Large-scale variation in density of an aquatic ecosystem indicator species
Chris Sutherland, Angela K. Fuller, J. Andrew Royle, Matthew P. Hare, Sean Madden
2018, Scientific Reports (8) 1-10
Monitoring indicator species is a pragmatic approach to natural resource assessments, especially when the link between the indicator species and ecosystem state is well justified. However, conducting ecosystem assessments over representative spatial scales that are insensitive to local heterogeneity is challenging. We examine the link between polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination...
The influence of neap-spring tidal variation and wave energy on sediment flux in salt marsh tidal creeks
Jessica R. Lacy, Matthew C. Ferner, John C. Callaway
2018, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (43) 2384-2396
Sediment flux in marsh tidal creeks is commonly used to gage sediment supply to marshes. We conducted a field investigation of temporal variability in sediment flux in tidal creeks in the accreting tidal marsh at China Camp State Park adjacent to northern San Francisco Bay. Suspended-sediment concentration (SSC), velocity,...
Mean composite fire severity metrics computed with Google Earth Engine offer improved accuracy and expanded mapping potential
Sean Parks, Lisa M. Holsinger, Morgan Voss, Rachel A. Loehman, Nathaniel P. Robinson
2018, Remote Sensing (10)
Landsat-based fire severity datasets are an invaluable resource for monitoring and research purposes. These gridded fire severity datasets are generally produced with pre-and post-fire imagery to estimate the degree of fire-induced ecological change. Here, we introduce methods to produce three Landsat-based fire severity metrics using the Google Earth Engine (GEE)...
Quantifying relative importance: Computing standardized effects in models with binary outcomes
James B. Grace, Darren Johnson, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Jarrett E. K. Byrnes
2018, Ecosphere (9)
Scientists commonly ask questions about the relative importances of processes, and then turn to statistical models for answers. Standardized coefficients are typically used in such situations, with the goal being to compare effects on a common scale. Traditional approaches to obtaining standardized coefficients were developed with idealized Gaussian variables in...
Faunal and stable isotopic analyses of benthic foraminifera from the Southeast Seep on Kimki Ridge offshore southern California, USA
Mary McGann, James E. Conrad
2018, Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (150) 92-117
We investigated the benthic foraminiferal faunal and stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of a 15-cm push core (NA075-092b) obtained on a Telepresence-Enabled cruise to the Southeast Seep on Kimki Ridge offshore southern California. The seep core was taken at a depth of 973 m in the vicinity of a...
Extreme drought alters frequency and reproductive success of floaters in Willow Flycatchers
Tad Theimer, Mark K. Sogge, Suzanne N. Cardinal, Scott L. Durst, Eben H. Paxton
2018, The Auk (135) 647-656
Changes in habitat quality, including those caused by extreme events like droughts and floods, could alter costs and benefits of territoriality and thereby the prevalence and reproductive consequences for individuals capable of breeding that do not do so (floaters). We studied floating behavior in a population of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers...
Groundwater flux estimation in streams: A thermal equilibrium approach
Yan Zhou, Garey A. Fox, Ron B. Miller, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer
2018, Journal of Hydrology (561) 822-832
Stream and groundwater interactions play an essential role in regulating flow, temperature, and water quality for stream ecosystems. Temperature gradients have been used to quantify vertical water movement in the streambed since the 1960s, but advancements in thermal methods are still possible. Seepage runs are a method commonly used to...
Mapping cropland fallow areas in myanmar to scale up sustainable intensification of pulse crops in the farming system
Murali Krishna Gumma, Prasad S. Thenkabail, Kumara Charyulu Deevi, Irshad A. Mohammed, Pardhasaradhi Teluguntla, Adam Oliphant, Jun Xiong, Tin Aye, Anthony M. Whittbread
2018, GIScience and Remote Sensing (55) 926-949
Cropland fallows are the next best-bet for intensification and extensification, leading to increased food production and adding to the nutritional basket. The agronomical suitability of these lands can decide the extent of usage of these lands. Myanmar’s agricultural land (over 13.8 Mha) has the potential to expand by another 50%...
Infection by Nanophyetus salmincola and toxic contaminant exposure in out‐migrating steelhead from Puget Sound, Washington: Implications for early marine survival
M.F. Chen, S. M. O’Neill, A. J. Carey, R. H. Conrad, B.A. Stewart, K. R. Snekvik, G. M. Ylitalo, Paul Hershberger
2018, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (30) 103-118
Out‐migrating steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss from four Puget Sound rivers and associated marine basins of Puget Sound in Washington State were examined for the parasite, Nanophyetus salmincola in 2014 to determine whether recent trends in reduced marine survival are associated with the presence of this pathogen. A subset of steelhead from three of these river–marine...
Long-term effects of fire and harvest on carbon stocks of boreal forests in northeastern China
Chao Huang, Hong S. He, Yu Liang, Zhiwei Wu, Todd Hawbaker, Peng Gong, Zhiliang Zhu
2018, Annals of Forest Science (75)
ContextBoreal forests represent about one third of forest area and one third of forest carbon stocks on the Earth. Carbon stocks of boreal forests are sensitive to climate change, natural disturbances, and human activities.AimsThe objectives of this study were to...
Mapping cropland waterway buffers for switchgrass development in the eastern Great Plains, USA
Yingxin Gu, Bruce K. Wylie
2018, Global Change Biology Bioenergy (10) 415-424
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a highly productive perennial grass, has been recommended as one potential source for cellulosic biofuel feedstocks. Previous studies indicate that planting perennial grasses (e.g., switchgrass) in high‐topographic‐relief cropland waterway buffers can improve local environmental conditions and sustainability. The main advantages of this land management practice include (i)...
Improved conventional PCR assay for detecting Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae DNA in fish tissues
Patrick R. Hutchins, Adam J. Sepulveda, Renee M. Martin, Lacey R. Hopper
2018, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (30) 164-170
Conventional PCR is an established method to detect Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonaeDNA in fish tissues and to confirm diagnosis of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) caused by T. bryosalmonae. However, the commonly used PKX5f‐6r primers were designed with the intention of obtaining sequence information and are suboptimal for determining parasite DNA presence. A new PCR...
A multi-species synthesis of satellite telemetry data in the Pacific Arctic (1987–2015): Overlap of marine mammal distributions and core use areas
John J. Citta, Lloyd F. Lowry, Lori T. Quakenbush, Brendan P. Kelly, Anthony S. Fischbach, Josh M. London, Chadwick V. Jay, Kathryn J. Frost, Gregory O’Corry Crowe, Justin A. Crawford, Peter L. Boveng, Michael Cameron, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Mark Nelson, Lois A. Harwood, Pierre Richard, Robert Suydam, Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen, Roderick C. Hobbs, Dennis I. Litovka, Marianne Marcoux, Alex Whiting, Amy S. Kennedy, John C. George, Jack Orr, Tom Gray
2018, Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (152) 132-153
We collated available satellite telemetry data for six species of ice-associated marine mammals in the Pacific Arctic: ringed seals (Pusa hispida; n = 118), bearded seals(Erignathus barbatus, n = 51), spotted seals (Phoca largha, n = 72), Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens, n = 389); bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus, n = 46), and five Arctic and sub-arctic stocks of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas, n = 103). We also included...
Remote sensing analysis of vegetation at the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona and surrounding area
Laura M. Norman, Barry R. Middleton, Natalie R. Wilson
2018, Journal of Applied Remote Sensing (12) 1-19
Mapping of vegetation types is of great importance to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and their management of forestry and fire fuels. Various remote sensing techniques were applied to classify multitemporal Landsat 8 satellite data, vegetation index, and digital elevation model data. A multitiered unsupervised classification generated over 900 classes...
Density and success of upland duck nests in native‐ and tame‐seeded conservation fields
Mark H. Sherfy, Michael J. Anteau, Terry L. Shaffer, Michael A. Johnson, Ronald E. Reynolds, James K. Ringelman
2018, Wildlife Society Bulletin (42) 204-212
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) generates substantial benefits to continental duck populations by providing grassland nesting habitat in rested cropland. Seeding mixes of CRP grasslands vary among numerous conservation practices, but one contrast of interest in the Prairie Pothole Region is the use of introduced, or “tame” versus native grass....
Estimating freshwater productivity, overwinter survival, and migration patterns of Klamath River Coho Salmon
Christopher V. Manhard, Nicholas A. Som, Russell W. Perry, Jimmy Faukner, Toz Soto
2018, Arcata Fisheries Technical Report TR 2018-33
An area of great importance to resource management and conservation biology in the Klamath Basin is balancing water usage against the life history requirements of threatened Coho Salmon. One tool for addressing this topic is a freshwater dynamics model to forecast Coho Salmon productivity based on environmental inputs. Constructing such...
Evaluation of social attraction measures to establish Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) nesting colonies for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, San Francisco Bay, California—2017 Annual Report
C. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Yiwei Wang, Cheryl Strong
2018, Open-File Report 2018-1090
Forster’s terns (Sterna forsteri), historically one of the most numerous colonial-breeding waterbirds in South San Francisco Bay, California, have had recent decreases in the number of nesting colonies and overall breeding population size. The South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project aims to restore 50–90 percent of former salt evaporation...
Construction and calibration of a groundwater-flow model to assess groundwater availability in the uppermost principal aquifer systems of the Williston Basin, United States and Canada
Kyle W. Davis, Andrew J. Long
2018, Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5158
The U.S. Geological Survey developed a groundwater-flow model for the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston Basin in parts of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota in the United States and parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan in Canada as part of a detailed assessment of the groundwater availability in...
Exposure-related effects of Zequanox on juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
James A. Luoma, Todd J. Severson, Jeremy K. Wise, Matthew Barbour
2018, Management of Biological Invasions (9) 163-175
The environmental fate, persistence, and non-target animal impacts of traditional molluscicides for zebra, Dreissena polymorpha, and quagga, D. bugensis, mussel control led to the development of the biomolluscicide Zequanox. Although previous research has demonstrated the specificity of Zequanox, one study indicated sensitivity of salmonids and lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, following non-label compliant exposures...
Managing salinity in Upper Colorado River Basin streams: Selecting catchments for sediment control efforts using watershed characteristics and random forests models
Fred D. Tillman, David W. Anning, Julian A. Heilman, Susan G. Buto, Matthew P. Miller
2018, Water (10)
Elevated concentrations of dissolved-solids (salinity) including calcium, sodium, sulfate, and chloride, among others, in the Colorado River cause substantial problems for its water users. Previous efforts to reduce dissolved solids in upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) streams often focused on reducing suspended-sediment transport to streams, but few studies have investigated...
Computing under-ice discharge: A proof-of-concept using hydroacoustics and the Probability Concept
John W. Fulton, Mark F. Henneberg, Taylor J. Mills, Michael S. Kohn, Brian Epstein, Elizabeth A. Hittle, William C. Damschen, Christopher D. Laveau, Jason M. Lambrecht, William H. Farmer
2018, Journal of Hydrology (562) 733-748
Under-ice discharge is estimated using open-water reference hydrographs; however, the ratings for ice-affected sites are generally qualified as poor. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, conducted a proof-of-concept to develop an alternative method for computing under-ice discharge using hydroacoustics and the Probability...
The Mystic subterrane (partly) demystified: New data from the Farewell terrane and adjacent rocks, interior Alaska
Julie A. Dumoulin, James V. Jones III, Stephen E. Box, Dwight Bradley, Robert A. Ayuso, Paul B. O’Sullivan
2018, Geosphere (14) 1501-1543
The youngest part of the Farewell terrane in interior Alaska (USA) is the enigmatic Devonian–Cretaceous Mystic subterrane. New U-Pb detrital zircon, fossil, geochemical, neodymium isotopic, and petrographic data illuminate the origin of the rocks of this subterrane. The Devonian–Permian Sheep Creek Formation yielded youngest detrital zircons of Devonian age, major...
Diel habitat selection of largemouth bass following woody structure installation in Table Rock Lake, Missouri
J.M. Harris, Craig P. Paukert, S.C. Bush, M.J. Allen, Michael Siepker
2018, Fisheries Management and Ecology (25) 107-115
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède) use of installed habitat structure was evaluated in a large Midwestern USA reservoir to determine whether or not these structures were used in similar proportion to natural habitats. Seventy largemouth bass (>380 mm total length) were surgically implanted with radio transmitters and a subset was relocated monthly during...
Synthesizing models useful for ecohydrology and ecohydraulic approaches: An emphasis on integrating models to address complex research questions
Shannon K. Brewer, Thomas Worthington, Robert Mollenhauer, David Stewart, Ryan McManamay, Lucie Guertault, Desiree Moore
2018, Ecohydrology (11) 1-26
Ecohydrology combines empiricism, data analytics, and the integration of models to characterize linkages between ecological and hydrological processes. A challenge for practitioners is determining which models best generalizes heterogeneity in hydrological behaviour, including water fluxes across spatial and temporal scales, integrating environmental and socio‐economic activities to determine best watershed management...
Trout in hot water: A call for global action
Clint C. Muhlfeld, Daniel C. Dauwalter, Ryan Kovach, Jeffrey L. Kershner, Jack E. Williams, John Epifanio
2018, Science (360) 866-867
Trout are one of the most culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxonomic groups of freshwater fishes worldwide (1). Native to all continents in the Northern Hemisphere, trout are a taxonomically diverse group of fishes belonging to 7 genera (Oncorhynchus, Salvelinus, Salmo, Hucho, Parahucho, Brachymystax, and Salvethymus) distributed across 52 countries....
