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
Winter severity and wolf predation on a formerly wolf-free elk herd Winter severity and wolf predation on a formerly wolf-free elk herd
We studied wolf (Canis lupus) predation on elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park from 17 March to 15 April 1997 (severe winter conditions) and from 2 to 31 March 1998 (mild winter conditions) 2-3 years after wolves were reintroduced to the park. Elk composed 91 % of 117 kills. Data comparisons for 1997 versus 1998 were: hunting success rate, 26% versus 15%; kill rate, 17.1 kg...
Authors
L. David Mech, Douglas W. Smith, Kerry M. Murphy, Daniel R. MacNulty
Use of macroinvertebrates to identify cultivated wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region Use of macroinvertebrates to identify cultivated wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region
We evaluated the use of macroinvertebrates as a potential tool to identify dry and intensively farmed temporary and seasonal wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. The techniques we designed and evaluated used the dried remains of invertebrates or their egg banks in soils as indicators of wetlands. For both the dried remains of invertebrates and their egg banks, we weighted each taxon...
Authors
Ned H. Euliss, David M. Mushet, Douglas H. Johnson
Area requirements of grassland birds: A regional perspective Area requirements of grassland birds: A regional perspective
Area requirements of grassland birds have not been studied except in tallgrass prairie. We studied the relation between both species-occurrence and density and patch size by conducting 699 fixed-radius point counts of 15 bird species on 303 restored grassland areas in nine counties in four northern Great Plains states. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)...
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl
Relationship of bull fertility to sperm nuclear shape Relationship of bull fertility to sperm nuclear shape
The relationship between sperm nuclear shape and bull fertility was determined. Two groups of bulls, 3 per group, were selected. Bulls differed in fertility based on lifetime nonreturn rates. Digital images of propidium iodide-stained sperm from each bull were collected and shape-evaluated by Fourier harmonic amplitudes 0 to 5. A discriminant function (P .05) was constructed based on...
Authors
G.C. Ostermeier, G.A. Sargeant, B.S. Yandell, J.J. Parrish
Validating and evaluating models Validating and evaluating models
No abstract available.
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson
Black-tailed prairie dog monitoring protocol for seven prairie parks Black-tailed prairie dog monitoring protocol for seven prairie parks
No abstract available.
Authors
G. E. Plumb, Gary D. Willson, K. Kalin, K. Shinn, William M. Rizzo
Seasonal food habits of swift fox (Vulpes velox) in cropland and rangeland landscapes in western Kansas Seasonal food habits of swift fox (Vulpes velox) in cropland and rangeland landscapes in western Kansas
Food habits of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) occupying two distinct landscapes (dominated by cropland versus rangeland) in western Kansas were determined by analysis of scats collected in 1993 and 1996. Frequencies of occurrence of prey items in scats were compared between cropland and rangeland areas by season. Overall, the most frequently occurring foods of swift foxes were mammals (92%...
Authors
M.A. Sovada, C.C. Roy, D.J. Telesco
Managing Minnesota's recovered wolves Managing Minnesota's recovered wolves
The Minnesota wolf (Canis lupus) population was estimated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at 2,450 during winter 1997-1998 and had increased at an average annual rate of 4.5% since winter 1988-1989. The population may be removed from the federal endangered species list by 2002, and management would then return to the state. A federal recovery team recommended a...
Authors
L. David Mech
[Book review] Wetlands for the future: contributions from INTECOL's V International Wetlands Confernce, edited by A. J. McComb and J. A. Davis [Book review] Wetlands for the future: contributions from INTECOL's V International Wetlands Confernce, edited by A. J. McComb and J. A. Davis
Review of: Wetlands for the Future: Contributions from INTECOL’s V International Wetlands Conference. Edited by A.J. McComb and J.A. Davis. 780 pp., 1998. Gleneagles Publishing, PO Box 41, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Adelaide, Australia. ISBN: 1 87553 04 5. AUS $90.00.
Authors
N.H. Euliss