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: 1945
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: McCown's Longspur Effects of management practices on grassland birds: McCown's Longspur
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and effects of habitat management on grassland birds were summarized from information in more than 5,500 published and unpublished papers.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, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Paul A. Rabie, Betty R. Euliss
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Bobolink Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Bobolink
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and effects of habitat management on grassland birds were summarized from information in more than 5,500 published and unpublished papers.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, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. Euliss
Habitat associations of migrating and overwintering grassland birds in Southern Texas Habitat associations of migrating and overwintering grassland birds in Southern Texas
We report on the habitat associations of 21 species of grassland birds overwintering in or migrating through southern Texas, during 1991-1992 and 1992-1993. Ninety percent of our grassland bird observations were made during winter and spring, and only 10% occurred during fall. Grassland species made up a high proportion of the total bird densities in grassland and shrub-grassland...
Authors
Lawrence D. Igl, Bart M. Ballard
Foods and foraging of prairie striped skunks during the avian nesting season Foods and foraging of prairie striped skunks during the avian nesting season
Food habits of prairie skunks are not well understood, yet such knowledge might provide insight into factors influencing nest depredation. We studied food habits of radiocollared adult striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) during 1976-78 in North Dakota, where skunks are regarded as important predators of ground-nesting birds. Plant foods, primarily grain and sunflower seeds, occurred in a...
Authors
R. J. Greenwood, A.B. Sargeant, J.L. Piehl, D. A. Buhl, B.A. Hanson
Estimated costs of maintaining a recovered wolf population in agricultural regions of Minnesota Estimated costs of maintaining a recovered wolf population in agricultural regions of Minnesota
The annual costs of maintaining Minnesota gray wolves (Canis lupus), now numbering about 2,500, under 2 plans are compared: (1) maintaining a population of about 1,400 primarily in the wilderness and semi-wilderness as recommended by the Eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Plan, and (2) allowing wolves to continue colonizing agricultural areas for 5 years after removal from the endangered...
Authors
L.D. Mech
Sandhill cranes and the Platte River Sandhill cranes and the Platte River
No abstract available.
Authors
Gary L. Krapu
Behaviour patterns of Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos pairs and broods in Minnesota and North Dakota Behaviour patterns of Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos pairs and broods in Minnesota and North Dakota
Few studies have quantitatively examined Mallard behaviour in North America during the breeding season. We estimated diurnal time budgets of unmarked Mallard males, females, and broods from over 1,200 hours of observations at two study areas in western Minnesota and south-central North Dakota during 1988-91. Paired males spent less time feeding and more time alert than did females. Both...
Authors
P.J. Pietz, D. A. Buhl
Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region: Invertebrate species composition, ecology, and management Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region: Invertebrate species composition, ecology, and management
The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States and Canada is a unique area where shallow depressions created by the scouring action of Pleistocene glaciation interact with mid-continental climate variations to create and maintain a variety of wetland classes. These wetlands possess unique environmental and biotic characteristics that add to the overall regional diversity and...
Authors
N.H. Euliss, D.A. Wrubleski, D.M. Mushet
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: American Bittern Effects of management practices on grassland birds: American Bittern
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, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. Euliss
Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Dickcissel Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Dickcissel
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, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. Euliss
An improved method for determining the distribution of swift fox in Kansas An improved method for determining the distribution of swift fox in Kansas
During 1997 and 1998 we tested a new method for determining the distribution of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in Kansas. From a sampling frame of 30 counties in western Kansas, we selected a systematic sample of alternate townships in a checkerboard pattern. During September and October 1997 and August 1998, experienced observers delineated suitable swift fox habitat within each sample...
Authors
Christiane C. Roy, Marsha A. Sovada, Glen A. Sargeant
Prescribed fire effects on biological control of leafy spurge Prescribed fire effects on biological control of leafy spurge
The flea beetle, Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras, is a potentially useful agent for biological control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) in grasslands devoted to wildlife conservation. However, effects of other grassland management practices on the persistence and dynamics of flea beetle populations are not well understood. We conducted small plot tests to evaluate 1) the effect of...
Authors
D.P. Fellows, W.E. Newton