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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: 3088

Muskoxen Muskoxen

Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) disappeared from Alaska in the late 1800s, but returned to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge when animals were reestablished into areas of former range in 1969-1970 (Klein 1988). Released at Barter Island (Kaktovik) and the Kavik River, muskoxen initially moved into regions that encompassed the 1002 Area on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. From 1974...
Authors
Patricia E. Reynolds, Kenneth J. Wilson, David R. Klein

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2000 Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2000

The collection of eight papers that follow continue the series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigative reports in Alaska under the broad umbrella of the geologic sciences. The series presents new and sometimes-preliminary findings that are of interest to earth scientists in academia, government, and industry; to land and resource managers; and to the general public. Reports...

Activity patterns and monitoring numbers of Horned Puffins and Parakeet Auklets Activity patterns and monitoring numbers of Horned Puffins and Parakeet Auklets

Nearshore counts of birds on the water and time-lapse photography were used to monitor seasonal activity patterns and interannual variation in numbers of Horned Puffins (Fratercula corniculata) and Parakeet Auklets (Aethia psittacula) at the Semidi Islands, Alaska. The best period for over-water counts was mid egg-laying through hatching in auklets and late prelaying through early...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch

Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill

We examined the potential role of food limitation in constraining the recovery of sea otters Enhydra lutris in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill. The spill resulted in the removal of a large number of sea otters in 1989, and as of 1998, the portion of the population in the heavily oiled northern Knight Island region had not fully recovered. Between 1996...
Authors
Thomas A. Dean, James L. Bodkin, Allan K. Fukuyama, Stephen C. Jewett, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O’Clair, Glenn R. VanBlaricom

Use of satellite telemetry to identify common loon migration routes, staging areas and wintering range Use of satellite telemetry to identify common loon migration routes, staging areas and wintering range

We developed a satellite transmitter attachment technique for adult Common Loons (Gavia immer) that would help in identifying important migration routes, staging areas, and the location of wintering grounds of birds that breed in the north central United States. During the autumn and winter of 1998, the migration of six adult loons that were radio marked in northern Wisconsin and...
Authors
Kevin P. Kenow, Michael W. Meyer, David Evers, David C. Douglas, J. Hines

Sea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill Sea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill

Sea otter Enhydra lutris populations were severely affected by the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill in western Prince William Sound, AK, and had not fully recovered by 2000. Here we present results of population surveys and incorporate findings from related studies to identify current population status and factors affecting recovery. Between 1993 and 2000, the number of sea otters in the...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, T.A. Dean, Allan K. Fukuyama, S.C. Jewett, L. McDonald, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O’Clair, G.R. VanBlaricom

Testing pop-up satellite tags as a tool for identifying critical habitat for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Gulf of Alaska Testing pop-up satellite tags as a tool for identifying critical habitat for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Gulf of Alaska

To maintain healthy commercial and sport fisheries for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), critical habitat must be defined by determining life history patterns on a daily and seasonal basis. Pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags provide a fisheries-independent method of collecting environmental preference data (depth and ambient water temperature) as well as daily...
Authors
Andrew C. Seitz, Derek Wilson, Jennifer L. Nielsen

Growth and abundance of Pacific Sand Lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes Growth and abundance of Pacific Sand Lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes

Dramatic changes in seabird and marine mammal stocks in the Gulf of Alaska have been linked to shifts in abundance and composition of forage fish stocks over the past 20 years. The relative value (e.g., size and condition of individual fish, abundance) of specific forage fish stocks to predators under temporally changing oceanographic regimes is also expected to vary. We inferred...
Authors
Martin D. Robards, Floyd Gray, John F. Piatt

Paleoseismology at high latitudes: Seismic disturbance of upper Quaternary deposits along the Castle Mountain fault near Houston, Alaska Paleoseismology at high latitudes: Seismic disturbance of upper Quaternary deposits along the Castle Mountain fault near Houston, Alaska

Most paleoseismic studies are at low to moderate latitudes. Here we present results from a high-latitude (61°30′ N) trenching study of the Castle Mountain fault in south-central Alaska. This fault is the only one known in the greater Anchorage, Alaska, area with historical seismicity and a Holocene fault scarp. It strikes east-northeast and cuts glacial and postglacial sediments in an...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Timothy C. Best, Christopher F. Waythomas
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