Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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: 1964

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

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

Linking surface- and ground-water levels to riparian grassland species along the Platte River in central Nebraska Linking surface- and ground-water levels to riparian grassland species along the Platte River in central Nebraska

Nearly all the techniques used to quantify how plants are linked to environmental gradients produce results in general terms, such as low to high elevation, xeric to mesic, and low to high concentration. While ecologists comprehend these imprecise scales, managers responsible for making decisions affecting these gradients need more precise information. For our study, we preserved the...
Authors
R.J. Henszey, K. Pfeiffer, J.R. Keough

Den site activity patterns of adult male and female Swift Foxes, Vulpes velox, in northwestern Texas Den site activity patterns of adult male and female Swift Foxes, Vulpes velox, in northwestern Texas

Activity of Swift Foxes (Vulpes velox) at den sites was studied in northwestern Texas during pup rearing seasons in 2000 and 2001 to determine role of males in parental care. Twenty-four percent of radio-collared females with a potential to breed successfully raised pups to eight weeks of age. We intensively monitored presence and absence of male and female Swift Foxes at two den sites...
Authors
P.R. Lemons, W.B. Ballard, R.M. Sullivan, M.A. Sovada

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

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

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

The flora of the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota The flora of the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota

The 92 ha Cottonwood Lake Study Area is located in south-central North Dakota along the eastern edge of a glacial stagnation moraine known as the Missouri Coteau. The study area has been the focus of biologic and hydrologic research since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the site in 1963. We studied the plant communities of the Cottonwood Lake Study Area from 1992 to 2001...
Authors
D.M. Mushet, N.H. Euliss, S.P. Lane, C.M. Goldade

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
Was this page helpful?