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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: 3087

Biology and conservation of Xantus's Murrelet: Discovery, taxonomy and distribution Biology and conservation of Xantus's Murrelet: Discovery, taxonomy and distribution

The biology of Xantus's Murrelets Synthliboramphus hypoleucus is similar in many respects to better-studied Ancient Murrelets S. antiquus, especially regarding morphology and the species' precocial mode of post-hatching development. It nests mainly in rock crevices but also under shrubs on islands in southern California, United States, and northwestern Baja California, Mexico (27oN to...
Authors
Harry R. Carter, Spencer G. Sealy, Esther E. Burkett, John F. Piatt

Nomenclature of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes for Oncorhynchus mykiss Nomenclature of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes for Oncorhynchus mykiss

Congruence of genetic data is critical for comparative and collaborative studies on natural fish populations. A comprehensive list of reported mitochrondrial DNA haplotypes for Oncorhynchus mykiss generated using the S‐Phe/P2 primer set is presented as a resource for future investigations of this species.
Authors
Sara L. Graziano, K. H. Brown, Jennifer L. Nielsen

Oceanic Pb-isotopic sources of Proterozoic and Paleozoic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits on Prince of Wales Island and vicinity, southeastern Alaska Oceanic Pb-isotopic sources of Proterozoic and Paleozoic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits on Prince of Wales Island and vicinity, southeastern Alaska

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits on Prince of Wales Island and vicinity in southeastern Alaska are associated with Late Proterozoic through Cambrian volcanosedimentary rocks of the Wales Group and with Ordovician through Early Silurian felsic volcanic rocks of the Moira Sound unit (new informal name). The massive sulfide deposits in the Wales Group include the Big Harbor...
Authors
Robert A. Ayuso, Susan M. Karl, John F. Slack, Peter J. Haeussler, Peter E. Bittenbender, Gregory A. Wandless, Anna Colvin

Prey consumption and energy transfer by marine birds in the Gulf of Alaska Prey consumption and energy transfer by marine birds in the Gulf of Alaska

We investigated prey consumption by marine birds and their contribution to cross-shelf fluxes in the northern Gulf of Alaska. We utilized data from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database for modeling energy demand and prey consumption. We found that prey consumption by marine birds was much greater over the continental shelf than it was over the basin. Over the shelf, subsurface...
Authors
G.L. Hunt, G.S. Drew, J. Jahncke, John F. Piatt

A signal for independent coastal and continental histories among North American wolves A signal for independent coastal and continental histories among North American wolves

Relatively little genetic variation has been uncovered in surveys across North American wolf populations. Pacific Northwest coastal wolves, in particular, have never been analysed. With an emphasis on coastal Alaska wolf populations, variation at 11 microsatellite loci was assessed. Coastal wolf populations were distinctive from continental wolves and high levels of diversity were found...
Authors
Byron V. Weckworth, Sandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, David K. Person, Joseph Cook

Relationship of otolith strontium-to-calcium ratios and salinity: Experimental validation for juvenile salmonids Relationship of otolith strontium-to-calcium ratios and salinity: Experimental validation for juvenile salmonids

Analysis of otolith strontium (Sr) or strontium-to-calcium (Sr:Ca) ratios provides a powerful tool to reconstruct the chronology of migration among salinity environments for diadromous salmonids. Although use of this method has been validated by examination of known individuals and translocation experiments, it has never been validated under controlled experimental conditions. In this...
Authors
Christian E. Zimmerman

Offshore marine observation of Willow Ptarmigan, including water landings, Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska Offshore marine observation of Willow Ptarmigan, including water landings, Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska

We report an observation of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) encountered 8 to 17 km from the nearest shoreline on Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska, on 30 August 2003. The ptarmigan were observed flying, landing on our research vessel, and landing and taking off from the water surface. We also report on one other observation of ptarmigan sitting on the water surface and other marine observations...
Authors
Christian E. Zimmerman, Nicola Hillgruber, Sean E. Burril, Michelle A. St. Peters, Jennifer D. Wetzel

Seabird, fish, marine mammal, and oceanography coordinated investigations (SMMOCI) in Sitka Sound, Alaska, July 2000 Seabird, fish, marine mammal, and oceanography coordinated investigations (SMMOCI) in Sitka Sound, Alaska, July 2000

Surveys for seabirds and marine mammals were conducted in and near Sitka Sound, Alaska (Fig. 1) from the M/V Tiĝlax̂ during 12-16 July 2000 (Table 1, Fig. 1). The objective was to characterize the marine environment in the vicinity of St. Lazaria Island, one of ten seabird colonies monitored annually by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (See Dragoo et al. 2003). In addition to...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Donald E. Dragoo

Physiological response of wild rainbow trout to angling: Impact of angling duration, fish size, body condition, and temperature Physiological response of wild rainbow trout to angling: Impact of angling duration, fish size, body condition, and temperature

This study evaluated the immediate physiological response of wild rainbow trout to catch-and-release angling in the Alagnak River, southwest Alaska. Information was recorded on individual rainbow trout (n = 415) captured by angling including landing time and the time required to remove hooks (angling duration), the time to anesthetize fish in clove oil and withdraw blood, fish length and...
Authors
Julie M. Meka, S. D. McCormick
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