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
Sustaining salmonid populations: A caring understanding of naturalness of taxa Sustaining salmonid populations: A caring understanding of naturalness of taxa
Species of the family of Salmonidae occur naturally in Northern Hemisphere waters that remain clear and cool to cold in summer. For purposes of reproduction, salmonids generally behaviorally respond to the currents of streams and lakes in recently glaciated areas. For feeding and maturation, many larger species migrate into existing systems of large lakes, seas, and oceans. The...
Authors
Jennifer L. Nielsen, Henry A. Regier
Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift
We present data on the colonization of Middleton Island, Alaska, by Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) following the creation of an extensive rocky intertidal zone after the Alaskan earthquake of 1964. The first pair of oystercatchers was detected in 1976, and it was another 5 years before the population increased to three pairs. Oystercatcher numbers increased steadily...
Authors
V.A. Gill, Scott A. Hatch, Richard B. Lanctot
Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska
The 3 November 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake resulted in 341 km of surface rupture on the Susitna Glacier, Denali, and Totschunda faults. The rupture proceeded from west to east and began with a 48-km-long break on the previously unknown Susitna Glacier thrust fault. Slip on this thrust averaged about 4 m (Crone et al., 2004). Next came the principal surface break, along 226 km...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, David P. Schwartz, Timothy E. Dawson, Heidi D. Stenner, James J. Lienkaemper, Brian L. Sherrod, Francesca R. Cinti, Paola Montone, Patricia Craw, Anthony J. Crone, Stephen F. Personius
Field guide to identifying Kittlitz's Murrelet forage fish Field guide to identifying Kittlitz's Murrelet forage fish
No abstract available.
Authors
Mayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, H.A. Coletti, James A. Estes
Modeling the effects of human activity on Katmai brown bears (Ursus arctos) through the use of survival analysis Modeling the effects of human activity on Katmai brown bears (Ursus arctos) through the use of survival analysis
Brown bear-human interactions were observed in 1993, 1995, and 1997 at Kulik River in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. We analyzed these interactions using survival analysis, creating survival curves for the time that bears remained on the river in the presence, and absence, of human activity. Bear-only survival curves did not vary significantly between years (p = 0.067)...
Authors
T. S. Smith, B.A. Johnson
Response of predators to Western Sandpiper nest exclosures Response of predators to Western Sandpiper nest exclosures
In 2001, predator exclosures were used to protect nests of the Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) in western Alaska. During the exclosure experiment, nest contents in exclosures had significantly higher daily survival rates than control nests, however, late in the study predators began to cue in on exclosures and predate the nest contents. An Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) dug under one...
Authors
Amanda C. Niehaus, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Brian J. McCaffery
Depositional settings, correlation, and age carboniferous rocks in the western Brooks Range, Alaska Depositional settings, correlation, and age carboniferous rocks in the western Brooks Range, Alaska
The Kuna Formation (Lisburne Group) in northwest Alaska hosts the Red Dog and other Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposits in the Red Dog district. New studies of the sedimentology and paleontology of the Lisburne Group constrain the setting, age, and thermal history of these deposits. In the western and west-central Brooks Range, the Lisburne Group includes both deep- and shallow-water...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Anita G. Harris, Charles D. Blome, Lorne E. Young
Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea
Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a...
Authors
C. W. Matson, J. C. Franson, Tuula E. Hollmén, Mikaei Kilpi, Martti Hario, Paul L. Flint, J. W. Bickham
Status of sea otter populations in southcentral and southeast Alaska, 2002-2003 Status of sea otter populations in southcentral and southeast Alaska, 2002-2003
During the years 2002-2004 estimated sea otter population sizes were calculated for Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and the Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions of Alaska. Aerial surveys were conducted by a single observer from a float-equipped Bellanca Scout fixed-wing aircraft flying at 91 m altitude and 65 mph. The surveys followed protocols written by Bodkin and Udevitz...
Authors
James L. Bodkin
Bryophytes from Simeonof Island in the Shumagin Islands, southwestern Alaska Bryophytes from Simeonof Island in the Shumagin Islands, southwestern Alaska
Simeonof Island is located south of the Alaska Peninsula in the hyperoceanic sector of the middle boreal subzone. We examined the bryoflora of Simeonof Island to determine species composition in an area where no previous collections had been reported. This field study was conducted in sites selected to represent the spectrum of environmental variation within Simeonof Island. Data were...
Authors
Wilfred B. Schofield, Stephen S. Talbot, Sandra L. Talbot
Estimating the time of melt onset and freeze onset over Arctic sea-ice area using active and passive microwave data Estimating the time of melt onset and freeze onset over Arctic sea-ice area using active and passive microwave data
Accurate calculation of the time of melt onset, freeze onset, and melt duration over Arctic sea-ice area is crucial for climate and global change studies because it affects accuracy of surface energy balance estimates. This comparative study evaluates several methods used to estimate sea-ice melt and freeze onset dates: (1) the melt onset database derived from SSM/I passive microwave...
Authors
Gennady I. Belchansky, David C. Douglas, Ilia N. Mordvintsev, Nikita G. Platonov