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
Waterfowl research priorities in the northern Great Plains Waterfowl research priorities in the northern Great Plains
It is necessary periodically to identify research priorities so that future research will be directed toward the most pertinent issues in waterfowl ecology and management. To that end, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center convened a quorum of experts on the ecology of breeding waterfowl, the Waterfowl Working Group, to 1) develop a mission statement, 2) identify waterfowl research...
Authors
R. R. Cox, Douglas H. Johnson, M. A. Johnson, R.E. Kirby, J.W. Nelson, R. E. Reynolds
Prolonged winter undernutrition and the interpretation of urinary allantoin:creatinine ratios in white-tailed deer Prolonged winter undernutrition and the interpretation of urinary allantoin:creatinine ratios in white-tailed deer
The urinary allantoin:creatinine (A:C) ratio (expressed in micromoles of allantoin to micromoles of creatinine) has shown potential as an index of recent winter energy intake in preliminary controlled studies of elk (Cervus elaphus) involving mild condition deterioration (up to 11% loss of body mass). To ensure reliable nutritional assessments of free-ranging cervids by measuring A:C...
Authors
Glenn D. DelGiudice, Ken D. Kerr, L. David Mech, Ulysses S. Seal
Leadership in wolf, Canis lupus, packs Leadership in wolf, Canis lupus, packs
I examine leadership in Wolf (Canis lupus) packs based on published observations and data gathered during summers from 1986 to 1998 studying a free-ranging pack of Wolves on Ellesmere Island that were habituated to my presence. The breeding male tended to initiate activities associated with foraging and travel, and the breeding female to initiate, and predominate in, pup care and...
Authors
L. David Mech
Contaminants in eggs of western snowy plovers and California least terns: Is there a link to population decline? Contaminants in eggs of western snowy plovers and California least terns: Is there a link to population decline?
No abstract available.
Authors
R.L. Hothern, A.N. Powell
Declines of greater and lesser scaup populations: issues, hypotheses, and research needs Declines of greater and lesser scaup populations: issues, hypotheses, and research needs
The population estimate for greater (Aythya marila) and lesser (Aythya affinis) scaup (combined) has declined dramatically since the early 1980s to record lows in 1998. The 1998 estimate of 3.47 million scaup is far below the goal of 6.3 million set in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), causing concern among biologists and hunters. We summarize issues of concern...
Authors
J. E. Austin, A. D. Afton, M.G. Anderson, R. G. Clark, Christine M. Custer, J. Lawrence, J.B. Pollard, J.K. Ringelman
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Swainson's Hawk Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Swainson's Hawk
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
Jill A. Dechant, Meghan F. Dinkins, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Betty R. Euliss
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Vesper Sparrow Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Vesper 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
Jill A. Dechant, Meghan F. Dinkins, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Betty R. Euliss
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Horned Lark Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Horned Lark
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
Meghan F. Dinkins, Amy L. Zimmerman, Jill A. Dechant, Barry D. Parkin, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Betty R. Euliss
Delineation of sandhill crane subspecies Delineation of sandhill crane subspecies
No abstract available.
Authors
Douglas H. Johnson, J. E. Austin
Weather monitoring protocol for two prairie parks Weather monitoring protocol for two prairie parks
No abstract available.
Authors
F.A. Akyuz, P. Guinan, G.D. Willson
Wolf restoration to the Adirondacks: the advantages and disadvantages of public participation in the decision Wolf restoration to the Adirondacks: the advantages and disadvantages of public participation in the decision
The first time I ever saw a wolf in New York State's Adirondack Mountains was in 1956. It was a brush wolf, or coyote (Canis latrans), not a real wolf, but to an eager young wildlife student this distinction meant little. The presence of this large deer-killing canid let my fresh imagination view the Adirondacks as a real northern wilderness. Since then I have spent the last 40 years...
Authors
L. David Mech