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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: 3090

Applying the scientific method when assessing the influence of migratory birds on the dispersal of H5N1 Applying the scientific method when assessing the influence of migratory birds on the dispersal of H5N1

Background The role of wild birds in the dispersal of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 continues to be the subject of considerable debate. However, some researchers functionally examining the same question are applying opposing null hypotheses when examining this issue. Discussion I describe the correct method for establishing a null hypothesis under the scientific method. I...
Authors
Paul L. Flint

The atlantic salmon: Genetics, conservation and management The atlantic salmon: Genetics, conservation and management

Atlantic Salmon is a cultural icon throughout its North Atlantic range; it is the focus of probably the World’s highest profile recreational fishery and is the basis for one of the World’s largest aquaculture industries. Despite this, many wild stocks of salmon are in decline and underpinning this is a dearth of information on the nature and extent of population structuring and adaptive...

Reproductive strategies of northern geese: Why wait? Reproductive strategies of northern geese: Why wait?

Migration and reproductive strategies in waterbirds are tightly linked, with timing of arrival and onset of nesting having important consequences for reproductive success. Whether migratory waterbirds are capital or income breeders is predicated by their spring migration schedule, how long they are on breeding areas before nesting, and how adapted they are to exploiting early spring...
Authors
Craig R. Ely, K.S. Bollinger, R.V. Densmore, T.C. Rothe, M.J. Petrula, John Y. Takekawa, D.L. Orthmeyer

Proximate composition, energetic value, and relative abundance of prey fish from the inshore eastern Bering Sea: Implications for piscivorous predators Proximate composition, energetic value, and relative abundance of prey fish from the inshore eastern Bering Sea: Implications for piscivorous predators

Changing ocean conditions and subsequent shifts in forage fish communities have been linked to numerical declines of some piscivorous marine birds and mammals in the North Pacific. However, limited information about fish communities is available for some regions, including nearshore waters of the eastern Bering Sea, where many piscivores reside. We determined proximate composition and...
Authors
J.R. Ball, Daniel Esler, Joel A. Schmutz

Mass dynamics of wintering Pacific Black Brant: Body, adipose tissue, organ, and muscle masses vary with location Mass dynamics of wintering Pacific Black Brant: Body, adipose tissue, organ, and muscle masses vary with location

We compared body size and mass of the whole body, organs, adipose tissue, and muscles of adult Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans (Lawrence, 1846)) collected concurrently in Alaska and Baja California during the fall, winter, and spring of 2002–2003. Head and tarsal lengths of males were similar between sites and slightly larger for females in Alaska than in Baja California...
Authors
D.D. Mason, P.S. Barboza, David H. Ward

Post-den emergence behavior of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Northern Alaska Post-den emergence behavior of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Northern Alaska

We observed polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternity den sites on Alaska’s North Slope in March 2002 and 2003 in an effort to describe bears’ post-den emergence behavior. During 40 sessions spanning 459 h, we observed 8 adults and 14 dependent cubs outside dens for 37.5 h (8.2% of total observation time). There was no significant difference between den emergence dates in 2002 (mean = 15...
Authors
T. S. Smith, Steven T. Partridge, Steven C. Amstrup, S. Schliebe

Early marine growth in relation to marine-stage survival rates for Alaska sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Early marine growth in relation to marine-stage survival rates for Alaska sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

We tested the hypothesis that larger juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, have higher marine-stage survival rates than smaller juvenile salmon. We used scales from returning adults (33 years of data) and trawl samples of juveniles (n= 3572) collected along the eastern Bering Sea shelf during August through September 2000−02. The size of juvenile sockeye...
Authors
Edward V. Farley, J.M. Murphy, Milo D. Adkison, Lisa B. Eisner, J.H. Helle, J.H. Moss, Jennifer L. Nielsen

The geophysical character of southern Alaska - Implications for crustal evolution The geophysical character of southern Alaska - Implications for crustal evolution

The southern Alaska continental margin has undergone a long and complicated history of plate convergence, subduction, accretion, and margin-parallel displacements. The crustal character of this continental margin is discernible through combined analysis of aeromagnetic and gravity data with key constraints from previous seismic interpretation. Regional magnetic data are particularly...
Authors
R. W. Saltus, T. L. Hudson, Frederic H. Wilson

Estimating the amount of eroded section in a partially exhumed basin from geophysical well logs: An example from the North Slope Estimating the amount of eroded section in a partially exhumed basin from geophysical well logs: An example from the North Slope

The reconstruction of burial and thermal histories of partially exhumed basins requires an estimation of the amount of erosion that has occurred since the time of maximum burial. We have developed a method for estimating eroded thickness by using porosity-depth trends derived from borehole sonic logs of wells in the Colville Basin of northern Alaska. Porosity-depth functions defined from...
Authors
W. Matthew Burns, Daniel O. Hayba, Elisabeth L. Rowan, David W. Houseknecht

Upper triassic continental margin strata of the central alaska range: Implications for paleogeographic reconstruction Upper triassic continental margin strata of the central alaska range: Implications for paleogeographic reconstruction

Remnants of a Late Triassic continental margin and ocean basin are scattered across central and southern Alaska. Little is known about the fundamental nature of the margin because most remnants have not been studied in detail and a protracted period of terrane accretion and margin-parallel translation has disrupted original stratigraphic and structural relationships. Three new conodont...
Authors
A.B. Till, A. G. Harris, B. R. Wardlaw, M. Mullen

Using a bioenergetic model to assess growth reduction from catch-and-release fishing and hooking injury in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Using a bioenergetic model to assess growth reduction from catch-and-release fishing and hooking injury in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

A bioenergetic model was used to predict the potential effects of feeding cessation caused by catch-and-release capture and a reduction in feeding efficiency from hooking injuries on rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), growth in southwest Alaska, USA. Simulations indicated that a 1-day feeding cessation for a rainbow trout captured one to two times during summer months resulted...
Authors
Julie M. Meka, F.J. Margraf

Assessment of marine-derived nutrients in the Copper River Delta, Alaska, using natural abundance of the stable isotopes of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon Assessment of marine-derived nutrients in the Copper River Delta, Alaska, using natural abundance of the stable isotopes of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon

We performed nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon stable isotope analysis (SIA) on maturing and juvenile anadromous sockeye and coho salmon, and periphyton in two Copper River delta watersheds of Alaska to trace salmonderived nutrients during 2003–2004. Maturing salmon were isotopically enriched relative to alternate freshwater N, S, and C sources as expected, with differences consistent with...
Authors
Thomas C. Kline, Carol Ann Woody, Mary Anne Bishop, Sean P. Powers, E. Eric Knudsen
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