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: 1943
Seasonal changes in spatial patterns of two annual plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, USA Seasonal changes in spatial patterns of two annual plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, USA
Spatial pattern of a biotic population may change over time as its component individuals grow or die out, but whether this is the case for desert annual plants is largely unknown. Here we examined seasonal changes in spatial patterns of two annuals, Eriogonum abertianum and Haplopappus gracilis, in initial (winter) and final (summer) densities. The density was measured as the number of...
Authors
Z.-Y. Yin, Q. Guo, H. Ren, S.-L. Peng
Spatial-temporal population dynamics across species range: From center to margin Spatial-temporal population dynamics across species range: From center to margin
Understanding the boundaries of species’ ranges and the variations in population dynamics from the centre to margin of a species’ range is critical. This study simulated spatial-temporal patterns of birth and death rates and migration across a species’ range in different seasons. Our results demonstrated the importance of dispersal and migration in altering birth and death rates...
Authors
Qinfeng Guo, Mark L. Taper, M. Schoenberger, J. Brandle
Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on vegetation within Pea Ridge National Military Park Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on vegetation within Pea Ridge National Military Park
No abstract available.
Authors
Keith W. Grabner, Matthew Struckhoff, Deborah A. Buhl
Habitat preferences of migrant and wintering northern harriers in northwestern Texas Habitat preferences of migrant and wintering northern harriers in northwestern Texas
We studied habitat preferences of northern harriers ( Circus cyaneus) in four counties of the Southern High Plains of northwestern Texas from October 1989 to May 1995. Harriers generally arrived in late July and departed in April. They hunted over a variety of habitats in the study area but mainly in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands and vegetated playa basins. CRP grasslands...
Authors
C.D. Littlefield, Douglas H. Johnson
Causes of wolf depredation increase in Minnesota from 1979-1998 Causes of wolf depredation increase in Minnesota from 1979-1998
Wolf (Canis lupus) depredations on livestock in Minnesota have been increasing over the last 20 years. A major explanation cited for this increase is wolf range expansion, but no studies have tested this explanation. Additional reasons could include 1) wolf colonization of new areas within long-existing wolf range, 2) learning by wolves in established range, and 3) increased wolf density...
Authors
E. K. Harper, W.J. Paul, L. David Mech
2004 inventory of the distribution and abundance of non-indigenous plants and rare plants at two riverine national parks in the Great Lakes Network -- final report 2004 inventory of the distribution and abundance of non-indigenous plants and rare plants at two riverine national parks in the Great Lakes Network -- final report
No abstract available.
Authors
J. Larson, D.L. Larson
Landscape composition, patch size, and distance to edges: Interactions affecting duck reproductive success Landscape composition, patch size, and distance to edges: Interactions affecting duck reproductive success
Prairies and other North American grasslands, although highly fragmented, provide breeding habitat for a diverse array of species, including species of tremendous economic and ecological importance. Conservation and management of these species requires some understanding of how reproductive success is affected by edge effects, patch size, and characteristics of the landscape. We examined...
Authors
David Joseph Horn, Michael L. Phillips, Rolf R. Koford, William R. Clark, Marsha A. Sovada, Raymond J. Greenwood
Population genetic structure in migratory sandhill cranes and the role of Pleistocene glaciations Population genetic structure in migratory sandhill cranes and the role of Pleistocene glaciations
Previous studies of migratory sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) have made significant progress explaining evolution of this group at the species scale, but have been unsuccessful in explaining the geographically partitioned variation in morphology seen on the population scale. The objectives of this study were to assess the population structure and gene flow patterns among migratory...
Authors
Kenneth L. Jones, Gary Krapu, David A. Brandt, Mary V. Ashley
Habitat and nesting of Le Conte's Sparrows in the northern tallgrass prairie Habitat and nesting of Le Conte's Sparrows in the northern tallgrass prairie
Little is known about the breeding biology of the Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), probably because of its secretive nature. We provide new information on several aspects of Le Conte's Sparrow breeding biology, including rates of nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and potential factors affecting breeding densities and nesting success of the species. Our...
Authors
Maiken Winter, Jill A. Shaffer, Douglas H. Johnson, Therese M. Donovan, W. Daniel Svedarsky, P.W. Jones, Betty R. Euliss
[Book review] The quintessential companion for North American birders, by Christopher W. Leahy [Book review] The quintessential companion for North American birders, by Christopher W. Leahy
Book review: The Birdwatcher’s Companion to North American Birdlife. Christopher W. Leahy. 2004. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 1039 pages. $39.50 (cloth).
Authors
L.D. Igl
What hypothesis tests are not: a response to Colegrave and Ruxton What hypothesis tests are not: a response to Colegrave and Ruxton
No abstract available.
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson
Role of soil transformation in invasion of mixed-grass prairie Role of soil transformation in invasion of mixed-grass prairie
No abstract available.
Authors
N.R. Jordan, D.L. Larson, S.C. Huerd