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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

Ephemeral lekking behavior in the buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis Ephemeral lekking behavior in the buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis

We studied male reproductive behavior of the buff-breasted sandpiper Tryngites subruficoills for three yean on a 16-km2 study site in northern Alaska to document variation in male lekking behavior and to explore the causes of that variation. During the breeding season, about 75% of males on the study area displayed on leks, with the remainder displaying solitarily. Leks averaged between...
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot, Patrick J. Weatherhead

Habitat use, diet and breeding biology of tufted puffins in Prince William Sound, Alaska Habitat use, diet and breeding biology of tufted puffins in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Habitat use, diet and breeding biology of tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) were studied in Prince William Sound, Alaska, during summer 1995. On Seal Island, 112 puffin burrows (71% active) were located. Of 95 accessible burrows, 49% were typical earthen burrows, whereas the remainder were atypical for the species (e.g., under tree roots). Hatching success (≤79%), fledging success (...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Daniel D. Roby, Laird A. Henkel, Kriss Neumann

Investigating trophic relationships of pinnipeds in Alaska and Washington using stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon Investigating trophic relationships of pinnipeds in Alaska and Washington using stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon

We measured stable-nitrogen (δ15N) and stable-carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in muscle and hair from 7 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, and 27 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and 14 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Gulf of Alaska and coast of Washington State, in order to contrast dietary information derived from isotopic vs...
Authors
Keith A. Hobson, John L. Sease, Richard L. Merrick, John F. Piatt

Seasonal and annual survival of adult Pacific brant Seasonal and annual survival of adult Pacific brant

Declining mid-winter counts of Pacific brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) and reduced numbers of nesting birds on their main breeding grounds prompted us to assess factors that may be limiting recovery of this population. We estimated seasonal and annual survival rates of adult brant in 1986-93 from resightings of leg-banded birds. Brant were banded at a major colony on the Yukon...
Authors
David H. Ward, Eric A. Rexstad, James S. Sedinger, Mark S. Lindberg, Neil K. Dawe

Adaptation of a stage-projection model for species with multiple year reproductive cycles Adaptation of a stage-projection model for species with multiple year reproductive cycles

We apply stage projection matrices to multiple age and reproductive categories, deriving the stable age - reproductive category distribution for populations with multi-year reproductive cycles and identifying conditions for the existence of a dominant latent root. Given the stable distribution of age and reproductive category and the number of female young for each reproductive category...
Authors
James R. Gilbert, Mark S. Udevitz

Recovery strategies for the California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) in the heavily-urbanized San Francisco estuarine ecosystem Recovery strategies for the California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) in the heavily-urbanized San Francisco estuarine ecosystem

The California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus), a Federal- and State-listed endangered marsh bird, has a geographic range restricted to one of the most heavily-urbanized estuaries in the world. The rail population has long been in a state of decline, although the exact contribution of each of the many contributing causes remains unclear. The rail is one of the key targets of...
Authors
Theodore C. Foin, E. Jacqueline Garcia, Robert E. Gill, Steven D. Culberson, Joshua N. Collins

Hematological and plasma biochemical reference ranges of Alaskan seabirds: Their ecological significance and clinical importance Hematological and plasma biochemical reference ranges of Alaskan seabirds: Their ecological significance and clinical importance

Blood was analyzed from 151 pelagic marine birds to establish reference ranges for hematological and plasma biochemical parameters from healthy, wild populations of Pacific seabirds. Of the 13 species examined, 9 were from the Family Alcidae (N = 122 individuals) and the remainder (N = 29) from the Families Phalacrocoracidae, Laridae, and Procellariidae. Three of 8 hematological...
Authors
S. H. Newman, John F. Piatt, J. White

Spatial and temporal variability of microgeographic genetic structure in white-tailed deer Spatial and temporal variability of microgeographic genetic structure in white-tailed deer

Techniques are described that define contiguous genetic subpopulations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on the spatial dispersion of 4,749 individuals that possessed discrete character values (alleles or genotypes) during each of 6 years (1974-1979). White-tailed deer were not uniformly distributed in space, but exhibited considerable spatial genetic structuring...
Authors
Kim T. Scribner, Michael H. Smith, Ronald K. Chesser

Genetic differentiation of sockeye salmon subpopulations from a geologically young Alaskan lake system Genetic differentiation of sockeye salmon subpopulations from a geologically young Alaskan lake system

The Tustumena lake drainage in southcentral Alaska is glacially turbid and geologically young (
Authors
C. V. Burger, William J. Spearman, M. A. Cronin
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