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Publications

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center staff publish results of their research in USGS series reports and in peer-reviewed journals. Publication links are below.  Information on all USGS publications can be found at the USGS Publications Warehouse.

Filter Total Items: 1930

Classification of native vegetation at the Woodworth Station, North Dakota Classification of native vegetation at the Woodworth Station, North Dakota

Native prairie areas on the Woodworth Station were sampled, classified, described, and mapped. Transect sites were selectively located along different soil moisture gradients. Data were collected from 292 plots using a modified Braun-Blanquet cover estimation technique. Trees and tall shrubs (over 2 m) were not sampled because they made up less than 1% of all cover. Eve vegetation...
Authors
M.I. Meyer

Organochlorine contaminants in California waterfowl Organochlorine contaminants in California waterfowl

Concern has been expressed that the extensive use of organochlorine pesticides in California may be exposing waterfowl to hazardous contaminant levels. The objectives of our study were to: (1) determine concentrations of organochlorines in northern pintails (Anas acuta) from five important waterfowl wintering areas in California; (2) compare concentrations of organochlorines in selected...
Authors
Harry M. Ohlendorf, Michael R. Miller

Larval dermestid beetles feeding on nestling snail kites, wood storks, and great blue herons Larval dermestid beetles feeding on nestling snail kites, wood storks, and great blue herons

In recent years abdominal lesions attributable to larval dermestid beetles (Dermestes nidum) have appeared in nestling Snail (Everglade) Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis), Wood Storks (Mycteria americana), and Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias). Although it appears that most nestlings affected have survived, the degree of threat posed by dermestid larvae to various avian species is as yet...
Authors
N.F.R. Snyder, J.C. Ogden, J.D. Bittner, G.A. Grau

Habitat use by migrant sandhill cranes in Nebraska Habitat use by migrant sandhill cranes in Nebraska

The principal spring staging areas of the midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are along the Platte and North Platte rivers in south-central Nebraska. Most of these lands are privately owned and managed for corn and cattle production. Diurnal habitat use by radio-tagged cranes was primarily in cropland (55%), native grassland (28%), and tame hayland (15%). Ninety...
Authors
Gary L. Krapu, D.E. Facey, E.K. Fritzell, Douglas H. Johnson

Nest spacing, habitat selection, and behavior of waterfowl on Miller Lake Island, North Dakota Nest spacing, habitat selection, and behavior of waterfowl on Miller Lake Island, North Dakota

The nesting behavior of a concentration of nesting mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwalls (A. strepera) was studied on a 4.5-ha island in Miller Lake, North Dakota, in 1977. A single 0.59-ha clump of thick shrub contained 225 simultaneously active mallard nests on 10 May. During the peak nesting period, mallard nests were spaced an average of 2.7 m from conspecifics. Active nests of...
Authors
John T. Lokemoen, Harold F. Duebbert, David E. Sharp

Wood duck and hooded merganser nesting on Arrowwood NWR, North Dakota Wood duck and hooded merganser nesting on Arrowwood NWR, North Dakota

No abstract available.
Authors
Harold A. Doty, F.B. Lee, A.D. Kruse, J.W. Matthews, John R. Foster, Phillip M. Arnold

Ecological distribution and crude density of breeding birds on prairie wetlands Ecological distribution and crude density of breeding birds on prairie wetlands

Breeding populations of 28 species of wetland-dwelling birds other than waterfowl (Anatidae) were censused on 1,321 wetlands lying within the prairie pothole region of North Dakota. Ecological distribution and two crude measures of relative density were calculated for the 22 commonest species using eight wetland classes. Semipermanent wetlands supported nearly two-thirds of the...
Authors
Harold A. Kantrud, Robert E. Stewart

Comparative ability of northern pintails, gadwalls, and northern shovelers to metabolize foods Comparative ability of northern pintails, gadwalls, and northern shovelers to metabolize foods

Feeding trials were used to compare the ability of northern pintails (Anas acuta), gadwalls (A. strepera), and northern shovelers (A. clypeata) to metabolize energy from a turkey starter ration, alfalfa pellets, and common barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli) seeds. No differences (P > 0.05) were detected among the three species for any of the three foods (kg body weight/day basis), for...
Authors
Michael R. Miller

Red fox predation on breeding ducks in midcontinent North America Red fox predation on breeding ducks in midcontinent North America

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation on nesting ducks was assessed by examining 1,857 adult duck remains found at 1,432 fox rearing dens from 1968 to 1973. Dabbling ducks were much more vulnerable to foxes than diving ducks. Dabbling ducks (1,798) found at dens consisted of 27% blue-winged teals (Anas discors), 23% mallards (A. platyrhynchos), 20% northern pintails (A. acuta), 9% northern...
Authors
Alan B. Sargeant, Stephen H. Allen, Robert T. Eberhardt
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