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: 3099
The epipelagic fish community of Beaufort Sea coastal waters, Alaska The epipelagic fish community of Beaufort Sea coastal waters, Alaska
A three-year study of epipelagic fishes inhabiting Beaufort Sea coastal waters in Alaska documented spatial and temporal patterns in fish distribution and abundance and examined their relationships to thermohaline features during summer. Significant interannual, seasonal, and geographical differences in surface water temperatures and salinities were observed. In 1990, sea ice was absent...
Authors
L. E. Jarvela, Lyman K. Thorsteinson
At-sea distribution of Spectacled Eiders: A 120-year-old mystery resolved At-sea distribution of Spectacled Eiders: A 120-year-old mystery resolved
The at-sea distribution of the threatened Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) has remained largely undocumented. We identified migration corridors, staging and molting areas, and wintering areas of adult Spectacled Eiders using implanted satellite-transmitters in birds from each of the three extant breeding grounds (North Slope and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska and arctic Russia)...
Authors
Margaret R. Petersen, William W. Larned, David C. Douglas
Reconnaissance geologic map of the Duncan Canal-Zarembo Island area, southeastern Alaska Reconnaissance geologic map of the Duncan Canal-Zarembo Island area, southeastern Alaska
The geologic map of the Duncan Canal-Zarembo Island area is the result of a multidisciplinary investigation of an area where an airborne geophysical survey was flown in the spring of 1997. The area was chosen for the geophysical survey because of its high mineral potential, a conclusion of the Petersburg Mineral Resource Assessment Project, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey from...
Authors
Susan M. Karl, Peter J. Haeussler, Anne E. McCafferty
Multi-year persistence of oil mousse on high energy beaches distant from the Exxon Valdez spill origin Multi-year persistence of oil mousse on high energy beaches distant from the Exxon Valdez spill origin
For at least 5 yr after the Exxon Valdez spill, relatively unweathered oil mousse has persisted on the exposed rocky shores of Shelikof Strait 500 km from Prince William Sound, Alaska. Previously it was thought that oil would be rapidly removed from such geomorphic settings by wave action. Oil mousse persists at sites in Katmai National Park and Preserve (NP&P) where it was stranded high...
Authors
Gail V. Irvine, Daniel H. Mann, Jeffrey W. Short
Surgical and immediate postrelease mortality of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) implanted with abdominal radio transmitters with percutaneous antennae Surgical and immediate postrelease mortality of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) implanted with abdominal radio transmitters with percutaneous antennae
Radiotelemetry is an essential tool in the study of free-ranging bird populations, and a variety of transmitter-attachment methods have been developed. A promising new method is abdominal implantation of a transmitter with a percutaneous antenna. Researchers using this technique should be concerned about and aware of mortality during surgery and during the immediate postrelease period...
Authors
Daniel M. Mulcahy, Daniel Esler
Alaska resource data file: McGrath quadrangle Alaska resource data file: McGrath quadrangle
The unnamed occurrence was investigated by the reporter in 1978 during a 1:63,360 scale geologic mapping effort for the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys in the McGrath quadrangle (Bundtzen and Laird, 1983). Two grab samples from the mineralized zone contained up to 222 ppm copper, 0.6 grams/tonne silver, and 100 ppm lead.
Authors
Thomas K. Bundtzen
The needs of salmon and steelhead in balancing their conservation and use The needs of salmon and steelhead in balancing their conservation and use
Over the past 100 years, Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. and steelhead trout O. mykiss populations in the Pacific Northwest have experienced dramatic declines as a result of human population growth and associated development of the region's natural resources. Any strategy to reverse those declines will depend on achieving consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders willing to (1)...
Authors
Carl V. Burger
Modeling variability in replicated surveys at aggregation sites Modeling variability in replicated surveys at aggregation sites
Surveys of aggregation sites can provide unbiased estimates of annual trends in population size if the proportion of the population counted at these sites does not vary systematically among years. However, counts at these sites tend to be highly variable and resulting trend estimates typically have poor precision. I developed an index based on a simple parametric model for counts of...
Authors
Mark S. Udevitz
Emperor goose Anser canagicus Emperor goose Anser canagicus
No abstract available.
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz
The evolutionary history of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) along the US Pacific Coast: Developing a conservation strategy using genetic diversity The evolutionary history of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) along the US Pacific Coast: Developing a conservation strategy using genetic diversity
Changes in genetic variation across a species range may indicate patterns of population structure resulting from past ecological and demographic events that are otherwise difficult to infer and thus provide insight into evolutionary development. Genetic data is used, drawn from 11 microsatellite loci amplified from anadromous steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sampled throughout its range...
Authors
J.L. Nielsen
Testing releasable GPS radiocollars on wolves and white-tailed deer Testing releasable GPS radiocollars on wolves and white-tailed deer
We tested prototype GPS collars on 8 free-ranging wolves (Canis lupus) and 3 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for varying periods between February and August 1997. We programmed the 920-gm collars to make a location attempt 6-96 times per day. The collars were designed to be remotely released from the animal and the data were then downloaded to a desktop computer. The collars...
Authors
Samuel B. Merrill, Layne G. Adams, Michael E. Nelson, L. David Mech
Sand lance as cornerstone prey for predator populations Sand lance as cornerstone prey for predator populations
Sand lance (Ammodytes) constitute a major prey for at least some populations of over 100 species of consumer, including 40 species of birds, 12 species of marine mammals, 45 species of fishes, and some invertebrates. Variation in the availability of sand lance (and other forage fishes) can have major effects on the breeding success and survival of their predators. Commercial fishing and...
Authors
Mary F. Willson, Robert H. Armstrong, Martin D. Robards, John F. Piatt