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
Mitochondrial-DNA phylogeny of deer (Cervidae) Mitochondrial-DNA phylogeny of deer (Cervidae)
Mitochondrial-DNA restriction-site maps were constructed for several cervid taxa in the subfamilies Cervinae and Odocoileinae. Parsimony analyses of restriction sites and pair-wise analyses of genetic distances resulted in dendrograms congruent with the subfamily designations. Relationships within the Odocoileinae determined from genetic distances generally were concordant with those for...
Authors
M. A. Cronin
Mitochondrial and nuclear genetic relationships of deer (Odocoileus spp.) in western North America Mitochondrial and nuclear genetic relationships of deer (Odocoileus spp.) in western North America
Odocoileus hemionus (mule deer and black-tailed deer) and Odocoileus virginanus (white-tailed deer) are sympatric in western North America and are characterized by distinct morphology, behavior, and allozyme allele frequencies. However, there is discordance among nuclear and mitochondrial genetic relationships, as mule deer (O. h. hemionus) and white-tailed deer have similar...
Authors
Matthew A. Cronin
Energy dynamics, foraging ecology, and behavior of prenesting greater white-fronted geese Energy dynamics, foraging ecology, and behavior of prenesting greater white-fronted geese
We collected greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) on their nesting grounds on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, when they arrived and again before incubation during 1986 and 1987. Body mass, water content, crude fat, and crude protein increased in female geese between arrival and incubation onset in 1986 and 1987 (P = 0.0001, 0.0002, 0.0329, and 0.0003, respectively)...
Authors
D.A. Budeau, John T. Ratti, Craig R. Ely
Seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in relation to water temperature at a coastal site off eastern Newfoundland Seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in relation to water temperature at a coastal site off eastern Newfoundland
The seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of capelin in relation to water temperature have been investigated by conducting repeated hydroacoustic surveys at a coastal site off eastern Newfoundland. Water temperatures were warmer in 1983 than in 1984 as indicated by the earlier appearance and greater depth of the seasonal thermocline. Correspondingly, schools of capelin appeared...
Authors
David A. Methven, John F. Piatt
How do foraging seabirds sample their environment? How do foraging seabirds sample their environment?
No abstract available.
Authors
G.L. Hunt, John F. Piatt, Kjell Einar Erikstad
Observations on habitat use, breeding chronology and parental care in Bristle-thighed Curlews on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska Observations on habitat use, breeding chronology and parental care in Bristle-thighed Curlews on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Results from an intensive survey in 1989 of one of the two known breeding localities of Bristle-thighed Curlews Numenius tahitiensis are reported. During the pre-nesting period birds confined most of their activity to two vegetation communities: shrub meadow tundra and low shrub/tussock tundra. During nesting more than half the Curlews seen were observed on shrub meadow tundra, whilst...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, Richard B. Lanctot, J.D. Mason, Colleen M. Handel
Arctic fox control improves nest success of black brant Arctic fox control improves nest success of black brant
No abstract available.
Authors
R. Michael Anthony, Paul L. Flint, J.S. Sedinger
The ecological and evolutionary consequences of body size: Introductory remarks The ecological and evolutionary consequences of body size: Introductory remarks
No abstract available.
Authors
John F. Piatt
Influence of pycnocline topography and water-column structure on marine distributions of alcids (Aves: Alcidae) in Anadyr Strait, Northern Bering Sea, Alaska Influence of pycnocline topography and water-column structure on marine distributions of alcids (Aves: Alcidae) in Anadyr Strait, Northern Bering Sea, Alaska
Systematic ship-board surveys were used to simultaneously record seabird abundances and resolve coarse-scale (3 to 10 km) horizontal and fine-scale (1 to 10 m) vertical variability in water-column structure and bathymetry for portions of the coastal zone in Anadyr Strait near western St. Lawrence Island, northern Bering Sea, Alaska, during August and September 1987. Three plankton...
Authors
J. Christopher Haney
Body size and foraging behavior in birds Body size and foraging behavior in birds
No abstract available.
Authors
R. Ian Goudie, John F. Piatt
Vegetation patterns and environmental gradients in coastal meadows on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Vegetation patterns and environmental gradients in coastal meadows on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Tundra vegetation and environmental variables were sampled on the Yukon–Kuskokwim delta in western Alaska. On transects extending from intertidal mudflat to upland tundra, we estimated cover by vascular plant species, soil moisture, salinity, relative elevation, depth to permafrost, and distance upriver from the coast. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) classified 21...
Authors
Karen L. Kincheloe, Robert A. Stehn
Effects of oil pollution on marine bird populations Effects of oil pollution on marine bird populations
Worldwide oil pollution has killed millions of marine birds in this century but it has been difficult to directly link these losses to population declines. Estimated bird losses from acute spills and chronic pollution are not precise because we usually do not know the proportion of birds killed at sea that are detected on beach surveys or the origin of those birds. Data required to...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Harry R. Carter, David N. Nettleship