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: 3082
Egg flotation estimates nest age for Pacific and Red-throated Loons Egg flotation estimates nest age for Pacific and Red-throated Loons
We used Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) and Red-throated Loon (G. stellata) nests with known ages to gauge the efficacy of egg flotation for determining nest age in coastal Alaska. Egg flotation accurately estimated nest age for both species; the mean ± 1SD difference between known age and age determined with egg flotation was - 0.05 ± 2.00 d and -0.02 ± 1.63 d for Pacific and Red-throated...
Authors
Daniel Rizzolo, Joel A. Schmutz
Dynamic in-lake spawning migrations by female sockeye salmon Dynamic in-lake spawning migrations by female sockeye salmon
Precise homing by salmon to natal habitats is considered the primary mechanism in the evolution of population-specific traits, yet few studies have focused on this final phase of their spawning migration. We radio tagged 157 female sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) as they entered Lake Clark, Alaska, and tracked them every 1-10 days to their spawning locations. Contrary to past...
Authors
Daniel B. Young, C.A. Woody
Fatty acid signatures of stomach oil and adipose tissue of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) in Alaska: Implications for diet analysis of Procellariiform birds Fatty acid signatures of stomach oil and adipose tissue of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) in Alaska: Implications for diet analysis of Procellariiform birds
Procellariiforms are unique among seabirds in storing dietary lipids in both adipose tissue and stomach oil. Thus, both lipid sources are potentially useful for trophic studies using fatty acid (FA) signatures. However, little is known about the relationship between FA signatures in stomach oil and adipose tissue of individuals or whether these signatures provide similar information...
Authors
S.W. Wang, S.J. Iverson, A.M. Springer, Scott A. Hatch
Digital mapping techniques '06 - Workshop proceedings Digital mapping techniques '06 - Workshop proceedings
The Digital Mapping Techniques '06 (DMT'06) workshop was attended by more than 110 technical experts from 51 agencies, universities, and private companies, including representatives from 27 state geological surveys (see Appendix A of these Proceedings). This workshop was similar in nature to the previous nine meetings, which were held in Lawrence, Kansas (Soller, 1997), Champaign...
Activity budgets derived from time-depth recorders in a diving mammal Activity budgets derived from time-depth recorders in a diving mammal
We describe a method to convert continuously collected time–depth data from archival time–depth recorders (TDRs) into activity budgets for a benthic-foraging marine mammal. We used data from 14 TDRs to estimate activity-specific time budgets in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) residing near Cross Sound, southeast Alaska, USA. From the TDRs we constructed a continuous record of behavior for...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Daniel H. Monson, George G. Esslinger
Marine ecoregions of Alaska: Chapter 6.1 Marine ecoregions of Alaska: Chapter 6.1
No abstract available.
Authors
John F. Piatt, A.M. Springer
New technologies at the Desert Research Institute make a difference in wildland fire management New technologies at the Desert Research Institute make a difference in wildland fire management
No abstract available.
Authors
Timothy J. Brown, Crystal A. Kolden
Strategies for survival: Stellar sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters Chapter 4.9 Strategies for survival: Stellar sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters Chapter 4.9
No abstract available.
Authors
Alan M. Springer, Sara J. Iverson, James L. Bodkin
Major and Trace-Element Data from Stream-Sediment and Rock Samples Collected in the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-Scale Quadrangle, Alaska Major and Trace-Element Data from Stream-Sediment and Rock Samples Collected in the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-Scale Quadrangle, Alaska
In the summers of 2004, 2005, and 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the drainage basins throughout most of the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale quadrangle, in southwestern Alaska. The purpose of the study was to locate areas of potential interest for ore minerals, provide data that may be used to determine regional-scale element baselines...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Bailey, Gregory K. Lee, Seth H. Mueller, Bronwen Wang, Zoe Ann Brown, Greg A. Beischer
Spatial distribution of juvenile and adult female Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi) in a glacial fjord ecosystem: Implications for recruitment processes Spatial distribution of juvenile and adult female Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi) in a glacial fjord ecosystem: Implications for recruitment processes
A systematic pot survey in Glacier Bay, Alaska, was conducted to characterize the spatial distribution of juvenile and adult female Tanner crabs, and their association with depth and temperature. The information was used to infer important recruitment processes for Tanner crabs in glaciated ecosystems. High-catch areas for juvenile and adult female Tanner crabs were identified using...
Authors
J.K. Nielsen, S. James Taggart, Thomas C. Shirley, Jennifer Mondragon
Exhumation and continental strike-slip fault systems: Introduction Exhumation and continental strike-slip fault systems: Introduction
Metamorphic rocks adjacent to and within strike-slip faultsystems occur in a wide range of tectonic settings. Detailed studies show that for a number of these locales a significant part of the exhumation occurred during strike-slip fault motion, but the specific processes involved are often cryptic. Although some sites share characteristic features, such as metamorphic rocks exhumed in...
Authors
S. M. Roeske, A.B. Till, D.A. Foster, J.C. Sample