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
Variability in vegetation effects on density and nesting success of grassland birds Variability in vegetation effects on density and nesting success of grassland birds
The structure of vegetation in grassland systems, unlike that in forest systems, varies dramatically among years on the same sites, and among regions with similar vegetation. The role of this variation in vegetation structure on bird density and nesting success of grassland birds is poorly understood, primarily because few studies have included sufficiently large temporal and spatial...
Authors
Maiken Winter, Douglas H. Johnson, Jill A. Shaffer
Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge
Humans are altering the composition of biological communities through a variety of activities that increase rates of species invasions and species extinctions, at all scales, from local to global. These changes in components of the Earth's biodiversity cause concern for ethical and aesthetic reasons, but they also have a strong potential to alter ecosystem properties and the goods and...
Authors
D.U. Hooper, F. S. Chapin, J.J. Ewel, A. Hector, P. Inchausti, S. Lavorel, J.H. Lawton, D.M. Lodge, M. Loreau, S. Naeem, B. Schmid, H. SetSlS, A.J. Symstad, J. Vandermeer, D.A. Wardle
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
K.L. Jones, Gary L. Krapu, D.A. Brandt, M.V. Ashley
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
Does choice of estimators influence conclusions from true metabolizable energy feeding trials? Does choice of estimators influence conclusions from true metabolizable energy feeding trials?
True metabolizable energy (TME) is a measure of avian dietary quality that accounts for metabolic fecal and endogenous urinary energy losses (EL) of non-dietary origin. The TME is calculated using a bird fed the test diet and an estimate of EL derived from another bird (Paired Bird Correction), the same bird (Self Correction), or several other birds (Group Mean Correction). We evaluated...
Authors
M. H. Sherfy, R. L. Kirkpatrick, K. E. Webb
Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation of species distributions: A case study of the swift fox in western Kansas Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation of species distributions: A case study of the swift fox in western Kansas
Accurate maps of species distributions are essential tools for wildlife research and conservation. Unfortunately, biologists often are forced to rely on maps derived from observed occurrences recorded opportunistically during observation periods of variable length. Spurious inferences are likely to result because such maps are profoundly affected by the duration and intensity of...
Authors
Glen A. Sargeant, Marsha A. Sovada, Christiane C. Slivinski, Douglas H. Johnson
Lesser scaup Aythya affinis Lesser scaup Aythya affinis
No abstract available.
Authors
Jane E. Austin, Christine M. Custer, Alan D. Afton