Publications
Browse publications authored by our scientists. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Flight speeds of northern pintails during migration determined by satellite telemetry Flight speeds of northern pintails during migration determined by satellite telemetry
Speed (km/hr) during flight is one of several factors determining the rate of migration (km/ day) and flight range of birds. We attached 26-g, back-mounted satellite-received radio tags (platform transmitting terminals; PTTs) to adult female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) during (1) midwinter 2000–2003 in the northern Central Valley of California, (2) fall and winter 2002–2003 in the...
Authors
Michael R. Miller, John Y. Takekawa, Joseph P. Fleskes, Dennis L. Orthmeyer, Michael L. Casazza, David A. Haukos, William M. Perry
Apparent predation by cattle at grassland bird nests Apparent predation by cattle at grassland bird nests
We document the first cases of cattle behaving as avian predators, removing nestlings and eggs from three active ground nests in continuously grazed pastures in southwestern Wisconsin, 2000–2001. Cows removed three of four Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) eggs from one nest (the fourth egg was damaged), all four Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) nestlings from another, and...
Authors
Jamie L. Nack, Christine Ribic
Habitat use, movements and home range of wintering Lesser Scaup in Florida Habitat use, movements and home range of wintering Lesser Scaup in Florida
Radio telemetry and diurnal time activity budgets were used to show that wintering Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) used different habitats for comfort and feeding activities at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (Merritt Island), Florida and adjacent estuarine areas. Management should take this spatial consideration into account. The same data were used to determine if habitat use...
Authors
Garth Herring, Jaime A. Collazo
p,p'-DDE depresses the immune competence of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) leukocytes p,p'-DDE depresses the immune competence of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) leukocytes
p,p′-DDE, the main metabolite of DDT, is still detected in aquatic environments throughout the world. Here, the effects and mechanisms by which p,p′-DDE exposure might affect the immune system of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) was studied. Isolated salmon splenic and pronephric leukocytes were incubated with different concentrations of p,p′-DDE, and cell viability, induction...
Authors
Ichiro Misumi, Anthony T. Vella, Jo-Ann C. Leong, Teruyuki Nakanishi, Carl B. Schreck
Survival of captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots released in the Caribbean National Forest Survival of captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots released in the Caribbean National Forest
We report first-year survival for 34 captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona vittata) released in the Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico between 2000 and 2002. The purpose of the releases were to increase population size and the potential number of breeding individuals of the sole extant wild population, and to refine release protocols for eventual reintroduction of a second...
Authors
Thomas H. White, Jaime A. Collazo, Francisco Vilella
An annotated bibliography of selected guides for stream habitat improvement in the Pacific Northwest An annotated bibliography of selected guides for stream habitat improvement in the Pacific Northwest
This annotated bibliography is a response to widespread interest in stream habitat improvement in the Pacific Northwest by land managers, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and the lay public. Several guides to stream habitat improvement have been written in the past, but may not be easily accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. This annotated bibliography reviews 11...
Authors
R.F. Keim, A.B. Price, T. S. Hardin, Arne E. Skaugset, D.S. Bateman, R. E. Gresswell, S. D. Tesch
Assessing rarity of species with low detectability: Lichens in Pacific Northwest forests Assessing rarity of species with low detectability: Lichens in Pacific Northwest forests
We show how simple statistical analyses of systematically collected inventory data can be used to provide reliable information about the distribution and habitat associations of rare species. Using an existing design-based sampling grid on which epiphytic macrolichens had been inventoried in the Northwest Forest Plan area of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, we (1) estimate frequencies and...
Authors
T.C. Edwards, D.R. Cutler, L. Geiser, J. Alegria, D. McKenzie
Gene flow and genetic characterization of Northern Goshawks breeding in Utah Gene flow and genetic characterization of Northern Goshawks breeding in Utah
Adult movement and natal dispersal data demonstrate that Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are able to travel over long distances, suggesting a large functional population. However, these data are unable to determine whether these movements contribute to gene flow among adjacent breeding areas. We used eight microsatellite DNA loci and mitochondrial DNA control-region sequence data...
Authors
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. Talbot, C.M. White
Redistribution and growth of the Caspian Tern population in the Pacific Coast region of North America, 1981-2000 Redistribution and growth of the Caspian Tern population in the Pacific Coast region of North America, 1981-2000
We examined nesting distribution and demography of the Pacific Coast population of Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) using breeding records and band recoveries spanning two decades since the first population assessment. Since 1980, population size has more than doubled to about 12 900 pairs, yet the proportion of the population nesting at inland (18%) versus coastal sites (82%) has remained...
Authors
R.M. Suryan, D. P. Craig, D.D. Roby, N.D. Chelgren, K. Collis, W.D. Shuford, Donald E. Lyons
Factors affecting swimming performance of fasted rainbow trout with implications of exhaustive exercise on overwinter mortality Factors affecting swimming performance of fasted rainbow trout with implications of exhaustive exercise on overwinter mortality
We evaluated the effects of body size, water temperature, and sustained swimming activity on swimming performance and the effects of exhaustive exercise on mortality of fasted juvenile rainbow trout. Fasting caused swimming performance to decline more rapidly for small fish than large fish, and warmer water temperatures and sustained swimming activity further decreased swimming...
Authors
D.G. Simpkins, W.A. Hubert, Del Rio, D.C. Rule
American black bear denning behavior: Observations and applications using remote photography American black bear denning behavior: Observations and applications using remote photography
Researchers examining American black bear (Ursus americanus) denning behavior have relied primarily on den-site visitation and radiotelemetry to gather data. Repeated den-site visits are time-intensive and may disturb denning bears, possibly causing den abandonment, whereas radiotelemetry is sufficient only to provide gross data on den emergence. We used remote cameras to examine black...
Authors
A.S. Bridges, J.A. Fox, C. Olfenbuttel, M.B. Vaughan
Swimming endurance of bull trout, lake trout, arctic char, and rainbow trout following challenge with Renibacterium salmoninarum Swimming endurance of bull trout, lake trout, arctic char, and rainbow trout following challenge with Renibacterium salmoninarum
We tested the swimming endurance of juvenile bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, lake trout S. namaycush, Arctic char S. alpinus, and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss at 9°C and 15°C to determine whether sublethal infection from a moderate challenge of Renibacterium salmoninarum administered months before testing affected the length of time fish could maintain a swimming speed of 5-6...
Authors
D.T. Jones, C.M. Moffitt