Waterfowl Research Active
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on waterfowl species (ducks, geese, and swans) in Alaska since the 1970s. Because Alaska is an international crossroads of migratory bird flyways, with millions of birds from Asia and North America breeding in Alaska each summer, USGS research has also taken place in adjacent countries (Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico) and in the lower 48-states and Hawaii.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center waterfowl research program are to:
- Identify and fill gaps in our knowledge about the ecology of waterfowl species in Alaska
- Quantify the drivers of population trends of waterfowl populations in Alaska and throughout their annual cycle
- Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for decision making regarding waterfowl disease, population delineation, and species of conservation concern
Waterfowl Research by Species
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Using body mass dynamics to examine long-term habitat shifts of arctic-molting geese: Evidence for ecological change
Intercolony variation in growth of black brant goslings on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Variation in spring migration routes and breeding distribution of northern pintails Anas acuta that winter in Japan
Two mechanisms of aquatic and terrestrial habitat change along an Alaskan Arctic coastline
Survival of captive and free-ranging Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) following surgical liver biopsy
Abdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the dive performance of Common Eiders
Evaluation of a portable automated serum chemistry analyzer for field assessment of harlequin ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus
Intercontinental reassortment and genomic variation of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from northern pintails (Anas acuta) in Alaska: examining the evidence through space and time
Reproductive ecology and habitat use of pacific Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra americana) nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Do common eiders nest in kin groups? Microgeographic genetic structure in a philopatric sea duck
Satellite‐tracking of Northern Pintail Anas acuta during outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in Japan: Implications for virus spread
Long-term persistence of spent lead shot in tundra wetlands
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- Overview
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on waterfowl species (ducks, geese, and swans) in Alaska since the 1970s. Because Alaska is an international crossroads of migratory bird flyways, with millions of birds from Asia and North America breeding in Alaska each summer, USGS research has also taken place in adjacent countries (Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico) and in the lower 48-states and Hawaii.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center waterfowl research program are to:
- Identify and fill gaps in our knowledge about the ecology of waterfowl species in Alaska
- Quantify the drivers of population trends of waterfowl populations in Alaska and throughout their annual cycle
- Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for decision making regarding waterfowl disease, population delineation, and species of conservation concern
Waterfowl Research by Species
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 20No Result Found - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 130Using body mass dynamics to examine long-term habitat shifts of arctic-molting geese: Evidence for ecological change
From 1976 onward, molting brant geese (Branta bernicla) within the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Alaska, shifted from inland, freshwater lakes toward coastal wetlands. Two hypotheses explained this redistribution: (1) ecological change: redistribution of molting brant reflects improvements in coastal foraging habitats, which have undergone a succession toward salt-tolerant plants due to increased cAuthorsTyler L. Lewis, Paul L. Flint, Dirk V. Derksen, Joel A. Schmutz, Eric J. Taylor, Karen S. BollingerIntercolony variation in growth of black brant goslings on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Recent declines in black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) are likely the result of low recruitment. In geese, recruitment is strongly affected by habitat conditions experienced by broods because gosling growth rates are indicative of forage conditions during brood rearing and strongly influence future survival and productivity. In 2006–2008, we studied gosling growth at 3 of the 4 major coloniesAuthorsT.F. Fondell, Paul L. Flint, J.S. Sedinger, C.A. Nicolai, J.L. SchamberVariation in spring migration routes and breeding distribution of northern pintails Anas acuta that winter in Japan
In North America, spring migration routes and breeding distribution of northern pintails Anas acuta vary because some individuals opportunistically nest at mid-latitudes in years when ephemeral prairie wetlands are available, whereas others regularly nest in arctic and sub-arctic regions where wetland abundance is more constant. Less was known about migration routes and breeding distribution of piAuthorsJerry W. Hupp, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, Paul L. Flint, John M. Pearce, Ken-ichi Tokita, Tetsuo Shimada, Andrew M. Ramey, Sergei Kharitonov, Hiroyoshi HiguchiTwo mechanisms of aquatic and terrestrial habitat change along an Alaskan Arctic coastline
Arctic habitats at the interface between land and sea are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The northern Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (N-TLSA), a coastal plain ecosystem along the Beaufort Sea in northern Alaska, provides habitat for migratory waterbirds, caribou, and potentially, denning polar bears. The 60-km coastline of N-TLSA is experiencing increasing rates of coastline erosion and sAuthorsChristopher D. Arp, Benjamin M. Jones, Joel A. Schmutz, Frank E. Urban, M. Torre JorgensonSurvival of captive and free-ranging Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) following surgical liver biopsy
We measured intra- and postoperative mortality rates of captive and free-ranging Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) undergoing surgical liver biopsy sampling for determination of the induction of cytochrome P4501A, a biomarker of oil exposure. Liver biopsies were taken from and radio transmitters were implanted into 157 free-ranging Harlequin Ducks over three winters (55 in 2000, 55 in 20AuthorsDaniel M. Mulcahy, Daniel EslerAbdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the dive performance of Common Eiders
Implanted transmitters have become an important tool for studying the ecology of sea ducks, but their effects remain largely undocumented. To address this, we assessed how abdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the vertical dive speeds, stroke frequencies, bottom time, and dive duration of captive Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima). To establish baselines, we recordAuthorsAbby N. Powell, Christopher J. Latty, Tuula E. Hollmén, Margaret R. Petersen, Russel D. AndrewsEvaluation of a portable automated serum chemistry analyzer for field assessment of harlequin ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus
A portable analytical chemistry analyzer was used to make field assessments of wild harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in association with telemetry studies of winter survival in Prince William Sound, Alaska. We compared serum chemistry results obtained on-site with results from a traditional laboratory. Particular attention was paid to serum glucose and potassium concentrations as potentAuthorsMichael K. Stoskopf, Daniel M. Mulcahy, Daniel EslerIntercontinental reassortment and genomic variation of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from northern pintails (Anas acuta) in Alaska: examining the evidence through space and time
Migration and population genetic data for northern pintails (Anas acuta) and phylogenetic analysis of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses from this host in Alaska suggest that northern pintails are involved in ongoing intercontinental transmission of avian influenza. Here, we further refine this conclusion through phylogenetic analyses which demonstrate that detection of foreign lineageAuthorsAndrew M. Ramey, John M. Pearce, Paul L. Flint, Hon S. Ip, Dirk V. Derksen, J. Christian Franson, Michael J. Petrula, Bradley D. Scotton, Kristine M. Sowl, Michael L. Wege, Kimberly A. TrustReproductive ecology and habitat use of pacific Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra americana) nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Abundance indices of Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra. americana) breeding in Alaska indicate a long-term population decline without obvious cause (s). However, few life history data are available for the species in North America. In 2001–2004, information was collected on nesting habitat and reproductive parameters (i.e. components of productivity) from a population of Black Scoters nesting on theAuthorsJason L. Schamber, Fred J. Broerman, Paul L. FlintDo common eiders nest in kin groups? Microgeographic genetic structure in a philopatric sea duck
We investigated local genetic associations among female Pacific common eiders (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) nesting in a stochastic Arctic environment within two groups of barrier islands (Simpson Lagoon and Mikkelsen Bay) in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Nonrandom genetic associations were observed among nesting females using regional spatial autocorrelation analyses for distance classes up to 1000AuthorsSarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. Talbot, Richard B. Lanctot, Kevin G. McCrackenSatellite‐tracking of Northern Pintail Anas acuta during outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in Japan: Implications for virus spread
We fitted Northern Pintail Anas acuta in Japan with satellite transmitters and monitored their spring migration movements relative to locations where the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected in Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus in 2008. Pintails were assumed not to be infected with the H5N1 virus at the time they were marked because capture occurred between 2 and 5 months before repAuthorsNoriyuki Yamaguchi, Jerry W. Hupp, Hiroyoshi Higuchi, Paul L. Flint, John M. PearceLong-term persistence of spent lead shot in tundra wetlands
We seeded experimental plots with number 4 lead pellets and sampled these plots for 10 years to assess the settlement rate of pellets in tundra wetland types commonly used by foraging waterfowl. After 10 years, about 10% of pellets remained within 6 cm of the surface, but >50% remained within 10 cm. We predict that spent lead pellets will eventually become unavailable to waterfowl; however, it wilAuthorsPaul L. Flint, Jason L. Schamber - Web Tools
- News
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