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
Tracking of white-tailed deer migration by Global Positioning System Tracking of white-tailed deer migration by Global Positioning System
We used global positioning system (GPS) radiocollars on female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to document details of onsets of migrations, rates of travel, patterns of travel, durations of migrations, and distances traveled by 8 deer in spring and 4 deer in autumn in northeastern Minnesota in 1998, 1999, and 2001. In spring, deer migrated 23–45 km during 31–356 h, deviating a...
Authors
M.E. Nelson, L.D. Mech, P.F. Frame
Unusual behavior by Bison, Bison bison, toward Elk, Cervus elaphus, and wolves, Canis lupus Unusual behavior by Bison, Bison bison, toward Elk, Cervus elaphus, and wolves, Canis lupus
Incidents are described of Bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park mauling and possibly killing a young Elk (Cervus elaphus) calf, chasing wolves (Canis lupus) off Elk they had just killed or were killing, and keeping the wolves away for extended periods. During one of the latter cases, the Bison knocked a wolf-wounded Elk down. Bison were also seen approaching wolves that were...
Authors
L.D. Mech, R.T. McIntyre, D.W. Smith
Impacts of water development on aquatic macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and plants in wetlands of a semi-arid landscape Impacts of water development on aquatic macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and plants in wetlands of a semi-arid landscape
We compared the macroinvertebrate and amphibian communities of 12 excavated and 12 natural wetlands in western North Dakota, USA, to assess the effects of artificially lengthened hydroperiods on the biotic communities of wetlands in this semi-arid region. Excavated wetlands were much deeper and captured greater volumes of water than natural wetlands. Most excavated wetlands maintained...
Authors
Ned H. Euliss, David M. Mushet
First record of Graphoderus liberus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in North Dakota First record of Graphoderus liberus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in North Dakota
No abstract available.
Authors
B.A. Hanson, N.H. Euliss, D.M. Mushet
Avian nest success in midwestern forests fragmented by agriculture Avian nest success in midwestern forests fragmented by agriculture
We studied how forest-bird nest success varied by landscape context from 1996 to 1998 in an agricultural region of southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa. Nest success was 48% for all nests, 82% for cavity-nesting species, and 42% for cup-nesting species. Mayfield-adjusted nest success for five common species ranged from 23% for the American Redstart...
Authors
Melinda G. Knutson, Gerald J. Niemi, Wesley E. Newton, M. A. Friberg
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Golden eagle Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Golden eagle
Information on the habitat requirements and effects of habitat management on grassland birds were summarized from information in more than 4,000 published and unpublished papers. A range map is provided to the breeding, year-round, and nonbreeding ranges in the United States and southern Canada. Although birds frequently are observed outside the breeding range indicated, the maps are...
Authors
John P. DeLong
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Brewer's sparrow Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Brewer's sparrow
Information on the habitat requirements and effects of habitat management on grassland birds were summarized from information in more than 5,500 published and unpublished papers. A range map is provided to indicate the relative densities of the species in North America, based on Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data. Although birds frequently are observed outside the breeding range indicated...
Authors
Brett L. Walker
Is climate change affecting wolf populations in the high arctic? Is climate change affecting wolf populations in the high arctic?
Gobal climate change may affect wolves in Canada’s High Arctic (80° N) acting through three trophic levels (vegetation, herbivores, and wolves). A wolf pack dependent on muskoxen and arctic hares in the Eureka area of Ellesmere Island denned and produced pups most years from at least 1986 through 1997. However, when summer snow covered vegetation in 1997 and 2000 for the first time since...
Authors
L. David Mech
Modeling nest survival data: a comparison of recently developed methods that can be implemented in MARK and SAS Modeling nest survival data: a comparison of recently developed methods that can be implemented in MARK and SAS
No abstract available.
Authors
J. Rotella, S.J. Dinsmore, T.L. Shaffer
Less waste corn, more land in soybeans, and the switch to genetically modified crops: Trends with important implications for wildlife management Less waste corn, more land in soybeans, and the switch to genetically modified crops: Trends with important implications for 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 post-harvest 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
Nesting biology of three grassland passerines in the northern tallgrass prairie Nesting biology of three grassland passerines in the northern tallgrass prairie
Basic nesting information on grassland passerines is needed for improving grassland bird management. Among the information needs are (1) the suitability of nesting habitat, (2) periods during the breeding season in which birds are most vulnerable to disturbances, and (3) how to fit grasslands into a prioritization scheme for conservation. Comparisons of nesting parameters among grassland...
Authors
Maiken Winter, Douglas H. Johnson, Jill A. Shaffer, W. Daniel Svedarsky
Record high Wolf, Canis lupus, pack density Record high Wolf, Canis lupus, pack density
This report documents a year-around Wolf (Canis lupus) density of 18.2/100 km2 and a summer density of 30.8/100 km2, in a northeastern Minnesota Wolf pack. The previous record was a summer density of 14.1/100 km2, for a Wolf pack on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Authors
L.D. Mech, S. Tracy