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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

Duck nesting in fields of undisturbed grass-legume cover Duck nesting in fields of undisturbed grass-legume cover

A study of dabbling duck (Anatinae) nesting was conducted during 1971-73 on nine 12- to 54-ha Cropland Adjustment Program fields in the prairie pothole region of north-central South Dakota. The tall, dense vegetation was comprised of introduced cool-season grasses and legumes, primarily smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis), intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium), and alfalfa...
Authors
Harold F. Duebbert, J. T. Lokemoen

Upland sandpiper nesting and management in North Dakota Upland sandpiper nesting and management in North Dakota

Nests of 195 upland sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) on the Missouri Coteau of North Dakota generally were well concealed by grassy vegetation which ranged from 15.4-30.8 cm in height. Nest densities ranged from 0.3 per 40.5 ha on annually tilled croplands to 6.8 per 40.5 ha on native grasslands during the second growing season after a prescribed burn. Hatching success in native...
Authors
L.M. Kirsch, K.F. Higgins

Habitat use and home range of mallards breeding in Minnesota Habitat use and home range of mallards breeding in Minnesota

Telemetry techniques were used to study habitat use and home range of 12 drake and 12 hen mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the forested region of north-central Minnesota during the 1968-72 breeding seasons. Circumneutral bogs and seasonal wetlands were the most frequently used communities; the lakeshore communities most used were sand-gravel, overhanging brush, and bog mat. Based on the
Authors
D.S. Gilmer, I.J. Ball, L.M. Cowardin, John Riechmann, J.R. Tester

Home range defense in the red fox, Vulpes vulpes L. Home range defense in the red fox, Vulpes vulpes L.

This paper describes the home range defense behavior observed when nonresident male red foxes were introduced into established home ranges of resident male-female pairs. In 12 observation periods, four intruders were introduced to each of three mated pairs which had been given three weeks to acclimate to a 4.05-hectare, fenced enclosure. The residents centered their activities around a...
Authors
E.M. Preston

Fatal pox infection in a rough-legged hawk Fatal pox infection in a rough-legged hawk

Natural pox infection occurred in a free-living rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) in northeastern North Dakota. Gross, histological and electron microscopic findings were typical of pox infection, and characteristic lesions developed in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) but not in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) following inoculation with case material. Death of the rough-legged...
Authors
G.L. Pearson, D.A. Pass, E.C. Beggs

Effects of agricultural burning on nesting waterfowl Effects of agricultural burning on nesting waterfowl

Agricultural burning in an intensively farmed region within Manitoba's pothole district is shown to affect the nesting activities of ground-nesting ducks. All species, except Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), preferred unburned nest cover, although success was higher in burned areas, where predators may have exerted less influence. Attitudes of farmers, burning chronology, and nest...
Authors
E.K. Fritzell

Leech (Hirudinea) infestations among waterfowl near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Leech (Hirudinea) infestations among waterfowl near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Fourteen species of aquatic birds, including 11 species of ducks, were infested with leeches Theromyzon rude and Placobdella ornata near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Leeches infested 88% of 41 American Wigeon (Anas americana) and 31% of 86 Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) examined after death. Lesser Scaup captured by drive-trapping contained significantly more leeches than...
Authors
James C. Bartonek, David L. Trauger

Fitting Richards' curve to data of diverse origins Fitting Richards' curve to data of diverse origins

Published techniques for fitting data to nonlinear growth curves are briefly reviewed, most techniques require knowledge of the shape of the curve. A flexible growth curve developed by Richards (1959) is discussed as an alternative when the shape is unknown. The shape of this curve is governed by a specific parameter which can be estimated from the data. We describe in detail the fitting...
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, A.B. Sargeant, S.H. Allen
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