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: 3111
Advection, pelagic food webs and the biogeography of seabirds in Beringia Advection, pelagic food webs and the biogeography of seabirds in Beringia
Despite its great distance from productive shelf-edge habitat, the inner shelf area of the Bering Sea, from St. Lawrence Island to the Bering Strait, supports a surprisingly large number (>5 million) of seabirds during summer, mostly small plantivorous auklets (65%) and large piscivorous murres (19%) and kittiwakes (5%). This paradox of seabird biogeography is explained by the Anadyr...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Alan M. Springer
Post-breeding distribution of Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Post-breeding distribution of Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Breeding populations of Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis have declined in western Alaska, particularly on the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, and the species is currently considered a species of particular concern by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Alaska. Potential factors that may have contributed to this decline that occurred away from the breeding grounds could not be considered...
Authors
Margaret R. Petersen, B. J. McCaffery, Paul L. Flint
Differential mortality of male spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) and king eiders (Somateria spectabilis) subsequent to anesthesia with propofol, bupivacaine, and ketoprofen Differential mortality of male spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) and king eiders (Somateria spectabilis) subsequent to anesthesia with propofol, bupivacaine, and ketoprofen
Twenty free-ranging spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri; 10 male, 10 female), 11 free-ranging king eiders (Somateria spectabilis; 6 male, 5 female), and 20 female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) were anesthetized with propofol, bupivacaine, and ketoprofen for the surgical implantation of satellite transmitters. Propofol was given to induce and maintain anesthesia (mean total dose...
Authors
Daniel M. Mulcahy, Pamela A. Tuomi, R. S. Larsen
Assessing chick growth from a single visit to a seabird colony Assessing chick growth from a single visit to a seabird colony
We tested an approach to the collection of seabird chick growth data that utilizes a one-time sampling of chick measurements obtained during a single visit to a seabird colony. We assessed the development of Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla chicks from a sample of measurements made on a single day during six years and compared these results to linear growth rates (g/day)...
Authors
J. Benson, R.M. Suryan, John F. Piatt
Monitoring in the nearshore: A process for making reasoned decisions Monitoring in the nearshore: A process for making reasoned decisions
Over the past several years, a conceptual framework for the GEM nearshore monitoring program has been developed through a series of workshops. However, details of the proposed monitoring program, e.g. what to sample, where to sample, when to sample and at how many sites, have yet to be determined. In FY 03 we were funded under Project 03687 to outline a process whereby specific...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, T.A. Dean
Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2002 Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2002
Water resources data for the 2002 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 109 gaging stations; stage or contents only at 5 gaging stations; water quality at 26 gaging stations; and water levels for 45 observation...
Authors
D. F. Meyer, J.S. Brinton, D.L. Hess, C. W. Smith
Biogeochemical processes that produce dissolved organic matter from wheat straw Biogeochemical processes that produce dissolved organic matter from wheat straw
The chemical reactions that lead to the formation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural waters are poorly understood. Studies on the formation of DOM generally are complicated because almost all DOM isolates have been derived from mixtures of plant species composed of a wide variety of different types of precursor compounds for DOM formation. This report describes a study of DOM...
Authors
Robert L. Wershaw, David W. Rutherford, Jerry A. Leenheer, Kay R. Kennedy, Larry G. Cox, Donald R. Koci
Pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags: A method to investigate the migration and behavior of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Gulf of Alaska Pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags: A method to investigate the migration and behavior of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Gulf of Alaska
Pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags provide a fisheries-independent method of collecting environmental preference data (depth and ambient water temperature) and migration distance. In this study, we evaluate the use of pop-up archival transmitting tags as a method to investigate demersal fish. We report the results from eight pop-up archival transmitting tagged Pacific halibut...
Authors
Andrew C. Seitz, Derek Wilson, Brenda L. Norcross, Jennifer L. Nielsen
Mantle and Crustal Sources of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Noble gases in Cascade-Range and Aleutian-Arc Volcanic gases Mantle and Crustal Sources of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Noble gases in Cascade-Range and Aleutian-Arc Volcanic gases
Here we report anhydrous chemical (CO2, H2S, N2, H2, CH4, O2, Ar, He, Ne) and isotopic (3He/4He, 40Ar/36Ar, δ13C of CO2, δ13C of CH4, δ15N) compositions of virtually airfree gas samples collected between 1994 and 1998 from 12 quiescent but potentially restless volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Aleutian Arc (CRAA). Sample sites include ≤173°C fumaroles and springs at Mount Shasta, Mount...
Authors
Robert B. Symonds, Robert J. Poreda, William C. Evans, Cathy J. Janik, Beatrice E. Ritchie
Scrubbing masks magmatic degassing during repose at Cascade-Range and Aleutian-Arc volcanoes Scrubbing masks magmatic degassing during repose at Cascade-Range and Aleutian-Arc volcanoes
Between 1992 and 1998, we sampled gas discharges from ≤173°C fumaroles and springs at 12 quiescent but potentially restless volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Aleutian Arc (CRAA) including Mount Shasta, Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Augustine Volcano, Mount Griggs, Trident, Mount Mageik, Aniakchak Crater, Akutan, and Makushin. For each site, we collected and...
Authors
Robert B. Symonds, C. J. Janik, William C. Evans, B.E. Ritchie, Dale Counce, R.J. Poreda, Mark Iven
Seagrasses of the Pacific Coast of North America Seagrasses of the Pacific Coast of North America
No abstract available.
Authors
David H. Ward, S.E. Ibarra-Obando
Protocols for long-term monitoring of seabird ecology in the Gulf of Alaska Protocols for long-term monitoring of seabird ecology in the Gulf of Alaska
Seabird populations will need to be monitored for many years to assess both recovery and ecological conditions affecting recovery. Detailed studies of individual seabird colonies and marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Alaska have been conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the auspices of damage assessment and restoration programs of the Trustee...
Authors
John F. Piatt, G. Vernon Byrd, Ann Harding, Arthur B. Kettle, Sasha Kitaysky, Michael A. Litzow, David G. Roseneau, Michael T. Shultz, Thomas I. van Pelt