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: 1952
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
Wolf population persistence in real life Wolf population persistence in real life
Wolf (Canis lupus) populations tend to be resilient and to persist for long periods, and several characteristics contribute to their resilience and persistence: (1) age of first reproduction (2-3 years), (2) high annual litter size (mean = 6), (3) low dispersal age (1-3 years), and (4) long potential dispersal distance ( 880 km). The only documented factor leading to extinction of well...
Authors
L.D. 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
Ecosystem maturity and performance Ecosystem maturity and performance
Arising from: Bai, Y., Han, X., Wu, J., Chen, Z. & Li, L. Nature, 431, 181–184 (2004); see also communication from Wang et al.; Bai, Y., Han, X., Wu, J., Chen, Z. & Li, L. reply.The effect of maturity, or successional stage, on ecosystem performance (measured as productivity or stability, for example) is important for both basic ecology and ecosystem management. On the basis of the...
Authors
Q. Guo
Possible cryptic invasion through "back introduction"? Possible cryptic invasion through "back introduction"?
No abstract available.
Authors
Qinfeng Guo
Wetlands and use by breeding waterfowl in the National Grasslands: Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota, and McKenzie District of the Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota Wetlands and use by breeding waterfowl in the National Grasslands: Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota, and McKenzie District of the Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota
No abstract available.
Authors
J. E. Austin, D. A. Buhl
Managing inland wetlands for wildlife Managing inland wetlands for wildlife
No abstract available.
Authors
M.K. Laubhan, S.L. King, L.H. Fredrickson
Species abundance in a forest community in South China: A case of poisson lognormal distribution Species abundance in a forest community in South China: A case of poisson lognormal distribution
Case studies on Poisson lognormal distribution of species abundance have been rare, especially in forest communities. We propose a numerical method to fit the Poisson lognormal to the species abundance data at an evergreen mixed forest in the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, South China. Plants in the tree, shrub and herb layers in 25 quadrats of 20 m??20 m, 5 m??5 m, and 1 m??1 m were...
Authors
Z.-Y. Yin, H. Ren, Q.-M. Zhang, S.-L. Peng, Q.-F. Guo, G.-Y. Zhou
Population analysis in wildlife biology Population analysis in wildlife biology
No abstract available.
Authors
S.J. Dinsmore, Douglas H. Johnson