Constructed value of information with iterative scoring and parametric uncertainty to identify management-relevant research priorities for a declining raptor species
Kristin P. Davis, Mitchell J. Eaton, Emily R. Bjerre, Hillary M. White, Clint W. Boal, Jennifer H. Herner-Thogmartin, Orin J. Robinson, Abigail Jean Lawson
2026, Conservation Biology
Constructed value of information (CVoI) is an expert elicitation decision-analytic tool used to prioritize sources of uncertainty based on their potential to improve decision outcomes if resolved. Despite increased application of CVoI, the robustness of CVoI prioritization of sources of uncertainty relative to differences in expert elicitation and scoring methods...
Habitat-based predictions of bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) in the northeastern U.S.
Lara S. Katz, Stephen M. Coghlan Jr., Matthew A. Carpenter, Michael T. Kinnison, Joseph D. Zydlewski
2026, Ecology and Evolution (16)
We sought to assess bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) habitat associations at local and regional scales across southern Maine and New Hampshire. We used local habitat data at 95 Maine sites to predict occupancy with classification and regression trees (CART). We then used ensemble species distribution models (SDMs)...
Inference of pattern-based geological CO2 sequestration and oil recovery potential in a commingled main pay and residual oil zone CO2-EOR flood
C. Ozgen Karacan, Emil Attanasi, Sean T. Brennan, Peter D. Warwick
2026, Geoenergy Science and Engineering (260)
Several detailed studies have shown that residual oil zones (ROZs) can present significant resources for additional hydrocarbon recovery as well as subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration via enhanced oil recovery by injecting CO2 (CO2-EOR). Field development strategies included new wells drilled dedicated to main pay zones (MPZ) and ROZs,...
Experimental translocation of a rare Hawaiian tree reveals disparity between remnant and potential habitat
Julia Douglas, Mingzhou Bai, Lucas Berio Fortini, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Nina Rønsted
2026, Biological Conservation (316)
Translocation is implemented worldwide as a conservation strategy for rare and endangered plant species, yet the factors that influence long-term success remain poorly understood. Remnant wild populations are often used as indicators to model habitat preference and select translocation sites, but such populations may be refugia from past biological or...
Intraspecific contact among white-tailed deer: A literature review and chronic wasting disease case study
Nathaniel H. Wehr, Kristin J. Bondo, Christopher S. Rosenberry, David Stainbrook, Bret D. Wallingford, W. David Walter
2026, Ecology and Evolution (16)
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a valuable game mammal in the eastern United States necessitating detailed understanding of disease transmission. We conducted a literature review on intraspecific contact (i.e., interactions wherein disease transmission may occur) among deer. From 69 studies, we identified five themes underlying research on...
Multiple-well monitoring site adjacent to the Midway- Sunset and Buena Vista Oil Fields, Kern County, California
Rhett R. Everett, Janice M. Gillespie, Riley Gannon, Anthony A. Brown, Andrew Morita
2026, Preprint
Groundwater quality in and around oil fields in the Southern San Joaquin Valley is of interest to many California residents that rely heavily on groundwater for domestic, commercial, and agricultural use. To help assess the effects of historical oil-field activities and natural geologic sources on groundwater near the southwest margins...
Groundwater quality near an oil field in a stream-dominated recharge setting, California, USA
Jennifer S. Stanton, Michael J. Stephens, Matthew K. Landon, David H. Shimabukuro, Andrew G. Hunt, Justin T. Kulongoski, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Theron A. Sowers
2026, PLOS Water (5)
Alluvial valley aquifers are important sources of water supply in many areas but effects of co-located oil and gas development on these resources have not been widely reported, especially in settings where recharge is dominated by stream infiltration. Interpreting the presence of geochemical indicators in the context of hydrology, geology,...
Monitoring changes in Landsat thermal features in urban and non-urban interfaces from 1986 to 2023 in two international urban centers: Implications for climate and global issues
Hua Shi, Christopher P. Barber, Kristi L. Sayler, Kelcy Smith, Reza Hussain
2026, Remote Sensing (18)
Rapid urbanization is reshaping thermal environments worldwide, with the strongest impacts occurring at the interface between urban and non-urban areas. Impervious surfaces, as key indicators of urban expansion, are critical for monitoring urban growth and assessing surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects. Land use and land cover...
Tracking baseflow supply dynamics using SWOT data from small groundwater-dominated lakes
Martin A. Briggs, Merritt Elizabeth Harlan, David M. Rey, Danielle K. Hare, Denis R. LeBlanc, David F. Boutt, Michael N. Gooseff
2026, Hydrological Processes (40)
In situ surface-water monitoring strategies are biased towards larger perennial streams and lakes and are generally not designed to track mechanisms of baseflow supply contributed by the dynamic storage of aquifers. Additionally, small (< 1 km2) groundwater-influenced lakes and wetlands globally have little in situ monitoring infrastructure. We explored the...
Hierarchical mixture models and high-resolution monitoring data can inform siting and operational strategies to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines
Charles J. Labuzzetta, Arnold (Contractor) Johnsen, Amber Andress, Teresa Bohner, Alejandro Grajal-Puche, Megan Seymour, Bethany R. Straw, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Bradley James Udell, Ashton M. Wiens, James E. Diffendorfer
2026, Ecological Informatics (94)
Bats provide critical ecosystem services, but bat fatalities due to wind energy development may imperil some bat populations. Statistical models are used to estimate the total fatalities that occur based on carcasses observed during monitoring surveys. Current models often estimate fatalities aggregated across species, time, and/or turbines, but fall short...
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil, 2024
Christopher J. Schenk, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
2026, Fact Sheet 2026-3062
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 53.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil....
Prince William Sound Herring Program, fiscal year 2024
Paul Hershberger, David James Páez
2026, Report
Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) were collected from three sites in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska (Table 1) during the spring pre-spawn period from March 29 – April 1, 2024, to test for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN), and Ichthyophonus prevalence (Table 1). Ichthyophonus was detected in...
Suspended-sediment and phosphorus response in a fire-affected central Montana headwater catchment
Gregory D. Clark, Michael W. Suplee, Haylie M. Brown, Molly A. Moloney, Rodney R. Caldwell
2026, Journal of Soils and Sediments (26)
Purpose Eutrophication and nuisance filamentous algal blooms (i.e. Cladophora) are increasingly common occurrences throughout much of the western United States. Wildfire may be contributing to the frequency and magnitude of algal blooms through excess sediment and nutrient loading to streams and rivers. Our objective was to evaluate the effects the 2021...
Ecogeomorphic feedbacks influence elevation change across microtidal wetland settings of coastal Louisiana
Carol Wilson, Tracy Quirk, Donald R. Cahoon, Gregg A. Snedden, Leigh Anne Sharp
2026, Nature Communications (17)
No abstract available. ...
Using eye lens stable isotopes to identify the rearing origin of fall age-0 walleye (Sander vitreus)
Justin M. Sturtz, Benjamin J. Schall, Matthew J. Ward, Cody E. Treft, Steven R. Chipps, Christopher A. Cheek
2026, Fisheries Management and Ecology
Isotope values in fish eye lenses may be useful in differentiating rearing origins. We compared eye lens isotopic values of fall fingerling age-0 walleye (Sander vitreus) reared in a hatchery pond, a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), and a natural lake. Using 10 fish per rearing source, we...
Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
P. Marcos Gorresen, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot, Amy L. Vievard, Josephine L. Tupu
2026, Acta Chiropterologica (27) 233-248
The ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; family Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, foliage-roosting endemic species. Over a three-year period, we investigated day-roost lability and fidelity of 35 bats at 52 roosts (for a total of 544 days of observation), and roost emergence and return patterns...
Variation in pathogen load and the pathogen load–infectiousness relationship broaden avian malaria’s distribution
Christa Seidl, Katy L. Parise, Isaiah Ipsaro, Sarah Leach, Delson Hays, Ranger Morimoto, Kelsey Banister, Francisco Ferreria, Elizabeth C. Abraham, Jeffrey T. Foster, Eben H. Paxton, A. Marm Kilpatrick
2026, Nature Communications (17)
Two aspects of host infectiousness shape pathogen transmission and distribution but are underappreciated: the relationship between pathogen load and infectiousness, and variability in pathogen load within species. We quantified the relationship between host pathogen load (parasitemia) for avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and infectiousness for biting Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes with experimental infections in...
Background, methods, goals, challenges, opportunities, and information needs
Christine D. Miller Hesed, Heather M. Yocum, editor(s)
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5018-A
Understanding how climate change and variability will impact grassland ecosystems is crucial for successful grasslands management in the future. In 2020, the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center began a project to establish a baseline of information to best serve grassland managers (that is, those individuals who develop grassland management...
Using structured decision making to evaluate the tradeoffs of selective fish passage
Shane Flinn, Andrew M. Muir, Kelly Filer Robinson
2026, Conservation Science and Practice
Dams have dramatically altered rivers and are a major contributor to native fish population declines. However, many dams serve important ecological, social, and economic functions, such as flood control, invasive species control, and provision of recreational opportunities. Therefore, dam removal is often contentious among stakeholders and involves...
Preface to the focus section on intraplate earthquakes
Trevor I. Allen, Susan E. Hough, Oliver S. Boyd, Felix Waldhauser, Marcelo Assumpcao
2026, Seismological Research Letters (97) 619-625
More than a half century after plate tectonics provided an overarching framework to explain earthquakes along active plate boundaries, numerous theories have been proposed to explain where, why, and how often earthquakes occur well away from active plate boundaries, but a paradigm remains elusive. Even the classification of earthquakes away...
Post-wildfire water quality and aquatic ecosystem response in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: science and monitoring gaps
Sara Wall, Jana E. Compton, Ashley A. Coble, Beth M. Haley, Jiajia Lin, Allison Myers-Pigg, Justin Kevin Reale, Katie Wampler, Allison Swartz, Kevan Moffett, Kevin D. Bladon, Kurt Carpenter, Heejun Chang, Junjie Chen, David Donahue, Chris S. Eckley, Amanda K. Hohner, Peter M. Kiffney, Lorrayne Miralha, Peter Regier, Joshua Seeds, Mark River
2026, Environmental Research: Water
An increase in the occurrence of large, high severity wildfires in the western Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA, has created an urgent need for science to better inform forest management and policy decisions to maintain source water quality in the region. The western PNW faces similar challenges to other regions with...
Bascom Laser Diffraction Sedimentology Laboratory, Reston, Virginia
Grant D. Colip
2026, Fact Sheet 2025-3051
Introduction At the Bascom Laser Diffraction Sedimentology Laboratory, which is located in the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) headquarters in Reston, Virginia, scientists use physical sedimentology and particle characterization techniques to conduct detailed sediment characterization. Scientists address research problems in collaboration with other USGS science centers, State...
Stepovers and beyond: Structural control of The Geysers geothermal system and the broader Clear Lake region
Benjamin L. Melosh
2026, Conference Paper
Fault geometry exerts a first-order control on geothermal systems by governing stress localization, fracture development, and permeability, yet in complex fault networks or broader shear zones, the relative influence of individual geometric features is often difficult to resolve. In the northern California Coast Ranges, The Geysers geothermal field is commonly...
The petrogenesis of Þingmúli volcano, East Fjords, Iceland
Amanda L. Hughes, Joaquín A. Cortès, Dave McGarvie, Richard J. Moscati, Valerie Olive
2026, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (472)
In this work we revisit Þingmúli volcano (Þ = Th), a classic locality known as an example of a complete tholeiitic differentiation. Þingmúli is a ~ 9.5 Ma extinct central volcano located in the East Fjords of Iceland, in which the whole compositional spectrum from basalt to rhyolites have erupted. These volcanic products have been...
Ten new insights in climate science 2025
Daniel Ospina, Paula Mirazo, Richard P. Allan, Smriti Basnett, Ana Bastos, Nishan Bhattarai, Wendy Broadgate, Derik J. Broekhoff, Mercedes Bustamante, Deliang Chen, Yeonju Choi, Peter Cox, Luiz A. Domeignoz-Horta, Krislie Ebi, Pierre Friedlingstein, Thomas L. Frölicher, Sabine Fuss, Helge F. Goessling, Nicolas Gruber, Qingyou He, Sophie R. Hebden, Nadja Hedrich, Adrian Heilemann, Marina Hirota, Øivind Hodnebrog, Gustaf Hugelius, Santiago Izquierdo-Tort, Sirkku Juhola, Fumiko Kasuga, Piyu Ke, Douglas I. Kelley, Şiir Kilkiș, Maximilian Kotz, Nilushi Kumarasinghe, William F. Lamb, Shih-Yu Lee, Junguo Liu, Cara N. Maesano, Maria A. Martin, Guilherme G. Mazzochini, Christopher J. Merchant, Akira S. Mori, Jennifer Morris, Åsa Persson, Hans-Otto Pörtner, Benedict S. Probst, Justine Ramage, Estelle Razanatsoa, Aaron Redman, Johan Rockström, Regina Rodrigues, Sophie Ruehr, Sadie J. Ryan, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Peter Schlosser, William A. Scott, Jan C. Semenza, Hansjörg Seybold, Drew T. Shindell, Giles B. Sioen, Kathryn E. Smith, Youba Sokona, Annika H. Stechemesser, Thomas F. Stocker, Sophie H.L. Su, Djiby Thiam, Gregory Trencher, Anna-Maria Virkkala, Lila Warszawski, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Henry Wu, Shupeng Zhu
2026, Global Sustainability (9)
Interdisciplinary understanding is vital for delivering sound climate policy advice. However, navigating the ever-growing and increasingly diverse scholarly literature on climate change is challenging for any individual researcher. This annual synthesis highlights and explains recent advances across a variety of fields of climate change research. This year, the 10 insights...
