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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: 3088

Comparisons of methods for determining dominance rank in male and female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogastor) Comparisons of methods for determining dominance rank in male and female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogastor)

Dominance ranks in male and female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) were determined from 6 measurements that mimicked environmental situations that might be encountered by prairie voles in communal groups, including agonistic interactions resulting from competition for food and water and encounters in burrows. Male and female groups of 6 individuals each were tested against one...
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot, Louis B. Best

Foods of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) during winter and spring in western Alaska Foods of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) during winter and spring in western Alaska

During 1986–1991, carcasses of 619 arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) collected from local trappers and at biological field camps on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska from November through May were analyzed to determine gastrointestinal contents, age, sex, and body condition. Prey in declining order of importance were small mammals (95% tundra voles, Microtus oeconomus), birds...
Authors
M. Anthony, N.K. Barten, P.E. Seiser

Alagnak watershed rainbow trout seasonal movement Alagnak watershed rainbow trout seasonal movement

Adult rainbow trout were radio-tagged in two locations in the Alagnak River drainage in 1997 and 1998 and radio-tracked until March 1999. The telemetry data indicate the two different sample groups exhibited independent movements with little geographic overlap. However, some tagged fish from each sample group migrated downstream to the same general area during the spawning season...
Authors
Julie M. Meka, E. Eric Knudsen, David C. Douglas

Sexing adult black-legged kittiwakes by DNA, behavior, and morphology Sexing adult black-legged kittiwakes by DNA, behavior, and morphology

We sexed adult Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) using DNA-based genetic techniques, behavior and morphology and compared results from these techniques. Genetic and morphology data were collected on 605 breeding kittiwakes and sex-specific behaviors were recorded for a sub-sample of 285 of these individuals. We compared sex classification based on both genetic and behavioral...
Authors
P.G.R. Jodice, Richard B. Lanctot, V.A. Gill, D.D. Roby, Scott A. Hatch

Preliminary bathymetry of Shoup Basin and late Holocene changes of Shoup Glacier, Alaska Preliminary bathymetry of Shoup Basin and late Holocene changes of Shoup Glacier, Alaska

Shoup Glacier is a retreating, tidewater-calving glacier in northeast Prince William Sound, Alaska. Historical records, vegetation distribution, and sediment depth in Shoup Bay indicate that the glacier reached a late Holocene maximum at the mouth of Shoup Bay prior to 1750. When first observed around 1900, the terminus was stable on a series of shallow, bedrock obstructions between...
Authors
Austin Post, R.J. Viens

Biological effects of the 1997/98 ENSO in Cook Inlet, Alaska Biological effects of the 1997/98 ENSO in Cook Inlet, Alaska

We have been conducting detailed studies of the biology of seabirds in relation to oceanography and forage fish ecology in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, since 1995. This fortuitously allowed us to document biological effects of the 1997/98 ENSO in this region. Anomalously warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were observed in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) beginning in June of 1997, but not in Cook...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Gary S. Drew, Thomas I. van Pelt, Alisa A. Abookire, April Nielsen, Michael T. Shultz, Alexander S. Kitaysky

Development of a long-term ecological monitoring program in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (USA) Development of a long-term ecological monitoring program in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (USA)

A Long-term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) program began at Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (USA) in 1992, as a prototype for subarctic parks. The early history of the Denali LTEM program provides insight into the challenges that can arise during monitoring program development. The Denali program has thus far taken a watershed approach, involving collocation of study effort for a...
Authors
Karen L. Oakley, Edward M. Debevec, Eric A. Rexstad

Boreal partners in flight: Working together to build a regional research and monitoring program Boreal partners in flight: Working together to build a regional research and monitoring program

Boreal regions of western North America regularly support breeding populations of 130 species of landbirds, including 68 Nearctic-Neotropical migrants. Primary conservation concerns within the region include increased timber harvesting, insect outbreaks, fire suppression, mining, impacts of military training activities, urbanization, and recreational activities. Under auspices of...
Authors
Colleen M. Handel

Geological and geophysical setting of the gold-silver vein systems of Unga Island, southwestern Alaska Geological and geophysical setting of the gold-silver vein systems of Unga Island, southwestern Alaska

The topic of this CD-ROM is the geologic framework of gold-silver vein deposits on Unga Island, in the Shumagin Islands, southwestern Alaska. The core of the publication is a new geologic map at a scale of 1:63,360 and aeromagnetic and electromagnetic survey data acquired by industry over the area of mineralization. Both the geologic map as well as a preliminary interpretation of the...

1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) monitors over 40 historically active volcanoes along the Aleutian Arc. Twenty are seismically monitored and for the rest, the AVO monitoring program relies mainly on pilot reports, observations of local residents and ship crews, and daily analysis of satellite images. In 1997, AVO responded to eruptive activity or suspect volcanic activity at 11...
Authors
Robert G. McGimsey, Kristi L. Wallace
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