A population on the rise: The origin of deepwater sculpin in Lake Ontario
Amy B. Welsh, Kim T. Scribner, Wendylee Stott, Maureen Walsh
2017, Journal of Great Lakes Research (43) 863-870
Deepwater sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii, were thought to have been extirpated from Lake Ontario. However, in recent years, abundance has increased and recruitment has been documented. There are two hypotheses concerning the origin of the current Lake Ontario deepwater sculpin population. First, individuals from the upper Great Lakes may have recolonized...
Bridge scour countermeasure assessments at select bridges in the United States, 2014–16
Taylor J. Dudunake, Richard J. Huizinga, Ryan L. Fosness
2017, Open-File Report 2017-1048
In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration published Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 23 (HEC-23) to provide specific design and implementation guidelines for bridge scour and stream instability countermeasures. However, the effectiveness of countermeasures implemented over the past decade following those guidelines has not been evaluated. Therefore, in 2013, the U.S....
Oregon OCS seafloor mapping: Selected lease blocks relevant to renewable energy
Guy R. Cochrane, Lenaig G. Hemery, Sarah K. Henkel
2017, Open-File Report 2017-1045
In 2014 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) entered into Intra-agency agreement M13PG00037 to map an area of the Oregon Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off of Coos Bay, Oregon, under consideration for development of a floating wind energy farm. The BOEM requires seafloor...
Distance and environmental difference in alpine plant communities
George P. Malanson, Dale L. Zimmerman, Daniel B. Fagre
2017, Physical Geography (38) 489-505
Differences in plant communities are a response to the abiotic environment, species interactions, and dispersal. The role of geographic distance relative to the abiotic environment is explored for alpine tundra vegetation from 319 plots of four regions along the Rocky Mountain cordillera in the USA. The site by species data...
Host density increases parasite recruitment but decreases host risk in a snail-trematode system
Julia C Buck, R.F. Hechinger, A.C. Wood, T.E. Stewart, A.M. Kuris, Kevin D. Lafferty
2017, Ecology (98) 2029-2038
Most species aggregate in local patches. High host density in patches increases contact rate between hosts and parasites, increasing parasite transmission success. At the same time, for environmentally-transmitted parasites, high host density can decrease infection risk to individual hosts, because infective stages are divided among all hosts in a patch,...
U.S. Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers and U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center—Annual report for 2016
Sarah R. Weiskopf, Elda Varela Minder, Holly A. Padgett
2017, Open-File Report 2017-1033
Introduction2016 was an exciting year for the Department of the Interior (DOI) Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC). In recognition of our ongoing efforts to raise awareness and provide the scientific data and tools needed to address the...
Between hot rocks and dry places: The status of the Dixie Valley toad
Matthew J. Forrest, Josefin Stiller, Tim L. King, Greg Rouse
2017, Western North American Naturalist (77) 162-175
In Dixie Valley, Nevada, an isolated population of toads has been the subject of proactive conservation measures by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 2008 due to concerns about potential habitat degradation resulting from exploitation of nearby geothermal energy resources. These toads appear...
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
Madison L. Langseth, Leslie Hsu, Jon Amberg, Norman Bliss, Andrew R. Bock, Rachel T. Bolus, R. Sky Bristol, Katherine J. Chase, Theresa M. Crimmins, Paul S. Earle, Richard Erickson, A. Lance Everette, Jeff T. Falgout, John Faundeen, Michael N. Fienen, Rusty Griffin, Michelle R. Guy, Kevin D. Henry, Nancy J. Hoebelheinrich, Randall J. Hunt, Vivian B. Hutchison, Drew A. Ignizio, Dana M. Infante, Catherine Jarnevich, Jeanne M. Jones, Tim Kern, Scott Leibowitz, Francis L. Lightsom, R. Lee Marsh, S. Grace McCalla, Marcia McNiff, Jeffrey T. Morisette, John C. Nelson, Tamar Norkin, Todd M. Preston, Alyssa Rosemartin, Roy Sando, Jason T. Sherba, Richard P. Signell, Benjamin M. Sleeter, Eric T. Sundquist, Colin B. Talbert, Roland J. Viger, Jake F. Weltzin, Sharon Waltman, Marc Weber, Daniel J. Wieferich, Brad Williams, Lisamarie Windham-Myers
2017, Open-File Report 2017-1053
The Community for Data Integration (CDI) represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the U.S. Geological Survey and the CDI community. This annual report describes the various presentations, activities, and outcomes of the CDI monthly forums, working groups, virtual...
Persistence of historical population structure in an endangered species despite near-complete biome conversion in California's San Joaquin Desert
Jonathan Q. Richmond, Dustin A. Wood, Michael F. Westphal, Amy G. Vandergast, Adam D. Leache, Lawrence Saslaw, H. Scott Butterfield, Robert N. Fisher
2017, Molecular Ecology (26) 3618-3635
Genomic responses to habitat conversion can be rapid, providing wildlife managers with time-limited opportunities to enact recovery efforts that use population connectivity information that reflects predisturbance landscapes. Despite near-complete biome conversion, such opportunities may still exist for the endemic fauna and flora of California's San Joaquin Desert, but comprehensive genetic...
Estimates of immediate effects on world markets of a hypothetical disruption to Russia’s supply of six mineral commodities
Elena Safirova, James J. Barry, Sinan Hastorun, Grecia R. Matos, Alberto Alexander Perez, George M. Bedinger, E. Lee Bray, Stephen M. Jasinski, Peter H. Kuck, Patricia J. Loferski
2017, Open-File Report 2017-1023
The potential immediate effects of a hypothetical shock to Russia’s supply of selected mineral commodities on the world market and on individual countries were determined and monetized (in 2014 U.S. dollars). The mineral commodities considered were aluminum (refined primary), nickel (refined primary), palladium (refined) and platinum (refined), potash, and titanium...
Satellite-based water use dynamics using historical Landsat data (1984–2014) in the southwestern United States
Gabriel B. Senay, Matthew Schauer, MacKenzie Friedrichs, Naga Manohar Velpuri, Ramesh Singh
2017, Remote Sensing of Environment (202) 98-112
Remote sensing-based field-scale evapotranspiration (ET) maps are useful for characterizing water use patterns and assessing crop performance. The relative impact of climate variability and water management decisions are better studied and quantified using historical data that are derived using a set of consistent datasets and methodology. Historical (1984–2014) Landsat-based ET maps were generated for...
Estimating evaporative fraction from readily obtainable variables in mangrove forests of the Everglades, U.S.A.
Ali Levent Yagci, Joseph A. Santanello, John Jones, Jordan G. Barr
2017, International Journal of Remote Sensing (38) 3981-4007
A remote-sensing-based model to estimate evaporative fraction (EF) – the ratio of latent heat (LE; energy equivalent of evapotranspiration –ET–) to total available energy – from easily obtainable remotely-sensed and meteorological parameters is presented. This research specifically addresses the shortcomings of existing ET retrieval methods such as calibration requirements of...
A hierarchical model for estimating the spatial distribution and abundance of animals detected by continuous-time recorders
Robert Dorazio, K. Ullas Karanth
2017, PLoS ONE (12) 1-18
MotivationSeveral spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models have been developed to estimate animal abundance by analyzing the detections of individuals in a spatial array of traps. Most of these models do not use the actual dates and times of detection, even though this information is readily available when using...
Is GPS telemetry location error screening beneficial?
Kirsten E. Ironside, David J. Mattson, Terence R. Arundel, Jered R. Hansen
2017, Wildlife Biology
The accuracy of global positioning system (GPS) locations obtained from study animals tagged with GPS monitoring devices has been a concern as to the degree it influences assessments of movement patterns, space use, and resource selection estimates. Many methods have been proposed for screening data to retain the most accurate...
Long-term and widespread changes in agricultural practices influence ring-necked pheasant abundance in California
Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Kristy B. Howe, Joseph P. Fleskes, Ian Dwight, Daniel P. Connelly, Matt G. Meshriy, Scott C. Gardner
2017, Ecology and Evolution (7) 2546-2559
Declines in bird populations in agricultural regions of North America and Europe have been attributed to agricultural industrialization, increases in use of agrochemical application, and increased predation related to habitat modification. Based on count data compiled from Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) from 1974 to 2012, Christmas Bird Count (CBC) collected...
Habitat degradation affects the summer activity of polar bears
Jasmine V. Ware, Karyn D. Rode, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, David C. Douglas, Ryan H. Wilson, Eric V. Regehr, Steven C. Amstrup, George M. Durner, Anthony M. Pagano, Jay Olson, Charles T. Robbins, Heiko T Jansen
2017, Oecologia (184) 87-99
Understanding behavioral responses of species to environmental change is critical to forecasting population-level effects. Although climate change is significantly impacting species’ distributions, few studies have examined associated changes in behavior. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations have varied in their near-term responses to sea ice decline. We examined behavioral...
Designing a global assessment of climate change on inland fishes and fisheries: knowns and needs
Craig P. Paukert, Abigail J. Lynch, T. Douglas Beard Jr., Yushun Chen, Steven J. Cooke, Michael S. Cooperman, Ian G. Cowx, Dana M. Infante, Lilian Ibengwe, Bonnie Myers, Phu Hoa Nguyen, Ian J. Winfield
2017, Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries (27) 393-409
To date, there are few comprehensive assessments of how climate change affects inland finfish, fisheries, and aquaculture at a global scale, but one is necessary to identify research needs and commonalities across regions and to help guide decision making and funding priorities. Broadly, the consequences of climate change on inland...
Challenges for creating a site-specific groundwater-use record for the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system (central USA) from 1900 to 2010
Katherine J. Knierim, Anna M. Nottmeier, Scott C. Worland, Drew A. Westerman, Brian R. Clark
2017, Hydrogeology Journal (25) 1779-1793
Hydrologic budgets to determine groundwater availability are important tools for water-resource managers. One challenging component for developing hydrologic budgets is quantifying water use through time because historical and site-specific water-use data can be sparse or poorly documented. This research developed a groundwater-use record for the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system (central...
Comparative cophylogenetics of Australian phabine pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) and their feather lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)
Andrew D. Sweet, R. Terry Chesser, Kevin P. Johnson
2017, International Journal for Parasitology (47) 347-356
Host–parasite coevolutionary histories can differ among multiple groups of parasites associated with the same group of hosts. For example, parasitic wing and body lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of New World pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) differ in their cophylogenetic patterns, with body lice exhibiting higher phylogenetic congruence with their hosts than...
Using tri-axial accelerometers to identify wild polar bear behaviors
Anthony M. Pagano, Karyn D. Rode, A. Cutting, M.A. Owen, S. Jensen, J.V. Ware, C.T. Robbins, George M. Durner, Todd C. Atwood, M.E. Obbard, K.R. Middel, G.W. Thiemann, T.M. Williams
2017, Endangered Species Research (32) 19-33
Tri-axial accelerometers have been used to remotely identify the behaviors of a wide range of taxa. Assigning behaviors to accelerometer data often involves the use of captive animals or surrogate species, as their accelerometer signatures are generally assumed to be similar to those of their wild counterparts. However, this has...
Coastal bathymetry data collected in May 2015 from Fire Island, New York—Wilderness breach and shoreface
Timothy R. Nelson, Jennifer L. Miselis, Cheryl J. Hapke, Owen T. Brenner, Rachel E. Henderson, Billy J. Reynolds, Kathleen E. Wilson
2017, Data Series 1049
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, conducted a bathymetric survey of Fire Island from May 6-20, 2015. The USGS is involved in a post-Hurricane Sandy effort to map and monitor the morphologic evolution of the wilderness breach as...
Bedrock and structural geologic maps of eastern Candor Sulci, western Ceti Mensa, and southeastern Ceti Mensa, Candor Chasma, Valles Marineris region of Mars
Chris H. Okubo, Tenielle A. Gaither
2017, Scientific Investigations Map 3359
This map product contains a set of three 1:18,000-scale maps showing the geology and structure of study areas in the western Candor Chasma region of Valles Marineris, Mars. These maps are part of an informal series of large-scale maps and map-based topical studies aimed at refining current understanding of the...
Biotelemetery data for golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured in coastal southern California, February 2016–February 2017
Jeff A. Tracey, Melanie C. Madden, Jeremy B. Sebes, Peter H. Bloom, Todd E. Katzner, Robert N. Fisher
2017, Data Series 1051
Because of a lack of clarity about the status of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in coastal southern California, the USGS, in collaboration with local, State, and other Federal agencies, began a multi-year survey and tracking program of golden eagles to address questions regarding habitat use, movement behavior, nest occupancy, genetic...
Atmospheric deposition to forests in the eastern USA
Martin R. Risch, John F. DeWild, David A. Gay, Leiming Zhang, Elizabeth W. Boyer, David P. Krabbenhoft
2017, Environmental Pollution (228) 8-18
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition to forests is important because half of the land cover in the eastern USA is forest. Mercury was measured in autumn litterfall and weekly precipitation samples at a total of 27 National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) monitoring sites in deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests in 16...
Estimating thermal performance curves from repeated field observations
Evan Childress, Benjamin H. Letcher
2017, Ecology (98) 1377-1387
Estimating thermal performance of organisms is critical for understanding population distributions and dynamics and predicting responses to climate change. Typically, performance curves are estimated using laboratory studies to isolate temperature effects, but other abiotic and biotic factors influence temperature-performance relationships in nature reducing these models' predictive ability. We present a...
