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
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, H.A. Coletti, James A. Estes
Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift
We present data on the colonization of Middleton Island, Alaska, by Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) following the creation of an extensive rocky intertidal zone after the Alaskan earthquake of 1964. The first pair of oystercatchers was detected in 1976, and it was another 5 years before the population increased to three pairs. Oystercatcher numbers increased steadily...
Authors
V.A. Gill, Scott A. Hatch, Richard B. Lanctot
Sustaining salmonid populations: A caring understanding of naturalness of taxa Sustaining salmonid populations: A caring understanding of naturalness of taxa
Species of the family of Salmonidae occur naturally in Northern Hemisphere waters that remain clear and cool to cold in summer. For purposes of reproduction, salmonids generally behaviorally respond to the currents of streams and lakes in recently glaciated areas. For feeding and maturation, many larger species migrate into existing systems of large lakes, seas, and oceans. The...
Authors
Jennifer L. Nielsen, Henry A. Regier
Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska
The 3 November 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake resulted in 341 km of surface rupture on the Susitna Glacier, Denali, and Totschunda faults. The rupture proceeded from west to east and began with a 48-km-long break on the previously unknown Susitna Glacier thrust fault. Slip on this thrust averaged about 4 m (Crone et al., 2004). Next came the principal surface break, along 226 km...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, David P. Schwartz, Timothy E. Dawson, Heidi D. Stenner, James J. Lienkaemper, Brian L. Sherrod, Francesca R. Cinti, Paola Montone, Patricia Craw, Anthony J. Crone, Stephen F. Personius
Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea
Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a...
Authors
C. W. Matson, J. C. Franson, Tuula E. Hollmén, Mikael Kilpi, Martti Hario, Paul L. Flint, J. W. Bickham
Field guide to identifying Kittlitz's Murrelet forage fish Field guide to identifying Kittlitz's Murrelet forage fish
No abstract available.
Authors
Mayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt
Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003 Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003
Water resources data for the 2003 water year for Alaska consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stages of lakes; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This volume contains records for water discharge at 118 gaging stations; stage or contents only at 4 gaging stations; water quality at 28 gaging stations; and water levels for 53 observation...
Authors
D. F. Meyer, D.P. Bartu, J.D. Eash, W.A. Swenson
Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt
We examined the movements of flightless Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) during the wing molt in the near-shore lagoons of the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. Estimates of site fidelity during the 21-day flightless period ranged from 1-100%, with considerable variation among locations and within locations among years. There was no effect of low-level experimental disturbance or an...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, Deborah L. Lacroix, John A. Reed, Richard B. Lanctot
Status of sea otter populations in southcentral and southeast Alaska, 2002-2003 Status of sea otter populations in southcentral and southeast Alaska, 2002-2003
During the years 2002-2004 estimated sea otter population sizes were calculated for Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and the Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions of Alaska. Aerial surveys were conducted by a single observer from a float-equipped Bellanca Scout fixed-wing aircraft flying at 91 m altitude and 65 mph. The surveys followed protocols written by Bodkin and Udevitz...
Authors
James L. Bodkin
Small boats disturb fish-holding marbled murrelets Small boats disturb fish-holding marbled murrelets
Disturbance of seabirds by people at nesting colonies can reduce reproductive success and alter population demographics (Vermeer and Rankin 1984). In response to disturbance, adult seabirds may increase the incidence of alarm postures and alarm calling (Burger and Gochfeld 1993), increase heart and breathing rates (Culik and others 1990; Wilson and others 1991), reduce attendance of nest...
Authors
Suzann G. Speckman, John F. Piatt, Alan M. Springer
Spatiotemporal predictability of schooling and nonschooling prey of Pigeon Guillemots Spatiotemporal predictability of schooling and nonschooling prey of Pigeon Guillemots
Low spatiotemporal variability in the abundance of nonschooling prey might allow Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) to maintain the high chick provisioning rates that are characteristic of the species. We tested predictions of this hypothesis with data collected with beach seines and scuba and hydroacoustic surveys in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, during 1996–1999. Coefficients of variability...
Authors
Michael A. Litzow, John F. Piatt, Alisa A. Abookire, Suzann G. Speckman, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Jared D. Figurski
A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years
In 1926 cannery workers from the Wakefield Fisheries Plant at Little Port Walter in Southeast Alaska captured small trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a portion of Sashin Creek populated with a wild steelhead (anadromous O. mykiss) run. They planted them into Sashin Lake which had been fishless to that time and separated from the lower stream by two large waterfalls that prevented upstream...
Authors
Frank Thrower, Charles Guthrie, Jennifer L. Nielsen, John Joyce