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: 3082
The nitrogen window for arctic herbivores: plant phenology and protein gain of migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) The nitrogen window for arctic herbivores: plant phenology and protein gain of migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Terrestrial plants are often limited by nitrogen (N) in arctic systems, but constraints of N supply on herbivores are typically considered secondary to those of energy. We tested the hypothesis that forage N is more limiting than energy for arctic caribou by collecting key forages (three species of graminoids, three species of woody browse, and one genus of forb) over three summers in...
Authors
Perry S. Barboza, Lindsay L. Van Someren, David D. Gustine, M. Syndonia Bret-Harte
Permafrost-related processes and recent response to climatic changes Permafrost-related processes and recent response to climatic changes
Permafrost-related processes have direct and indirect consequences to northern environments, but the impacts are affected by complex interactions involving positive and negative feedbacks at the surface (Jorgenson et al. 2010), climatic trends and fluctuations (Romanovsky et al. 2010; Konishchev 2011), and terrain and ground ice conditions (French and Shur 2010, Ukraintseva et al. 2012...
Authors
Marina Leibman, Alexandr Kizyakov, Guido Grosse, Benjamin M. Jones, M. Torre Jorgenson, Mikhail Z. Kanevskiy
Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula
Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are responding to ocean–climate variability throughout the marine ecosystem of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) where some breeding colonies have declined by 80%. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers were used to understand historical population genetic structure and gene flow given relatively recent and continuing reductions in sea ice...
Authors
Kristen B. Gorman, Sandra L. Talbot, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Megan C. Gravley, Tony D. Williams, William R. Fraser
Status of natural and human environment Status of natural and human environment
This report present the results of the 2017 AMAP Assessment of Adaptation Actions for a changing Arctic (AACA): Perspectives form the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Region. This is one of three pilot study regions included in the AACA project. AACA is the first AMAP assessment dealing with adaptation actions and how to meet possible Arctic futures in these times of rapid chance. Information...
Authors
Lyman K. Thorsteinson, Peter Outridge, Alexander Klepikov, Maria Ananichheva, Evgeny Antonov, Valeria Bashkirova, Valery Chaschin, Ashley Gaden, Layla Hughes, Gensuo Jia, Takashi Kikuchi, Kirill Kivka, James Lima, Magdalena Muir, Elena Nikitina, Nina Poussenkova, Natalia Pozhilova, Valentina Sergeeva, Vanessa Skean, Alexey Somov, Gary Stern, Vilena Valeeva
Size, growth, and density data for shallow-water sea urchins from Mexico to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956–2016 Size, growth, and density data for shallow-water sea urchins from Mexico to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956–2016
Size, growth, and density have been studied for North American Pacific coast sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, S. droebachiensis, S. polyacanthus, Mesocentrotus (Strongylocentrotus) franciscanus, Lytechinus pictus, Centrostephanus coronatus, and Arbacia stellata by various workers at diverse sites and for varying lengths of time from 1956 to present. Numerous peer-reviewed...
Authors
Thomas A Ebert, Louis Barr, James L. Bodkin, Dirk Burcham, Dominique Bureau, Henry Carson, Nancy Caruso, Jennifer E. Caselle, Jeremy Claisse, Sabrina Clemente, Kathryn Davis, Paul Detwiler, John Dixon, David Duggins, John Engle, James Estes, Scott Groth, Benjamin Grupe, Peter Halmay, Kyle Hebert, Jose Carlos Hernandez, Laura J. Jurgens, Peter Kalvass, Michael C. Kenner, Brenda Konar, David Kushner, Lynn Lee, David Leighton, Gabriela Montano-Moctezuma, Eric Munk, Irma Olguin Espinoza, Ben Weitzman
Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2013–15 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2013–15
Streambed scour potential was evaluated at 52 river- and stream-spanning bridges in Alaska that lack a quantitative scour analysis or have unknown foundation details. All sites were evaluated for stream stability and long-term scour potential. Contraction scour and abutment scour were calculated for 52 bridges, and pier scour was calculated for 11 bridges that had piers. Vertical...
Authors
Robin A. Beebee, Karenth L. Dworsky, Schyler J. Knopp
Zirconium and hafnium Zirconium and hafnium
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon (ZrSiO4, or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals. Zirconium and hafnium are both refractory lithophile elements that have nearly identical charge, ionic radii, and ionic potentials. As a result...
Authors
James V. Jones, Nadine M. Piatak, George M. Bedinger
Lithium Lithium
Lithium, the lightest of all metals, is used in air treatment, batteries, ceramics, glass, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are particularly important in efforts to reduce global warming because they make it possible to power cars and trucks from renewable sources of energy (for example, hydroelectric, solar, or wind) instead of by burning...
Authors
Dwight Bradley, Lisa L. Stillings, Brian W. Jaskula, LeeAnn Munk, Andrew D. McCauley
Evaluating methods to assess the body condition of female polar bears Evaluating methods to assess the body condition of female polar bears
An animal's body condition provides insight into its health, foraging success, and overall fitness. Measures of body composition including proportional fat content are useful indicators of condition. Isotopic dilution is a reliable non-destructive method for estimating the body composition of live mammals, but can require prolonged handling times. Alternatively, bioelectrical impedance...
Authors
Anthony M. Pagano, Karyn D. Rode, Stephen N. Atkinson
Tectonic evolution of the Central Andean Plateau and implications for the growth of plateaus Tectonic evolution of the Central Andean Plateau and implications for the growth of plateaus
Current end-member models for the geodynamic evolution of orogenic plateaus predict (a) slow and steady rise during crustal shortening and ablative subduction (i.e., continuous removal) of the lower lithosphere or (b) rapid surface uplift following shortening, which is associated with punctuated removal of dense lower lithosphere and/or lower crustal flow. This review integrates results...
Authors
Carmala N. Garzione, Nadine McQuarrie, Nicholas D. Perez, Todd A. Ehlers, Susan L. Beck, Nandini Kar, Nathan Eichelberger, Alan D. Chapman, Kevin M. Ward, Mihai N. Ducea, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Poulsen, Lara S. Wagner, Joel E. Saylor, George Zandt, Brian K. Horton
Vectors, hosts, and control measures for Zika virus in the Americas Vectors, hosts, and control measures for Zika virus in the Americas
We examine Zika virus (ZIKV) from an ecological perspective and with a focus on the Americas. We assess (1) the role of wildlife in ZIKV disease ecology, (2) how mosquito behavior and biology influence disease dynamics, and (3) how nontarget species and ecosystems may be impacted by vector control programs. Our review suggests that free-ranging, non-human primates may be involved in ZIKV
Authors
Sarah J. Thompson, John M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey
Attaching transmitters to waterbirds using one versus two subcutaneous anchors: Retention and survival trade-offs Attaching transmitters to waterbirds using one versus two subcutaneous anchors: Retention and survival trade-offs
A major challenge of wildlife telemetry is choosing an attachment technique that maximizes transmitter retention while minimizing negative side effects. For waterbirds, attachment of transmitters with subcutaneous anchors has been an effective and well-established technique, having been used on >40 species. This method was recently modified to include a second subcutaneous anchor...
Authors
Tyler Lewis, Daniel Esler, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Rian D. Dickson, Eric M. Anderson, Joseph R. Evenson, Jerry W. Hupp, Paul L. Flint