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Publications

These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16759

In memoriam: Eugene Pleasants Odum, 1913-2002 In memoriam: Eugene Pleasants Odum, 1913-2002

Eugene Pleasants Odum, a Life Member of the AOU since 1932, an Elective Member since 1943, and a Fellow since 1951, died 10 August 2002 of an apparent heart attack while tending his garden. Gene was born in New Hampshire on 17 September 1913 and spent most of his childhood and college days in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He developed a keen interest in birds and natural history during...
Authors
J.M. Meyers, D.W. Johnston

Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly

When capturing and marking of individuals is possible, the application of newly developed capture-recapture models can remove several sources of bias in the estimation of population parameters such as local abundance and sex ratio. For example, observation of distorted sex ratios in counts or captures can reflect either different abundances of the sexes or different sex-specific capture
Authors
P. Casula, J.D. Nichols

Subadult and pale steppe eagles breeding in Mongolia Subadult and pale steppe eagles breeding in Mongolia

One pale morph and two rufous-tawny morph Steppe Eagles (Aquila rapax) were observed among about 20 breeding pairs found in Mongolia. All three were attending live young. Plumage features of the rufous-tawny birds suggest that they were not adults. Subadult breeding is thereby documented for the Steppe Eagle. Breeding is also documented for a pale morph bird, but the age of this bird is
Authors
D. H. Ellis, W.S. Clark

Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels

Coloniality has mainly been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but relatively few studies have developed methods for modelling colony dynamics. Changes in number of colonies over time provide a useful tool for predicting and evaluating the responses of colonial species to management and to environmental disturbance. Probabilistic Markov process models have been recently used to...
Authors
C. Barbraud, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, H. Hafner

Experimental lead poisoning in Turkey Vultures, Cathartes aura Experimental lead poisoning in Turkey Vultures, Cathartes aura

Lead-induced mortality appears to have been a major factor in the decline of the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). We orally dosed turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) with BB-sized lead shot from January 1988 through July 1988 to determine physiologic response (delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibition, erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels, anemia), diagnostic tissue lead
Authors
J. W. Carpenter, O. H. Pattee, S. H. Fritts, Barnett A. Rattner, Stanley N. Wiemeyer, J. Andrew Royle, M. R. Smith

Spring bird migration in Mississippi Alluvial Valley forests Spring bird migration in Mississippi Alluvial Valley forests

We surveyed forest songbirds during migration in bottomland hardwood forest stands and managed cottonwood (Populus deltoides) plantations in northeast Louisiana and west-central Mississippi between 24 March and 24 May 1996 and 1997. We detected more bird species in bottomland hardwood stands than in cottonwood stands. Within hardwood stands, we detected more individuals in stands...
Authors
R. Randy Wilson, Daniel J. Twedt

Differences in distribution of modified basins and ducks relative to roadside transects Differences in distribution of modified basins and ducks relative to roadside transects

Wetland basins in the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. are commonly modified by excavation (e.g., roadside ditches, stock dugouts), partial drainage (ditching), and diking. Differences in the distribution of modified wetlands may affect the predictive accuracy of waterfowl survey data if such wetlands are not distributed randomly in the landscape and if waterfowl are not distributed...
Authors
Jane E. Austin, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, H. Thomas Sklebar, T.K. Buhl

Concentrations of metals in feathers and blood of nestling Black-Crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays Concentrations of metals in feathers and blood of nestling Black-Crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays

Over the past decade, destruction and degradation of wetland habitat has contributed to the decline of wading bird colonies on the Atlantic Coast. In 1998, an initial assessment of the possible contribution of metal pollution to declining heron populations in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays was conducted. Study sites included two heronries in industrialized locations (Pea Patch Island, DE...
Authors
N. H. Golden, Barnett A. Rattner, P. C. McGowan, K.C. Parsons, M. A. Ottinger

Toxicological significance of soil ingestion by wild and domestic animals Toxicological significance of soil ingestion by wild and domestic animals

Most wild and domestic animals ingest some soil or sediment, and some species may routinely, or under special circumstances, ingest considerable amounts. Ingested soil supplies nutrients, exposes animals to parasites and pathogens, and may play a role in developing immune systems.1 Soil ingestion is also sometimes the principal route of exposure to various environmental contaminants.2-7...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, George F. Fries

Ecotoxicology of mercury Ecotoxicology of mercury

No abstract available.
Authors
James G. Wiener, David P. Krabbenhoft, Gary H. Heinz, Anton M. Scheuhammer
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