, Eric K. Cole, Douglas E. McWhirter, Alyson B. Courtemanch, Sarah Dewey, Matthew Kauffman, Daniel R. MacNulty, Johan T. du Toit, Daniel R. Stahler, Arthur D. Middleton
2023, Ecosphere (14)
For various temperate ungulate species, recent research has highlighted the potential for spring vegetation phenology (“green-up”) to influence individual condition, with purported benefits to population productivity. However, few studies have been able to measure the benefit on vital rates directly, and fewer still have investigated the comparative influence of other...
Bayesian hierarchical modeling for probabilistic estimation of tsunami amplitude from far-field earthquake sources
Georgios Boumis, Eric L. Geist, Danhyang Lee
2023, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans (128)
Evaluation of tsunami disaster risk for a coastal region requires reliable estimation of tsunami hazard, for example, wave amplitude close to the shore. Observed tsunami data are scarce and have poor spatial coverage, and for this reason probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis (PTHA) traditionally relies on numerical simulation...
Backpack satellite transmitters reduce survival but not nesting propensity or success of greater sage-grouse
Bryan S. Stevens, Courtney J. Conway, Cody A. Tisdale, Kylie N. Denny, Andrew Meyers, Paul Makela
2023, Ecology and Evolution (13)
Telemetry technology is ubiquitous for studying the behavior and demography of wildlife, including the use of traditional very high frequency (VHF) radio telemetry and more recent methods that record animal locations using global positioning systems (GPS). Satellite-based GPS telemetry allows researchers to collect high...
Maps of active layer thickness in northern Alaska by upscaling P-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar retrievals
Jane Whitcomb, Richard Chen, Daniel Clewley, John S. Kimball, Neal Pastick, Yonghong Yi, Mahta Moghaddam
2023, Environmental Research Letters (19)
Extensive, detailed information on the spatial distribution of active layer thickness (ALT) in northern Alaska and how it evolves over time could greatly aid efforts to assess the effects of climate change on the region and also help to quantify greenhouse gas emissions generated due to permafrost...
Designation of a composite-stratotype section for the lower Paleocene (Danian) Brightseat Formation in Prince George’s County, Maryland, U.S.A.
Jean Self-Trail, Mercer Parker, David L. Govoni, Laurel M. Bybell, Kristina Frank Gardner, Gregory S. Gohn
2023, Stratigraphy (20) 237-258
The lower Paleocene (Danian) Brightseat Formation consists of fine-grained, dark-gray, micaceous sand and silty clay, with glauconite and abundant, but generally poorly preserved, fossils. The Brightseat Formation represents deposition of lower, but not lowermost, Paleocene sediments that were deposited on the middle to outer shelf of what is now the...
Observed impacts of large wind farms on grassland carbon cycling
Donghai Wu, Steven Mark Grodsky, Wenfang Xu, Naijing Liu, Rafael M. Almeida, Liming Zhou, Lee M. Miller, Somnath Baidya Roy, Geng Xia, A. Agrawal, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Alexander S. Flecker, Xiangtao Xu
2023, Science Bulletin (68) 2889-2892
No abstract available. ...
Hydrogeology, karst, and groundwater availability of Monroe County, West Virginia
Mark D. Kozar, Daniel H. Doctor, William K. Jones, Nathan Chien, Cheyenne E. Cox, Randall C. Orndorff, David J. Weary, Mitchell R. Weaver, Mitchell A. McAdoo, Mercer Parker
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5121
Monroe County is in southeastern West Virginia, encompassing an area of 474 square miles. The area consists of karst and siliciclastic aquifers of Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, and Mississippian age and is in parts of two physiographic provinces: the Valley and Ridge Province to the east of Peters Mountain, and the...
Inundation tolerance, rather than drought tolerance, predicts riparian plant distributions along a local hydrologic gradient
Bradley J. Butterfield, Emily C. Palmquist
2023, Wetlands (44)
Riparian vegetation varies along hydrologic gradients, along which inundation and drought tend to be inversely correlated. Differentiating effects of inundation and drought on plant distributions is critical for predicting impacts of changes to baseflows and designing flow patterns to achieve vegetation objectives in regulated river systems....
Unprecedented distribution data for Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia and Y. jaegeriana) reveal contemporary climate associations of a Mojave Desert icon
Todd Esque, Daniel F. Shryock, Gabrielle A. Berr, Felicia Chen, Lesley A. DeFalco, Sabrina Mae Lewicki, Brent Lee Cunningham, Eddie J. Gaylord, Caitlin Shannon Poage, Gretchen Elizabeth Gantz, Ross Adrian Van Gaalen, Benjamin O Gottsacker, Amanda Marie Mcdonald, J.B. Yoder, C.I. Smith, K.E. Nussear
2023, Frontiers Ecology and Evolution (11)
Introduction: Forecasting range shifts in response to climate change requires accurate species distribution models (SDMs), particularly at the margins of species' ranges. However, most studies producing SDMs rely on sparse species occurrence datasets from herbarium records and public databases, along with random pseudoabsences. While environmental covariates used to fit SDMS...
Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity
Deah Lieurance, Susan Canavan, Donald C. Behringer, Amy E. Kendig, Carey R. Minteer, Lindsey S. Reisinger, Christina M. Romagosa, S. Luke Flory, Julie L. Lockwood, Patti J. Anderson, Shirley M. Baker, Jamie Bojko, Kristen E. Bowers, Kim Canavan, Kelly Carruthers, Wesley M. Daniel, Doria R. Gordon, Jeffrey E. Hill, Jennifer G. Howeth, Basil V. Iannone, Lucas Jennings, Lyn A. Gettys, Eutychus M. Kariuki, John M. Kunzer, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Sara McCann, Tolulope Morawo, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Tabitha Petri, Ian Pfingsten, Robert Reed, Linda J. Walters, Christian Wanamaker
2023, Ecosphere (14)
Managing invasive species with prevention and early-detection strategies can avert severe ecological and economic impacts. Horizon scanning, an evidence-based process combining risk screening and consensus building to identify threats, has become a valuable tool for prioritizing invasive species management and prevention. We assembled a...
Effect of straying, reproductive strategies, and ocean distribution on the structure of American shad populations
Camille Poulet, Geraldine Lassalle, Adrian Jordaan, Karin E. Limburg, Christopher C. Nack, Janet A. Nye, Andrew O’Malley, Betsy O’Malley-Barber, Dan S. Stich, John R. Waldman, Joseph D. Zydlewski, Patrick Lambert
2023, Ecosphere (14)
The use of species distribution models has proliferated, providing insights for sustainable management of migratory species in a globally changing environment. However, many of these models are based on statistical relationships developed from historical conditions that may not perform well under changing or even...
Examining the effect of environmental variability on the viability of endangered Steller sea lions using an integrated population model
Amanda J. Warlick, Devin S. Johnson, Katie L. Sweeney, Tom S. Gelatt, Sarah J. Converse
2023, Endangered Species Research (52) 343-361
Understanding spatio-temporal variability in demography and the influence of environmental conditions offers insight into the factors underlying population dynamics. This is particularly true for species with divergent demographic patterns across large geographic areas. The contrasting abundance trends observed across the range of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) have been studied...
Assessment of prerestoration water quality in the Herring River to support adaptive management at the Cape Cod National Seashore
Thomas G. Huntington
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5120
In 2020 and 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, Cape Cod National Seashore of the National Park Service, and Friends of Herring River cooperated to assess nutrient and suspended sediment concentrations across the ocean-estuary boundary at a dike on the Herring River on Chequessett Neck Road in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, that has...
Characterizing urban heat islands across 50 major cities in the United States
George Z. Xian
2023, Fact Sheet 2023-3048
Urban development and associated land-cover and land-use change alters the environment. The continued increase of developed land changes the Earth’s ecosystems and affects the resources provided to society. During the last 40 years, urban population in the United States has increased by more than 6.3 percent, and more...
