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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: 3084

Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in Alaska: A population estimate from the staging grounds Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in Alaska: A population estimate from the staging grounds

Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica were surveyed on their staging grounds in Alaska during September 1995 and 1997. The single high count of 94,000 birds closely matched that of counts from New Zealand and south-eastern Australia, the known non-breeding area for most of the baueri subspecies. Numbers recorded on the southern Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta and at Egegik Bay, a small estuary...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, Brian J. McCaffery

Maturation, fecundity, and intertidal spawning of Pacific sand lance in the northern Gulf of Alaska Maturation, fecundity, and intertidal spawning of Pacific sand lance in the northern Gulf of Alaska

Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, showed no sexual dimorphism in length-to-weight (gonad-free) ratio or length-at-age relationship. Most matured in their second year, males earlier in the season than females, but females (31%) attained a higher gonadosomatic index than males (21%). Sand lance spawned intertidally once each year in late September and October...
Authors
Martin D. Robards, John F. Piatt, G.A. Rose

The adrenocorical stress-response of Black-legged Kittiwake chicks in relation to dietary restrictions The adrenocorical stress-response of Black-legged Kittiwake chicks in relation to dietary restrictions

In this study we examined hormonal responses of Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissatridactyla) chicks to experimental variations in energy content and nutritional quality (low or high lipid to protein ratio, LPR) of their food. Starting at the age of 10 days, chicks were fed either high or low LPR fish at 30, 50, 70 and 100% of ad libitum energy intake. After 20 days of treatment, chicks were...
Authors
A.S. Kitaysky, John F. Piatt, J.C. Wingfield, M. Romano

Status and biology of the Steller's eider in Yakutia, Russia Status and biology of the Steller's eider in Yakutia, Russia

No abstract available.
Authors
Andrei G. Degtyarev, S.M. Sleptsov, S.P. Troev, John M. Pearce, Margaret R. Petersen

Rock, stream sediment, and heavy-mineral concentrate geochemical data from Unga and western Popof Islands, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska: Chapter 6 in A geological and geophysical study of the gold-silver vein system of Unga Island, Southwestern Alaska Rock, stream sediment, and heavy-mineral concentrate geochemical data from Unga and western Popof Islands, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska: Chapter 6 in A geological and geophysical study of the gold-silver vein system of Unga Island, Southwestern Alaska

The data reported here was collected during the 1982-1988 mineral resource assessment of the Port Moller and adjacent quadrangles (see Wilson and others, 1996). Analytical data for virtually all of the samples reported here has been previously published in a series of U.S.G.S. Open-File reports, including Angeloni and others (1985), Arbogast and others (1987), and Wilson and others (1987...
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Stan E. Church, Elizabeth Bailey

Turnagain Arm Turnagain Arm

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, L. Dilley

Sand lance as cornerstone prey for predator populations Sand lance as cornerstone prey for predator populations

Sand lance (Ammodytes) constitute a major prey for at least some populations of over 100 species of consumer, including 40 species of birds, 12 species of marine mammals, 45 species of fishes, and some invertebrates. Variation in the availability of sand lance (and other forage fishes) can have major effects on the breeding success and survival of their predators. Commercial fishing and...
Authors
Mary F. Willson, Robert H. Armstrong, Martin D. Robards, John F. Piatt

The evolutionary history of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) along the US Pacific Coast: Developing a conservation strategy using genetic diversity The evolutionary history of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) along the US Pacific Coast: Developing a conservation strategy using genetic diversity

Changes in genetic variation across a species range may indicate patterns of population structure resulting from past ecological and demographic events that are otherwise difficult to infer and thus provide insight into evolutionary development. Genetic data is used, drawn from 11 microsatellite loci amplified from anadromous steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sampled throughout its range...
Authors
J.L. Nielsen

Reproductive characteristics of migratory golden eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska Reproductive characteristics of migratory golden eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska

We describe reproductive characteristics of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska during an entire snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle, 1988-1997. Data on nesting eagles were collected at 58 to 72 nesting areas annually using two aerial surveys. Surveys were conducted during the incubation period to determine occupancy and nesting activities and...
Authors
Carol L. McIntyre, Layne G. Adams

Genetic structure of the world's polar bear populations Genetic structure of the world's polar bear populations

We studied genetic structure in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations by typing a sample of 473 individuals spanning the species distribution at 16 highly variable microsatellite loci. No genetic discontinuities were found that would be consistent with evolutionarily significant periods of isolation between groups. Direct comparison of movement data and genetic data from the Canadian...
Authors
David Paetkau, Steven C. Amstrup, E.W. Born, W. Calvert, A.E. Derocher, G.W. Garner, F. Messier, I. Stirling, M.K. Taylor, O. Wiig, C. Strobeck

Subcutaneous implantation of satellite transmitters with percutaneous antennae into male polar bears (Ursus maritimus) Subcutaneous implantation of satellite transmitters with percutaneous antennae into male polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Male polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have not been successfully instrumented with satellite transmitters because they readily shed collar-mounted transmitters. Seven male polar bears were captured on the pack ice off the northern coast of Alaska and surgically implanted with satellite transmitters with percutaneous antennae into the subcutaneous space of the dorsal cervical region...
Authors
Daniel M. Mulcahy, Gerald W. Garner
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