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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

Chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants in polar bears from eastern Russia, North America, Greenland, and Svalbard: Biomonitoring of Arctic pollution Chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants in polar bears from eastern Russia, North America, Greenland, and Svalbard: Biomonitoring of Arctic pollution

Adipose tissue samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were obtained by necropsy or biopsy between the spring of 1989 to the spring of 1993 from Wrangel Island in Russia, most of the range of the bear in North America, eastern Greenland, and Svalbard. Samples were divided into 16 regions corresponding as much as possible to known stocks or management zones. Concentrations of dieldrin...
Authors
R. J. Norstrom, Stanislav Belikov, E.W. Born, G.W. Garner, B. Malone, S. Olpinski, M.A. Ramsay, S. Schliebe, I. Stirling, M.S. Sitshov, M.K. Taylor, Øystein Wiig

Evaluation of radio-tracking and strip transect methods for determining foraging ranges of Black-Legged Kittiwakes Evaluation of radio-tracking and strip transect methods for determining foraging ranges of Black-Legged Kittiwakes

We compared strip transect and radio-tracking methods of determining foraging range of Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). The mean distance birds were observed from their colony determined by radio-tracking was significantly greater than the mean value calculated from strip transects. We determined that this difference was due to two sources of bias: (1) as distance from the...
Authors
William D. Ostrand, G.S. Drew, R.M. Suryan, L.L. McDonald

Effect of implanted satellite transmitters on the nesting behavior of Murres Effect of implanted satellite transmitters on the nesting behavior of Murres

We implanted 6 Common Murres (Uria aalge) and 10 Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) with satellite transmitters and compared subsequent presence at the colony, nesting status, and provisioning to a control group that underwent a simple surgical procedure. In the 10 days following implantation, we resighted 10 of 11 control birds at the colony and 6 of 16 implanted birds. Of the birds that...
Authors
P.M. Meyers, Scott A. Hatch, D.M. Mulcahy

Survival of Common Eider Somateria mollissima adult females and ducklings during brood rearing Survival of Common Eider Somateria mollissima adult females and ducklings during brood rearing

We studied survival of adult female and duckling Common Eiders during brood rearing at two sties o the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, in 1997. Duckling survival to 30 days of age was 19%±10% (95% CI). Seventy-three percent of radio-marked adult females had lost all their ducklings by 30 days after hatch. Duckling survival was not related to hatch date. We estimate an average of 0.84...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, Christine L. Moran, J.L. Schamber

Paleozoic orogens in New England, USA Paleozoic orogens in New England, USA

Stratigraphy and isotope geochronology in the crystalline core of the Appalachians suggest revised interpretations of the extent, nature and timing of Paleozoic orogens in New England. Five major episodes of magmatism, deformation, and high-grade regional metamorphism are recognized: Taconian (455-442 Ma), Acadian (423-385 Ma), Neo-Acadian (366-350 Ma), Late Pennsylvanian (300-290 Ma)...
Authors
Peter Robinson, Robert D. Tucker, Dwight Bradley, H. N. Berry, P. H. Osberg

Polar bears of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago of the Russian Arctic Polar bears of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago of the Russian Arctic

No abstract available.
Authors
Stanislav Belikov, G.W. Garner, O. Wiig, Andrei N. Boltunov, Y.A. Gorbunov

Reproductive performance of female Alaskan caribou Reproductive performance of female Alaskan caribou

We examined the reproductive performance of female caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in relation to age, physical condition, and reproductive experience for 9 consecutive years (1987-95) at Denali National Park, Alaska, during a period of wide variation in winter snowfall. Caribou in Denali differed from other cervid populations where reproductive performance has been investigated...
Authors
Layne G. Adams, Bruce W. Dale

Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the genotoxic effects of crude oil on mink and sea otters, In the first experiment, the effects on mink of chronic exposure to weathered Prudhoe Bay crude oil were studied, Female mink were fed a diet that included weathered crude oil for a period of 3 weeks prior to mating, during pregnancy and until weaning. Kits were exposed through...
Authors
J. W. Bickham, J.A. Mazet, J. Blake, M.J. Smolen, Y. Lou, Brenda E. Ballachey
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