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: 1934
The effect of variable spring water conditions on mallard reproduction The effect of variable spring water conditions on mallard reproduction
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding densities in the prairie pothole habitat of eastern North Dakota during 1961-1980 varied from 2.28 birds/km2 in 1977 to 9.47 birds/km2 in 1963 and were correlated with pond abundance (r = 0.543, P 0.05). The number of basins used by pairs declined with drought, as did home-range size. Nesting activity also varied with the number of ponds holding...
Authors
Gary L. Krapu, A.T. Klett, Dennis G. Jorde
Water storage capacity of natural wetland depressions in the Devils Lake basin of North Dakota Water storage capacity of natural wetland depressions in the Devils Lake basin of North Dakota
Photogrammetric mapping techniques were used to derive the water storage capacities of natural wetland depressions other than lakes in the Devils Lake Basin of North Dakota. Results from sample quarter-section areas were expanded to the entire basin. Depressions in the Devils Lake Basin have a maximum storage capacity of nearly 811,000 cubic dekameters (657,000 acre-feet). The...
Authors
A.P. Ludden, D.L. Frink, Douglas H. Johnson
Avian use of forest habitats in the Pembina Hills of northeastern North Dakota Avian use of forest habitats in the Pembina Hills of northeastern North Dakota
North Dakota has the least extensive total area of forested habitats of any of the 50 United States. Although occurring in limited area, forest communities add considerably to the total ecological diversity of the State. The forests of the Pembina Hills region in northeastern North Dakota are one of only three areas large enough to be considered of commercial value. During 1981 we...
Authors
Craig A. Faanes, Jonathan M. Andrew
Age-class determination of canvasbacks Age-class determination of canvasbacks
A technique was developed to distinguish yearling from adult canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) in the field during spring on the basis of white flecking on the distal ends of selected wing feathers. Covert feathers from adults had well-defined vermiculation patterns whereas feathers from yearlings lacked such markings. These age-related characters were confirmed by paired comparisons of...
Authors
Jerome R. Serie, David L. Trauger, Harold A. Doty, David E. Sharp
Behavioral interactions of penned red and arctic foxes Behavioral interactions of penned red and arctic foxes
Expansion of the geographical distribution of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) into the far north tundra region may lead to competition between arctic (Alopex lagopus) and red foxes for space and resources. Behavioral interactions between red and arctic foxes were evaluated during 9 trials conducted in a 4.05-ha enclosure near Woodworth, North Dakota. Each trial consisted of introducing a male...
Authors
D.R. Rudzinski, H.B. Graves, A.B. Sargeant, G.L. Storm
Changes in vegetation structure in seeded nesting cover in the prairie pothole region Changes in vegetation structure in seeded nesting cover in the prairie pothole region
A sample of 365 stands of seeded nesting cover (mixtures of cool-season grasses and legumes) was studied in the glaciated prairie pothole region during 1977-79. Measurements of species composition, canopy cover, plant height, and visual obstruction values differed with stand age but only in a general way when results from over the entire region were pooled. Maximum values for plant...
Authors
K.F. Higgins, W.T. Barker
Avian use of Sheyenne Lake and associated habitats in central North Dakota Avian use of Sheyenne Lake and associated habitats in central North Dakota
A study of avian use of various habitats was conducted in the Sheyenne Lake region of central North Dakota during April-June 1980. Population counts of birds were made in wetlands of various classes, prairie thickets, upland native prairie, shelterbelts, and cropland. About 22,000 breeding bird pairs including 92 species that nested occupied the area. Population means for most species...
Authors
Craig A. Faanes
Nesting of waterfowl on islands in Lake Audubon, North Dakota Nesting of waterfowl on islands in Lake Audubon, North Dakota
Nesting waterfowl were studied in 1978 and 1980 on 15 newly established islands with an area of 19 ha in 7,430-ha Lake Audubon in the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), North Dakota. Islands ranged in size from 0.2 to 5.0 ha and were 60-1,600 m from the mainland. Cover available for nesting waterfowl was composed of grasses, legumes, and forbs with abundant residual plant material...
Authors
Harold F. Duebbert
Home made nesting sites for mallards Home made nesting sites for mallards
No abstract available.
Authors
T.A. Messmer, M. A. Johnson, F.B. Lee
Revised checklist of North Dakota birds Revised checklist of North Dakota birds
No abstract available.
Authors
C. A. Faanes, R. E. Stewart
Variability in nest survival rates and implications to nesting studies Variability in nest survival rates and implications to nesting studies
We used four reasonably large samples (83-213) of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Blue-winged Teal (A. discors) nests on an interstate highway right-of-way in southcentral North Dakota to evaluate potential biases in hatch-rate estimates. Twelve consecutive, weekly searches for nests were conducted with a cable-chain drag in 1976 and 1977. Nests were revisited at weekly intervals. Four...
Authors
A.T. Klett, Douglas H. Johnson
[Book review] Where the sky began: land of the tallgrass prairie, by John Madson [Book review] Where the sky began: land of the tallgrass prairie, by John Madson
Review of: Where the sky began: land of the tallgrass prairie. John Madson. Houghton Mifflin, 1982. 321 pages.
Authors
C. A. Faanes