System characterization report on Tanager
Minsu Kim, Seonkyung Park, Jeff Clauson, Jim Vrabel, Ajit Sampath
2026, Open-File Report 2021-1030-W
Executive Summary This report addresses the system characterization of the Tanager satellite hyperspectral sensor created by Planet Labs PBC. and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail...
Bird migration and energetics simulations incorporating oil spill effects
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Michael J. Hooper
2026, Ecological Modelling (519)
Oil spills are well-known for causing acute mortality of birds, but sublethal and delayed impacts are less understood. Focusing on the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), we used simulation modeling to explore how sublethal oiling may affect avian survival and breeding ground body condition. We used empirically informed migration and energetics simulations...
Simulating past and future refugia for temperate trees in northern Italy
Azzurra Pistone, Paul Henne, Petra Boltshauser-Kaltenrieder, Willy Tinner, Christoph Schworer
2026, Ecography
During the Quaternary, trees responded to the climatic changes of glacial–interglacial cycles with large-scale range shifts. Over cold glacials, temperate tree species contracted their ranges and survived in areas known as refugia. Several studies point to the Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei), in Veneto, northern Italy, as one of the northernmost...
Distribution, abundance, breeding activities, and restoration efforts for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California—2025 Annual Report
Suellen Lynn, Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus
2026, Open-File Report 2026-1016
Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of the distribution, abundance, and breeding activity of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) and to present results of management actions implemented to attract flycatchers and enhance flycatcher habitat at Marine...
Continuous stream discharge, salinity, and associated data collected in the lower St. Johns River and its tributaries, Florida, 2023
Jennifer N. Carson, Matthew T. Benacquisto
2026, Open-File Report 2026-1012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, deepened the St. Johns River channel in Jacksonville, Florida, to accommodate larger, fully loaded cargo vessels. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, monitored stage, discharge, and (or) water temperature and salinity at 26 continuous...
Multi-proxy thermal history of basin heating during Cordilleran orogenesis in the Magallanes-Austral retroarc foreland basin, Patagonian Andes
Rebecca A. VanderLeest, Julie C. Fosdick, Theresa Maude Schwartz, E.G. Hyland, M. Mastalerz
2026, Basin Research (38)
Resolving thermal histories in sedimentary basins is crucial for interpreting orogenic growth, basin burial, and tectonic processes during Cordilleran orogenesis. In the Magallanes–Austral Basin, Patagonian Andes, we integrate new (U-Th)/He thermochronology, vitrinite reflectance (%Ro), calcite-cement clumped isotope data and thermal history modelling to resolve the origin of the regionally extensive...
Spawning habitat suitability models for Lake Erie cisco (Coregonus artedi) during the historical period of pre- and post-population declines 1877–1957
Katelyn King, Cory Brant, Arthur Cooper, Gust Annis, Matthew Herbert, Karen M Alofs
2026, Journal of Great Lakes Research
Coregonine fishes play a key role in the food webs and fisheries of the Laurentian Great Lakes and are a major focus of basin-wide conservation efforts. In Lake Erie, management goals prioritize rebuilding spawning populations of cisco (Coregonus artedi). However, the historical distribution of cisco spawning habitat and the environmental...
Melanoma and other melanistic lesions in brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from waterbodies in the northeastern United States and Canada: Identification of risk factors
Vicki S. Blazer, P. Emerson, M. Bodnar, Thomas Jones, D. R. Russel, M. Pehrson, Cheyenne R. Smith, Danielle M. Cleveland, Mark J. Henderson, Patricia Mazik
2026, Journal of Fish Diseases
Melanistic lesions, including non-raised black areas due to proliferations of melanocytes and melanomacrophages in the dermis and epidermis, as well as raised black areas consistent with melanoma, are described in brown bullhead (BBH) Ameiurus nebulosus from three water bodies in the northeastern United States and Quebec, Canada. First observed in the Vermont...
Feathers and flu: Identifying data gaps in avian influenza host dynamics to prioritize wildlife conservation
Johanna Harvey, Matthew Gonnerman, Shenglai Yin, Cody M. Kent, Joshua Cullen, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Jonathan Dain, Nichola J. Hill, Diann Prosser, Jennifer Mullinax
2026, Wildlife Monographs
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) have had disastrous, worldwide effects on wild birds and domestic poultry since the emergence of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD/96) lineage. The currently circulating H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has an expanded set of susceptible hosts, including many migratory wild birds, and is associated with higher transmission rates,...
Advancing monitoring approaches to enhance tidal Chesapeake Bay habitat assessment for submerged aquatic vegetation, water clarity, chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen
Peter J. Tango, Brooke J. Landry, Mark Trice, Breck M Sullivan, Tish Robertson, William C. Dennison
2026, Conference Paper, NA
Water quality monitoring capacity has been declining for the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) at a time when information needs are growing, and data gaps exist to address critical decision-support for managers. The CBP Scientific Technical Assessment and Reporting Team is leading a Principal’s Staff Committee requested gap analyses toward understanding...
Baseflow and snowmelt sustained streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2020
Olivia L. Miller, Matthew P. Miller, Patrick C. Longley, Noah M. Schmadel, Daniel R. Wise, Morgan C. McDonnell, Jay R. Alder
2026, Environmental Research: Water (2)
The Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) faces substantial water availability limitations. Although most streamflow originates as snowmelt, the partitioning of snowmelt between surface runoff and groundwater recharge and subsequent groundwater discharge to streams is highly uncertain. On average, over half of the streamflow in the UCRB is estimated to originate...
Quantifying southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) reactions to a quadcopter drone in central California
Colleen Young, Julie L. Yee, Gena Bentall, Michelle M. Staedler, Lilian P. Carswell, Margaret Daly
2026, Marine Mammal Science (42)
Drones are useful for wildlife research and management, but they can cause disturbance and harassment to wildlife. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are candidates for drone-based observation and monitoring but are vulnerable to disturbance. No studies have evaluated drone effects on sea otter behavior, but based on prior disturbance studies, we...
VegET evapotranspiration for Africa: Continental-scale simulation, multi-product evaluation, and drought assessment
Komlavi Akpoti, Naga Manohar Velpuri, Mansoor Leh, Stefanie Kagone, Kirubel Mekonnen, Afua Owusu, Mulugeta Tadesse, Paranamana T. Prabhath, Lahiru Madushanka, Tharindu Perera, Gabriel Edwin Lee Parrish, Vinay Nangia, Souleymane Sy, Jan Bliefernicht, Samuel Guug, Abdulkarim Seid, Gabriel B. Senay
Gabriel B. Senay, editor(s)
2026, Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (66)
Study regionContinental Africa, encompassing diverse climatic zones—tropical, arid, and temperate—and spanning major transboundary river basins such as the Nile, Niger, Congo, Volta, and Zambezi River Basins. The region exhibits pronounced hydroclimatic gradients and heterogeneous land use systems ranging from rainfed croplands and rangelands...
Evaluation of stream capture related to groundwater pumping, middle Humboldt River Basin, Nevada
Kyle W. Davis, William G. Eldridge, Kip K. Allander, David E. Prudic, Murphy A. Gardner, Michael T. Pavelko, Cara A. Nadler
2026, Professional Paper 1906
Historical, future, and potential stream capture from groundwater pumping in the middle Humboldt River Basin (MHRB), Nevada, is estimated using a calibrated numerical groundwater flow model. The model was developed to estimate (1) stream capture, which is the change in flux between the groundwater system and the Humboldt River and...
Predictable seismic cycles result from structural rupture barriers on oceanic transform faults
Jianhua Gong, Wenyuan Fan, Jeffrey J. McGuire, Mark D. Behn, Jessica M. Warren, Emily Roland, M. S. Boettcher, J. A. Collins, Y. Liu, C. R. German
2026, Science (392) 718-723
Earthquakes of magnitude (M) >5.5 on oceanic transform faults (OTFs) repeatedly rupture the same locked patches, sometimes quasiperiodically. These patches are separated by “barriers” that halt earthquake propagation and slip mostly aseismically. However, the physical processes governing this systematic behavior remain unclear. We analyzed two barriers along the Gofar transform...
Syn-magmatic subsidence during the early stages of continental rifting in the Mesoproterozoic—A reanalysis of legacy data for the Midcontinent Rift, western Lake Superior
V. J. Grauch, Laurel G. Woodruff, Samuel J. Heller, Esther K. Stewart
2026, Geosphere
The Midcontinent Rift system (ca. 1.1 Ga) is a 2000-km-long series of elongated volcanic and sedimentary troughs and associated intrusive centers exposed chiefly in the Lake Superior region of North America. The rift system represents a long history of intense magmatism and subsequent sedimentation that was arrested by far-field tectonic...
Practical guidance for engaging end-users and experts in developing scientific tools
Kaylin R. Clements, James J. English, Emily J. Wilkins, Megan A. Moore, Rudy Schuster
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5137
This report provides actionable guidance for scientists developing scientific tools that inform on-the-ground decision making. Scientific tools, in the context of this report, are technology or protocols that help practitioners collect and analyze their own data, and information products and web tools that practitioners could use to inform decisions. Engaging...
Timing, uncertainty, and opportunity cost: Lessons for ecosystem modification on the Colorado River
Pierce Donovan, Lucas Bair, Matthew N. Reimer, Michael R. Springborn, Charles B. Yackulic
2026, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (139)
While conservation goals have long been pursued through traditional species-augmenting actions, a broader set of episodic ecosystem modification (EEM) actions, such as hydropower dam releases, prescribed fire, and beach nourishment, is garnering attention. EEM actions face several implementation challenges stemming from high opportunity costs, delayed effect mechanisms, reliance on monitoring...
Integrating mark-recapture, catch, and expert habitat assessments to quantify recent increases in humpback chub abundance over a 200 km long river segment of the Colorado River in western Grand Canyon
Maria C. Dzul, David R. Van Haverbeke, Kirk Young, Charles B. Yackulic, Pilar Rinker, Michael D. Yard
2026, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (83) 1-13
Humpback chub, Gila cypha, were historically distributed throughout large portions of the Colorado River basin and were federally listed in 1967. In the Grand Canyon segment of the Colorado River, located below Glen Canyon Dam, chub abundances continued to decline through the early 2000s. Recently, catch has increased substantially, especially in the...
Storm surge barriers reduce seaward sediment supply to lagoonal estuaries
David K. Ralston, Philip M. Orton, John C. Warner, Shima Kasaei
2026, Earth's Future (14)
Numerical simulations with realistic forcing of fixed infrastructure for a proposed storm surge barrier for a lagoonal estuary, Jamaica Bay (New York, USA), are analyzed during typical forcing conditions to assess alterations to flow and sediment transport with the barrier open. Lagoonal estuaries are shallow and have modest watershed freshwater...
Salinas Valley integrated hydrologic and reservoir operations models, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California
Wesley R. Henson, Randy Hanson, Scott Boyce, Joseph Hevesi, Marisa M. Earll, Deidre M. Herbert, Elizabeth R. Jachens
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5005
The area surrounding the Salinas Valley groundwater basin in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties of California is a highly productive agricultural area, contributes substantially to the local economy, and provides a substantial portion of vegetables and other agricultural commodities to the Nation. This region of California provides about half...
Toxicity of synergized permethrin residues in cattle dung to two temperate dung beetle species after application of common livestock pour-on treatment
Michael C. Cavallaro, Michelle L. Hladik, Rodrigo Soares, Mikaela Anderson, W. Wyatt Hoback
2026, Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment (408)
Essential to pasture health, dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) provide key ecosystem services across natural and managed rangeland habitats. Insecticide residues in livestock dung can negatively impact dung beetle populations, and synergized pyrethroid products are commonly used to combat resistant pest fly populations. Here, permethrin residues were measured by GC-MS/MS in...
Top Elevation of Glacial Till and Thickness of the Big Sioux Aquifer Delineated From Electrical Resistivity Tomography Surveys Near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2022 and 2025
Colton J. Medler, Todd M. Anderson
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5023
The City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, requested the U.S. Geological Survey perform electrical resistivity surveys on three parcels of land north of the city. Electrical resistivity data were collected along a total of 22 transects during March 14–18, 2022, and November 17–21, 2025. Results from electrical resistivity surveys were...
Calcareous nannofossil assemblage changes in the Surprise Hill core and their implications for floral response to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum across the Salisbury Embayment of Virginia, USA
Masayuki Utsunomiya, Jean Self-Trail, D. Clay Kelly, Xiaodong Zhang, Kristina Frank Gardner, James C. Zachos
2026, Marine Micropaleontology (204)
We present Paleocene-Eocene calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleoecology for the Surprise Hill core, U.S. Atlantic Coastal Plain, Virginia. Calcareous nannofossil datums ranging from Zone NP3 to NP14 were identified. The Danian-aged Brightseat Formation rests unconformably atop the Lower Cretaceous Potomac Group at 211.4 m and disconformably underlies the Aquia Formation at...
Watershed Continuum Monitoring Approach: Combining multiple water quality patterns along stream and river flowpaths to track sources, pathways, and processing of pollutants
Sujay Kaushal, Ashley Mon, Stanley Grant, Paul M. Mayer, Aaron J. Porter, Andrew J. Sekellick, Jason Hamilton Chase, Shantanu Bhide, John D. Jastram, Tammy Newcomer-Johnson, Sydney A. Shelton, Alexis M. Yaculak, Joseph T. Malin, Carly Marcella Maas, Nicholas Salanitri, Daniel J. Silberstein, Steven P. Hohman, Ashley B. Dann, Weston M Slaughter, Megan A. Rippy, Ahmed Monofy, Ruth R. Shatkay, Jenna E. Reimer, Madeleine Seppi, Randi Noel, Julianna Mussa, Bennett Kellmayer, Gwendolyn Sivirichi, Melissa Grese, Walter L.M. Boger, Jeffrey G. Chanat, Shuiwang Duan, Kenneth T. Belt
2026, Ecological Engineering (229)
There is a growing need to improve and expand water quality monitoring approaches to more accurately track the sources, fate, and transport of multiple chemicals and pollutants holistically and quantify the effects of best management practices (BMPs) at the watershed scale. An overarching question raised by scientists, environmental managers, and...
