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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

The highest global concentrations and increased abundance of oceanic plastic debris in the North Pacific: Evidence from seabirds The highest global concentrations and increased abundance of oceanic plastic debris in the North Pacific: Evidence from seabirds

Plastic pollution has risen dramatically with an increase in production of plastic resin during the past few decades. Plastic production in the United States increased from 2.9 million tons in I960 to 47.9 million tons in 1985 (Society of the Plastics Industry 1986). This has been paralleled by a significant increase in the concentration of plastic particles in oceanic surface waters of...
Authors
Martin D. Robards, Patrick J. Gould

Population genetic studies of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus): A summary of available data and interpretation of results Population genetic studies of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus): A summary of available data and interpretation of results

A summary of existing population genetics literature is presented for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and interpreted in the context of the species' life-history characteristics and regional heterogeneity in environmental regimes and movement patterns. Several nongenetic data sets including morphology, contaminant levels, geographic variation in reproductive characteristics, and the...
Authors
Kim T. Scribner, G.W. Garner, Steven C. Amstrup, M.A. Cronin

Progressive deformation of the Chugach accretionary complex, Alaska, during a paleogene ridge-trench encounter Progressive deformation of the Chugach accretionary complex, Alaska, during a paleogene ridge-trench encounter

The Mesozoic accretionary wedge of south-central Alaska is cut by an array of faults including dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults, synthetic and antithetic thrust faults, and synthetic and antithetic normal faults. The three fault sets are characterized by quartz ± calcite ± chlorite ± prehnite slickensides, and are all relatively late, i.e. all truncate ductile fabrics of the host...
Authors
Timothy M. Kusky

Behavior of Cackling Canada Geese during brood rearing Behavior of Cackling Canada Geese during brood rearing

We studied behavior of Cackling Canada Goose (Branta canadensis minima, cacklers) broods between 1992 and 1996 on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in western Alaska. An increase in time spent foraging by goslings during our study was weakly correlated with an increase in the size of the local breeding population. Amount of time spent feeding by adults and goslings increased...
Authors
Ada C. Fowler, Craig R. Ely

Winter activity patterns of American martens (Martes americana): Rejection of the hypothesis of thermal-cost minimization Winter activity patterns of American martens (Martes americana): Rejection of the hypothesis of thermal-cost minimization

Despite their temperate to subarctic geographic range, American martens (Martes americana) possess a thermally inefficient morphology. The lack of morphological adaptations for reducing thermal costs suggests that marten may use behavioral strategies to optimize thermal budgets. During the winters of 1989–1990 and 1990–1991, we radio-collared and monitored the diel activity of 7 martens...
Authors
Gary S. Drew, John A. Bissonette

Trophic relationships of albatrosses associated with squid and large-mesh drift-net fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean Trophic relationships of albatrosses associated with squid and large-mesh drift-net fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean

The diets of Laysan (Diomedea immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (D. nigripes) killed in squid and large-mesh drift nets in the transitional zone of the North Pacific Ocean were investigated by examining the contents of the digestive tracts and determining δ13C and δ15N values in breast-muscle tissue. The results show that (i) the combined prey of the two species of albatross...
Authors
Patrick J. Gould, Peggy H. Ostrom, William Walker

Home ranges and movements of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in western Alaska Home ranges and movements of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in western Alaska

During the period from 1985 to 1990, radio collars were attached to 61 arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in the coastal region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska. Radio tracking using hand-held receivers from aircraft and from fixed towers was conducted to determine daily and seasonal movements of foxes. Intensive radio tracking of 18 foxes from May through July indicated that...
Authors
R. Michael Anthony

Hematology and clinical chemistry of sea otters vaptured in Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Hematology and clinical chemistry of sea otters vaptured in Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Hematologic and serum chemical analyses were performed on sea otter blood samples collected from 31 adult males, 63 adult females, and 42 pups captured in western Prince William Sound (oiled area), and 12 adult males, 40 adult females, and 15 pups captured in eastern Prince William Sound (unoiled area) in 1989 and 1990. Hematologic differences between eastern and western adult males were...
Authors
A.H. Rebar, Brenda E. Ballachey, D.L. Bruden, Kimberly A. Kloecker
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