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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: 3105

A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years

In 1926 cannery workers from the Wakefield Fisheries Plant at Little Port Walter in Southeast Alaska captured small trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a portion of Sashin Creek populated with a wild steelhead (anadromous O. mykiss) run. They planted them into Sashin Lake which had been fishless to that time and separated from the lower stream by two large waterfalls that prevented upstream...
Authors
Frank Thrower, Charles Guthrie, Jennifer L. Nielsen, John Joyce

Founding events influence genetic population structure of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Lake Clark, Alaska Founding events influence genetic population structure of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Lake Clark, Alaska

Bottlenecks can have lasting effects on genetic population structure that obscure patterns of contemporary gene flow and drift. Sockeye salmon are vulnerable to bottleneck effects because they are a highly structured species with excellent colonizing abilities and often occupy geologically young habitats. We describe genetic divergence among and genetic variation within spawning...
Authors
K.M. Ramstad, C.A. Woody, G. Kevin Sage, F.W. Allendorf

Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt

We examined the movements of flightless Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) during the wing molt in the near-shore lagoons of the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. Estimates of site fidelity during the 21-day flightless period ranged from 1-100%, with considerable variation among locations and within locations among years. There was no effect of low-level experimental disturbance or an...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, Deborah L. Lacroix, John A. Reed, Richard B. Lanctot

Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003 Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003

Water resources data for the 2003 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 118 gaging stations; stage or contents only at 4 gaging stations; water quality at 28 gaging stations; and water levels for 53 observation...
Authors
D. F. Meyer, D.P. Bartu, J.D. Eash, W.A. Swenson

Observations of deep long-period (DLP) seismic events beneath Aleutian arc volcanoes; 1989-2002 Observations of deep long-period (DLP) seismic events beneath Aleutian arc volcanoes; 1989-2002

Between October 12, 1989 and December 31, 2002, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) located 162 deep long-period (DLP) events beneath 11 volcanic centers in the Aleutian arc. These events generally occur at mid- to lower-crustal depths (10-45 km) and are characterized by emergent phases, extended codas, and a strong spectral peak between 1.0 and 3.0 Hz. Observed wave velocities and...
Authors
J.A. Power, S.D. Stihler, R.A. White, S.C. Moran

The Susitna Glacier thrust fault: Characteristics of surface ruptures on the fault that initiated the 2002 Denali fault earthquake The Susitna Glacier thrust fault: Characteristics of surface ruptures on the fault that initiated the 2002 Denali fault earthquake

The 3 November 2002 Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake sequence initiated on the newly discovered Susitna Glacier thrust fault and caused 48 km of surface rupture. Rupture of the Susitna Glacier fault generated scarps on ice of the Susitna and West Fork glaciers and on tundra and surficial deposits along the southern front of the central Alaska Range. Based on detailed mapping, 27...
Authors
A. J. Crone, S. F. Personius, P. A. Craw, Peter J. Haeussler, L. A. Staft

A genetic study to aid in restoration of murres, guillemots and murrelets to the Gulf of Alaska A genetic study to aid in restoration of murres, guillemots and murrelets to the Gulf of Alaska

Genetic data are needed to aid in restoring several species of seabirds to the Gulf of Alaska. We analyzed sequence variation in mitochondrial DNA, microsatellite DNA and nuclear introns in samples of commom murres (Uria aalge), pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba) and marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) from throughout the North Pacific. Data were analyzed using traditional...
Authors
Vicki L. Friesen, John F. Piatt

Population status of Kittlitz's and Marbled Murrelets and surveys for other marine bird and mammal species in the Kenai Fjords area, Alaska Population status of Kittlitz's and Marbled Murrelets and surveys for other marine bird and mammal species in the Kenai Fjords area, Alaska

The Kittlitz's murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) is a rare seabird that nests in alpine terrain and generally forages near tidewater glaciers during the breeding season. More than 95% of the global population breeds in Alaska, with the remainder occurring in the Russian Far East. A global population estimate using best-available data in the early 1990s was 20,000 individuals. However...
Authors
Thomas I. van Pelt, John F. Piatt

New mapping near Iron Creek, Talkeetna Mountains, indicates presence of Nikolai greenstone New mapping near Iron Creek, Talkeetna Mountains, indicates presence of Nikolai greenstone

Detailed geologic mapping in the Iron Creek area, Talkeetna Mountains B-5 Quadrangle, has documented several intrusive bodies and rock units not previously recognized and has extended the geologic history of the area through the Mesozoic and into the Tertiary era. Greenschist-facies metabasalt and metagabbro previously thought to be Paleozoic are intruded by Late Cretaceous to Paleocene...
Authors
Jeanine M. Schmidt, Melanie B. Werdon, Bruce R. Wardlaw

Population genetic structure of Santa Ynez rainbow trout – 2001 based on microsatellite and mtDNA analyses Population genetic structure of Santa Ynez rainbow trout – 2001 based on microsatellite and mtDNA analyses

Microsatellite allelic and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype diversity are analyzed in eight rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) collections: two from tributaries flowing into the upper Santa Ynez River watershed at Gibraltar Reservoir (Camuesa and Gidney creeks); three from tributaries between Gibraltar and Jameson reservoirs (Fox, Blue Canyon, and Alder creeks); one from a tributary...
Authors
Jennifer L. Nielsen, Christian E. Zimmerman, Jeffrey B. Olsen, Talia Wiacek, E.J. Kretschmer, Glenn M. Greenwald, John K. Wenburg

Alaska resource data file: McCarthy quadrangle Alaska resource data file: McCarthy quadrangle

Descriptions of the mineral occurrences shown on the accompanying figure follow. See U.S. Geological Survey (1996) for a description of the information content of each field in the records. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.
Authors
Travis L. Hudson

Alaska resource data file: Nabesna quadrangle Alaska resource data file: Nabesna quadrangle

Descriptions of the mineral occurrences shown on the accompanying figure follow. See U.S. Geological Survey (1996) for a description of the information content of each field in the records. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.
Authors
Travis L. Hudson
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