Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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

Immediate impact of the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill on marine birds Immediate impact of the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill on marine birds

On 24 March 1989, the oil tanker 'Exxon Valdez' spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Oil eventually drifted over $30,000\ {\rm km}^{2}$ of coastal and offshore waters occupied by approximately one million marine birds. More than 30,000 dead birds of 90 species were retrieved from polluted areas by 1 August 1989. Of those identified, murres (74%), other...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Calvin J. Lensink, William Butler, Marshal Kendziorek, David R. Nysewander

Effects of human disturbance on breeding Least and Crested Auklets at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Effects of human disturbance on breeding Least and Crested Auklets at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

We studied breeding success, chick growth, and diets of Least (Aethia pusilla) and Crested (A. cristatella) auklets on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in summer 1987. Least Auklets had higher breeding success on control plots (50-66%) than on disturbed plots (36%). Crested Auklets had a breeding success of 42% on disturbed plots. Predation by microtine rodents and weather accounted for most...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Bay D. Roberts, Wayne W. Lidster, John L. Wells, Scott A. Hatch

Colony attendance and population monitoring of Least and Crested auklets on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Colony attendance and population monitoring of Least and Crested auklets on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

Diurnal and seasonal patterns of attendance of Least Auklets (Aethia pusilla) and Crested Auklets (A. cristatella) were studied in 1987 at breeding colonies on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Numbers of auklets attending eight 200-m2 plots on talus slopes were counted throughout the day by observers on 11 occasions through the breeding season. Numbers attending smaller plots were recorded...
Authors
John F. Piatt, Bay D. Roberts, Scott A. Hatch

Procedures and rationale for marking sea otters captured and treated during the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill Procedures and rationale for marking sea otters captured and treated during the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill

Four methods were used for marking sea otters (Enhydra lutris) captured and treated during the response to the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill. Colored and numbered flipper tags were placed on each sea otter that was brought to the otter treatment centers. These tags allowed individual recognition and permitted the tracking of individuals through the treatment and holding processes. Recovery...
Authors
A.R. DeGange, T.D. Williams

Evaluation of sea otter capture after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound, Alaska Evaluation of sea otter capture after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound, Alaska

After the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill into Prince William Sound, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Exxon Company, U.S.A., began rescuing sea otters (Enhydra lutris). The primary objective of this operation was to capture live, oiled sea otters for cleaning and rehabilitation. Between 30 March and 29 May 1989, 139 live sea otters were captured in the sound and transported to...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, F. Weltz

Nest-site selection by Emperor Geese and Cackling Canada Geese Nest-site selection by Emperor Geese and Cackling Canada Geese

Differences were found in habitat structure between nest sites of Emperor Geese (Chen canagicus) and Cackling Canada Geese (Branta canadensis minima) during a 5-year study (1982-1986) at Kokechik Bay, Alaska. Emperor Geese tended to select sites that afforded concealment from avian predators before incubation began. Cackling Canada Geese tended to select sites that enhanced avoidance of...
Authors
Margaret R. Petersen

Tracking wildlife by satellite: Current systems and performance Tracking wildlife by satellite: Current systems and performance

Since 1984, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has used the Argos Data Collection and Location System (DCLS) and Tiros-N series satellites to monitor movements and activities of 10 species of large mammals in Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region. Reliability of the entire system was generally high. Data were received from instrumented caribou (Rangifer tarandus) during 91% of 318...
Authors
Richard B. Harris, Steven G. Fancy, David C. Douglas, Gerald W. Garner, Steven C. Amstrup, Thomas R. McCabe, Larry F. Pank

Site 766 Site 766

No abstract available.
Authors

Site 765: Sediment Lithostratigraphy Site 765: Sediment Lithostratigraphy

A 935-m-thick succession of Quaternary through Lower Cretaceous sediments was recovered at Site 765 (Fig. 10). A single core of Quaternary sediment was obtained from Hole 765A; drilling terminated and a new hole was drilled in an attempt to establish the mud line. Quaternary through middle Miocene sediments were cored in Hole 765B down to a depth of 395.6 mbsf. Middle Miocene through...
Authors

Flexible time budgets in breeding Common Murres: Buffers against variable prey availability Flexible time budgets in breeding Common Murres: Buffers against variable prey availability

Mortality rates of canvasbacks were estimated from band-recovery records. The annual rate of mortality of immatures during the first year was 77 per cent. Annual mortality rates of adults ranged from 35 to 50 per cent. Mortality rates of females were higher than those of males. Relatively larger numbers of immatures and adult females were shot early in the hunting season, and relatively...
Authors
A.E. Burger, John F. Piatt

Extra-pair copulations in Black Brant Extra-pair copulations in Black Brant

Monogamy is the primary mating system among waterfowl, but extra-pair copulations (EPCs) have been documented in at least 39 species (McKinney et al. 1983). Extra-pair copulations occur in most Holarctic species of dabbling ducks (Anas spp.), but have been recorded in only three species of geese: Lesser Snow Geese, Chen caerulescens caerulescens (Mineau and Cooke 1979a), Ross’ Geese, C...
Authors
Daniel Welsh, James S. Sedinger
Was this page helpful?