Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16733
Fire clay Fire clay
In 2005, six companies mined fire clay in Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina. Production was estimate to be 300 kt with a value of $8.3 million. Missouri was the leading producer state followed by Ohio and South Carolina. For the third consecutive year, sales and use of fire clays have been relatively unchanged. For the next few years, sales of fire clay is forecasted to remain around 300...
Authors
R.L. Virta
Distribution and abundance of California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in the Upper Redwood Creek Watershed, Marin County, California Distribution and abundance of California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in the Upper Redwood Creek Watershed, Marin County, California
A survey was conducted in 1997-1998 to identify the distribution of non-native signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and larval California giant salamanders (Dicamptodon ensatus) within the upper Redwood Creek watershed (Marin County, California). The crayfish is widely distributed along the mainstem Redwood Creek. It was found in lower Fern Creek but not in any first order...
Authors
Darren Fong, Judd A. Howell
Relative Coastal Change-Potential Assessment of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Relative Coastal Change-Potential Assessment of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
A change-potential index (CPI) was used to map the relative coastal change-potential of the shoreline to future sea-level fluctuation within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GBNPP) in southeastern Alaska. The CPI ranks the following in terms of their physical contribution to coastal change: geomorphology, regional coastal slope, rate of relative sea-level change, historical...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Pendleton, E. Robert Thieler, S. Jeffress Williams
Comparative dynamics of avian communities across edges and interiors of North American ecoregions Comparative dynamics of avian communities across edges and interiors of North American ecoregions
Aim Based on a priori hypotheses, we developed predictions about how avian communities might differ at the edges vs. interiors of ecoregions. Specifically, we predicted lower species richness and greater local turnover and extinction probabilities for regional edges. We tested these predictions using North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data across nine ecoregions over a 20-year...
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, J.E. Hines
Surface elevation dynamics in vegetated Spartina marshes versus unvegetated tidal ponds along the mid-Atlantic coast, USA, with implications to waterbirds Surface elevation dynamics in vegetated Spartina marshes versus unvegetated tidal ponds along the mid-Atlantic coast, USA, with implications to waterbirds
Mid Atlantic coastal salt marshes contain a matrix of vegetation diversified by tidal pools, pannes, and creeks, providing habitats of varying importance to many species of breeding, migrating, and wintering waterbirds. We hypothesized that changes in marsh elevation were not sufficient to keep pace with those of sea level in both vegetated and unvegetated Spartina alterniflora sites at...
Authors
R. Michael Erwin, Donald R. Cahoon, Diann J. Prosser, Geoffrey Sanders, Philippe Hensel
Chlorfenapyr and mallard ducks: Overview, study design, macroscopic effects, and analytical chemistry Chlorfenapyr and mallard ducks: Overview, study design, macroscopic effects, and analytical chemistry
The first commercial pesticide derived from a class of compounds known as halogenated pyrroles was registered for use in the United States in 2001. Chlorfenapyr degrades slowly in soil, sediment, and water and is highly toxic to birds. Information on biochemical or histological endpoints in birds is lacking; therefore, a two‐year study was conducted to provide information needed to...
Authors
P.H. Albers, P. N. Klein, D. E. Green, M. J. Melancon, B.P. Bradley, G. Noguchi
Disseminated visceral coccidiosis in a wild white-naped crane (Grus vipio) Disseminated visceral coccidiosis in a wild white-naped crane (Grus vipio)
Disseminated visceral coccidiosis (DVC) was unexpectedly recognized in a wild white-naped crane (Grits vipio) killed by phosphamidon insecticide. On gross pathologic examination, widely disseminated white nodules were found on the serosa of the proventriculus, gizzard, and intestine, as well as on the surface and in the parenchyma of liver, spleen, and cardiac muscle. Microscopically...
Authors
Y.K. Kwon, W.J. Jeon, M.I. Kang, J.-H. Kim, Glenn H. Olsen
The vertebrate fauna of Ichauway, Baker County, GA The vertebrate fauna of Ichauway, Baker County, GA
Less than 4% of the once extensive Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) ecosystem remains today. Although longleaf pine habitats are recognized for their high species diversity, few published accounts document the vertebrate faunas of remaining tracts. Here we report on the vertebrate species richness of lchauway, an 11,300-ha property in Baker County, GA. The property includes ca. 7300 ha of
Authors
L. L. Smith, D.A. Steen, J.M. Stober, Mary C. Freeman, S.W. Golladay, L.M. Conner, J. Cochrane
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) in Yakutia: Distribution, nesting areas, and features of nutrition Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) in Yakutia: Distribution, nesting areas, and features of nutrition
In Yakutia, gyrfalcon nests in tundra, forest-tundra, and taiga and may occur in the northeastern and, sometimes, in the northwestern parts, being almost absent or occasional over the large area separating these regions. The southern boundary of the nesting site is nowhere below 64 degrees N. In central Yakutia, gyrfalcon was suggested to be met as a visitant or migratory species. The...
Authors
Yu. V. Labutin, D. H. Ellis
Tidal marshes: A global perspective on the evolution and conservation of their terrestrial vertebrates Tidal marshes: A global perspective on the evolution and conservation of their terrestrial vertebrates
Globally, tidal marshes are found in small pockets or narrow bands totaling only approximately 45,000 square kilometers. The combination of salinity, low floristic and structural complexity, and regular tidal inundation, as well as unpredictable catastrophic flooding, provides a unique selective environment that shapes local adaptations, including those that are morphological...
Authors
Russell Greenberg, Jesus Maldonado, Sam Droege, M.V. McDonald
Model weights and the foundations of multimodel inference Model weights and the foundations of multimodel inference
Statistical thinking in wildlife biology and ecology has been profoundly influenced by the introduction of AIC (Akaike?s information criterion) as a tool for model selection and as a basis for model averaging. In this paper, we advocate the Bayesian paradigm as a broader framework for multimodel inference, one in which model averaging and model selection are naturally linked, and in...
Authors
W.A. Link, R. J. Barker
Combining Breeding Bird Survey and distance sampling to estimate density of migrant and breeding birds Combining Breeding Bird Survey and distance sampling to estimate density of migrant and breeding birds
We combined Breeding Bird Survey point count protocol and distance sampling to survey spring migrant and breeding birds in Vicksburg National Military Park on 33 days between March and June of 2003 and 2004. For 26 of 106 detected species, we used program DISTANCE to estimate detection probabilities and densities from 660 3-min point counts in which detections were recorded within four...
Authors
S.G. Somershoe, D.J. Twedt, B. Reid