Movement patterns and dispersal potential of Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis) revealed using otolith microchemistry
Nathan M. Chase, Colleen A. Caldwell, Scott A. Carleton, William R. Gould, James A. Hobbs
2015, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (72) 1575-1583
Natal origin and dispersal potential of the federally threatened Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis) were successfully characterized using otolith microchemistry and swimming performance trials. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr:86Sr) of otoliths within the resident plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus) were successfully used as a surrogate for strontium isotope ratios in water...
Evidence from data storage tags for the presence of lunar and semilunar behavioral cycles in spawning Atlantic cod
Timothy B. Grabowski, Bruce J. McAdam, Vilhjalmur Thorsteinsson, Gudrun Marteinsdottir
2015, Environmental Biology of Fishes (98) 1767-1776
Understanding the environmental processes determining the timing and success of reproduction is of critical importance to developing effective management strategies of marine fishes. Unfortunately it has proven difficult to comprehensively study the reproductive behavior of broadcast-spawning fishes. The use of electronic data storage tags (DSTs) has the potential to provide...
In-situ arsenic removal during groundwater recharge through unsaturated alluvium
David O’Leary, John A. Izbicki, T.J. Kim, Clark Ajawani, Donald Suarez, Thomas Barnes, Thomas Kulp, Matthew K. Burgess, Iwen Tseng
2015, Report
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and sustainability of in-situ removal of arsenic from water infiltrated through unsaturated alluvium. BACKGROUND Arsenic is naturally present in aquifers throughout the southwestern United States and elsewhere. In January 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the Maximum...
Implications of climate and land use change
Jefferson S. Hall, Enrique Murgueitio, Zoraida Calle, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Robert F. Stallard, Patricia Balvanera
Jefferson S. Hall, Vanessa Kirn, Estrella Yanguas-Fernandez, editor(s)
2015, Book chapter, Managing watersheds for ecosystem services in the steepland neotropics
This chapter relates ecosystem services to climate change and land use. The bulk of the chapter focuses on ecosystem services and steepland land use in the humid Neotropics – what is lost with land-cover changed, and what is gained with various types of restoration that are sustainable given private ownership....
Assessing the geologic and climatic forcing of biodiversity and evolution surrounding the Gulf of California
Greer Dolby, Scott E.K. Bennett, Andres Lira-Noriega, Benjamin T. Wilder, Adrian Munguia-Vega
2015, Journal of the Southwest (57) 391-455
For almost a century the Baja California peninsula (Peninsula), Gulf of California (Gulf), and broader Sonoran Desert region (figure 1) have drawn geologists and biologists alike to study its unique physical and evolutionary processes (e.g., Wittich 1920; Darton 1921; Nelson 1921; Johnston 1924; Beal 1948; Durham and Allison 1960). The...
Accelerating advances in continental domain hydrologic modeling
Stacey A. Archfield, Martyn Clark, Berit Arheimer, Lauren E. Hay, Hilary McMillan, Julie E. Kiang, Jan Seibert, Kirsti Hakala, Andrew R. Bock, Thorsten Wagener, William H. Farmer, Vazken Andreassian, Sabine Attinger, Alberto Viglione, Rodney Knight, Steven L. Markstrom, Thomas M. Over
2015, Water Resources Research (51) 10078-10091
In the past, hydrologic modeling of surface water resources has mainly focused on simulating the hydrologic cycle at local to regional catchment modeling domains. There now exists a level of maturity among the catchment, global water security, and land surface modeling communities such that these communities are converging toward continental...
Factors influencing capture of invasive sea lamprey in traps baited with a synthesized sex pheromone component
Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Siefkes, C. Michael Wagner, Gale Bravener, Todd Steeves, Michael Twohey, Weiming Li
2015, Journal of Chemical Ecology (41) 913-923
The sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, is emerging as a model organism for understanding how pheromones can be used for manipulating vertebrate behavior in an integrated pest management program. In a previous study, a synthetic sex pheromone component 7α,12α, 24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate (3kPZS) was applied to sea lamprey traps in eight...
Using time-varying asymptotic length and body condition of top piscivores to indicate ecosystem regime shift in the main basin of Lake Huron: a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach
Ji X. He, James R. Bence, Edward F. Roseman, David G. Fielder, Mark P. Ebener
2015, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (73) 1092-1103
We evaluated the ecosystem regime shift in the main basin of Lake Huron that was indicated by the 2003 collapse of alewives, and dramatic declines in Chinook salmon abundance thereafter. We found that the period of 1995-2002 should be considered as the early phase of the final regime shift. We...
Functional role of an endophytic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in enhancing growth and disease protection of invasive English ivy (Hedera helix L.)
Marcos Antonio Soares, Jai-Yan Li, Marshall Bergen, Joaquim Manoel da Silva, Kurt P. Kowalski, James Francis White
2015, Plant and Soil (405) 107-123
BackgroundWe hypothesize that invasive English ivy (Hedera helix) harbors endophytic microbes that promote plant growth and survival. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined endophytic bacteria in English ivy and evaluated effects on the host plant.MethodsEndophytic bacteria were isolated...
Towards forecasting the retreat of California’s coastal cliffs during the 21st century
Patrick W. Limber, Patrick L. Barnard, Cheryl Hapke
2015, Conference Paper, The proceedings of the coastal sediments 2015
In California, sea-level rise during the 21st century threatens to accelerate coastal cliff recession rates. To forecast such changes for managers and policymakers, models must play a key role. In this paper, we extend a ~70-year long dataset of measured historic sea cliff retreat rates in Southern California into the 21st century...
Habitat edges have weak effects on duck nest survival at local spatial scales
Amelia J Raquel, Kevin M. Ringelman, Joshua T. Ackerman, John M. Eadie
2015, Ardea (103) 155-162
Edge effects on nesting success have been documented in breeding birds in a variety of contexts, but there is still uncertainty in how edge type and spatial scale determine the magnitude and detectability of edge effects. Habitat edges are often viewed as predator corridors that surround or penetrate core habitat...
Adapting the U.S. National Hydrography Dataset to linked open data
Dalia E. Varanka, E. Lynn Usery, David M. Mattli
2015, Conference Paper, Cartography -- maps connecting the world: 27th International Cartographic Conference 2015 - ICC2015
A controlled vocabulary for the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) of the United States was developed as Linked Open Data (LOD). The vocabulary has two main parts: a glossary and a set of triples reflecting the NHD data model as it is organized in geographic information systems (GIS). The glossary consists...
Mechanics of sediment suspension and transport within a fringing reef
A. W. M. Pomeroy, R. J. Lowe, M. Ghisalberti, Curt D. Storlazzi, M. Cutter, G. Symonds
2015, Conference Paper, The proceedings of the coastal sediments 2015
Large bottom roughness is a characteristic of most coral reef environments and this has been shown to have a substantial impact on hydrodynamic processes in these environments. In this paper, we evaluate suspended sediment concentration (SSC) data as well detailed hydrodynamic data over a coral reef flat in Ningaloo Reef,...
Groundwater and surface-water interaction and effects of pumping in a complex glacial-sediment aquifer, phase 2, east-central Massachusetts
Jack R. Eggleston, Phillip J. Zarriello, Carl S. Carlson
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5174
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Framingham, Massachusetts, has investigated the potential of proposed groundwater withdrawals at the Birch Road well site to affect nearby surface water bodies and wetlands, including Lake Cochituate, the Sudbury River, and the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in east-central Massachusetts....
Use of historic Persian water system data in groundwater models: Examples from Afghanistan and Emirates
Thomas J. Mack, Jack R. Eggleston
2015, Conference Paper, MODLFOW and more 2015, modeling a complex world proceedings
Obtaining calibration data for models depicting conditions during pre-development periods can be challenging as such periods are characteristically data poor. This study presents two examples where simulation of historic water conveyance structures were used to help characterize historic, or pre-modern, conditions in calibration of groundwater flow models. Persian water...
Fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria and their antibiotic resistance in alluvial groundwater of an irrigated agricultural region with dairies
Xunde Li, Edward R. Atwill, Elizabeth Antaki, Olin Applegate, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Ronald F. Bond, Jennifer T. Chase, Katherine M Ransom, William B. Samuels, Naoko Watanabe, Thomas Harter
2015, Journal of Environmental Quality (44) 1435-1447
Surveys of microbiological groundwater quality were conducted in a region with intensive animal agriculture in California, USA. The survey included monitoring and domestic wells in eight concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and 200 small (domestic and community supply district) supply wells across the region. Campylobacter was not detected in groundwater,...
Upscaling of U (VI) desorption and transport from decimeter‐scale heterogeneity to plume‐scale modeling
Gary P. Curtis, Matthias Kohler, Ramakrishnan Kannappan, Martin A. Briggs, Frederick D. Day-Lewis
2015, Technical Report DOE-USGS--SC0003681
Scientifically defensible predictions of field scale U(VI) transport in groundwater requires an understanding of key processes at multiple scales. These scales range from smaller than the sediment grain scale (less than 10 μm) to as large as the field scale which can extend over several kilometers. The key processes that...
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Centrocercus minimus
Jessica R. Young, Clait E. Braun, Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick Magee, Michael A. Schroeder
2015, Book chapter
No abstract available...
Science foundation Chapter 5 Appendix 5.1: Case study shore birds: Western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and American avocets (Recurvirostra Americana)
Cheryl Strong, Joshua T. Ackerman
2015, Report, The baylands and climate change what we can do: Baylands ecosystem habitat goals science update 2015
Western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) are small (22-35 g) sexually dimorphic sandpipers, with males typically smaller than females. Western sandpipers frequently occur in mixed species flocks along with other Calidris species, including least sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and dunlin (Calidris alpina), in the San Francisco Bay Estuary (SFBE) and are the most...
The evolution of mapping habitat for northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina): A comparison of photo-interpreted, Landsat-based, and lidar-based habitat maps
Steven H. Ackers, Raymond J. Davis, K. Olsen, Katie M. Dugger
2015, Remote Sensing of Environment (156) 361-373
Wildlife habitat mapping has evolved at a rapid pace over the last few decades. Beginning with simple, often subjective, hand-drawn maps, habitat mapping now involves complex species distribution models (SDMs) using mapped predictor variables derived from remotely sensed data. For species that inhabit large geographic areas, remote sensing technology...
Science foundation Chapter 5 Appendix 5.1: Case study Forester's tern (Sterna forsteri) and California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni)
Joshua T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Cheryl Strong
2015, Report, The baylands and climate change what we can do: Baylands ecosystem habitat goals science update 2015
This case study considers two tern species that breed within the San Francisco Bay Estuary, Forster’s Terns (Sterna forsteri) and California Least Terns (Sternula antillarum browni). Forster’s Terns are medium-sized (140 g) terns that breed in coastal and interior marshes of North America. Forster’s Terns can exploit ephemeral habitats, and...
Construction ages of the Upton Stone Chamber: Preliminary findings and suggestions for future luminescence research
Shannon A. Mahan, Frederick Martin, Cathy Taylor
2015, Quaternary Geochronology (30 ) 422-430
The Upton Chamber in Massachusetts, an earth-covered stone structure 3.4 meters (m) in diameter, with a corbelled stone dome, and a 4.3 m long entrance passageway, is studied with the aim of determining whether optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating methods can be used to establish the approximate construction date of...
Science foundation Chapter 5 Appendix 5.1: Case study diving ducks
John Y. Takekawa, Susan De La Cruz, Joshua T. Ackerman, Gregory S. Yarris
2015, Report, The baylands and climate change what we can do: Baylands ecosystem habitat goals science update 2015
Diving ducks are the most abundant group of waterfowl that overwinter in the open bays and ponds of San Francisco Bay (SFB). Species within this group are primarily benthivores that dive to obtain their macroinvertebrate prey in bottom sediments, although at times they may eat plant matter or forage in...
Factors affecting female space use in ten populations of prairie chickens
Virginia L. Winder, Kaylan M. Carrlson, Andrew J. Gregory, Christian A. Hagen, David A. Haukos, Dylan C. Kesler, Lena C. Larsson, Ty W. Matthews, Lance B. McNew, Michael Patten, Jim C. Pitman, Larkin A. Powell, Jennifer A. Smith, Tom Thompson, Donald H. Wolfe, Brett K. Sandercock
2015, Ecosphere (6) 1-17
Conservation of wildlife depends on an understanding of the interactions between animal movements and key landscape factors. Habitat requirements of wide-ranging species often vary spatially, but quantitative assessment of variation among replicated studies at multiple sites is rare. We investigated patterns of space use for 10 populations of two closely...
Gopherus Agassizii (Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise). Mechanical Injury
Amanda Smith, Laura A. Tennant, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Terence R. Arundel
2015, Herpetological Review (46) 423-424
On 3 June 2015 at 1024 h, a team of U.S. Geological Survey scientists located an immature Gopherus agassizii (Agassiz’s desert tortoise) at Joshua Tree National Park, near the southern Cottonwood Canyon entrance. The habitat in the area is typical of the Sonoran Desert in that part of California with...
