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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: 3110

Paleomagnetism of the Late Triassic Hound Island Volcanics: Revisited Paleomagnetism of the Late Triassic Hound Island Volcanics: Revisited

The collision and accretion of the Alexander terrane profoundly influenced the geologic history of Alaska and western Canada; however, the terrane's displacement history is only poorly constrained by sparse paleomagnetic studies. We studied the paleomagnetism of the Hound Island Volcanics in order to evaluate the location of the Alexander terrane in Late Triassic time. We collected 618...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Robert S. Coe, T.C. Onstott

Sedimentary history of the Tethyan margins of eastern Gondwana during the Mesozoic Sedimentary history of the Tethyan margins of eastern Gondwana during the Mesozoic

A composite Mesozoic geological history for the Gondwana margins to the Eastern Tethys Ocean can be assembled from stratigraphic successions on the Australian and Himalayan margins and from drill sites of Ocean Drilling Program Legs 122 and 123. During the Triassic, this region drifted northwards, entering tropical paleolatitudes during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic, then returned to...
Authors
James G. Ogg, Felix Gradstein, Julie A. Dumoulin, Massimo Sarti, Paul Brown

Changes in Alaskan soft-bottom prey communities along a gradient in sea otter predation Changes in Alaskan soft-bottom prey communities along a gradient in sea otter predation

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris), well documented as "keystone" predators in rocky marine communities, were found to exert a strong influence on infaunal prey communities in soft-sediment habitats. Direct and indirect effects of sea otter predation on subtidal soft-bottom prey communities were evaluated along a temporal gradient of sea otter occupancy around the Kodiak Archipelago. The results...
Authors
R.G. Kvitek, J.S. Oliver, A.R. DeGange, B.S. Anderson

Time allocation by Greater White-fronted Geese: Influence of diet, energy reserves and predation Time allocation by Greater White-fronted Geese: Influence of diet, energy reserves and predation

I determined the amount of time Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) allocated to various activities from September to May, 1980-1982 at their primary wintering areas in the Pacific Flyway of North America. The length of time spent on roosts during the day was positively correlated to day length. Geese at roost sites spent the majority of their time sleeping (24-46%)...
Authors
Craig R. Ely

Density of loons in central Alaska Density of loons in central Alaska

Loons breed across North America from the high arctic south to about 43 north latitude. (AOU 1983). Populations, particularly of Common Loons (Gavia immer) have recently declined in the continental U.S. and southern Canada (Sutcliff 1979, Titus and VanDruff 1981, McIntyre 1988). As a result, state and private natural resource organizations began more intensive monitoring of loon...
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot, Pham Xuan Quang

Preliminary geologic map of the Cold Bay and False Pass quadrangles, Alaska Peninsula Preliminary geologic map of the Cold Bay and False Pass quadrangles, Alaska Peninsula

This map of the Cold Bay and False Pass 1:250,000-scale quadrangles on the Alaska Peninsula is a compilation based in part on the mapping conducted as part of the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP) and the Geothermal Energy Program. Field studies by the authors began as early as 1973 in the quadrangles, but systematic mapping was not begun until 1988. Systematic mapping...
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Thomas P. Miller, Robert L. Detterman

Depositional history, nannofossil biostratigraphy, and correlation of Argo Abyssal Plain Sites 765 and 261 Depositional history, nannofossil biostratigraphy, and correlation of Argo Abyssal Plain Sites 765 and 261

Sediments from the Argo Abyssal Plain (AAP), northwest of Australia, are the oldest known from the Indian Ocean and were recovered from ODP Site 765 and DSDP Site 261. New biostratigraphic and sedimentologic data from these sites, as well as reinterpretations of earlier findings, indicate that basal sediments at both localities are of Late Jurassic age and delineate a history of starved
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Paul R. Bown

Antipredator strategies in breeding Bristle-thighed Curlews Antipredator strategies in breeding Bristle-thighed Curlews

Each fall the world’s breeding population of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) arrives on the central Pacific wintering grounds following a migration that entails a non- stop flight of over 5000 kilometers. Sun-drenched, palm-shrouded atolls will be their home for the ensuing eight months. Even in the avian world, however, such apparent luxury is not without costs. For the...
Authors
Brian J. McCaffery, Robert E. Gill

Reproductive implications of egg-size variation in Black Brant Reproductive implications of egg-size variation in Black Brant

We analyzed variation in egg size of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) in relation to clutch size, laying date, female age, year, and position in the laying sequence. A total of 3,478 eggs was measured over three years. Egg size increased with clutch size and female age, and decreased with laying date, year, and position in the laying sequence. We did not detect a negative...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, James S. Sedinger

Suppression of guinea pig ileum induced contractility by plasma albumin of hibernators Suppression of guinea pig ileum induced contractility by plasma albumin of hibernators

Previous studies suggest that hibernation may be regulated by internal opioids and that the putative “hibernation induction trigger” (HIT) may itself be an opioid. This study examined the effect of plasma albumin (known to bind HIT) on induced contractility of the guinea pig ileum muscle strip. Morphine (400 nM) depressed contractility and 100 nM naloxone restored it. Ten milligrams of...
Authors
David S. Bruce, Douglas L. Ambler, Timothy M. Henschel, Peter R. Oeltgen, Sita P. Nilekani, Steven C. Amstrup

Distribution, numbers, and habitat of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numinous tahitiensis) on Rangiroa atoll Distribution, numbers, and habitat of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numinous tahitiensis) on Rangiroa atoll

We assessed the numbers, distribution, and habitat of Bristle-tithed Curlews (Numinous tahitiensis) on Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, during a visit in April 1988. We estimated a total of 250-350 curlews on the atoll. These birds were seen only on the southern and western rims, where they were most common on (1) saltpans within clusters of small islets and (2) narrow channels...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, Roland L. Redmond
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