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Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

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At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
USGS1976

Enhydra and Enhydriodon from the Pacific Coast of North America

Two lineages of the "crab-eating" otter Erihydriodon , from the Old World Miocene and Pliocene, are suggested by the fossil record. One appears to lead to the late Pliocene Enhydriodon sivalensis from Villafranchian-equivalent beds in India and can be characterized by the presence of a parastyle on P 4 and by the location of the protocone of this tooth, which is located as far lingually as is the hypocone. In the other lineage no parastyle is developed on P 4 , the anteroposterior length of the carnassial blade is progressively reduced while the transverse width is increased, and the protocone of P 4 remains in its primitive position anterolateral to the hypocone. The second lineage, insofar as it is known, seems to lead toward the living sea otter Enhydra , particularly so because of the evolutionary direction shown by two species of Enhydriodon from the late Miocene and late Pliocene of California.

Pacific Ocean↗
USGS2024

Amphibian and reptile conservation in the United States of America

Wildlife stewardship is of utmost importance in the United States, where management for sustainable natural resources is extended to native species including amphibians and reptiles. The U.S. wildlife conservation framework is a nested system of authorities regulating species and habitats, science-based management and policy decisions, and adaptive management as new knowledge is applied to improve outcomes of population- and habitat-management actions. Yet the approach has evolved through time, from single-species management of game species to the conservation of entire ecosystems and the biodiversity they support. Today, the mismatch of conservation ideals with conservation capacity puts nongame species like amphibians and reptiles in the crosshairs for losses due to insufficient resources to address growing numbers of threats. Despite these challenges, optimism prevails, as the management and conservation of U.S. herpetofauna is an increasing priority of the public, with considerable investment into habitat restoration, species-specific threat mitigation, research, public outreach, and education. Herein, we outline key elements of U.S. herpetological conservation efficacy: (1) a web of legal authorities governing the management of U.S. herpetofauna and their habitats; (2) a network of people and organizations that work toward filling priority knowledge gaps by conducting scientific research and that are actively engaged in the science-management interface for species-to-ecosystem level conservation decision-making, and (3) a learning framework of adaptive management within the legal landscape (“lawscape”) and for improving effectiveness of conservation actions. Lastly, the human dimension of species conservation in the U.S. is emerging, where bottom-up local efforts are having success in addition to state- and regional-scale approaches. We propose U.S. herpetological conservation priorities under three themes: threats, research, and human dimensions (people). Together these multifaceted efforts are contributing to advances in the maintenance of U.S. amphibian and reptile diversity. The success of these efforts is notable and could be viewed as a model system, where lessons learned may apply elsewhere.

Book chapter↗
USGS2025

Pleistocene porcupine (Erethizontidae) records in arid southwestern North America and comparisons with the modern distribution of Erethizon dorsatum in southern California and Arizona

he North American porcupine ( Erethizon dorsatum ) is widely distributed throughout many ecosystems on the continent from northern Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, except for the southeastern portion of the United States. Habi­tats include the arid Desert Southwest region where modern records are generally sparse. The paleogeographic range in the Desert Southwest is not unlike the modern distribution of Erethizon , with some exceptions. Although there are early Pleistocene records of Erethizon for southern California, no late Pleistocene records (Rancholabrean North American Land Mammal Age [NALMA]) are known for Imperial, Inyo, Riverside, or San Bernardino Counties in southern California or in Mexico. This is surprising given late-Pleistocene records in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico and modern records from southern California and Mexico. Pleistocene habitats for porcupines were similar to those occupied today, just at different elevations due to differing climates. Modern preferred habitats in the Desert Southwest include conifer-clad high-elevation areas and associated pinyon pine / juniper belts, and occasionally riparian corridors in desert environments. The overall rarity of porcupines today in arid parts of the Desert Southwest is likely due to the combination of increasing aridity in the region during the Holocene, past persecution by humans, and increasing predator populations.

Arizona, California↗
USGS1971

Sea lampreys in the Great Lakes of North America

The movement of sea lampreys into the upper Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Huron) initiated a series of biological changes which have extended beyond the fish directly attacked by the parasite. The threat posed by the sea lamprey was not generally recognized until it was well established in all the lakes and had seriously affected the fisheries in Lakes Huron and Michigan. As the sea lamprey increased primarily at the expense of the valuable lake trout stocks and to a lesser degree other fish species, the need for research and concerted action became clear to the commercial fishery industry and fishery investigators of the United States and Canada.

Book chapter↗
USGS1999

Biogeographical profiles of shorebird migration in midcontinental North America

The biogeographic information described here will help identify the uniqueness of different regions of the plains to migrating shorebirds. Although shorebirds migrating along Atlantic and Pacific coastal areas are capable of long jumps between refueling stops, there is evidence that some species move short rather than long distances between refueling sites. Maps of distribution patterns and chronology accounts can lend insight towards understanding migration strategies of the different shorebird species. This report focuses on the distribution patterns of enroute migrants that refuel in interior wetlands during migration. We provide information on the spatial and temporal occurrence and habitat requirements for individual species and groups of species with the intent that this information be used in guiding management efforts.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana, Wyoming,↗