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: 3097
Lekking without a paradox in the buff-breasted sandpiper Lekking without a paradox in the buff-breasted sandpiper
Females in lek‐breeding species appear to copulate with a small subset of the available males. Such strong directional selection is predicted to decrease additive genetic variance in the preferred male traits, yet females continue to mate selectively, thus generating the lek paradox. In a study of buff‐breasted sandpipers (Tryngites subruficollis), we combine detailed behavioral...
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot, Kim T. Scribner, Bart Kempenaers, Patrick J. Weatherhead
Alaska resource data file: Table Mountain quadrangle Alaska resource data file: Table Mountain quadrangle
No abstract available.
Authors
J. H. Dover
Alaska resource data file: Howard Pass quadrangle Alaska resource data file: Howard Pass quadrangle
No abstract available.
Authors
J. H. Dover
Progressive deformation of the Chugach accretionary complex, Alaska, during a paleogene ridge-trench encounter Progressive deformation of the Chugach accretionary complex, Alaska, during a paleogene ridge-trench encounter
The Mesozoic accretionary wedge of south-central Alaska is cut by an array of faults including dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults, synthetic and antithetic thrust faults, and synthetic and antithetic normal faults. The three fault sets are characterized by quartz ± calcite ± chlorite ± prehnite slickensides, and are all relatively late, i.e. all truncate ductile fabrics of the host...
Authors
Timothy M. Kusky
Home ranges and movements of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in western Alaska Home ranges and movements of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in western Alaska
During the period from 1985 to 1990, radio collars were attached to 61 arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in the coastal region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska. Radio tracking using hand-held receivers from aircraft and from fixed towers was conducted to determine daily and seasonal movements of foxes. Intensive radio tracking of 18 foxes from May through July indicated that...
Authors
R. Michael Anthony
Trophic relationships of albatrosses associated with squid and large-mesh drift-net fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean Trophic relationships of albatrosses associated with squid and large-mesh drift-net fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean
The diets of Laysan (Diomedea immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (D. nigripes) killed in squid and large-mesh drift nets in the transitional zone of the North Pacific Ocean were investigated by examining the contents of the digestive tracts and determining δ13C and δ15N values in breast-muscle tissue. The results show that (i) the combined prey of the two species of albatross...
Authors
Patrick J. Gould, Peggy H. Ostrom, William Walker
Behavior of Cackling Canada Geese during brood rearing Behavior of Cackling Canada Geese during brood rearing
We studied behavior of Cackling Canada Goose (Branta canadensis minima, cacklers) broods between 1992 and 1996 on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in western Alaska. An increase in time spent foraging by goslings during our study was weakly correlated with an increase in the size of the local breeding population. Amount of time spent feeding by adults and goslings increased...
Authors
Ada C. Fowler, Craig R. Ely
The highest global concentrations and increased abundance of oceanic plastic debris in the North Pacific: Evidence from seabirds The highest global concentrations and increased abundance of oceanic plastic debris in the North Pacific: Evidence from seabirds
Plastic pollution has risen dramatically with an increase in production of plastic resin during the past few decades. Plastic production in the United States increased from 2.9 million tons in I960 to 47.9 million tons in 1985 (Society of the Plastics Industry 1986). This has been paralleled by a significant increase in the concentration of plastic particles in oceanic surface waters of...
Authors
Martin D. Robards, Patrick J. Gould
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
No abstract available.
Authors
Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker
Winter activity patterns of American martens (Martes americana): Rejection of the hypothesis of thermal-cost minimization Winter activity patterns of American martens (Martes americana): Rejection of the hypothesis of thermal-cost minimization
Despite their temperate to subarctic geographic range, American martens (Martes americana) possess a thermally inefficient morphology. The lack of morphological adaptations for reducing thermal costs suggests that marten may use behavioral strategies to optimize thermal budgets. During the winters of 1989–1990 and 1990–1991, we radio-collared and monitored the diel activity of 7 martens...
Authors
Gary S. Drew, John A. Bissonette
Population genetic studies of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus): A summary of available data and interpretation of results Population genetic studies of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus): A summary of available data and interpretation of results
A summary of existing population genetics literature is presented for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and interpreted in the context of the species' life-history characteristics and regional heterogeneity in environmental regimes and movement patterns. Several nongenetic data sets including morphology, contaminant levels, geographic variation in reproductive characteristics, and the...
Authors
Kim T. Scribner, G.W. Garner, Steven C. Amstrup, M.A. Cronin
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected from southeast Alaska Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected from southeast Alaska
No abstract available.
Authors
Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker