Regression models for estimating sediment, nutrient concentrations and loads at School Branch at Brownsburg, Indiana, June 2015 through February 2019
Myles S. Downhour, Aubrey R. Bunch, Timothy R. Lathrop
2021, Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5099
Sediment and nutrient transport in the School Branch watershed (in central Indiana west of Indianapolis) is considered to be heavily affected by agricultural land use throughout the watershed. In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, deployed continuous water-quality monitors and began collecting...
Groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Partridge River Basin and evaluation of hypothetical future mine pits, Minnesota
Megan J. Haserodt, Randall J. Hunt, Michael N. Fienen, Daniel T. Feinstein
2021, Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5038
The Partridge River Basin (PRB) covers 156 square miles in northeastern Minnesota with headwaters in the Mesabi Iron Range. The basin is characterized by extensive wetlands, lakes, and streams in poorly drained and often thin glacial material overlying Proterozoic bedrock. To better understand the interaction between these extensive surface water...
Monitoring and modeling tree bat (Genera: Lasiurus, Lasionycteris) occurrence using acoustics on structures off the mid-Atlantic coast—Implications for offshore wind development
Michael C. True, Richard J. Reynolds, W. Mark Ford
2021, Animals (11)
In eastern North America, “tree bats” (Genera: Lasiurus and Lasionycteris) are highly susceptible to collisions with wind energy turbines and are known to fly offshore during migration. This raises concern about ongoing expansion of offshore wind-energy development off the Atlantic Coast. Season, atmospheric conditions, and site-level characteristics such...
Groundwater hydrology and chemistry of Jamestown Island, Virginia—Potential effects of tides, storm surges, and sea-level rise on archaeological, cultural, and ecological resources
Kurt J. McCoy, Karen C. Rice, Ellyn Rickles, Dave Frederick, Jennifer Cramer, Dorothy Geyer
2021, Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5117
As the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, Jamestown Island, Colonial National Historical Park (COLO), Virginia, contains a rich archaeological record that extends from the Paleoindian period (15,000 to 8,000 years ago) through the 20th century. The island is located on the lower James...
Method for compiling temporally and spatially aggregated data on hydraulic fracturing—Treatments and wells
Brian A. Varela, Tanya J. Gallegos
2021, Open-File Report 2021-1090
This report provides a step-by-step method for compiling hydraulic fracturing data in the United States from the IHS Markit, 2019, U.S. Well History and Production Relational Database. Data on hydraulically fractured wells include their location (geologic province, State, county), well type (oil or gas), orientation (directional, horizontal, or vertical), spud...
Statistical methods used in research concerning endangered and threatened animal species of Puerto Rico: A meta-study
S.J. Rivera, K.M. Alpi, Jaime A. Collazo, M.K. Stoskopf
2021, Caribbean Journal of Science (51) 225-241
A concern about statistics in wildlife studies, particularly of endangered and threatened species, is whether the data collected meet the assumptions necessary for the use of parametric statistics. This study identified published papers on the nine endangered and six threatened species found only on Puerto Rico using five different databases....
Expanding freshwater biologger studies to view fish as environmental sensing platforms
Richard Kraus, Helen Bontrager, Chris Vandergoot, Matthew Faust
2021, Marine and Freshwater Research (73) 133-139
While recording fish habitat use by electronic sensors, biologgers can also be viewed as autonomous environmental monitoring systems with the organism as a vehicle. This dual perspective has provided novel results from marine ecosystems, but has not been applied to freshwater ecosystems. To understand limitations in fresh water,...
Geologic map of the State of Hawaii
David R. Sherrod, John M. Sinton, Sarah E. Watkins, Kelly M. Brunt
2021, Scientific Investigations Map 3143
This geologic map and its digital databases present the geology of the eight major islands of the State of Hawaiʻi. The map should serve as a useful guide to anyone studying the geologic setting and history of Hawai‘i, including ground- and surface-water resources, economic deposits, and landslide or volcanic hazards....
Causes, consequences, and conservation of ungulate migration
Matthew J. Kauffman, Ellen O. Aikens, Saeideh Esmaeili, Petra Kaczensky, Arthur Middleton, Kevin L. Monteith, Thomas A. Morrison, Thomas Mueller, Hall Sawyer, Jacob R. Goheen
2021, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (52) 453-478
Our understanding of ungulate migration is advancing rapidly due to innovations in modern animal tracking. Herein, we review and synthesize nearly seven decades of work on migration and other long-distance movements of wild ungulates. Although it has long been appreciated that ungulates migrate to enhance access to forage, recent contributions...
Appendix E: Mars nomenclature
Tenielle Gaither
2021, Book chapter, Discovering Mars
This appendix provides an overview of the history and current standards for Mars geographic nomenclature. The article describes the International Astronomical Union's approval process for planetary nomenclature, and discusses the role of USGS Astrogeology in managing the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature website and background database and...
Species invasion progressively disrupts the trophic structure of native food webs
Charles Wainright, Clint C. Muhlfeld, James J. Elser, Samuel Bourret, Shawn P. Devlin
2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (118)
Species invasions can have substantial impacts on native species and ecosystems, with important consequences for biodiversity. How these disturbances drive changes in the trophic structure of native food webs through time is poorly understood. Here, we quantify trophic disruption in freshwater food webs to invasion by an apex fish predator,...
Growth of the wildland-urban interface within and around U.S. National Forests and Grasslands, 1990-2010
Miranda H. Mockrin, Dave Helmers, Sebastian Martinuzzi, Todd Hawbaker, Volker C. Radeloff
2021, Landscape and Urban Planning (218)
The wildland-urban interface (WUI), where housing is in close proximity to or intermingled with wildland vegetation, is widespread throughout the United States, but it is unclear how this type of housing development affects public lands. We used a national dataset to examine WUI distribution and growth (1990–2010) in proximity to...
Synthesis of data and studies relating to Delta Smelt biology in the San Francisco Estuary, emphasizing water year 2017
Shawn Acuna, Randy Baxter, Aaron J. Bever, Larry R. Brown, Christina Burdi, Gonzalo Castillo, Louise Conrad, Steven Culberson, Lauren Damon, Jared Frantzich, Lenny Grimaldo, Bruce Hammock, April Hennessy, James A. Hobbs, Shruti Khanna, Peggy W. Lehman, Michael L. MacWilliams, Brian Mahardja, Andrew A. Schultz, Steven B. Slater, Ted Sommer, Swee Teh, Janet Thompson
2021, Interagency Ecological Program Technical Report 95
In the San Francisco Estuary (SFE), the effects of freshwater flow on the aquatic ecosystem have been studied extensively over the years and remains a contentious management issue. It is especially contentious with regards to the Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), a species endemic to the SFE that has been listed...
Geohydrologic and water-quality characterization of a fractured-bedrock test hole in an area of Marcellus Shale gas development, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
Dennis W. Risser, John H. Williams, Aaron D. Bierly
2021, Open-File Report OFMI 21-02.0
The stratigraphy, water-bearing zones, and quality of groundwater were characterized in a 1,400-ft-deep test hole drilled during 2013 in fractured bedrock in Sullivan County, Pa., by collection and analysis of measurements made during drilling, geophysical logs, and depth-specific hydraulic tests and water samples. The multidisciplinary characterization of the test hole...
Elevation and elevation-change maps of Fountain Creek, southeastern Colorado, 2015-20
Laura A. Hempel, Andrea L. Creighton, Andrew R. Bock
2021, Scientific Investigations Map 3481
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Springs Utilities, has collected topographic data annually since 2012 at 10 study areas along Fountain Creek, southeastern Colorado. The 10 study areas were located between Colorado Springs and the terminus of Fountain Creek at the Arkansas River in Pueblo. The purpose of...
System characterization report on Resourcesat-2 Advanced Wide Field Sensor
Shankar N. Ramaseri Chandra, Minsu Kim, Jon Christopherson, Gregory L. Stensaas, Cody Anderson
2021, Open-File Report 2021-1030-G
Executive SummaryThis report addresses system characterization of the Indian Space Research Organisation Resourcesat-2 Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence in 2021. These reports present...
Behavior and movement of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, August–December 2020
Tobias J. Kock, Gabriel S. Hansen, Scott D. Evans
2021, Open-File Report 2021-1099
A telemetry study was conducted during August–December 2020 to evaluate behavior and movement patterns of adult smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, Washington. A total of 40 smallmouth bass were collected, tagged, and released during August–September in seven distinct areas of the dam forebay and...
Northern bobwhite occupancy patterns on multiple spatial scales across Arkansas
E. V. Lassiter, M. Asher, G. Christie, C. Gale, A. Massey, C. Massery, C. R. MIddaugh, J. Veon, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
2021, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management (12) 502-512
Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus populations have been rapidly declining in the eastern, central, and southern United States for decades. Land use change and an incompatibility between northern bobwhite resource needs and human land use practices have driven declines. Here, we applied occupancy analyses on two spatial scales (state level and ecoregion level)...
Assessment of runoff volume reduction associated with soil amendments added to portions of highway median-strip catchments in Ohio, 2018–20
Matthew T. Whitehead, G. F. Koltun
2021, Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5114
The U.S. Geological Survey installed 10 rain gages and 12 calibrated H-flumes to measure rainfall and runoff volumes at 10 locations in Ohio Department of Transportation highway median-strip catchments. Data were collected to facilitate comparisons of rainfall and runoff volumes at study sites before and after stormwater best management practices...
Riverscape-scale modeling of fundamentally suitable habitat for mussel assemblages in an Ozark River system, Missouri
K. Keymanesh, Amanda E. Rosenberger, G. Lindner, Kristen L. Bouska, Stephen E. McMurray
2021, Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation (24) 43-58
Identifying the physical habitat characteristics associated with riverine freshwater mussel assemblages is challenging but crucial for understanding the causes of mussel declines. The occurrence of mussels in multispecies beds suggests that common physical factors influence or limit their occurrence. Fine-scale geomorphic and hydraulic factors (e.g., scour, bed stability) are predictive...
Diagenetic barite-pyrite-wurtzite formation and redox signatures in Triassic mudstone, Brooks Range, northern Alaska
John F. Slack, Ryan J. McAleer, Wayne (Pat) Shanks, Julie A. Dumoulin
2021, Chemical Geology (585)
Mineralogical and geochemical studies of interbedded black and gray mudstones in the Triassic part of the Triassic-Jurassic Otuk Formation (northern Alaska) document locally abundant barite and pyrite plus diverse redox signatures. These strata, deposited in an outer shelf setting at paleolatitudes of ~45 to 60°N, show widespread sedimentological evidence for...
Effects of culvert construction on streams and macroinvertebrate communities at selected sites in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama, 2010–19
Aaron L. Pugh, Amy C. Gill
2021, Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5096
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Transportation, evaluated the role of culvert construction in altering streams and habitats of benthic macroinvertebrate communities at selected study sites in the northern East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama during 2011–19. Analysis included examinations of changes in stream channel...
Establishing the foundation for the global observing system for marine life
Erin V. Satterthwaite, Nicholas J. Bax, Patricia Miloslavich, Lavenia Ratnarajah, Gabrielle Canonico, Daniel Dunn, Samantha E. Simmons, Roxanne J. Carini, Karen Evans, Valerie Allain, Ward Appeltans, Sonia Batten, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Anthony T. F. Bernard, R. Sky Bristol, Abigail Benson, Pier Luigi Buttigieg, Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger, Sanae Chiba, Tammy E. Davies, J. Emmett Duffy, Alfredo Giron-Nava, Astrid J. Hsu, Alexandra C. Kraberg, Raphael M. Kudela, Dan Lear, Enrique Montes, Frank Muller-Karger, Todd D. O’Brien, David Obura, Pieter Provoost, Sara Pruckner, Lisa-Maria Rebelo, Elizabeth R. Selig, Olav Sigurd Kjesbu, Craig Starger, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Marjo Vierros, John S. Waller, Lauren V. Weatherdon, Tristan Wellman, Anna Zivian
2021, Frontiers in Marine Science (8)
Maintaining healthy, productive ecosystems in the face of pervasive and accelerating human impacts including climate change requires globally coordinated and sustained observations of marine biodiversity. Global coordination is predicated on an understanding of the scope and capacity of existing monitoring programs, and the extent to which they use standardized, interoperable...
Evaluation of a “trace” plant density score in LTRM vegetation monitoring
Deanne C. Drake, Eric Lund, Kyle Bales
Carol Lowenberg, editor(s)
2021, Long Term Resource Monitoring Technical Report LTRM-2018BI03a
The Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program employs a harvest method for sampling submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) whereby a rake is dragged ~1.5 m over the substrate and plant materials are retrieved. “Plant density” (PD) scores indicate SAV abundance and are based on...
Improving the usability of Galileo and Voyager images of Jupiter’s moon, Europa
Michael T. Bland, Lynn A. Weller, Brent A. Archinal, Ethan Smith, Benjamin H Wheeler
2021, Earth and Space Science (8)
NASA's Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and Galileo spacecraft acquired hundreds of images of Jupiter's moon Europa. These images provide the only moderate- to high-resolution views of the moon's surface and are therefore a critical resource for scientific analysis and future mission planning. Unfortunately, uncertain knowledge of the...
