Common loon winter archival geolocator tag location data

Breeding common loons were obtained for the movement and foraging pattern study from lakes in central and northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Both adults of a territorial pair were fitted with archival geolocator tags (Model LAT 2500; 34.6 x 8.3 mm, 4.4 g; Lotek Wireless Inc.). A combination of adhesive and plastic cable ties were used to affix the geolocator tag to a modified lock-on aluminum leg band. Tags were programmed to collect daily location estimates for up to two years, tag temperature (0.02 oC accuracy, ≤ 0.05 oC resolution) at 30-min intervals, and pressure data (±1% accuracy, 0.05% resolution) at 20-sec intervals during daylight hours to document foraging patterns...

Categories: Data; Tags: Atlantic Ocean, Gavia immer, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Minnesota, All tags... Southeastern U.S., Upper Midwest, Upper Penninsula of Michigan, Wisconsin, archival geolocator tag, biota, common loon, migratory birds, none, species biology, wintering areas, Fewer tags

Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) for Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program

These scripts prepare input files and run a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) draw to select sampling locations for the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Data: Canada

Power analysis for monarchs and milkweed code

These scripts perform power analyses for milkweed, monarch eggs, and adult monarchs. Milkweed and eggs are simulated together; adults are simulated separately. Scripts test for either 1) power to detect trends or 2) power to detect differences among land-use sectors in density-when-present, as indicated in the file names. For demonstration purposes, each script runs only a small subset of scenarios and replicates, which finishes in a few minutes; the full set would take days to run unless performed in parallel on a supercomputer. Weiser_MMPower_Code0_PowerAnalysis_functions.r provides source code for functions that are used in the other scripts; scripts 1-4 are independent of one another.

In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Gaussian Process Model Predictions for the Spread of White-Nose Syndrome across North America

A dataset consisting of the documented year of first arrival of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) at 596 locations across North America was used to fit a Gaussian process model. The model allows prediction of the year of first arrival of Pd at arbitrary locations. The included dataset consists of these predictions which span the North American continent.

Categories: Data, Data Release - In Progress; Tags: North America, bats, extinction and extirpation, farming, statistical analysis, All tags... wildlife disease, Fewer tags

Bat Research

The following datasets are associated with USGS research projects and USGS's Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.

R code: Landscape- and local-level variables associated with monarch breeding occurrence and abundance at patches in Wisconsin grasslands

This code file accompanies a manuscript describing associations of monarch breeding occurrence and abundance with landscape and local characteristics at locations in northern and southern Wisconsin. Context for the study can be obtained from the manuscript (Bruce (nee Harnsberger), A.S., Thogmartin, W.E., Trosen, C., Oberhauser, K., and Gratton, C., In-Press, Landscape- and local- level variables affect monarchs at patches in Midwest grasslands: Landscape Ecology), metadata for covariate information, and comments within the code. Users interested in the specific models examined in the course of this study may run this code with the associated data file, monarch2020_021920.csv. Data associated with code were collected...

North American duck populations and the Central U.S. hunters who hunt them

This data file is in long format, comprising time series of hunter abundance and behavior and duck abundance. Hunter information varies by administrative flyway (Mississippi and Central), whereas duck population abundance is summarized for both the Prairie Pothole Region and the continent. Duck information for the Prairie Pothole Region is for the U.S. portion only (Strata 41-49 of the May waterfowl survey) and for 12 duck species, mallard, American wigeon, blue-winged teal, canvasback, gadwall, lesser and greater scaup, green-winged teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, redhead, ring-necked duck, and ruddy duck.

Categories: Data; Tags: North America, Prairie Pothole Region, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Wildlife Biology, biota, All tags... duck, hunter behavior, hunter harvest, Fewer tags

Annotations of avian objects in aerial imagery over Lake Michigan and Cape Cod

This dataset is a collection of species identification values that pair with cropped images of avian targets.

Tags: Cape Cod, Lake Michigan, biota, birds, migratory species, All tags... remote sensing, Fewer tags

Effects of exposure to ambient UV-B on embryos of Anaxyrus canorus and Pseudacris regilla at various breeding sites near Tioga Pass, California, USA, in 1996 and 1998

We produced this data set as part of a larger, integrated study to assess the statuses of populations of Anaxyrus canorus and the causes of observed effects on fitness at field sites, primarily in Yosemite National Park near Tioga Pass, from 1996 to 2001. ENCLOSURES We used field enclosures to test the hypothesis that exposure to ambient UV-B caused embryo mortality in 1996 and 1998. We covered the top of each enclosure with one or two types of thin plastic sheeting. One type was transparent to the solar spectrum. The other type filtered UV-B below 314 nm (UV-B<314) but was otherwise transparent to solar radiation. Laying both types together over the top of an enclosure did not alter the transmission characteristics...

Categories: Data; Tags: Inyo National Forest, Saprolegnia diclina, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada, Tioga Pass, CA, All tags... UV-B, Yosemite National Park, biota, disease, embryo mortality, freezing, predatory flatworms, sub-alpine wetlands, Fewer tags

Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons: Data

The concentrations of selected metals (mercury [Hg], lead, cadmium, selenium [Se], and aluminum) were determined in common loon (Gavia immer) blood samples collected from across a broad area of Minnesota. The observed pattern of loon Hg exposure was related to Hg concentrations in a standardized 12-cm whole organism yellow perch (Perca flavescens), based on fish Hg records from lakes throughout Minnesota, using the U.S. Geological Survey National Descriptive Model for Mercury in Fish.

Categories: Data; Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Aitkin County, Minnesota, USA, Anoka County, Minnesota, USA, Becker County, Minnesota, USA, Beltrami County, Minnesota, USA, Benton County, Minnesota, USA, All tags... Big Stone County, Minnesota, USA, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, USA, Brown County, Minnesota, USA, Carlton County, Minnesota, USA, Carver County, Minnesota, USA, Cass County, Minnesota, USA, Chippewa County, Minnesota, USA, Chisago County, Minnesota, USA, Clay County, Minnesota, USA, Clearwater County, Minnesota, USA, Cook County, Minnesota, USA, Cottonwood County, Minnesota, USA, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, USA, Dakota County, Minnesota, USA, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA, Faribault County, Minnesota, USA, Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA, Freeborn County, Minnesota, USA, Goodhue County, Minnesota, USA, Grant County, Minnesota, USA, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA, Houston County, Minnesota, USA, Hubbard County, Minnesota, USA, Isanti County, Minnesota, USA, Itasca County, Minnesota, USA, Jackson County, Minnesota, USA, Kanabec County, Minnesota, USA, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, USA, Kittson County, Minnesota, USA, Koochiching County, Minnesota, USA, Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota, USA, Lake County, Minnesota, USA, Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, USA, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, USA, Lincoln County, Minnesota, USA, Lyon County, Minnesota, USA, Mahnomen County, Minnesota, USA, Marshall County, Minnesota, USA, Martin County, Minnesota, USA, Mcleod County, Minnesota, USA, Meeker County, Minnesota, USA, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, USA, Minnesota, Morrison County, Minnesota, USA, Mower County, Minnesota, USA, Murray County, Minnesota, USA, Nicollet County, Minnesota, USA, Nobles County, Minnesota, USA, Norman County, Minnesota, USA, Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, USA, Pennington County, Minnesota, USA, Pine County, Minnesota, USA, Pipestone County, Minnesota, USA, Polk County, Minnesota, USA, Pope County, Minnesota, USA, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA, Red Lake County, Minnesota, USA, Redwood County, Minnesota, USA, Renville County, Minnesota, USA, Rice County, Minnesota, USA, Rock County, Minnesota, USA, Roseau County, Minnesota, USA, Scott County, Minnesota, USA, Sherburne County, Minnesota, USA, Sibley County, Minnesota, USA, St Louis County, Minnesota, USA, Stearns County, Minnesota, USA, Steele County, Minnesota, USA, Stevens County, Minnesota, USA, Swift County, Minnesota, USA, Todd County, Minnesota, USA, Traverse County, Minnesota, USA, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Wabasha County, Minnesota, USA, Wadena County, Minnesota, USA, Waseca County, Minnesota, USA, Washington County, Minnesota, USA, Watonwan County, Minnesota, USA, Wilkin County, Minnesota, USA, Winona County, Minnesota, USA, Wright County, Minnesota, USA, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, USA, biota, birds, common loon, contamination and pollution, fish contaminants, mathematical modeling, mercury, selenium, Fewer tags

Data: Mexico

Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2023)

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in an eight-county region in north-central Minnesota were identified to focus project activities. In 2023 surveys were conducted on these lakes to monitor common loon territory occupancy, nest success, and chick survival. This dataset includes a summary of total number of artificial nesting platforms (ANP), total number of ANP and natural nests, ANP and natural nest success, total...

Categories: Data; Tags: Artificial Nest Platform, Common Loon, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gavia immer, Loon Productivity, All tags... Minnesota, Nest Success, Restoration, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Wildlife Biology, biota, Fewer tags

Monarch Threats Analysis: data

Data are population size estimates for monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico as well as 76 potential stressors and 3 correlates. These stressors include disease, pesticide, herbicide, temperature, precipitation, and habitat loss measured for Mexican overwintering area and Southern, North Central, and Northeastern breeding areas.

Categories: Data; Types: Citation, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Eastern North America, Extreme weather, Forest loss, Monarch butterfly, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), All tags... glyphosate, neonicotinoid, Fewer tags

In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Status and Trends of Known North American Bat Populations for 3 Species from 1990-2020, Processed from the NABat Database Winter Colony Counts

The dataset is comprised of historical observations and predictions of winter colony counts at known sites for three bat species (Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, and Perimyotis subflavus). Predictions of abundance are made at each site for each year from 1990 to 2020. Predictions come from three models, including a piecewise constant interpolation model, and two variations of a log linear mixed effects model. These predictions were used in part to inform the SSA for the three bat species. The log linear mixed models regress log(count+1) on one predictor, the year since detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), giving estimates of the population rate of growth (trend) for each site. Flexibility for...

Categories: Data, Data Release - In Progress; Tags: North America, bats, demography, extinction and extirpation, farming, All tags... statistical analysis, wildlife disease, wind energy, Fewer tags

Minimum daily air temperatures (1999 to 2001) and minimum and maximum daily water temperatures next to egg masses (2001) during embryogenesis for Anaxyrus canorus at various breeding sites near Tioga Pass

We produced this data set as part of a larger, integrated study to assess the statuses of populations of Anaxyrus canorus and the causes of observed effects on fitness at field sites, primarily in Yosemite National Park near Tioga Pass, from 1996 to 2001. From 1999 to 2001, we deployed Optic StowAway Temperature loggers (Onset Computer Corporation; Bourne, Massachusetts, USA) to measure minimum daily air temperatures at various breeding sites during embryogenesis for A. canorus. These measurements enabled us to determine relations between air temperatures at individual breeding sites relative to air temperatures measured at the automated weather station in Dana Meadows (DAN) in the heart of our study area. We measured...

Categories: Data; Tags: Freezing, Saprolegnia diclina, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada, Tioga Pass, CA, All tags... UV-B, Yosemite National Park, biota, disease, embryo mortality, predatory flatworms, sub-alpine wetlands, Fewer tags

In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Future Projections of Known North American Bat Populations for 3 Species (2020-2060), Processed from the NABat Database Winter Colony Counts from 1990-2020

The dataset is comprised of site-level, regional-level, and species-level future population projections for three bat species (Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, and Perimyotis subflavus) under several future scenarios. Future scenarios can be used to assess population health, and were used in part to inform the SSA for the three bat species. Many different future scenarios are included, defined based on future wind development and white-nose syndrome impacts. Sheets within the table are labeled based on the spatial scale of the projections (species, regional, or site-level), and the scenario column in each sheet indicates which future scenario projections correspond to, labeled based on the severity of wind...

Categories: Data, Data Release - In Progress; Tags: North America, bats, demography, extinction and extirpation, farming, All tags... statistical analysis, wildlife disease, wind energy, Fewer tags

Monarch Butterfly patch and landscape data for Wisconsin, 2018-2019

To ensure habitat restoration efforts are targeted towards areas maximizing monarch population growth, it is important to understand the effects of landscape heterogeneity on monarch occurrence in habitat patches (i.e. grasslands with milkweeds). Over two summers (2018-2019), monarch adults, larvae, and eggs were surveyed at sixty grassland sites in Wisconsin varying in patch size and landscape context. Milkweed density and floral richness were also estimated to characterize local patch quality. Results suggest that optimal sites for monarch habitat restoration are within landscapes with less surrounding habitat and that high milkweed density and floral richness should be conservation goals.

Categories: Data, Data Release - In Progress; Tags: Danaus plexippus, Midwest, USGS-EMA-LOW-MR Landscape Ecology, USGS-EMA-LOW-SB T&E: Listed Insects, Wisconsin, All tags... biota, monarch butterfly, Fewer tags

Amphibians

Amphibian encounter data and associated covariate data from the Midwest Region of Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) surveys 2002-2012

This data set contains information on detections of anuran (i.e., frogs and toads) species at six different management areas in the midwestern United States from 2002 to 2012. From 2002 to 2005 anuran communities were surveyed during the day using multiple methods at individual study wetlands—visual encounter surveys, dip net surveys, and calling surveys using multiple observers in most cases. Data are presented from each survey. From 2008 to 2012 amphibian communities were surveyed through detections of vocalizing anurans recorded by automated recording units. Automated recording units recorded five minutes at the top of every hour for the entire field season (typically April through October). Recorder data are...

Categories: Data; Tags: Amphibians, Encounter data, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, All tags... USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Voyageurs National Park, Watersheds within North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research Area, Wildlife Biology, biota, wetlands, Fewer tags