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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

Do wintering Harlequin Ducks forage nocturnally at high latitudes? Do wintering Harlequin Ducks forage nocturnally at high latitudes?

We monitored radio-tagged Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) to determine whether nocturnal feeding was part of their foraging strategy during winter in south-central Alaska. Despite attributes of our study site (low ambient temperatures, harsh weather, short day length) and study species (small body size, high daytime foraging rates) that would be expected to favor nocturnal...
Authors
Daniel Rizzolo, Daniel Esler, Daniel D. Roby, Robert L. Jarvis

Polar climate: Arctic sea ice Polar climate: Arctic sea ice

Recent decreases in snow and sea ice cover in the high northern latitudes are among the most notable indicators of climate change. Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent for the year as a whole was the third lowest on record dating back to 1973, behind 1995 (lowest) and 1990 (second lowest; Hadley Center–NCEP). September sea ice extent, which is at the end of the summer melt season and is...
Authors
R. S. Stone, David C. Douglas, G. I. Belchansky, S. D. Drobot

Alaskan brown bears, humans, and habituation Alaskan brown bears, humans, and habituation

We present a new paradigm for understanding habituation and the role it plays in brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations and interactions with humans in Alaska. We assert that 3 forms of habituation occur in Alaska: bear-to-bear, bear-to-human, and human-to-bear. We present data that supports our theory that bear density is an important factor influencing a bear’s overt reaction distance...
Authors
Thomas Smith, Stephen Herrero, Terry D. DeBruyn

Capture-recapture methods in practice Capture-recapture methods in practice

No abstract available.
Authors
Bryan F.J. Manly, Steven C. Amstrup, Trent L. McDonald

Circumpolar variation in morphological characteristics of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons Circumpolar variation in morphological characteristics of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons

Capsule: Greater White-fronted Geese show significant variation in body size from sampling locations throughout their circumpolar breeding range. Aims: To determine the degree of geographical variation in body size of Greater White-fronted Geese and identify factors contributing to any apparent patterns in variation. Methods: Structural measures of >3000 geese from 16 breeding areas...
Authors
Craig R. Ely, A.D. Fox, R.T. Alisauskas, A. Andreev, R.G. Bromley, Andrei G. Degtyarev, B. Ebbinge, E.N. Gurtovaya, R. Kerbes, Alexander V. Kondratyev, I. Kostin, A.V. Krechmar, K.E. Litvin, Y. Miyabayashi, J.H. Moou, R.M. Oates, D.L. Orthmeyer, Yutaka Sabano, S. Gay Simpson, D.V. Solovieva, Michael A. Spindler, Y.V. Syroechkovsky, John Y. Takekawa, A. Walsh

Allocating harvests among polar bear stocks in the Beaufort Sea Allocating harvests among polar bear stocks in the Beaufort Sea

Recognition that polar bears are shared by hunters in Canada and Alaska prompted development of the “Polar Bear Management Agreement for the Southern Beaufort Sea.” Under this Agreement, the harvest of polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) is shared between Inupiat hunters of Alaska and Inuvialuit hunters of Canada. Quotas for each jurisdiction are to be reviewed annually in...
Authors
Steven C. Amstrup, George M. Durner, I. Stirling, T. L. McDonald

Marine mammals Marine mammals

No abstract available.
Authors
Lloyd L. Lowry, James L. Bodkin

Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2004 Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2004

Water resources data for the 2004 water year for Alaska consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stages of lakes; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This volume contains records for water discharge at 115 gaging stations; stage or contents only at 3 gaging stations; water quality at 39 gaging stations; and water levels for 26 observation...
Authors
D. F. Meyer, H.R. Best, R.H. Host, R.P. Murray, G. L. Solin

Water quality and ground-water/surface-water interactions along the John River near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, 2002-2003 Water quality and ground-water/surface-water interactions along the John River near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, 2002-2003

The headwaters of the John River are located near the village ofAnaktuvuk Pass in the central Brooks Range of interior Alaska. With the recent construction of a water-supply system and a wastewater-treatment plant, most homes in Anaktuvuk Pass now have modern water and wastewater systems. The effluent from the treatment plant discharges into a settling pond near a tributary of the John...
Authors
Edward H. Moran, Timothy P. Brabets

Annual survival and site fidelity of northern pintails banded on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Annual survival and site fidelity of northern pintails banded on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

We banded northern pintails (Anas acuta; n = 13,645) at a single site on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, from 1990 to 2001. We used recaptures from our site in combination with hunter recoveries to model annual survival, recovery rates, and fidelity to our capture location. Most recoveries (>90%) occurred in the Pacific Flyway with 64% reported from California's Central...
Authors
Christopher A. Nicolai, Paul L. Flint, Michael L. Wege

Seasonal marine growth of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in relation to competition with Asian pink salmon (O. gorbuscho) and the 1977 ocean regime shift Seasonal marine growth of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in relation to competition with Asian pink salmon (O. gorbuscho) and the 1977 ocean regime shift

Recent research demonstrated significantly lower growth and survival of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) during odd-numbered years of their second or third years at sea (1975, 1977, etc.), a trend that was opposite that of Asian pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) abundance. Here we evaluated seasonal growth trends of Kvichak and Egegik river sockeye salmon (Bristol Bay stocks)...
Authors
Gregory T. Ruggerone, Ed Farley, Jennifer L. Nielsen, Peter Hagen
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