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
Factors affecting gadwall brood and duckling survival in prairie pothole landscapes Factors affecting gadwall brood and duckling survival in prairie pothole landscapes
Waterfowl biologists need reliable predictors of brood and duckling survival to accurately estimate recruitment rates. We examined 30-day survival rates of gadwall (Anas strepera) broods (1992-1994) and ducklings (1990-1994) in eastern North Dakota, USA, during years when water conditions ranged from extremely dry to extremely wet. We evaluated effects of several variables on brood...
Authors
P.J. Pietz, Gary L. Krapu, D.A. Brandt, R. R. Cox
Genetic variation in the midcontinental population of sandhill cranes, Grus canadensis Genetic variation in the midcontinental population of sandhill cranes, Grus canadensis
Three subspecies of sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) are recognized in the Midcontinental population, the lesser (Grus c. canadensis), Canadian (G. c. rowani), and greater (G. c. tabida). Blood samples collected on the population's primary spring staging area in Nebraska, U.S.A., were used to resolve the genetic relationship among these subspecies. Phylogenetic analysis of 27 G...
Authors
Jessica L. Petersen, R. Bischof, Gary L. Krapu, A.L. Szalanski
Evaluation of landscape models for wolverines in the interior Northwest, United States of America Evaluation of landscape models for wolverines in the interior Northwest, United States of America
The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is an uncommon, wide-ranging carnivore of conservation concern. We evaluated performance of landscape models for wolverines within their historical range at 2 scales in the interior Northwest based on recent observations (n = 421) from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. At the subbasin scale, simple overlays of habitat and road-density classes were...
Authors
M.M. Rowland, M.J. Wisdom, Douglas H. Johnson, B.C. Wales, J.P. Copeland, F.B. Edelmann
Den site activity patterns of adult male and female swift foxes, Vulpes velox, in northwestern Texas Den site activity patterns of adult male and female swift foxes, Vulpes velox, in northwestern Texas
Activity of Swift Foxes (Vulpes velox) at den sites was studied in northwestern Texas during pup rearing seasons in 2000 and 2001 to determine role of males in parental care. Twenty-four percent of radio-collared females with a potential to breed successfully raised pups to eight weeks of age. We intensively monitored presence and absence of male and female Swift Foxes at two den sites...
Authors
Patrick R. Lemons, Warren B. Ballard, Robert M. Sullivan, Marsha A. Sovada
The usefulness of GPS telemetry to study wolf circadian and social activity The usefulness of GPS telemetry to study wolf circadian and social activity
This study describes circadian and social movement patterns of 9 wolves and illustrates capabilities and limitations of Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry for analysis of animal activity patterns. Global Positioning System telemetry was useful in determining when pack members were traveling together or apart and how long a breeding female wolf spent near her pups (e.g., 10-month...
Authors
Samuel B. Merrill, L. David Mech
American avocet nesting on constructed islands in North Dakota American avocet nesting on constructed islands in North Dakota
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
A.L. Dahl, Douglas H. Johnson, L.D. Igl, K.L. Baer, M. A. Johnson, R. E. Reynolds
Male brown-headed cowbird attacks and kills a nestling Male brown-headed cowbird attacks and kills a nestling
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
L.D. Igl
A probable extralimital postbreeding assembly of bufflehead Bucephala albeola in southcentral North Dakota, USA, 1994-2002 A probable extralimital postbreeding assembly of bufflehead Bucephala albeola in southcentral North Dakota, USA, 1994-2002
The Bufflehead Bucephala albeola predominantly in Canada and Alaska (USA). Evidence suggests that the species may have recently expanded its breeding range southward into central and south-central North Dakota. This paper presents data on observations of Buffleheads during the breeding season in Kidder County, North Dakota, 1994-2002, and discusses the possibility that the species has...
Authors
L.D. Igl
Modeling species-abundance relationships in multi-species collections Modeling species-abundance relationships in multi-species collections
Species-abundance relationship is one of the most fundamental aspects of community ecology. Since Motomura first developed the geometric series model to describe the feature of community structure, ecologists have developed many other models to fit the species-abundance data in communities. These models can be classified into empirical and theoretical ones, including (1) statistical...
Authors
S. Peng, Z. Yin, H. Ren, Q. Guo
Conclusion Conclusion
Wolves can live almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, and almost everywhere they do, they are an issue. In the vast emptiness of the northern tundra or the Arabian desert, on the outskirts of a European town or in the safety of an American national park, in meager agricultural lands in India or in mountains in rich Norway or Switzerland, wolves always attract people’s attention...
Authors
L. David Mech, Luigi Boitani
Grassland bird communities and environmental health: the role of landscape features Grassland bird communities and environmental health: the role of landscape features
No abstract available.
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, S.F. Browder, M. Winter
Ecosystem effects on wolves Ecosystem effects on wolves
No abstract available.
Authors
L.D. Mech, L. Boitani