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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: 1963

Linking ecosystem processes to sustainable wetland management Linking ecosystem processes to sustainable wetland management

The sustainability of ecosystems has become an explicitly stated goal of many natural resource agencies. Examples of sustainable ecosystem management, however, are uncommon because management goals often focus on specific deliverables rather than the processes that sustain ecosystems.
Authors
Ned H. Euliss, Loren M. Smith, Douglas A. Wilcox, Bryant A. Browne

Sustainable wetland management and support of ecosystem services Sustainable wetland management and support of ecosystem services

This article is a follow-up on a previous piece in the National Wetlands Newsletter in which we outlined problems associated with a static, local approach to wetland management versus an alternative that proposes a temporal and geomorphic approach (Euliss et al. 2009). We extend that concept by drawing on companion papers recently published in the journal Wetlands (Euliss et al. 2008...
Authors
Loren M. Smith, Ned H. Euliss, Douglas A. Wilcox, Mark M. Brinson

Historical range, current distribution, and conservation status of the Swift Fox, Vulpes velox, in North America Historical range, current distribution, and conservation status of the Swift Fox, Vulpes velox, in North America

The Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) was once common in the shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies of the Great Plains of North America. The species' abundance declined and its distribution retracted following European settlement of the plains. By the late 1800s, the species had been largely extirpated from the northern portion of its historical range, and its populations were acutely depleted...
Authors
Marsha A. Sovada, Robert O. Woodward, Lawrence D. Igl

Problems with the claim of ecotype and taxon status of the wolf in the Great Lakes region Problems with the claim of ecotype and taxon status of the wolf in the Great Lakes region

Koblmuller et al. (2009) analysed molecular genetic data of the wolf in the Great Lakes (GL) region of the USA and concluded that the animal was a unique ecotype of grey wolf and that genetic data supported the population as a discrete wolf taxon. However, some of the literature that the researchers used to support their position actually did not, and additional confusion arises from...
Authors
Matthew A. Cronin, L. David Mech

Countability of sandhill cranes in aerial surveys Countability of sandhill cranes in aerial surveys

No abstract available.
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, W John Solberg, Courtney L. Amundson

Ecosystem Services Derived from Wetland Conservation Practices in the United States Prairie Pothole Region with an Emphasis on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs Ecosystem Services Derived from Wetland Conservation Practices in the United States Prairie Pothole Region with an Emphasis on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs

Implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) has resulted in the restoration of approximately 2,200,000 ha (5,436,200 acres) of wetland and grassland habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region. These restored habitats are known to provide various ecosystem services; however, little work has been conducted to...
Authors
Robert A. Gleason, Murray K. Laubhan, Ned H. Euliss

Factors influencing predation on juvenile ungulates and natural selection implications Factors influencing predation on juvenile ungulates and natural selection implications

Juvenile ungulates are generally more vulnerable to predation than are adult ungulates other than senescent individuals, not only because of their relative youth, fragility, and inexperience, but also because of congenital factors. Linnell et al.'s (Wildl. Biol. 1: 209-223) extensive review of predation on juvenile ungulates concluded that research was needed to determine the...
Authors
Shannon Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech

Elk calf survival and mortality following wolf restoration to Yellowstone National Park Elk calf survival and mortality following wolf restoration to Yellowstone National Park

We conducted a 3‐year study (May 2003–Apr 2006) of mortality of northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus) calves to determine the cause for the recruitment decline (i.e., 33 calves to 13 calves/100 adult F) following the restoration of wolves (Canis lupus). We captured, fit with radiotransmitters, and evaluated blood characteristics and disease antibody seroprevalence in 151 calves ≤6...
Authors
Shannon Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech, P.J. White

Precision of descriptors for percent marrow fat content for White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus viriginianus Precision of descriptors for percent marrow fat content for White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus viriginianus

Based on 168 records of both verbal descriptors of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) femur-marrow fat and percentage of fat measured later, "gelatinous" served well to distinguish fat < 46% from higher percentages. "Waxy" distinguished fat > 56%.
Authors
L.D. Mech

Spatial interactions of yarded White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus Spatial interactions of yarded White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus

We examined the spatial interactions of nine female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in two deeryards (winter aggregations) in northeastern Minnesota during February-April 1999. Global positioning system (GPS) collars yielded seven pair-wise comparisons of deer that were located at the same time (???1 minute apart) and mat used overlapping areas. Deer traveled separately and...
Authors
M.E. Nelson, G.A. Sargeant

Weight changes in wild Wolves, Canis lupus, from ages 2 to 24 months Weight changes in wild Wolves, Canis lupus, from ages 2 to 24 months

Weights of 118 female and 141 male Minnesota Wolves (Canis lupus) aged 2-24 months increased almost linearly from about 8 kg for females and 10 kg for males at 3 months to 30 kg for females and 32 kg for males at 10-12 months and then tended to increase much more slowly in an overall curvilinear trend. Considerable variation was apparent for both sexes during their first year.
Authors
Mech L. David
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