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The spring 2017 mainland sea otter count began on April 30, and although the shore-based counts were completed by May 12, 2017, the aerial counts were not completed until July 12, 2017. Overall viewing conditions this year were good, although not as good as conditions experienced during the 2016 spring census (View Score 2.4 versus 3.1, where 0=poor, 1=fair, 2=good, 3=very good, and 4=excellent). The surface canopies of kelp (Macrocystis sp.) were considered by most participants to be considerably below normal for this time of year in most areas of the mainland range. Sea otters along the mainland coast were surveyed from Pillar Point in San Mateo County in the north to Rincon Point in the south at the Santa Barbara/Ventura...
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This dataset represents an archived record of annual California sea otter surveys from 1985-2014. Survey procedures involve counting animals during the "spring survey" -- generally beginning in late April or early May and usually ending in late May early June but may extend into early July, depending on weather conditions. Annual surveys are organized by survey year and within each year, three shapefiles are included: census summary of southern sea otter, extra limit counts of southern sea otter, and range extent of southern sea otter. The surveys, conducted cooperatively by scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Monterey Bay Aquarium...
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Five principal components are used to represent the climate variation in an original set of 12 composite climate variables reflecting complex precipitation and temperature gradients. The dataset provides coverage for future climate (defined as the 2040-2070 normal period) under the RCP8.5 emission scenarios. Climate variables were chosen based on their known influence on local adaptation in plants, and include: mean annual temperature, summer maximum temperature, winter minimum temperature, annual temperature range, temperature seasonality (coefficient of variation in monthly average temperatures), mean annual precipitation, winter precipitation, summer precipitation, proportion of summer precipitation, precipitation...
We conducted a radio telemetry study of adult western spadefoots (Spea hammondii) at 2 sites in southern California to characterize their survival, behavior, and movements from breeding through aestivation to inform conservation and management for the species. These data support the following publication: Halstead, B.J., Baumberger, K.L., Backlin, A.R., Kleeman, P.M., Wong, M.N., Gallegos, E.A., Rose, J.P., and Fisher, R.N., 2021. Conservation implications of spatiotemporal variation in the terrestrial ecology of an ephemeral pool-breeding amphibian. The Journal of Wildlife Management.
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Accurate input data are important for making site-specific projections of tidal wetlands into the future. We developed bias-corrected digital elevation models (DEM) using the LEAN approach (LiDAR Elevation Adjustment with NDVI). LEAN DEMs were used as the initial elevation for model projections. Further, we conducted elevation and vegetation surveys across each study site to characterize elevation profiles of dominant species, which were used to inform organic productivity functions in WARMER-2.
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Twenty quadrats within the burn perimeter of a September 2021 wildfire outside of Boise, Idaho were surveyed for the abundance of fire effects, biocrusts and vascular plants immediately post-fire. The fire was too small to be named. Char was measured as a proxy for fire intensity. Biocrusts were surveyed by morphogroup (crustose lichens, cup lichens, fruticose lichens, gelatinous lichens, short moss, tall moss) and vascular plants were surveyed by functional group (annual forbs, perennial grasses). Char was measured ocularly and biocrust/plant abundance was measured via point-vertex intercept at 40 points per quadrat. These data support the following publication: Condon, L.A., Shinneman, D.J., Rosentreter, R. and...
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This dataset records mortality-- including involvement of bark beetles-- and burn severity information for trees in long term forest dynamics plots in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park that experienced fire. These data support the following publication: Furniss, T.J., Das, A.J., van Mantgem, P.J., Stephenson, N.L. and Lutz, J.A., 2021. Crowding, climate, and the case for social distancing among trees. Ecological Applications, p.e2507, https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2507
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The data represent hourly temperatures recorded at four permanent subtidal monitoring sites around San Nicolas Island, CA between November 2015 and October 2019. The temperatures were recorded by TidbiT (registered trademark) v2 model UTBI-001 (Onset Computer Corporation, Bourne, Massachusetts) archival temperature loggers attached at the sea floor. The loggers were deployed approximately 10-12 m deep at Nav Fac (12 m) on the north side of the island, at West End Urchin (11 m) on the southwest side, at east Dutch Harbor (11 m) on the south side, and at Daytona Beach (10 m) near the east end of the island.
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Data presented are results of surveys in 2021 for San Diego Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County. Surveys were conducted at 378 plots. Plots were surveyed twice in 2021 and the number, age (adult or juvenile), banding status (color banded or not), and breeding status (paired, unpaired, or unknown) of all wrens recorded. Habitat covariate data were collected including amount of dead and stressed cactus in the plot, percent cover of bare ground, and the dominant and percent cover of invasive species.
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These data represent trapping effort and captures of deer mice at Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California. Deer mice were captured and marked with ear tags to allow identification of individuals. The location of captures can be used in a spatially explicit capture recapture model to estimate density of mice and how mouse density varies by site and habitat type.
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We used free-ranging northern elephant seals as a model species to investigate maternal transfer of mercury (Hg) to pups in relation to maternal traits, including maternal blood mercury concentrations, and to quantify the links between pup lanugo mercury concentrations and maternal mesopelagic foraging behavior during gestation. We satellite tracked known-age adult females at sea during their seven-month-long foraging trip to determine maternal foraging strategies (geographic locations and diving depths) and quantified mercury concentrations in maternal blood and their pups’ blood and lanugo (which is defined as pup hair grown in utero) early in lactation when seals were hauled out. We then tested how the maternal...
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We used a hierarchical Bayesian modeling framework to estimate resource selection functions and survival for early and late brood-rearing stages of sage-grouse in relation to a broad suite of habitat characteristics evaluated at multiple spatial scales within the Great Basin from 2009 to 2019. Sage-grouse selected for greater perennial grass cover, higher relative elevations, and areas closer to springs and wet meadows during both early and late brood-rearing. Terrain characteristics, including heat load and aspect, were important in survival models, as was variation in shrub height. We also found strong evidence for higher survival for both early and late broods within previously burned areas, but survival within...
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Accurate elevation data in coastal wetlands is crucial for planning for sea-level rise. Elevation surveys were conducted across southwest Florida wetlands to provide ground validation of LiDAR as well as target long-term monitoring stations (surface elevation tables). Surveys were conducted in June 2021 across Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Clam Bay, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. A combination of post-processed kinematic GPS and differential levelling survey techniques were employed, depending on the canopy cover.
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The dataset consists of two csv files one for adult snakes and one for captive-reared juvenile snakes. The data contains start times (when snakes entered the study) and end times (when snakes died or were censored from the study) for survival analysis. The data also contains general information about the individual snakes (id, snout-vent length, treatment group, whether or not they were translocated), sex (juveniles only since adults were all female), surface activity (and data needed to calculate surface activity), and average distance moved between telemetry resighting. The above information was used as covariates in the survival models. These data support the following publication: Nguyen, A.M., Todd, B.D....
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Digital elevation model outputs from wetland accreting rate model of ecosystem resilience (WARMER) at ten year intervals from 2010-2110. Baseline elevations were collected with RTK GPS units and LiDAR elevations in non-surveyed areas were also corrected using LEAN method. Historical accretion rates were collected at each salt marsh and used to parameterize WARMER, predicting future elevations. These data support the following publication: Rosencranz JA, Thorne KM, Buffington KJ, et al. Sea‐level rise, habitat loss, and potential extirpation of a salt marsh specialist bird in urbanized landscapes. Ecol Evol. 2018;00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4196
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These datasets contain the attributes of individual trees located in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Attributes include remote sensing indices, terrain characteristics, and-- for the calibration data-- tree size and growth rates. Calibration data (mixedconifervulnerability_calibrationdataset.csv) were collected in long term research plots where trees are visited annually to check for mortality and periodically re-measured for diameter to capture growth. Validation data (mixedconifervulnerability_validationdataset.csv) were collected as part of a randomized sample located within a remote sensing 'flight box'. Remote sensing indices and terrain variables for both datasets were extracted from National...
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Understanding the rates and patterns of tidal wetland elevation changes relative to sea-level is essential for understanding the extent of potential wetland loss over the coming years. Using an enhanced and more flexible modeling framework of an ecosystem model (WARMER-2), we explored sea-level rise (SLR) impacts on wetland elevations and carbon sequestration rates through 2100 by considering plant community transitions, salinity effects on productivity, and changes in sediment availability. We incorporated local experimental results for plant productivity relative to inundation and salinity into a species transition model, as well as site-level estimates of organic matter decomposition. The revised modeling framework...
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The data represent 3 replicate measures of linear distance along 30 fixed transects on permanent subtidal monitoring sites around San Nicolas Island, CA. There were six sites, each of which had five 10-meter by 2-meter band transects on which a suite of kelps and macroinvertebrates was repeatedly counted over almost four decades. Although the transects are each approximately 10 m long, as measured with a meter tape extended between start and end eyebolts set in the sea floor, crevices, boulders, and reef structure provide much more than 20 square meters of surface area. In an effort to quantify the differences in rugosity between the transects, a 13 cm-circumference electronic surveyor’s wheel was used to measure...
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Conversion and fragmentation of wildlife habitat often leads to smaller and isolated populations and can reduce a species’ ability to disperse across the landscape. As a consequence, genetic drift can quickly lower genetic variation and increase vulnerability to extirpation. For species of conservation concern, quantification of population size and connectivity can clarify the influence of genetic drift in local populations and provides important information for conservation management and recovery strategies. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and capture-mark-recapture methods to evaluate the population structure, genetic diversity and abundance of seven focal sites of the endangered...
These data include potential Yuma Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) habitat classified from concurrently occurring Landsat images taken during telemetry field studies of and call count surveys for Yuma Ridgway's rail in 2016.


map background search result map search result map Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary Digital elevation model outputs from wetland accreting rate model of ecosystem resilience (WARMER) at ten year intervals from 2010-2110 Annual California Sea Otter Census - 1985-2014 Spring Census Summary Principal components of climate variation in the Desert Southwest for the future time period 2040-2070 (RCP 8.5) Western Spadefoot Habitat Selection Based on Radio Telemetry in Orange County, California 2019 WARMER-2 Model Inputs and Projections for Three Tidal Wetland Sites Across San Francisco Bay Estuary Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis Calibration and Validation Data and Model Coefficients for Mixed Conifer Vulnerability Project from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park 2015 to 2019 WARMER-2 Model Inputs for Three Tidal Wetland Sites Across San Francisco Bay Estuary Hourly Sea Floor Water Temperatures Recorded at Four Kelp Forest Monitoring Sites at San Nicolas Island, California (2015-2019) Linear Distance as a Measure of Substrate Rugosity of Permanent Benthic Transects at San Nicolas Island, California San Francisco Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) Genomic and Demographic Data from San Mateo County and Northeastern Santa Cruz County Collected Between 2016 - 2018 Rail Potential Habitat, Salton Sea, California, 2016 Elevation Survey Across Southwest Florida Coastal Wetlands, 2021 Fire Response Effects, Biocrust, and Vascular Plant Abundance Following Wildfire near Boise, Idaho (October 2021) Spatially-Explicit Predictive Maps of Greater Sage-Grouse Brood Selection Integrated with Brood Survival in Nevada and Northeastern California, USA Surveys and Monitoring of Coastal Cactus Wren in Southern San Diego County, 2021 Survival Data for Translocated Adults and Captive-Reared Juvenile Giant Gartersnakes in Sacramento County, California (2018-2021) Captures and Trapping Effort for Deer Mice (Peromyscus sonoriensis) at Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA from 2021 to 2022 Maternal Transfer of Mercury to Northern Elephant Seal Pups Survival Data for Translocated Adults and Captive-Reared Juvenile Giant Gartersnakes in Sacramento County, California (2018-2021) Hourly Sea Floor Water Temperatures Recorded at Four Kelp Forest Monitoring Sites at San Nicolas Island, California (2015-2019) Linear Distance as a Measure of Substrate Rugosity of Permanent Benthic Transects at San Nicolas Island, California Surveys and Monitoring of Coastal Cactus Wren in Southern San Diego County, 2021 Captures and Trapping Effort for Deer Mice (Peromyscus sonoriensis) at Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA from 2021 to 2022 Rail Potential Habitat, Salton Sea, California, 2016 Western Spadefoot Habitat Selection Based on Radio Telemetry in Orange County, California 2019 Fire Response Effects, Biocrust, and Vascular Plant Abundance Following Wildfire near Boise, Idaho (October 2021) Elevation Survey Across Southwest Florida Coastal Wetlands, 2021 Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary Digital elevation model outputs from wetland accreting rate model of ecosystem resilience (WARMER) at ten year intervals from 2010-2110 Annual California Sea Otter Census - 1985-2014 Spring Census Summary San Francisco Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) Genomic and Demographic Data from San Mateo County and Northeastern Santa Cruz County Collected Between 2016 - 2018 Spatially-Explicit Predictive Maps of Greater Sage-Grouse Brood Selection Integrated with Brood Survival in Nevada and Northeastern California, USA Principal components of climate variation in the Desert Southwest for the future time period 2040-2070 (RCP 8.5) Maternal Transfer of Mercury to Northern Elephant Seal Pups