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: 1945
Premigrational movements and behavior of young mallards and wood ducks in north-central Minnesota Premigrational movements and behavior of young mallards and wood ducks in north-central Minnesota
Movements and behavior of 89 young mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and 48 young wood ducks (Aix sponsa) were monitored on a 932-km2 study area in north-central Minnesota in late summer and fall, 1972-74, with telemetry, visual observation, and aerial surveys. Initial flights of both species were confined to the natal (brood) marsh; first flights away from the natal marsh occurred in the...
Authors
R.E. Kirby, L.M. Cowardin, J.R. Tester
Sago wetlands important to migrating canvasbacks Sago wetlands important to migrating canvasbacks
No abstract available.
Authors
H.A. Kantrud
The last watering holes on the prairie The last watering holes on the prairie
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
Gary L. Krapu
An empirical Bayes approach to analyzing recurring animal surveys An empirical Bayes approach to analyzing recurring animal surveys
Recurring estimates of the size of animal populations are often required by biologists of wildlife managers. Because of cost or other constraints, estimates frequently lack the accuracy desired but cannot readily be improved by additional sampling. This report proposes a statistical method employing empirical Bayes (EB) estimators as alternatives to those customarily used to estimate...
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson
Estimating carcass fat and protein in northern pintails during the nonbreeding season Estimating carcass fat and protein in northern pintails during the nonbreeding season
I used northern pintails (Anas acuta) collected from August through March 1979-82 in the Sacramento Valley, California to derive equations to predict ether-extracted carcass fat, carcass protein, and skeletal lean dry weight. Ether-extracted carcass fat was best predicted by total fat depot weight (wet skin, abdominal fat, and intestinal fat) (r2 = 0.94) and estimates based on carcass...
Authors
Michael R. Miller
Annotated bibliography of fire literature relative to northern grasslands in south-central Canada and north-central United States Annotated bibliography of fire literature relative to northern grasslands in south-central Canada and north-central United States
Natural resource managers have greatly increased the use of fire to manage grassland habitats during the past two decades in the northern Great Plains region of the United States and Canada. In support of these efforts, we have compiled this annotated bibliography to provide a condensed reference of fire literature for those managers with an interest in fire ecology. References are...
Authors
Kenneth F. Higgins, David P. Fellows, J. Mike Callow, Arnold D. Kruse, James L. Piehl
Breeding canvasbacks: a test of a habitat model Breeding canvasbacks: a test of a habitat model
Schroeder (1984) proposed a habitat suitability model for breeding canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) based on the size, water regime, and emergent vegetation of wetlands. We evaluated the model with data from surveys of canvasbacks on 2265 wetlands in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The model proved inadequate as a predictor of canvasback pair density; the correlation between...
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, M.C. Hammond, T. L. McDonald, C.L. Nustad
Observed interactions between coyotes and red foxes Observed interactions between coyotes and red foxes
No abstract available.
Authors
Alan B. Sargeant, Stephen H. Allen
Breeding bird census: 1988 - Kentucky bluegrass prairie: mixed prairie I-V Breeding bird census: 1988 - Kentucky bluegrass prairie: mixed prairie I-V
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson
Estimating carcass fat and protein in northern pintails during the nonbreeding season Estimating carcass fat and protein in northern pintails during the nonbreeding season
I used northern pintails (Anas acuta) collected from August through March 1979-82 in the Sacramento Valley, California to derive equations to predict ether-extracted carcass fat, carcass protein, and skeletal lean dry weight. Ether-extracted carcass fat was best predicted by total fat depot weight (wet skin, abdominal fat, and intestinal fat) (r2 = 0.94) and estimates based on carcass...
Authors
Michael R. Miller
Importance of individual species of predators on nesting success of ducks in the Canadian prairie pothole region Importance of individual species of predators on nesting success of ducks in the Canadian prairie pothole region
We followed 3094 upland nests of several species of ducks. Clutches in most nests were lost to predation. We related daily nest predation rates to indices of activity of eight egg-eating predators, precipitation during the nesting season, and measures of wetland conditions. Activity indices of red fox (Vulpes vulpes), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and raccoon (Procyon lotor)...
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, Alan B. Sargeant, Raymond J. Greenwood
Effects of fire in the Northern Great Plains Effects of fire in the Northern Great Plains
This publication is a review of selected literature about prescribed burning in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) for management of wildlife. It also will be useful to other resource managers and researchers and to persons interested in the NGP. It is more 'descriptive' than 'interpretative.'The publication is a joint effort of the South Dakota State Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research...
Authors
Kenneth F. Higgins, Arnold D. Kruse, James L. Piehl