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
Predator selection of prairie landscape features and its relation to duck nest success Predator selection of prairie landscape features and its relation to duck nest success
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
M.L. Phillips, W.R. Clark, M.A. Sovada, D.J. Horn, Rolf R. Koford, R. J. Greenwood
Life history, diversity and distribution: A study of Japanese pteridophytes Life history, diversity and distribution: A study of Japanese pteridophytes
Many studies address the relationships between diversity or distribution and attributes of the physical environment. However, how these relationships are connected to variation in life history is poorly understood. This is particularly true in the case of pteridophytes. Japanese ferns and their allies comprise one of the best-known pteridophyte floras in the world. We analyzed ca 600...
Authors
Q. Guo, Masako Kato, R. E. Ricklefs
Sampling designs for carnivore scent-station surveys Sampling designs for carnivore scent-station surveys
Scent stations usually are deployed in clusters to expedite data collection and increase the number of stations that can be operated for a given cost. Presumed benefits of cluster sampling may not be realized, however, unless cluster sizes are chosen with respect to sampling variation within and among clusters. To encourage and facilitate the use of efficient designs and reporting...
Authors
G.A. Sargeant, Douglas H. Johnson, W. E. Berg
New nesting dates for some breeding birds in North Dakota New nesting dates for some breeding birds in North Dakota
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
L.D. Igl, H.A. Kantrud
Fire history of Granite Mountain, Lower Buffalo Wilderness, Arkansas: a report for the National Park Service, Buffalo National River Fire history of Granite Mountain, Lower Buffalo Wilderness, Arkansas: a report for the National Park Service, Buffalo National River
No abstract available.
Authors
R.P. Guyette, M.C. Staumbaugh
Predator exclusion methods for managing endangered shorebirds: Are two barriers better than one? Predator exclusion methods for managing endangered shorebirds: Are two barriers better than one?
Reproductive success of shorebirds can be improved by placement of predator exclosure fences along beaches or wire-mesh exclosure “cages” over nests. We predicted that these two types of exclosures used simultaneously might further improve reproductive success over that when cages alone are used. Field experiments were carried out on Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) on prairie alkali...
Authors
Robert K. Murphy, R. J. Greenwood, Jacob S. Ivan, Karen A. Smith
Long-term and large-scale perspectives on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning Long-term and large-scale perspectives on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
In a growing body of literature from a variety of ecosystems is strong evidence that various components of biodiversity have significant impacts on ecosystem functioning. However, much of this evidence comes from short-term, small-scale experiments in which communities are synthesized from relatively small species pools and conditions are highly controlled. Extrapolation of the results...
Authors
A.J. Symstad, F. S. Chapin, D.H. Wall, K.L. Gross, L.F. Huenneke, G.G. Mittelbach, Debra P. C. Peters, D. Tilman
Wolf-prey relations Wolf-prey relations
As I (L.D. MECH) watched from a small ski plane while fifteen wolves surrounded a moose on snowy Isle Royale, I had no idea this encounter would typify observations I would make during 40 more years of studying wolf-prey relations. My usual routine while observing wolves hunting was to have my pilot keep circling broadly over the scene so I could watch the wolves’ attacks without...
Authors
L. David Mech, Rolf O. Peterson
Nutria (Myocastor coypus) Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
No abstract available.
Authors
Dixie L. Bounds, Mark H. Sherfy, Theodore A. Mollett
Invertebrate response to snow goose herbivory on moist-soil vegetation Invertebrate response to snow goose herbivory on moist-soil vegetation
Foraging activity by snow geese (Chen caerulescens) often creates large areas devoid of vegetation ("eat-outs") in moist-soil impoundments and coastal wetlands. Open-water habitats that result from eat-outs may be valuable foraging areas for other wetland-dependent birds (i.e., waterfowl and shorebirds). However, few studies have examined the effects of goose-induced habitat changes on
Authors
M. H. Sherfy, R. L. Kirkpatrick
Incidence of Mink, Mustela vison, and River Otter, Lutra canadensis, in a highly urbanized area Incidence of Mink, Mustela vison, and River Otter, Lutra canadensis, in a highly urbanized area
Mink (Mustela vison) frequently inhabited or traversed a residential, business, and industrial part of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, with little water or natural vegetation. At least one River Otter (Lutra canadensis) also resided on a small pond on a golf course in the area for several winter months.
Authors
L. David Mech
Temporal species richness-biomass relationships along successional gradients Temporal species richness-biomass relationships along successional gradients
Diversity-biomass relationships are frequently reported to be hump-shaped over space at a given time. However, it is not yet clear how diversity and biomass change simultaneously and how they are related to each other over time (e.g. in succession) at one locality. This study develops a temporal model based on the projected changes of various community variables in a generalized...
Authors
Q. Guo