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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: 3107

Birds of the Indigirka River Delta, Russia: Historical and biogeographic comparisons Birds of the Indigirka River Delta, Russia: Historical and biogeographic comparisons

We documented the breeding status and relative abundance of all avian species on the coastal portion of the Indigirka River Delta during spring and summer 1993-95. Data on avifaunal composition were then compared to data from adjacent areas from Eastern Siberia to the Chukotka Peninsula to evaluate how species composition changes longitudinally within the arctic and typical tundra zones...
Authors
John M. Pearce, Daniel Esler, Andrei G. Degtyarev

A model of northern pintail productivity and population growth rate A model of northern pintail productivity and population growth rate

Our objective was to synthesize individual components of reproductive ecology into a single estimate of productivity and to assess the relative effects of survival and productivity on population dynamics. We used information on nesting ecology, renesting potential, and duckling survival of northern pintails (Anas acuta) collected on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta), Alaska, 1991-95...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, J. Barry Grand, Robert F. Rockwell

Damage reduction to ponderosa pine seedlings from northern pocket gophers by vegetation management through grass seeding and herbicide treatment Damage reduction to ponderosa pine seedlings from northern pocket gophers by vegetation management through grass seeding and herbicide treatment

2,4-D herbicide treatment was applied to 2 treatment units to remove the forbs that are the preferred food of pocket gophers. One of these units also was seeded with grasses prior to the 2,4-D treatment. The effect of 2,4-D and grass seeding plus 2,4-D treatments were compared to an untreated control unit. Long-term monitoring (7 yr) was conducted on the 3 units for vegetative cover (7...
Authors
Richard M. Engeman, V.G. Barnes, R.M. Anthony, Heather W. Krupa

Natal and breeding philopatry in a black brant, Branta bernicla nigricans, metapopulation Natal and breeding philopatry in a black brant, Branta bernicla nigricans, metapopulation

We estimated natal and breeding philopatry and dispersal probabilities for a metapopulation of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) based on observations of marked birds at six breeding colonies in Alaska, 1986–1994. Both adult females and males exhibited high (>0.90) probability of philopatry to breeding colonies. Probability of natal philopatry was significantly higher for females...
Authors
Mark S. Lindberg, James S. Sedinger, Dirk V. Derksen, Robert F. Rockwell

Identification of polar bear den habitat in northern Alaska Identification of polar bear den habitat in northern Alaska

The goal of this project is to refine the information collected previously on maternal denning, into digital maps that show where polar bears are likely to create future dens in northern Alaska. Such maps will allow a priori recommendations regarding timing and geographic locations of proposed human developments; and hence provide managers with an important mitigation and management tool...
Authors
Steven C. Amstrup, Gerald W. Garner

Male traits, mating tactics and reproductive success in the buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis Male traits, mating tactics and reproductive success in the buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis

Buff-breasted sandpipers use a variety of mating tactics to acquire mates, including remaining at a single lek for most of the breeding season, attending multiple leks during the season, displaying solitarily or displaying both on leks and solitarily. We found that differences in body size, body condition, fluctuating asymmetry scores, wing coloration, territory location and behaviour...
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot, Patrick J. Weatherhead, Bart Kempenaers, Kim T. Scribner

Density-dependent effects on growth, body size, and clutch size in Black Brant Density-dependent effects on growth, body size, and clutch size in Black Brant

We documented gosling size in late summer, adult body size, and clutch size of known-age Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) females nesting on the Tutakoke River colony between 1986 and 1995. During this period, the colony increased from 1,100 to >5,000 nesting pairs. Gosling mass at 30 days of age declined from 764 ± SE of 13 g and 723 ± 15 g for males and females, respectively, in...
Authors
James S. Sedinger, Mark S. Lindberg, Brian T. Person, Michael W. Eichholz, Mark P. Herzog, Paul L. Flint

Effects of human activity on brown bear use of the Kulik River, Alaska Effects of human activity on brown bear use of the Kulik River, Alaska

I systematically observed brown bear (Ursus arctos) and human activity on a sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stream in Katmai National Park during fall 1993 and 1995. More than 700 hours of observations were used to determine the temporal and spatial use patterns by people and bears as well as the frequency, nature, and outcome of bear-human interactions. Bears altered their temporal...
Authors
Tom S. Smith

Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the genotoxic effects of crude oil on mink and sea otters, In the first experiment, the effects on mink of chronic exposure to weathered Prudhoe Bay crude oil were studied, Female mink were fed a diet that included weathered crude oil for a period of 3 weeks prior to mating, during pregnancy and until weaning. Kits were exposed through...
Authors
J. W. Bickham, J.A. Mazet, J. Blake, M.J. Smolen, Y. Lou, Brenda E. Ballachey
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