Hydrologic restoration in a dynamic subtropical mangrove-to-marsh ecotone
Rebecca J. Howard, Richard H. Day, Ken W. Krauss, Andrew S. From, Larry K. Allain, Nicole Cormier
2017, Restoration Ecology (25) 471-482
Extensive hydrologic modifications in coastal regions across the world have occurred to support infrastructure development, altering the function of many coastal wetlands. Wetland restoration success is dependent on the existence of hydrologic regimes that support development of appropriate soils and the growth and persistence of wetland vegetation. In Florida, United...
Groundwater response to the 2014 pulse flow in the Colorado River Delta
Jeffrey R. Kennedy, Eliana Rodriguez-Burgueno, Jorge Ramirez-Hernandez
2017, Ecological Engineering (106) 715-724
During the March-May 2014 Colorado River Delta pulse flow, approximately 102 × 106 m3 (82,000 acre-feet) of water was released into the channel at Morelos Dam, with additional releases further downstream. The majority of pulse flow water infiltrated and recharged the regional aquifer. Using groundwater-level and microgravity data we mapped the spatial and...
Breeding birds in managed forests on public conservation lands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Daniel J. Twedt, R. Randy Wilson
2017, Forest Ecology and Management (384) 180-190
Managers of public conservation lands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley have implemented forest management strategies to improve bottomland hardwood habitat for target wildlife species. Through implementation of various silvicultural practices, forest managers have sought to attain forest structural conditions (e.g., canopy cover, basal area, etc.) within values postulated to benefit wildlife....
Climate, invasive species and land use drive population dynamics of a cold-water specialist
Ryan P. Kovach, Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, Diane C. Whited, David A. Schmetterling, Andrew M. Dux, Clint C. Muhlfeld
2017, Journal of Applied Ecology (54) 638-647
Climate change is an additional stressor in a complex suite of threats facing freshwater biodiversity, particularly for cold-water fishes. Research addressing the consequences of climate change on cold-water fish has generally focused on temperature limits defining spatial distributions, largely ignoring how climatic variation influences population dynamics in...
Assessments of species' vulnerability to climate change: From pseudo to science
Alisa A. Wade, Brian K. Hand, Ryan Kovach, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Robin S. Waples, Gordon Luikart
2017, Biodiversity and Conservation (26) 223-229
Climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) are important tools to plan for and mitigate potential impacts of climate change. However, CCVAs often lack scientific rigor, which can ultimately lead to poor conservation prioritization and associated ecological and economic costs. We discuss the need to improve comparability and consistency of CCVAs and...
A history of the 2014 Minute 319 environmental pulse flow asdocumented by field measurements and satellite imagery
Steven M. Nelson, Jorge Ramirez-Hernandez, J. Eliana Rodriguez-Burgeueno, Jeff Milliken, Jeffrey R. Kennedy, Francisco Zamora-Arroyo, Karen Schlatter, Edith Santiago-Serrano, Edgar Carrera-Villa
2017, Ecological Engineering (106) 733-748
As provided in Minute 319 of the U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty of 1944, a pulse flow of approximately 132 million cubic meters (mcm) was released to the riparian corridor of the Colorado River Delta over an eight-week period that began March 23, 2014 and ended May 18, 2014. Peak flows were...
A landscape-scale assessment of above- and belowground primary production in coastal wetlands: Implications for climate change-induced community shifts
Camille L. Stagg, Donald R. Schoolmaster Jr., Sarai C. Piazza, Gregg Snedden, Gregory D. Steyer, Craig J Fischenich, Robert W. McComas
2017, Estuaries and Coasts (40) 856-879
Above- and belowground production in coastal wetlands are important contributors to carbon accumulation and ecosystem sustainability. As sea level rises, we can expect shifts to more salt-tolerant communities, which may alter these ecosystem functions and services. Although the direct influence of salinity on species-level primary production has been documented, we...
Improving spatio-temporal benefit transfers for pest control by generalist predators in cotton in the southwestern U.S.
Ruscena Wiederholt, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Gary F. McCracken, Jay E. Diffendorfer, John B. Loomis, Darius J. Semmens, Amy L. Russell, Chris Sansone, Kelsie LaSharr, Paul M. Cryan, Claudia Reynoso, Rodrigo A. Medellin, Laura Lopez-Hoffman
2017, International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management (13) 27-39
Given rapid changes in agricultural practice, it is critical to understand how alterations in ecological, technological, and economic conditions over time and space impact ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Here, we present a benefit transfer approach to quantify cotton pest-control services provided by a generalist predator, the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida...
Possibility and challenges of conversion of current virus species names to Linnaean binomials
Postler Thomas, Anna N. Clawson, Gaya K. Amarasinghe, Christopher F. Basler, Sina Bavari, Maria Benko, Kim R. Blasdell, Thomas Briese, Michael J. Buchmeier, Alexander Bukreyev, Charles H. Calisher, Kartik Chandran, Remi Charrel, Christopher S. Clegg, Peter L. Collins, Juan Carlos De la Torre, Joseph L. DeRisi, Ralf G. Dietzgen, Olga Dolnik, Ralf Durrwald, John M. Dye, Andrew J. Easton, Sebastian Emonet, Pierre Formenty, Ron A. M. Fouchier, Elodie Ghedin, Jean-Paul Gonzalez, Balazs Harrach, Roger Hewson, Masayuki Horie, Daohong Jiang, Gary P. Kobinger, Hideki Kondo, Andrew Kropinski, Mart Krupovic, Gael Kurath, Robert A. Lamb, Eric M. Leroy, Igor S. Lukashevich, Andrea Maisner, Arcady Mushegian, Sergey V. Netesov, Norbert Nowotny, Jean L. Patterson, Susan L. Payne, Janusz T. Paweska, C.J. Peters, Sheli Radoshitzky, Bertus K. Rima, Victor Romanowski, Dennis Rubbenstroth, Sead Sabanadzovic, Helene Sanfacon, Maria Salvato, Martin Schwemmle, Sophie J. Smither, Mark Stenglein, D.M. Stone, Ayato Takada, Robert B. Tesh, Keizo Tomonaga, N. Tordo, Jonathan S. Towner, Nikos Vasilakis, Victor E. Volchkov, Victoria Jensen, Peter J. Walker, Lin-Fa Wang, Arvind Varsani, Anna E. Whitfield, Francisco Murilo Zerbini, Jens H. Kuhn
2017, Systematic Biology (66) 463-473
Botanical, mycological, zoological, and prokaryotic species names follow the Linnaean format, consisting of an italicized Latinized binomen with a capitalized genus name and a lower case species epithet (e.g., Homo sapiens). Virus species names, however, do not follow a uniform format, and, even when binomial, are not Linnaean in style. In...
Larval aquatic insect responses to cadmium and zinc in experimental streams
Christopher A. Mebane, Travis S. Schmidt, Laurie S. Balistrieri
2017, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (36) 749-762
To evaluate the risks of metal mixture effects to natural stream communities under ecologically relevant conditions, the authors conducted 30-d tests with benthic macroinvertebrates exposed to cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in experimental streams. The simultaneous exposures were with Cd and Zn singly and with Cd+Zn mixtures at environmentally relevant...
Camera system considerations for geomorphic applications of SfM photogrammetry
Adam R. Mosbrucker, Jon J. Major, Kurt R. Spicer, John Pitlick
2017, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (42) 969-986
The availability of high-resolution, multi-temporal, remotely sensed topographic data is revolutionizing geomorphic analysis. Three-dimensional topographic point measurements acquired from structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry have been shown to be highly accurate and cost-effective compared to laser-based alternatives in some environments. Use of consumer-grade digital cameras to generate terrain models and derivatives is...
Mangrove expansion and contraction at a poleward range limit: Climate extremes and land-ocean temperature gradients
Michael J. Osland, Richard H. Day, Courtney T. Hall, Marisa D Brumfield, Jason Dugas, William R. Jones
2017, Ecology (98) 125-137
Within the context of climate change, there is a pressing need to better understand the ecological implications of changes in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. Along subtropical coasts, less frequent and warmer freeze events are expected to permit freeze-sensitive mangrove forests to expand poleward and displace freeze-tolerant salt...
Virulence and biodegradation potential of dynamic microbial communities associated with decaying Cladophora in Great Lakes
Chan Lan Chun, Julie R. Peller, Dawn Shively, Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli, Richard L. Whitman, Christopher Staley, Qian Zhang, Satoshi Ishii, Michael J. Sadowsky
2017, Science of the Total Environment (574) 872-880
Cladophora mats that accumulate and decompose along shorelines of the Great Lakes create potential threats to the health of humans and wildlife. The decaying algae create a low oxygen and redox potential environment favoring growth and persistence of anaerobic microbial populations, including Clostridium botulinum, the causal agent of botulism in...
Maternal androgens in avian brood parasites and their hosts: responses to parasitism and competition?
Caldwell Hahn, John C. Wingfield, David M. Fox, Brian G. Walker, Jill E Thomley
2017, General and Comparative Endocrinology (240) 143-152
In the coevolutionary dynamic of avian brood parasites and their hosts, maternal (or transgenerational) effects have rarely been investigated. We examined the potential role of elevated yolk testosterone in eggs of the principal brood parasite in North America, the brown-headed cowbird, and three of its frequent host species. Elevated maternal...
Analysis of local slopes at the InSight landing site on Mars
Robin L. Fergason, Randolph L. Kirk, Glen E. Cushing, Donna M. Galuszka, Matthew P. Golombek, Trent M. Hare, Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Devin M Kipp, Bonnie L. Redding
2017, Space Science Reviews (211) 109-133
To evaluate the topography of the surface within the InSight candidate landing ellipses, we generated Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) at lander scales and those appropriate for entry, descent, and landing simulations, along with orthoimages of both images in each stereopair, and adirectional slope images. These products were used to assess...
Retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic literature, 1990–2015, on wildlife-associated diseases from the Republic of Korea
Jusun Hwang, Kyunglee Lee, Young-Jun Kim, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Hang Lee
2017, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (53) 5-18
To assess the status of research on wildlife diseases in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to identify trends, knowledge gaps, and directions for future research, we reviewed epidemiologic publications on wildlife-associated diseases in the ROK. We identified a relatively small but rapidly increasing body of literature. The majority of...
Characterizing the Kathmandu Valley sediment response through strong motion recordings of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake sequence
S. Rajaure, Domniki Asimaki, Eric M. Thompson, Susan E. Hough, Stacey Martin, J.P. Ampuero, M.R. Dhital, A Inbal, N Takai, M. Shigefuji, S Bijukchhen, M Ichiyanagi, T Sasatani, L Paudel
2017, Tectonophysics (714-715) 146-157
We analyze strong motion records and high-rate GPS measurements of the M 7.8 Gorkha mainshock, M 7.3 Dolakha, and two moderate aftershock events recorded at four stations on the Kathmandu basin sediments, and one on rock-outcrop. Recordings on soil from all four events show systematic amplification relative to the rock...
Ion-adsorption REEs in regolith of the Liberty Hill pluton, South Carolina, USA: An effect of hydrothermal alteration
Carleton R. Bern, Tiffany Yesavage, Nora K. Foley
2017, Journal of Geochemical Exploration (172) 29-40
Ion-adsorbed rare earth element (REE) deposits supply the majority of world heavy REE production and substantial light REE production, but relatively little is known of their occurrence outside Southeast Asia. We examined the distribution and forms of REEs on a North American pluton located in the highly weathered and slowly...
Migratory delay leads to reduced passage success of Atlantic salmon smolts at a hydroelectric dam
Daniel Nyqvist, L. Greenberg, E. Goerig, O. Calles, E. Bergman, William R. Ardren, Theodore R. Castro-Santos
2017, Ecology of Freshwater Fish (26) 707-718
Passage of fish through hydropower dams is associated with mortality, delay, increased energy expenditure and migratory failure for migrating fish and the need for remedial measures for both upstream and downstream migration is widely recognised. A functional fish passage must ensure safe and timely passage routes that a substantial portion...
Logging impacts on avian species richness and composition differ across latitudes relative to foraging and breeding habitat preferences
Joseph A. LaManna, Thomas E. Martin
2017, Biological Reviews (92) 1657-1674
Understanding the causes underlying changes in species diversity is a fundamental pursuit of ecology. Animal species richness and composition often change with decreased forest structural complexity associated with logging. Yet differences in latitude and forest type may strongly influence how species diversity responds to logging. We performed a meta-analysis of...
Channel-planform evolution in four rivers of Olympic National Park, Washington, U.S.A.: The roles of physical drivers and trophic cascades
Amy E. East, Kurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, Jennifer A. Bountry, Timothy J. Beechie, Mark C. Mastin, Joel B. Sankey, Timothy J. Randle
2017, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (42) 1011-1032
Identifying the relative contributions of physical and ecological processes to channel evolution remains a substantial challenge in fluvial geomorphology. We use a 74-year aerial photographic record of the Hoh, Queets, Quinault, and Elwha Rivers, Olympic National Park, Washington, U.S.A., to investigate whether physical or trophic-cascade-driven ecological factors—excessive elk impacts after...
Selecting focal species as surrogates for imperiled species using relative sensitivities derived from occupancy analysis
Amy Silvano, Craig Guyer, Todd Steury, J. Barry Grand
2017, Ecological Indicators (73) 302-311
Most imperiled species are rare or elusive and difficult to detect, which makes gathering data to estimate their response to habitat restoration a challenge. We used a repeatable, systematic method for selecting focal species using relative sensitivities derived from occupancy analysis. Our objective was to select suites of focal species...
Incorporating temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions into a somatic growth model
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael D. Yard, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer
2017, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (74) 316-326
Evaluating environmental effects on fish growth can be challenging because environmental conditions may vary at relatively fine temporal scales compared to sampling occasions. Here we develop a Bayesian state-space growth model to evaluate effects of monthly environmental data on growth of fish that are observed less frequently (e.g., from mark-recapture...
Factors influencing movement of two migratory fishes within the tailrace of a large neotropical dam and their implications for hydropower impacts
F. M. Suzuki, Jason B. Dunham, L. G. M. Silva, C. B. M. Alves, P.S. Pompeu
2017, River Research and Applications (33) 514-523
Fish attempting to move upstream through hydroelectric dams can be trapped and killed in turbines. Understanding fish movement patterns can provide useful insights for how to manage dam operations to minimize fish kill in turbines. We evaluated the movements of two migratory fish (Curimba-Prochilodus argenteus and Mandi-Pimelodus maculatus) using acoustic...
Golden Eagle fatalities and the continental-scale consequences of local wind-energy generation
Todd E. Katzner, David M. Nelson, Melissa A. Braham, Jacqueline M. Doyle, Nadia B. Fernandez, Adam E. Duerr, Peter H. Bloom, Matthew C. Fitzpatrick, Tricia A. Miller, Renee C. E. Culver, Loan Braswell, J. Andrew DeWoody
2017, Conservation Biology (31) 406-415
Renewable energy production is expanding rapidly despite mostly unknown environmental effects on wildlife and habitats. We used genetic and stable isotope data collected from Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) killed at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) in California in demographic models to test hypotheses about the geographic extent and...
