Accumulating evidence in ecology: Once is not enough
James D. Nichols, William Kendall, G.Scott Boomer
2019, Ecology and Evolution (9) 13991-14004
Many published studies in ecological science are viewed as stand-alone investigations that purport to provide new insights into how ecological systems behave based on single analyses. But it is rare for results of single studies to provide definitive results, as evidenced in current discussions of the “reproducibility crisis” in science....
Creating figures in R that meet the AFS style guide: Standardization and supporting script
Hayley C. Glassic, Kurt C. Heim, Christopher S. Guy
2019, Fisheries Magazine (44) 539-544
Visual display of information in scientific and non‐scientific literature is the most efficient way to summarize large amounts data, focus the readers’ attention on patterns, and substantiate the message in the narrative. Figures often represent years of data collection and substantial monetary investment, and it is worth repeating the cliché...
Peak streamflow and stages at selected streamgages on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma and Arkansas, May to June 2019
Jason M. Lewis, A.R. Trevisan
2019, Open-File Report 2019-1129
As much as 22 inches of rain fell in Oklahoma in May 2019, resulting in historic flooding along the Arkansas River in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The flooding along the Arkansas River and its tributaries that began in May continued into June 2019. Peaks of record were measured at 12 U.S....
Using component ratios to detect metadata and instrument problems of seismic stations: Examples from 18 years of GEOSCOPE data
Helle A. Pedersen, Nicolas Leroy, Dimitri Zigone, Martin Vallee, Adam T. Ringler, David C. Wilson
2019, Seismological Research Letters (91) 272-286
Replacement or deterioration of seismic instruments and the evolution of the installation conditions and sites can alter the seismic signal in very subtle ways, so it is notoriously difficult to monitor the signal quality of permanent seismic stations. We present a simple tool, energy ratios between each pair of the...
Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners
M. Camille Hopkins, Christina M. Carlson, Paul C. Cross, Christopher J. Johnson, Bryan J. Richards, Robin E. Russell, Michael D. Samuel, Glen A. Sargeant, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David Walter
2019, Open-File Report 2019-1109
IntroductionChronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, a class of invariably fatal neurodegenerative mammalian diseases associated with a misfolded cellular prion protein found in wild free-ranging animals. Because it has a long incubation period, affected animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”) may not...
The (mythical) M8.2 off coast of Peru earthquake of 12 December 1908
Domenico Di Giacomo, James W. Dewey
2019, Article
Global earthquake catalogs covering the early twentieth century differ in their listings of a large earthquake, or earthquakes, on 12 December 1908. Some catalogs list an M∼7">M∼7M∼7 earthquake originating in northern...
Remote sensing of tracer dye concentrations to support dispersion studies in river channels
Carl J. Legleiter, Richard R. McDonald, Jonathan M. Nelson, Paul J. Kinzel, Ryan L. Perroy, Donghae Baek, Il Won Seo
2019, Journal of Ecohydraulics (4) 131-146
In river channels the flow field influences the dispersion of biota, contaminants, and other suspended or dissolved materials. Insight on patterns and rates of dispersion can be gained by injecting a pulse of visible dye and observing spatial and temporal variations in dye concentration as the pulse moves downstream. We...
Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region
Rhian G. Waller, Robert P. Stone, Lauren Rice, Julia Johnstone, Ashley M. Rossin, Elise Hartill, Keri Feehan, Cheryl Morrison
2019, Frontiers in Marine Science (6)
Red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) are abundant in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, from the glacial fjords of Southeast Alaska where they emerge to as shallow as 6 m, to the continental shelf edge and seamounts where they are more commonly found at depths greater than 150 –...
Identification of a novel Adélie penguin circovirus at Cape Crozier (Ross Island, Antarctica)
Virginia Morandini, Katie Dugger, Grant Ballard, Megan Elrod, Annie Schmidt, Valeria Ruoppolo, Amélie Lescroël, Dennis Jongsomjit, Melanie Massaro, Jean Pennycook, Kara Schmidlin, Simona Kraberger, David G. Ainley, Arvind Varsani
2019, Viruses (11)
Understanding the causes of disease in Antarctic wildlife is crucial as many of these species are already threatened by environmental changes brought about by climate change. In recent years, Antarctic penguins have been showing signs of an unknown pathology: a feather disorder characterised by missing feathers resulting in exposed skin....
Shallow-water foraminifera and other microscopic biota of Clipperton Island, tropical eastern Pacific
Mary McGann, Robert W Schmieder, Louis-Philippe Loncke
2019, Atoll Research Bulletin (626)
The recent foraminiferal fauna and associated microbiota of Clipperton Island (10.2833°N, 109.2167°W) were investigated at 20 sites collected in the intertidal zone around the perimeter of the island and from the edge of the inner brackish-water lagoon. Due to the island’s geographic location in a low productivity zone, a lack...
Optical wave gauging using deep neural networks
Daniel D. Buscombe, Roxanne J Carini, Shawn Harrison, C Chris Chickadel, Jonathan A. Warrick
2019, Coastal Engineering (155)
We develop a remote wave gauging technique to estimate wave height and period from imagery of waves in the surf zone. In this proof-of-concept study, we apply the same framework to three datasets: the first, a set of close-range monochrome infrared (IR)...
A parametric numerical analysis of factors controlling ground ruptures caused by groundwater pumping
Matteo Frigo, Massimiliano Ferronato, Jun Yu, Shujun Ye, Devin Galloway, Dora Carreon-Freyre, Pietro Teatini
2019, Water Resources Research (55) 9500-9518
A modeling analysis is used to investigate the relative susceptibility of various hydrogeologic configurations to aseismic rupture generation due to deformation of aquifer systems accompanying groundwater pumping. An advanced numerical model (GEPS3D) is used to simulate rupture generation and propagation for three typical processes: (i) reactivation of a preexisting...
Geospatial scaling of runoff and erosion modeling in the Chihuahuan Desert
Grady Ball, Kyle R. Douglas-Mankin
2019, Applied Engineering in Agriculture (5) 733-743
Large-scale assessments of rangeland runoff and erosion require methods to extend plot-scale parameterizations to large areas. In this study, Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) parameters were developed from plot-scale foliar and ground-cover transect data for an arid, grass-shrub rangeland in southern New Mexico, and a method was assessed to...
Potentiometric surface of groundwater-level altitudes near the planned Highway 270 bypass, east of Hot Springs, Arkansas, July–August 2017
Anna M. Nottmeier, Phillip D. Hays
2019, Scientific Investigations Map 3444
The Ouachita Mountains aquifer system potentiometric-surface map is one component of the Hot Springs Bypass Groundwater Monitoring Project. The potentiometric-surface map provides a baseline assessment of shallow groundwater levels and flow directions before the construction of the Arkansas Department of Transportation planned extension of the Highway 270 bypass, east of...
Heterogeneity in hyporheic flow, pore water chemistry, and microbial community composition in an alpine streambed
A.R. Nelson, A. Sawyer, R. Gabor, C. Saup, S. Bryant, K. Harris, Martin A. Briggs, Kenneth Williams, M. J. Wilkins
2019, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (124) 3465-3478
The hyporheic zone, where surface water and groundwater mix, is an important microbial habitat where biogeochemical reactions influence water quality. We show that spatial variability in hyporheic flow in the East River near Crested Butte, Colorado, drives heterogeneity in streambed geochemical conditions and microbial community assemblages, but the diversity of...
Using morphological measurements to predict subspecies of Midcontinent sandhill cranes
Jay A VonBank, David A. Brandt, Aaron T. Pearse, David B. Wester, Bart M Ballard
2019, Wildlife Society Bulletin (4) 737-744
The Midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) has historically been classified into 3 putative subspecies, but genetic analyses have identified only 2 genetically distinct subspecies. Previous studies have successfully used morphometrics in combination with an individual's sex to differentiate subspecies of sandhill cranes that had...
Santa Barbara area coastal ecosystem vulnerability assessment
M.R. Myers, D.R. Cayan, S.F. Iacobellis, J.M. Melack, R.E. Beighley, Patrick L. Barnard, J.E. Dugan, H.M. Page
2019, Report
The Santa Barbara Area Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment (SBA CEVA) is a multidisciplinary research project that investigates future changes to southern Santa Barbara County climate, beaches, watersheds, wetland habitats and beach ecosystems. The target audience is local land use planners and decision makers. The main objective is to provide information that assists the Cities...
Field trip guide to Mount St. Helens, Washington—Recent and ancient volcaniclastic processes and deposits
Richard B. Waitt, Jon J. Major, Richard P. Hoblitt, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Michael A. Clynne
2019, Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5022-E
This field guide explores volcanic effusions, sediments, and landforms at Mount St. Helens in Washington. A detailed synopsis outlines the eruptive history of Mount St. Helens from about 300,000 years ago through 1980 and beyond.The five days in the field include about 28 stops and 12 potential stops. Exposures in...
Differentiating sediment sources using sediment fingerprinting techniques, in the Sprague River Basin, South-Central Oregon
Liam N. Schenk, Tessa M. Harden, Julia K. Kelson
2019, Open-File Report 2019-1120
Identifying sources of sediment to streams in the Sprague River Basin, in south-central Oregon, is important for restoration efforts that are focused on reducing sediment erosion and transport. Reducing sediment loads in these streams also contributes to compliance with the total maximum daily load reduction requirements for total phosphorus...
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2018 annual report
Sara Ernst
2019, Circular 1460
The 2018 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups, highlights accomplishments of 2018, and includes a list of publications published in 2018. This product allows readers...
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2017 annual report
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
2019, Circular 1456
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) monitors volcanic and hydrothermal activity associated with the Yellowstone magmatic system, conducts research into magmatic processes occurring beneath Yellowstone Caldera, and issues timely warnings and guidance related to potential future geologic hazards. This report summarizes the activities and findings of YVO during the year 2017,...
Advances in quantifying streamflow variability across continental scales: 2. Improved model regionalization and prediction uncertainties using hierarchical Bayesian methods
Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Elizabeth W. Boyer
2019, Water Resources Research (55) 11061-11087
The precise estimation of process effects in hydrological models requires applying models to large scales with extensive spatial variability in controlling factors. Despite progress in large‐scale applications of hydrological models in conterminous United States (CONUS) river basins, spatial constraints in model parameters have prevented the interbasin...
Population ecology of Roosevelt elk: Conservation and management in Redwood National and State Parks. Butch Weckerly. 2017. University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada, USA. 224 pp. $54.95 hardback. ISBN 978- 1943859504.
Mark A. Ricca
2019, Journal of Wildlife Management (83) 243-244
Long-term research on large ungulate populations typically conjures perceptions of extensive (and expensive) animal capture and telemetry work, and subsequent advanced modeling of resource selection and population dynamics that inform management decisions. In contrast, studies lacking a telemetry component are often limited to animal behavior or natural history. Although compelling...
Constraining dissolved organic matter sources and temporal variability in a model sub-Arctic lake
Sarah Ellen Johnston, Matthew J. Bogard, Jennifer A. Rogers, David Butman, Robert G. Striegl, Mark M. Dornblaser, Robert G. M. Spencer
2019, Biogeochemistry (146) 271-292
Circumpolar lakes comprise ~ 1.4 million km2 of arctic and subarctic landscapes and are vulnerable to change in vegetation, permafrost distribution, and hydrological conditions in response to climate warming. However, the composition and cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is poorly understood for these lakes because most are remote...
Historical range and variation (HRV)
Robert Keane, Rachel A. Loehman
2019, Book chapter, Encyclopedia of Wildfires and Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires
Fire-prone landscapes are experiencing rapid and potentially persistent changes as the result of complex and potentially novel interactions of anthropogenic climate changes, shifting fire regimes, exotic plant, insect, and pathogen invasions, and industrial, agricultural, and urban development. Are these landscapes fully departed from historical conditions? Should they be managed...
