Using spatiotemporal statistical models to estimate animal abundance and infer ecological dynamics from survey counts
Paul B. Conn, Devin S. Johnson, Jay M. Ver Hoef, Mevin Hooten, Joshua M. London, Peter L. Boveng
2015, Ecological Monographs (85) 235-252
Ecologists often fit models to survey data to estimate and explain variation in animal abundance. Such models typically require that animal density remains constant across the landscape where sampling is being conducted, a potentially problematic assumption for animals inhabiting dynamic landscapes or otherwise exhibiting considerable spatiotemporal variation in density. We...
Precision of hard structures used to estimate age of mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)
Carson J. Watkins, Tyler J. Ross, Ryan S. Hardy, Michael C. Quist
2015, Western North American Naturalist (75) 1-7
The mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) is a widely distributed salmonid in western North America that has decreased in abundance over portions of its distribution due to anthropogenic disturbances. In this investigation, we examined precision of age estimates derived from scales, pectoral fin rays, and sagittal otoliths from 167 mountain whitefish....
The effects of harvest regulations on behaviors of duck hunters
Matthew T. Haugen, Larkin A. Powell, Mark P. Vrtiska, Kevin L. Pope
2015, Human Dimensions of Wildlife: An International Journal (20) 15-29
Uncertainty exists as to how duck harvest regulations influence waterfowl hunter behavior. We used the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Parts Collection Survey to examine how harvest regulations affected behaviors of Central Flyway duck hunters. We stratified hunters into ranked groups based on seasonal harvest and identified three periods (1975–1984,...
Patterns of fish assemblage structure and habitat use among main- and side-channel environments in the lower Kootenai River, Idaho
Carson J. Watkins, Bryan S. Stevens, Michael C. Quist, Bradley B. Shepard, Susan C. Ireland
2015, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (144) 1340-1355
The lower Kootenai River, Idaho, was sampled during the summers of 2012 and 2013 to evaluate its fish assemblage structure at seven sites within main- and side-channel habitats where large-scale habitat rehabilitation was undertaken. Understanding the current patterns of fish assemblage structure and their relationships with habitat is important for...
Dispersal and survival of a polygynandrous passerine
Heather R. Craig, Steve J. Kendall, Teri C. Wild, Abby N. Powell
2015, The Auk (132) 916-925
Although sex biases in survival and dispersal are thought to be linked to avian mating systems, little is known about these demographic patterns in less common mating strategies such as polygynandry. We investigated breeding-site fidelity, natal philopatry, and apparent survival of the polygynandrous Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) over a 7-yr...
Observations on the migration of bacillus spores outside a contaminated facility during a decontamination efficacy study
Erin E. Silvestri, Sarah Perkins, Robert Lordo, William Kovacik, Tonya L. Nichols, Charlena Yoder Bowling, Dale W. Griffin, Frank W. Schaefer III
2015, Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense (6) 1-7
The potential for an intentional wide-area or indoor release of Bacillus anthracis spores remains a concern, but the fate and transport of B. anthracis spores in indoor and outdoor environments are not well understood. Some studies have examined the possibility of spore transport within ventilation systems and in buildings and...
Serologic evidence of influenza A (H14) virus introduction into North America
Neus Latorre-Margalef, Andrew M. Ramey, Alinde Fojtik, David E. Stallknecht
2015, Emerging Infectious Diseases (21) 2257-2259
Although a diverse population of influenza A viruses (IAVs) is maintained among ducks, geese, shorebirds, and gulls, not all of the 16 avian hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes are equally represented (1). The 14th HA subtype, commonly known as the H14 subtype, was historically limited to isolates from the former Soviet Union...
A replication of a factor analysis of motivations for trapping
Susan Schroeder, David C. Fulton
2015, Human Dimensions of Wildlife (20) 280-283
Using a 2013 sample of Minnesota trappers, we employed confirmatory factor analysis to replicate an exploratory factor analysis of trapping motivations conducted by Daigle, Muth, Zwick, and Glass (1998). We employed the same 25 items used by Daigle et al. and tested the same five-factor structure using a recent sample...
Examples of deformation-dependent flow simulations of conjunctive use with MF-OWHM
Randall T. Hanson, Jonathan A. Traum, Scott Boyce, Wolfgang Schmid, Joseph D. Hughes
2015, Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (372) 449-453
The dependency of surface- and groundwater flows and aquifer hydraulic properties on deformation induced by changes in aquifer head is not accounted for in the standard version of MODFLOW. A new USGS integrated hydrologic model, MODFLOW-OWHM, incorporates this dependency by linking subsidence and mesh deformation with changes in aquifer transmissivity...
Representativeness of soil samples collected to assess mining-related contamination of flood plains in southeast Kansas
Kyle E. Juracek
2015, Conference Paper, 2015 Joint Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling (SEDHYD 2015)
Historical lead and zinc mining in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), located in parts of southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma, has resulted in a substantial ongoing input of lead and zinc to the environment (Juracek, 2006; Juracek and Becker, 2009). In response to concern about the mining-related contamination,...
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...
Introduction to watershed ecosystem services: Chapter 1
Jefferson S. Hall, Robert F. Stallard, Vanessa Kirn
2015, Book chapter, Managing watersheds for ecosystem services in the steepland neotropics
Humans derive a great number of goods and services from terrestrial ecosystems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003, 2005). Some, like timber, fruits, bush meat, and other forest based food stuffs, are evident but others are not so obvious. Increasingly policy makers have realized the importance of forests and other ecosystems in...
Population characteristics of channel catfish near the northern edge of their distribution: implications for management
K. P. Carter-Lynn, Michael C. Quist
2015, Fisheries Management and Ecology (22) 530-538
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), populations in six lakes in northern Idaho, USA, were sampled to describe their population characteristics. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, 4864 channel catfish were sampled. Channel catfish populations had low to moderate catch rates, and length structure was dominated by fish <400 mm. Channel catfish were...
GOES-derived fog and low cloud indices for coastal north and central California ecological analyses
Alicia A. Torregrosa, Cindy Combs, Jeff Peters
2015, Earth and Space Science (3) 46-67
Fog and low cloud cover (FLCC) changes the water, energy, and nutrient flux of coastal ecosystems. Easy-to-use FLCC data are needed to quantify the impacts of FLC on ecosystem dynamics during hot, dry Mediterranean climate summers. FLCC indices were generated from 26,000 hourly night and day FLCC maps derived from...
Interactive access to LP DAAC satellite data archives through a combination of open-source and custom middleware web services
Brian N. Davis, Jason Werpy, Aaron M. Friesz, Kevin Impecoven, Robert Quenzer, Tom Maiersperger, David J. Meyer
2015, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters (3) 8-20
Current methods of searching for and retrieving data from satellite land remote sensing archives do not allow for interactive information extraction. Instead, Earth science data users are required to download files over low-bandwidth networks to local workstations and process data before science questions can be addressed. New methods of extracting...
Applied groundwater modeling, 2nd Edition
Mary P. Anderson, William W. Woessner, Randall J. Hunt
2015, Book
This second edition is extensively revised throughout with expanded discussion of modeling fundamentals and coverage of advances in model calibration and uncertainty analysis that are revolutionizing the science of groundwater modeling. The text is intended for undergraduate and graduate level courses in applied groundwater modeling and as a comprehensive reference...
Mercury concentrations of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) vary by sex
Charles P. Madenjian, James T. Francis, Jeffrey J. Braunscheidel, Joseph R. Bohr, Matthew J. Geiger, G. Mark Knottnerus
2015, Environments (2) 546-564
Patterns in relative differences in contaminant concentrations between the sexes across many species of fish may reveal clues for important behavioral and physiological differences between the sexes, and may also be useful in developing fish consumption advisories and efficient designs for programs meant to monitor contaminant levels in fish. We...
Facing a changing world: Thermal physiology of American pikas (Ochotona princeps)
Hans W Otto, James A Wilson, Erik A. Beever
2015, Western North American Naturalist (75) 429-445
American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are of concern with respect to warming montane temperatures; however, little information exists regarding their physiological ability to adapt to warming temperatures. Previous studies have shown that pikas have high metabolism and low thermal conductance, which allow survival during cold winters. It has been hypothesized that...
The continuing medical mystery of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy
Lynn M. Crosby, Calin A. Tatu, William H. Orem, Nikola Pavlovic MD PhD
2015, Journal of Rare Diseases (3) 22-37
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) is a disease of subtle onset and insidious progression that typically occurs between the 4th and 6th decade in long‐resident individuals in highly specific geographic locations of the Balkan region and affects 1 – 5% of the population. Though it does not follow typical Mendelian genetics,...
Effects of gill-net trauma, barotrauma, and deep release on postrelease mortality of Lake Trout
Elizabeth L. Ng, Jim P. Fredericks, Michael C. Quist
2015, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management (6) 265-277
Unaccounted postrelease mortality violates assumptions of many fisheries studies, thereby biasing parameter estimates and reducing efficiency. We evaluated effects of gill-net trauma, barotrauma, and deep-release treatment on postrelease mortality of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush. Lake trout were captured at depths up to 65 m with gill nets in Priest Lake, Idaho,...
Breeding ecology of Wandering Tattlers Tringa incana: a study from south-central Alaska
Robert E. Gill Jr., Pavel S. Tomkovich, Maksim N. Dementyev
2015, Wader Study Group Bulletin (122) 99-114
Montane-nesting shorebirds are arguably the least studied of the Charadriiformes, owing in part to the remoteness of their breeding areas, low nesting densities, and specialized behaviors. We studied a marked population of the Wandering Tattler Tringa incana, during a three-year period (1997–1999) on nesting grounds in south-central Alaska. Two aspects...
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...
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...
Relations between soil hydraulic properties and burn severity
John A. Moody, Brian A. Ebel, Petter Nyman, Deborah A. Martin, Cathelijne R. Stoof, Randy McKinley
2015, International Journal of Wildland Fire (25) 279-293
Wildfire can affect soil hydraulic properties, often resulting in reduced infiltration. The magnitude of change in infiltration varies depending on the burn severity. Quantitative approaches to link burn severity with changes in infiltration are lacking. This study uses controlled laboratory measurements to determine relations between a remotely sensed burn severity...
Distributional changes in the western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) in North America from 1967 to 2008
Alberto Macias-Duarte, Courtney J. Conway
2015, Journal of Raptor Research (49) 75-83
The quantification of shifts in bird distributions in response to climate change provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that influence species persistence. We used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to document changes in the distributional limits of the western Burrowing Owl...
