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
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
Hematology and clinical chemistry of sea otters vaptured in Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Hematology and clinical chemistry of sea otters vaptured in Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Hematologic and serum chemical analyses were performed on sea otter blood samples collected from 31 adult males, 63 adult females, and 42 pups captured in western Prince William Sound (oiled area), and 12 adult males, 40 adult females, and 15 pups captured in eastern Prince William Sound (unoiled area) in 1989 and 1990. Hematologic differences between eastern and western adult males were...
Authors
A.H. Rebar, Brenda E. Ballachey, D.L. Bruden, Kimberly A. Kloecker
Concordance of seabird population parameters: Analytical methods and interpretation Concordance of seabird population parameters: Analytical methods and interpretation
In an ecological context, concordance may be defined as the tendency for paired values of some parameter, such as the annual productivity of bird species, to show similar directions and magnitudes of deviation from the mean. Where concordance among populations is high, there is an implied similarity of the ecological factors affecting performance. Conversely, if populations behave...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
No abstract available
Authors
Nils Warnock, Robert E. Gill
Stratigraphic framework of the Alaska Peninsula Stratigraphic framework of the Alaska Peninsula
No abstract available.
Authors
Robert L. Detterman, J. E. Case, J. W. Miller, Frederic H. Wilson, M. E. Yount
Volcanic activity in Alaska: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory 1993 Volcanic activity in Alaska: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory 1993
During 1993, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to episodes of eruptive activity or false alarms at nine volcanic centers in the state of Alaska. Additionally, as part of a formal role in KVERT (the Kamchatkan Volcano Eruption Response Team), AVO staff also responded to eruptions on the Kamchatka Peninsula, details of which are summarized in Miller and Kurianov (1993). In...
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Robert G. McGimsey, Michael P. Doukas
Overview of studies to determine injury caused by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill to marine mammals Overview of studies to determine injury caused by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill to marine mammals
Marine mammal damage assessment studies after the Exxon Valdez oil spill concentrated on sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, killer whales, and humpback whales. Sea otter and harbor seals were the most affected marine mammal; it was estimated that several thousand otters and several hundred harbor seals died within months of the spill. Steller sea lion, harbor seal
Authors
Thomas R. Loughlin, Brenda E. Ballachey, B.A. Wright
Alaska resource data file: Unalaska quadrangle Alaska resource data file: Unalaska quadrangle
No abstract available.
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson