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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: 3095

Impacts of petroleum development in the Arctic Impacts of petroleum development in the Arctic

In their article “Cumulative impacts of oil fields on northern Alaskan landscapes.” D. A. Walter et al. (1) document some direct and indirect impacts of petroleum development in the Arctic on selected portions of the Prudhoe Bay Oil field. While most of the kinds of impacts they discuss are valid points to consider in designing an arctic oil field, the magnitude of what they describe is...
Authors
Robertson S.B.

Twenty-four hour behavior patterns and budgets of free-ranging reindeer in winter Twenty-four hour behavior patterns and budgets of free-ranging reindeer in winter

To obtain movement data on wild fulvous tree ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) 165 immature pen-reared fulvous tree ducks were color-marked and released in three southeast Texas counties in July October 1969/70. Nine (5 percent) of the marked birds were recovered from 3 days to 9 months after release, and an additional 15 birds provided sight records. Many released birds apparently became...
Authors
W. B. Collins, T. S. Smith

Performance and utility of satellite telemetry during field studies of free-ranging polar bears in Alaska Performance and utility of satellite telemetry during field studies of free-ranging polar bears in Alaska

Satellite telemetry technology has been used during field studies of polar bears in Alaska since 1985. A total of 109 Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTT) have been deployed on free-ranging female polar bears that seasonally inhabit waters adjacent to the Alaskan coast. The PTTs transmitted locational and sensor data to TIROS-N polar-orbiting satellites during a duty cycle of 12 hours on...
Authors
Gerald W. Garner, Steven C. Amstrup, David C. Douglas, Craig L. Gardner

Attendance patterns of murres at breeding sites: Implications for monitoring Attendance patterns of murres at breeding sites: Implications for monitoring

We studied attendance patterns (presence and absence at breeding sites) of common murres (Uria aalge) and thick-billed murres (U. lomvia) at a colony in the Semidi Islands, western Gulf of Alaska. The period from mid-laying through hatching was appropriate for censusing because counts were subject to the least amount of daily variation. Time of day and weather did not have large effects...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch, Martha A. Hatch

Diurnal and seasonal patterns of colony attendance in the Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis Diurnal and seasonal patterns of colony attendance in the Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

The annual cycle of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) in the western Gulf of Alaska includes about six months from mid-April to mid-October when birds are associated with land at the Semidi Islands. The pre-laying stage in five years was marked by recurrent peaks in attendance that included up to 90% of the population, and alternate periods of 2 to 12 days when the breeding ground...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch

Reproductive performance of Rio Grande wild turkeys Reproductive performance of Rio Grande wild turkeys

Frequency, magnitude, and timing of reproduction in Rio Grande Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) hens were studied in northeastern Colorado in 1986 and 1987. All adults (n = 12) and 95% (n = 20) of yearlings were known to attempt nesting. Adults initiated first nest attempts earlier than yearlings in 1987 but not 1986. Adults and yearlings did not differ in clutch size or...
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz, Clait E. Braun

Baleen whales and their prey in a coastal environment Baleen whales and their prey in a coastal environment

Patterns of abundance of humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whales are described in relation to the abundance of their primary prey, capelin (Mallotus villosus), during 1982–1985 at Witless Bay, Newfoundland. The abundance ratio of the three whale species was 10:1:3.5, respectively. Abundance of all whale species was...
Authors
John F. Piatt, David A. Methven, Alan E. Burger, Ruth L. McLagan, Vicki Mercer, Elizabeth Creelman

A comparison of instrumental dewatering methods for the separation and concentration of suspended sediment for subsequent trace element analysis A comparison of instrumental dewatering methods for the separation and concentration of suspended sediment for subsequent trace element analysis

A comparison involving both field and laboratory trials was performed to evaluate the utility of two continuous-flow centrifuges and a tangential-flow filtration system for dewatering suspended sediments for subsequent trace element analysis. Although recovery efficiencies for the various devices differ, the analytical results from the separated suspended sediments indicate that any of...
Authors
A. J. Horowitz, K. A. Elrick, R.C. Hooper

Techniques for shipboard surveys of marine birds Techniques for shipboard surveys of marine birds

We describe shipboard and small boat techniques used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska to survey marine birds at sea. The basis is a 10-min, 300-m-wide, strip transect taken from a platform moving at a constant speed in a constant direction. Special routines, such as instantaneous counts of traveling birds, are explained to help reduce biases caused by factors such as varying...
Authors
Patrick J. Gould, Douglas J. Forsell

Exxon Valdez bird toll Exxon Valdez bird toll

No abstract available.
Authors
John F. Piatt, Calvin J. Lensink
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