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
Preliminary investigations of the winter ecology of Long-billed Curlews in coastal Texas Preliminary investigations of the winter ecology of Long-billed Curlews in coastal Texas
Since the early 1900s, the distribution of the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) has contracted dramatically in the eastern one-half of its historic range. The species has been designated as a "Bird of Conservation Concern" and focal species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a species of concern by several states, and a "Highly Imperiled" species in the U.S. Shorebird...
Authors
Marc C. Woodin, Mary Kay Skoruppa, Jeremy W. Edwardson, Jane E. Austin
Evaluation of capture techniques for long-billed curlews wintering in Texas Evaluation of capture techniques for long-billed curlews wintering in Texas
Texas coast harbors the largest, eastern-most populations of Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) in North America; however, very little is known about their migration and wintering ecology. Curlews are readily captured on their breeding grounds, but experience with capturing the species during the non-breeding season is extremely limited. We assessed the efficacy of 6 capture...
Authors
Marc C. Woodin, Mary K. Skoruppa, Jeremy W. Edwardson, Jane E. Austin
Soil-occupancy effects of invasive and native grassland plant species on composition and diversity of mycorrhizal associations Soil-occupancy effects of invasive and native grassland plant species on composition and diversity of mycorrhizal associations
Diversified grasslands that contain native plant species can produce biofuels, support sustainable grazing systems, and produce other ecosystem services. However, ecosystem service production can be disrupted by invasion of exotic perennial plants, and these plants can have soil-microbial “legacies” that may interfere with establishment and maintenance of diversified grasslands even...
Authors
Nicholas R. Jordan, Laura Aldrich-Wolfe, Sheri C. Huerd, Diane L. Larson, Gary Muehlbauer
Aerial surveys adjusted by ground surveys to estimate area occupied by black-tailed prairie dog colonies Aerial surveys adjusted by ground surveys to estimate area occupied by black-tailed prairie dog colonies
Aerial surveys using line-intercept methods are one approach to estimate the extent of prairie dog colonies in a large geographic area. Although black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) construct conspicuous mounds at burrow openings, aerial observers have difficulty discriminating between areas with burrows occupied by prairie dogs (colonies) versus areas of uninhabited burrows
Authors
John G. Sidle, David J. Augustine, Douglas H. Johnson, Sterling D. Miller, Jack F. Cully, Richard P. Reading
Selection of nest-site habitat by interior least terns in relation to sandbar construction Selection of nest-site habitat by interior least terns in relation to sandbar construction
Federally endangered interior least terns (Sternula antillarum) nest on bare or sparsely vegetated sandbars on midcontinent river systems. Loss of nesting habitat has been implicated as a cause of population declines, and managing these habitats is a major initiative in population recovery. One such initiative involves construction of mid-channel sandbars on the Missouri River, where...
Authors
M. H. Sherfy, J. H. Stucker, D. A. Buhl
Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality
Reliable analyses can help wildlife managers make good decisions, which are particularly critical for controversial decisions such as wolf (Canis lupus) harvest. Creel and Rotella (2010) recently predicted substantial population declines in Montana wolf populations due to harvest, in contrast to predictions made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). We replicated their analyses...
Authors
J.A. Gude, M.S. Mitchell, Robin E. Russell, C.A. Sime, E.E. Bangs, L.D. Mech, R.R. Ream
Conflicts between sandhill cranes and farmers in the western United States: evolving issues and solutions Conflicts between sandhill cranes and farmers in the western United States: evolving issues and solutions
The main conflicts between Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) and farmers in western United States occur in the Rocky Mountain region during migration and wintering periods. Most crop damage by cranes occurs in mature wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), young shoots of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and cereal grains, chilies (Capsicum annuum), and silage corn (Zea mays)...
Authors
Jane E. Austin
Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk
Despite the popular view that social predators live in groups because group hunting facilitates prey capture, the apparent tendency for hunting success to peak at small group sizes suggests that the formation of large groups is unrelated to prey capture. Few empirical studies, however, have tested for nonlinear relationships between hunting success and group size, and none have...
Authors
D.R. MacNulty, D.W. Smith, L. David Mech, J.A. Vucetich, C. Packer
Geographic distribution of the mid-continent population of sandhill cranes and related management applications Geographic distribution of the mid-continent population of sandhill cranes and related management applications
The Mid-continent Population (MCP) of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) is widely hunted in North America and is separated into the Gulf Coast Subpopulation and Western Subpopulation for management purposes. Effective harvest management of the MCP requires detailed knowledge of breeding distribution of subspecies and subpopulations, chronology of their use of fall staging areas and...
Authors
Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt, Kenneth L. Jones, Douglas H. Johnson
Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences
Genetic findings suggest that 2 types of wolves, Canis lupus (Gray Wolf) and C. lycaon (Eastern Wolf), and/or their hybrids occupy Minnesota (MN), and this study examines adult wolf ear lengths as a possible distinguisher between these two. Photographic evidence suggested that the Eastern Wolf possesses proportionately longer ears than Gray Wolves. Ear lengths from 22 northwestern MN...
Authors
L. David Mech
Adaptive management of bull trout populations in the Lemhi Basin Adaptive management of bull trout populations in the Lemhi Basin
The bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, a stream-living salmonid distributed in drainages of the northwestern United States, is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because of rangewide declines. One proposed recovery action is the reconnection of tributaries in the Lemhi Basin. Past water use policies in this core area disconnected headwater spawning sites from...
Authors
Andrew J. Tyre, James T. Peterson, Sarah J. Converse, Tiffany L. Bogich, Damien Miller, Max Post van der Burg, Carmen Thomas, Ralph J. Thompson, Jeri Wood, Donna Brewer, Michael C. Runge
Emergent sandbar construction for least terns on the Missouri River: Effects on forage fishes in shallow-water habitats Emergent sandbar construction for least terns on the Missouri River: Effects on forage fishes in shallow-water habitats
Emergent sandbars on the Missouri River are actively managed for two listed bird species, piping plovers and interior least terns. As a plunge-diving piscivore, endangered least terns rely on ready access to appropriately sized slender-bodied fish:
Authors
J. H. Stucker, D. A. Buhl, M. H. Sherfy