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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: 3090

Effectiveness of streambank-stabilization techniques along the Kenai River, Alaska Effectiveness of streambank-stabilization techniques along the Kenai River, Alaska

The Kenai River in southcentral Alaska is the State's most popular sport fishery and an economically important salmon river that generates as much as $70 million annually. Boatwake-induced streambank erosion and the associated damage to riparian and riverine habitat present a potential threat to this fishery. Bank-stabilization techniques commonly in use along the Kenai River were...
Authors
Joseph M. Dorava

Carboniferous and older carbonate rocks: Lithofacies, extent, and reservoir quality: Chapter CC in The oil and gas resource potential of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area, Alaska Carboniferous and older carbonate rocks: Lithofacies, extent, and reservoir quality: Chapter CC in The oil and gas resource potential of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area, Alaska

Carboniferous and older carbonate rocks are potential hydrocarbon reservoir facies for four plays in the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. These rocks include several units in the pre-Carboniferous basement and the Carboniferous Lisburne Group. Data from exploratory wells west of the 1002 area, outcrops south of the 1002 area, seismic lines, and well logs are synthesized...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin

Biology of the genus Ammodytes, the sand lances Biology of the genus Ammodytes, the sand lances

Although much taxonomic confusion exists within the genus Ammodytes, six species are currently recognized: personatus, hexapterus, americanus, dubius, tobianus, and marinus. Sand lance are both euryhaline and eurythermal, as well as tolerant of reduced oxygen concentrations. The absence of a swim bladder allows this narrow, elongate fish to spend much time buried dormant in intertidal...
Authors
Martin D. Robards, John F. Piatt

Annotated bibliography Annotated bibliography

This bibliography contains over 1,700 published and unpublished references on the family Ammodytidae with an emphasis on the genus Ammodytes. The references are alphabetical by author and then by year of publication. Abstracts and summaries are included for the references we have seen and those provided electronically by others. Abstracts written by the original authors are within...
Authors
Robert H. Armstrong, Mary F. Willson, Martin D. Robards, John F. Piatt

Comparison of aerial survey procedures for estimating polar bear density: Results of pilot studies in northern Alaska Comparison of aerial survey procedures for estimating polar bear density: Results of pilot studies in northern Alaska

The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears mandate that boundaries and sizes of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations be known so they can be managed at optimum sustainable levels. However, data to estimate polar bear numbers for the Chukchi/Bering Sea and Beaufort Sea populations in Alaska are limited. We evaluated...
Authors
Lyman L. McDonald, Gerald W. Garner

Breeding of Steller's Eiders, Polysticta stelleri, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Breeding of Steller's Eiders, Polysticta stelleri, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Historically, an unknown number of Steller's Elders nested along the outer coastal fringe of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, but no nests had been found since 1975. We located six nests from 1991-1998 and we conclude that Steller's Elders are still a regular breeder at low densities on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Authors
Paul L. Flint, M.P. Herzog

Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift

A shift in ocean climate during the late 1970s triggered a reorganization of community structure in the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem, as evidenced in changing catch composition on long-term (1953 to 1997) small-mesh trawl surveys. Forage species such as pandalid shrimp and capelin declined because of recruitment failure and predation, and populations have not yet recovered. Total trawl catch...
Authors
P.J. Anderson, John F. Piatt

Digital data for the geologic framework of the Alaska Peninsula, southwest Alaska, and the Alaska Peninsula terrane Digital data for the geologic framework of the Alaska Peninsula, southwest Alaska, and the Alaska Peninsula terrane

These digital databases are the result of the compilation and reinterpretation of published and unpublished 1:250,000- and 1:63,360-scale mapping. The map area covers approximately 62,000 sq km (23,000 sq mi) in land area and encompasses much of 13 1:250,000-scale quadrangles on the Alaska Peninsula in southwestern Alaska. The compilation was done as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's...
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Robert L. Detterman, Gregory D. DuBois

One Northwest community - People, salmon, rivers, and the sea: Towards sustainable salmon fisheries One Northwest community - People, salmon, rivers, and the sea: Towards sustainable salmon fisheries

Pacific salmon management is in crisis. Throughout their range, salmon and steelhead populations are being adversely affected by human activities. Without coordinated, effective, and timely action, the future of the Pacific salmon resource is most certainly in doubt. To address the challenges that are currently facing salmon management, concerned citizens representing a diverse array of...
Authors
Donald D. MacDonald, Cleveland R. Steward, E. Eric Knudsen

Population demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters Population demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters

The effects of small population size on genetic diversity and subsequent population recovery are theoretically predicted, but few empirical data are available to describe those relations. We use data from four remnant and three translocated sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) populations to examine relations among magnitude and duration of minimum population size, population growth rates, and...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, M. A. Cronin, K.T. Scribner
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