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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: 3097

Genetic diversity in Arctic-nesting geese: Implications for management and conservation Genetic diversity in Arctic-nesting geese: Implications for management and conservation

The North Pacific Rim harbors breeding populations of many unique wildlife resources, of which waterfowl are among the most abundant and taxonomically diverse. Arctic nesting geese in particular are wide-spread in distribution (Figure 1), and though only seasons residents, they have evolved many unique adaptations for breeding in northern latitudes. This diversity has been recognized and...
Authors
Craig R. Ely, Kim T. Scribner

Geology of northern Alaska Geology of northern Alaska

No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas E. Moore, Wes K. Wallace, Kenneth J. Bird, Susan M. Karl, Charles G. Mull, John T. Dillon

A seabird monitoring program for the North Pacific A seabird monitoring program for the North Pacific

Seabird monitoring is the accumulation of time series data on any aspect of seabird distribution, abundance, demography, or behavior. Typical studies include annual or less frequent measures of numbers or productivity; less commonly, the focus is on marine habitat use, phenology, food habits, or survival. The key requirement is that observations are replicated over time and made with...
Authors
S.A. Hatcher, G.W. Kaiser, Alexander V. Kondratyev, G.V. Byrd

Identification of tundra land cover near Teschekpuk Lake, Alaska using SPOT satellite data Identification of tundra land cover near Teschekpuk Lake, Alaska using SPOT satellite data

Tundra vegetation in the Teshekpuk Lake area of the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain was mapped to assess distribution and abundance of waterfowl habitats. Three SPOT satellite scenes were acquired and registered to a 20 m Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Two clustering techniques were used to develop statistical parameters by which the SPOT data were spectrally classified. A maximum...
Authors
Carl J. Markon, Dirk V. Derksen

Geologic framework of the Aleutian arc, Alaska Geologic framework of the Aleutian arc, Alaska

The Aleutian arc is the arcuate arrangement of mountain ranges and flanking submerged margins that forms the northern rim of the Pacific Basin from the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) eastward more than 3,000 km to Cooke Inlet (Fig. 1). It consists of two very different segments that meet near Unimak Pass: the Aleutian Ridge segment to the west and the Alaska Peninsula-the Kodiak Island...
Authors
Tracy L. Vallier, David W. Scholl, Michael A. Fisher, Terry R. Bruns, Frederic H. Wilson, Roland E. von Huene, Andrew J. Stevenson

Polar bear maternity denning in the Beaufort Sea Polar bear maternity denning in the Beaufort Sea

The distribution of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) is circumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere, but known locations of maternal dens are concentrated in relatively few, widely scattered locations. Denning is either uncommon or unknown within gaps. To understand effects of industrial development and propose increases in hunting, the temporal and spatial distribution of denning in the...
Authors
Steven C. Amstrup, Craig L. Gardner

Stream and floodplain restoration in a riparian ecosystem disturbed by placer mining Stream and floodplain restoration in a riparian ecosystem disturbed by placer mining

Techniques for the hydrologic restoration of placer-mined streams and floodplains were developed in Denali National Park and Preserve Alaska, USA. The hydrologic study focused on a design of stream and floodplain geometry using hydraulic capacity and shear stress equations. Slope and sinuosity values were based on regional relationships. Design requirements include a channel capacity for...
Authors
Kenneth F. Karle, Roseann V. Densmore

Map and table showing isotopic age data in Alaska Map and table showing isotopic age data in Alaska

The source of the data reported here is a compilation of radiometric ages maintained in conjunction with the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP) studies for Alaska. The symbol shape plotted at each location is coded for rock type, whether igneous, metamorphic, or other; the color of the symbol shows the geologic era or period for the Sample(s) at each locale. A list of...
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Nora B. Shew, G.D. DuBois

Response of staging brant to disturbance at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska Response of staging brant to disturbance at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

Human disturbance of migrating waterfowl concerns managers of wildlife populations and refuges. Human disturbance may reduce food intake through interruption of foraging bouts or by displacement from feeding areas (Madsen 1985, Belanger and Bedard 1989), and it may increase energy expenditure from additional time in flight (Korschgen et al., 1985). Reduced food intake and increased...
Authors
David H. Ward, Robert A. Stehn, Dirk V. Derksen

The adaptive significance of hatching synchrony of waterfowl eggs The adaptive significance of hatching synchrony of waterfowl eggs

We estimated the amount of incubation time that first laid Black Brent eggs received before completion of the clutch. First laid eggs received up to 48 hours of incubation before the last egg was laid in Brent clutches. Waterfowl clutches usually hatch within a period of 24 hours, suggesting that some mechanism reduces developmental asynchrony during incubation. The combination of...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, Mark S. Lindberg, Margaret C. MacCluskie, James S. Sedinger
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