Publications
USGS research activities relevant to Alaska have yielded more than 9400 historical publications. This page features some of the most recent newsworthy research findings.
Filter Total Items: 3084
Numerical simulations examining the possible role of anthropogenic and volcanic emissions during the 1997 Indonesian fires Numerical simulations examining the possible role of anthropogenic and volcanic emissions during the 1997 Indonesian fires
The regional atmospheric chemistry and climate model REMOTE has been used to conduct numerical simulations of the atmosphere during the catastrophic Indonesian fires of 1997. These simulations represent one possible scenario of the event, utilizing the RETRO wildland fire emission database. Emissions from the fires dominate the atmospheric concentrations of O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 creating...
Authors
Melissa A. Pfeffer, Barbel Langmann, Angelika Heil, Hans-F. Graf
Calving seismicity from iceberg-sea surface interactions Calving seismicity from iceberg-sea surface interactions
Iceberg calving is known to release substantial seismic energy, but little is known about the specific mechanisms that produce calving icequakes. At Yahtse Glacier, a tidewater glacier on the Gulf of Alaska, we draw upon a local network of seismometers and focus on 80 hours of concurrent, direct observation of the terminus to show that calving is the dominant source of seismicity. To...
Authors
T.C. Bartholomaus, C.F. Larsen, Shad O’Neel, M.E. West
Paired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds Paired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds
Surveillance has revealed low prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in shorebirds except Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) on the North American Atlantic coast. Similarly, of five species of shorebirds surveyed in Alaska in 2010, Ruddy Turnstones had the highest AIV antibody prevalence; prevalence of AIV RNA was low or zero.
Authors
John M. Pearce, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Jeffrey S. Hall
Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species
Several vertebrates choose their mate according to genetic heterozygosity and relatedness, and use odour cues to assess their conspecifics' genetic make-up. In birds, although several species (including the black-legged kittiwake) exhibit non-random mating according to genetic traits, the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. The importance of olfaction in birds'...
Authors
S. Leclaire, T. Merkling, C. Raynaud, Herve Mulard, J.-M. Bessiere, E.M. Lhuillier, Scott A. Hatch, E. Danchin
A horizon scanning assessment of current and potential future threats to migratory shorebirds A horizon scanning assessment of current and potential future threats to migratory shorebirds
We review the conservation issues facing migratory shorebird populations that breed in temperate regions and use wetlands in the non-breeding season. Shorebirds are excellent model organisms for understanding ecological, behavioural and evolutionary processes and are often used as indicators of wetland health. A global team of experienced shorebird researchers identified 45 issues facing...
Authors
William J. Sutherland, José A. Alves, Tatsuya Amano, Charlotte H. Chang, Nicholas C. Davidson, C. Max Finlayson, Jennifer A. Gill, Robert E. Gill, Patricia M. González, Tomas Gretar Gunnarsson, David Kleijn, Chris J. Spray, Tamás Székely, Des B.A. Thompson
Microsatellite marker isolation and development for the giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Microsatellite marker isolation and development for the giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
We isolated and developed 18 novel microsatellite markers for the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) and examined them for 31 individuals from Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska. These loci displayed moderate levels of allelic diversity (averaging 11 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (averaging 65%). Seven loci deviated from Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) due to...
Authors
Rebecca K. Toussaint, G. Kevin Sage, Sandra L. Talbot, David Scheel
Long-distance swimming by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea during years of extensive open water Long-distance swimming by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea during years of extensive open water
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) depend on sea ice for catching marine mammal prey. Recent sea-ice declines have been linked to reductions in body condition, survival, and population size. Reduced foraging opportunity is hypothesized to be the primary cause of sea-ice-linked declines, but the costs of travel through a deteriorated sea-ice environment also may be a factor. We...
Authors
Anthony M. Pagano, George M. Durner, Kristin S. Simac, G.S. York, Steven C. Amstrup
Habitat use and movement patterns of Northern Pintails during spring in northern Japan: the importance of agricultural lands Habitat use and movement patterns of Northern Pintails during spring in northern Japan: the importance of agricultural lands
From 2006 to 2009, we marked 198 Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) with satellite transmitters on their wintering areas in Japan to study their migration routes and habitat use in spring staging areas. We hypothesized that the distribution of pintails during spring staging was influenced by patterns of land use and expected that the most frequently used areas would have more agricultural...
Authors
Noriyuki M. Yamaguchi, Jerry W. Hupp, Paul L. Flint, John M. Pearce, Yusuke Shigeta, Tetsuo Shimada, Emiko N. Hiraoka, Hiroyoshi Higuchi
Contrasting extreme long-distance migration patterns in bar-tailed godwits Limosa lapponica Contrasting extreme long-distance migration patterns in bar-tailed godwits Limosa lapponica
Migrating birds make the longest non-stop endurance flights in the animal kingdom. Satellite technology is now providing direct evidence on the lengths and durations of these flights and associated staging episodes for individual birds. Using this technology, we compared the migration performance of two subspecies of bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica travelling between non-breeding...
Authors
Phil F. Battley, Nils Warnock, T. Lee Tibbitts, Robert E. Gill, Theunis Piersma, Chris J. Hassell, David C. Douglas, Daniel M. Mulcahy, Brett D. Gartrell, Rob Schuckard, David S. Melville, Adrian C. Riegen
Functional ecology of saltglands in shorebirds: Flexible responses to variable environmental conditions Functional ecology of saltglands in shorebirds: Flexible responses to variable environmental conditions
1. Birds of marine environments have specialized glands to excrete salt, the saltglands. Located on the skull between the eyes, the size of these organs is expected to reflect their demand, which will vary with water turnover rates as a function of environmental (heat load, salinity of prey and drinking water) and organismal (energy demand, physiological state) factors. On the basis of...
Authors
J.S. Gutierrez, M.W. Dietz, J.A. Masero, Robert E. Gill, Anne Dekinga, Phil F. Battley, J. M. Sanchez-Guzman, Theunis Piersma
SYBR green-based real-time reverse transcription-PCR for typing and subtyping of all hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of avian influenza viruses and comparison to standard serological subtyping tests SYBR green-based real-time reverse transcription-PCR for typing and subtyping of all hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of avian influenza viruses and comparison to standard serological subtyping tests
Continuing outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza virus (AIV) infections of wild birds and poultry worldwide emphasize the need for global surveillance of wild birds. To support the future surveillance activities, we developed a SYBR green-based, real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) for detecting nucleoprotein (NP) genes and subtyping 16 hemagglutinin (HA) and...
Authors
K. Tsukamoto, P.C. Javier, M. Shishido, D. Noguchi, John M. Pearce, H.-M. Kang, O.M. Jeong, Y.-J. Lee, K. Nakanishi, T. Ashizawa
Field guide to the accretionary complex and neotectonics of south-central Alaska, Anchorage to Seward Field guide to the accretionary complex and neotectonics of south-central Alaska, Anchorage to Seward
No abstract available.
Authors
Susan M. Karl, Dwight C. Bradley, Rodney Combellick, Marti L. Miller