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: 1930
Analysis of predator movement in prairie landscapes with contrasting grassland composition Analysis of predator movement in prairie landscapes with contrasting grassland composition
Mammalian predation influences waterfowl breeding success in the U.S. northern Great Plains, yet little is known about the influence of the landscape on the ability of predators to find waterfowl nests. We used radiotelemetry to record nightly movements of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in two 41.4-km2 study areas in North Dakota. Study areas contained...
Authors
M.L. Phillips, W.R. Clark, S.M. Nusser, M.A. Sovada, R. J. Greenwood
Extermination and recovery of red wolf and grey wolf in the contiguous United States Extermination and recovery of red wolf and grey wolf in the contiguous United States
About 150 years ago, the grey wolf (Canis lupus) was distributed throughout the contiguous United States, except for in southeastern US from central Texas to the Atlantic coast, where the red wolf (Canis rufus) occurred. Conflict with agricultural interests resulted in government-supported eradication campaigns beginning in colonial Massachusetts in 1630. Over the next 300 years, the...
Authors
Michael K. Phillips, Edward E. Bangs, L. David Mech, Brian T. Kelly, Buddy B. Fazio
Why I support federal wolf delisting Why I support federal wolf delisting
This article details why the delisting of the gray wolf that is about to be proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be supported.
Authors
L.D. Mech
Grey wolf Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 Grey wolf Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758
No abstract available.
Authors
L.D. Mech, L. Boitani
Comparison of detection rates of breeding marsh birds in passive and playback surveys at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota Comparison of detection rates of breeding marsh birds in passive and playback surveys at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota
We compared detection rates of passive and playback breeding bird survey techniques on elusive marsh birds - Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), and Sora (Porzana carolina) - during a two-year study at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, in southwestern South Dakota. We...
Authors
T. Allen, S. L. Finkbeiner, Douglas H. Johnson
Mechanisms and active variety of allelochemicals Mechanisms and active variety of allelochemicals
No abstract available.
Authors
S. Peng, J. Wen, Q. Guo
Effects of distance from cattle water developments on grassland birds Effects of distance from cattle water developments on grassland birds
Many North American grassland bird populations appear to be declining, which may be due to changes in grazing regimes on their breeding areas. Establishment of water developments and confining cattle (Bos taurus L.) to small pastures often minimizes spatial heterogeneity of cattle forage consumption, which may lead to uniformity in vegetative structure. This increased uniformity may...
Authors
A.L. Fontaine, P.L. Kennedy, Douglas H. Johnson
Nutritional condition of Northern Yellowstone Elk Nutritional condition of Northern Yellowstone Elk
We estimated nutritional condition for 96 female northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) during mid- to late winter 2000, 2001, and 2002. Neither year nor capture location significantly influenced any measure of condition (body fat, body mass, and longissimus dorsi thickness; P ≥ 0.14). Overall, age = 8.9 years ± 0.4 SE, body fat = 9.5% ± 0.4, body mass = 235.1 kg ± 2.2, and...
Authors
R.C. Cook, J.G. Cook, L.D. Mech
The wetland continuum: A conceptual framework for interpreting biological studies The wetland continuum: A conceptual framework for interpreting biological studies
We describe a conceptual model, the wetland continuum, which allows wetland managers, scientists, and ecologists to consider simultaneously the influence of climate and hydrologic setting on wetland biological communities. Although multidimensional, the wetland continuum is most easily represented as a two-dimensional gradient, with ground water and atmospheric water constituting the...
Authors
N.H. Euliss, J. W. LaBaugh, L.H. Fredrickson, D.M. Mushet, Murray K. Laubhan, G.A. Swanson, T. C. Winter, D.O. Rosenberry, R.D. Nelson
Less waste corn, more land in soybeans, and the switch to genetically modified crops: Trends with important implications to wildlife management Less waste corn, more land in soybeans, and the switch to genetically modified crops: Trends with important implications to wildlife management
American agriculture has provided abundant high-energy foods for migratory and resident wildlife populations since the onset of modern wildlife management. Responding to anecdotal evidence that corn residues are declining in cropland, we remeasured waste corn postharvest in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of Nebraska during 1997 and 1998 to compare with 1978. Post-harvest waste...
Authors
Gary L. Krapu, D.A. Brandt, R. R. Cox
Mechanism and active variety of allelochemicals Mechanism and active variety of allelochemicals
This article summarizes allelochemicals' active variety, its potential causes and function mechanisms. Allelochemicals' activity varies with temperature, photoperiod, water and soils during natural processes, with its initial concentration, compound structure and mixed degree during functional processes, with plant accessions, tissues and maturity within-species, and with research...
Authors
S.-L. Peng, J. Wen, Q.-F. Guo