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: 3095
Annual and Spatial Variation of the Kelp Forest Fish Assemblage at San Nicolas Island, California Annual and Spatial Variation of the Kelp Forest Fish Assemblage at San Nicolas Island, California
The kelp forest fishes of San Nicolas Island, California were studied from 1981-1986 to examine the causes of among-site and among-year variation in the fish assemblages. Fish counts and seven physical and biological variables were recorded at six sites around the island every spring and fall. Over the study period, a total of 45 fish species from 18 families were recorded, though...
Authors
R.J. Cowen, James L. Bodkin
Kappa-casein polymorphisms among cattle breeds and bison herds Kappa-casein polymorphisms among cattle breeds and bison herds
We identified the HindIII restriction site polymorphism of K-casein in cattle reported by Pinder et al. (Animal Genetics 22, 11, 1991) and found an additonal polymorphism (RsaI) in cattle and bison. The HindIII and RsaI restriction sites were mapped and three haplotypes (alleles) were identified. Preliminary screening of 39 cattle and 71 bison revealed one allele restricted to cattle...
Authors
M. A. Cronin, N. Cockett
Ecology and population status of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) of the North Pacific Ecology and population status of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) of the North Pacific
In the North Pacific, the breeding distribution of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) includes about equal numbers of very large colonies (50,000-500,000 individuals) and relatively small ones (5-5,000 individuals). The almost complete segregation of light and dark colour phases between adjacent colonies in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk suggests there is little gene flow among the...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch
Life history strategies and habitat needs of the black brant Life history strategies and habitat needs of the black brant
The black brant is a sea goose that depends on coastal habitats from high arctic nesting sites in Canada, Alaska, and Russia to wintering areas in the Pacific coastal states, the Baja California peninsula, and mainland Mexico estuaries. Population estimates are based on aerial surveys in Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington during mid-winter. Despite much annual variability in...
Authors
Dirk V. Derksen, David H. Ward
Histopathologic lesions in sea otters exposed to crude oil Histopathologic lesions in sea otters exposed to crude oil
Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) that appeared to be contaminated with oil, that were in danger of becoming contaminated, or that were behaving abnormally were captured and taken to rehabilitation centers. Exposure to oil was assessed by visual examination when otters arrived at the centers. Degree of oil exposure was...
Authors
T.P. Lipscomb, R.K. Harris, R.B. Moeller, J.M. Pletcher, R.J. Haebler, Brenda E. Ballachey
Factors influencing depredation of artificial duck nests Factors influencing depredation of artificial duck nests
Because artificial nests can facilitate controlled experiments of nest success, we used them to assess whether human visitation, nest density, vegetation structure, and proximity to habitat edge could affect depredation of duck nests on Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. More (P 0.01) nests in a plot visited daily (100%) were depredated than those in plots visited at intervals...
Authors
Daniel Esler, J. Barry Grand
Seabirds of the central North Pacific Seabirds of the central North Pacific
No abstract available.
Authors
P.J. Gould, John F. Piatt
Status and ecology of kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla and R. brevirostris) in the North Pacific Status and ecology of kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla and R. brevirostris) in the North Pacific
Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) are widely distributed in the subarctic North Pacific and adjacent seas, with a total breeding population of about 2.6 million individuals. Red-legged Kittiwakes (R. brevirostris) breed in four locations, and at least 95% of their estimated world population of 230,000 birds nest on one island (St. George, Pribilof Islands). Compared to Black...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch, G.V. Byrd, D.B. Irons, G.L. Hunt
Cytonuclear genetic architecture in mosquitofish populations and the possible roles of introgressive hybridization Cytonuclear genetic architecture in mosquitofish populations and the possible roles of introgressive hybridization
Spatial genetic structure in populations of mosquitofish (Gambusia) sampled throughout the south-eastern United States was characterized using mitochondrial (mt) DNA and allozyme markers. Both sets of data revealed a pronounced genetic discontinuity (along a broad path extending from south-eastern Mississippi to north-eastern Georgia) that corresponds to a recently recognized distinction...
Authors
Kim T. Scribner, John C. Avise
Deep-water facies of the Lisburne Group, west-central Brooks Range, Alaska Deep-water facies of the Lisburne Group, west-central Brooks Range, Alaska
Deep-water lithofacies of the Lisburne Group (chiefly Carboniferous) occur in thurst sheets in the western part of the foreland fold-and-thrust belt of the Brooks Range and represent at least three discrete units. The Kuna Formation (Brooks Range allochthon) consists mostly of spiculitic mudstone and lesser shale; subordinate carbonate layers are chiefly diagenetic dolomite. The Akmalik...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Anita G. Harris, Jeanine M. Schmidt
Correlation of pre-Carboniferous carbonate successions of northern Alaska Correlation of pre-Carboniferous carbonate successions of northern Alaska
Fault-bounded successions of pre-Carboniferous (meta)carbonate rocks occur throughout northern Alaska. Successions studied in detail are those in the York Mountains (Seward Peninsula), the western and eastern Baird Mountains (western Brooks Range), the Snowden Mountain area (central Brooks Range), and the Sublik and Sadlerochit Mountains (eastern Brooks range); they are correlated on the...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Anita G. Harris
Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1990 Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1990
This collection of papers continues the annual series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports on geologic investigations in Alaska. From 1975 through 1988, the series was published as USGS circulars. The first of these appeared under the title "The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1975," and the series continued to the last annual circular entitled...