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
Nest sites and eggs of Kittlitz's and Marbled murrelets Nest sites and eggs of Kittlitz's and Marbled murrelets
Fourteen known and three probable nests of Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) and eight known and one probable nest of Marbled Murrelet (B. marmoratus) have been reported. Nests of Kittlitz's Murrelet tend to be at higher elevations and farther inland than those of Marbled Murrelet. Kittlitz's nests have much less vegetative cover than Marbled nests. Nests of both species...
Authors
Robert H. Day, Karen L. Oakley, D.R. Barnard
Data report for the August 1982 seismic-refraction experiment in the Mono Craters-Long Valley region, California Data report for the August 1982 seismic-refraction experiment in the Mono Craters-Long Valley region, California
No abstract available.
Authors
Patricia J. Meador, David P. Hill
Yellow birds stand out in a crowd Yellow birds stand out in a crowd
Highly visible auxiliary markers, such as neck collars, nasal saddles, patagial tags, and leg streamers, are used regularly and effectively with banding in studying migration and distribution of large birds (e.g. waterfowl, birds of prey, wading birds). Simply stated, a large bird can accommodate a marker that is large enough to be seen readily by an observer but still small enough not...
Authors
Colleen M. Handel, Robert E. Gill
Use of nearshore and estuarine areas by gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in the eastern Bering Sea Use of nearshore and estuarine areas by gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in the eastern Bering Sea
During spring aerial surveys of the coast of the southeastern Bering Sea significant numbers of gray whales were seen in nearshore waters along the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. Many (50-80%) of these animals were observed surfacing with mud trails or lying on their sides, characteristics both associated with feeding. A migration route close to shore (within 1-2 km) was used until...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, John D. Hall
Geochronology, geochemistry, and tectonic environment of porphyry mineralization in the central Alaska Peninsula Geochronology, geochemistry, and tectonic environment of porphyry mineralization in the central Alaska Peninsula
Porphyry type sulfide systems on the central Alaska Peninsula occupy a transition zone between the Aleutian island magmatic arc and the continental magmatic arc of southern Alaska. Mineralization occurs associated with early and late Tertiary magmatic centers emplaced through a thick section of Mesozoic continental margin clastic sedimentary rocks. The systems are of the molybdenum-rich...
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Dennis P. Cox
Observations of emperor geese feeding at Nelson Lagoon, Alaska Observations of emperor geese feeding at Nelson Lagoon, Alaska
Estuaries along the north side of the Alaska Peninsula provide essential habitat for most of the American population of Emperor Goose (Chen canagica) during migration (Petersen and Gill 1982). Most of the population passes through Nelson Lagoon in spring and fall, with over 40,000 birds recorded there (Gill et al 1981). Little is known about the feeding activity of Emperor Geese while...
Authors
Margaret R. Petersen
An isolated population of small Canada geese on Kaliktagik Island, Alaska An isolated population of small Canada geese on Kaliktagik Island, Alaska
Recently we discovered that a small form of the Canada Goose Branta canadensis breeds on Kaliktagik Island, one of the Semidi Islands, about 80 km south of the Alaska Peninsula near longitude 157°W (Figure 1). The unexpected occurrence of geese on this oceanic island and the possibility that they are closely allied with the endangered Aleutian race of Canada Geese B. c. leucopareia...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch, Martha A. Hatch
Titre distribution patterns of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus in ovarian fluids of hatchery and feral salmon populations Titre distribution patterns of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus in ovarian fluids of hatchery and feral salmon populations
Infectious haematopoietic mecrosis virus (IHNV) is enzootic in virtually all populations of sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), and in populations of chinook salmon, O. tshawytscha (Walbaum), of the Sacramento River drainage in California. This disease is an obstacle in hatcheries using brood stocks from these populations. However, naturally spawning sockeye salmon are highly...
Authors
D. Mulcahy, R.J. Pascho, C.K. Jenes
Detection of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in river water and demonstration of waterborne transmission Detection of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in river water and demonstration of waterborne transmission
In a study of the possible role of waterborne infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus in transmission of the disease among spawning sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), both infection rates and virus titres were higher in fish held at high density in a side channel than in fish in the adjacent river. Virus was never isolated from river water, but was found in water from the...
Authors
Daniel M. Mulcahy, Ronald J. Pascho, C.K. Jenes
Seabirds between Alaska and Hawaii Seabirds between Alaska and Hawaii
Seabirds were observed between Alaska and Hawaii along 158°W longitude from 24 October to 6 November 1976. Their distributions and abundances corresponded remarkably well to oceanographic regions. Indices of seabird density dropped in a series of plateaus from 44 birds/km2 in the Alaska Current System to less than 1 bird/km2 in subtropic waters. Northern distribution records were found...
Authors
Patrick J. Gould
Retention of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus infectivity in fish tissue homogenates and fluids stored at three temperatures Retention of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus infectivity in fish tissue homogenates and fluids stored at three temperatures
Pools of brain, kidney, spleen, liver and gut tissues from several rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, and whole sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), fry were homogenized with a known amount of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV). Virus was also added to ovarian fluids and sera pooled from several rainbow trout. The plaque assay was used to determine the...
Authors
J. Burke, D. Mulcahy
Populations and habitat use of marine birds in the Semidi Islands, Alaska Populations and habitat use of marine birds in the Semidi Islands, Alaska
About one-quarter of the resident seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska breed on the Semidi Islands. In terms of biomass, the proportion is closer to one-third. The most abundant birds are Common and Thick-billed Murres, with a combined population exceeding 1 million birds. Hundreds of thousands of Horned Puffins breed in burrows on two islands. Other species numbering more than 100,000...
Authors
Scott A. Hatch, Martha A. Hatch