Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 16727

GIS interpolations of witness tree records (1839-1866) for northern Wisconsin at multiple scales GIS interpolations of witness tree records (1839-1866) for northern Wisconsin at multiple scales

To construct forest landscape of pre-European settlement periods, we developed a GIS interpolation approach to convert witness tree records of the U.S. General Land Office (GLO) survey from point to polygon data, which better described continuously distributed vegetation. The witness tree records (1839-1866) were processed for a 3-million ha landscape in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. at...
Authors
H.S. He, D.J. Mladenoff, T.A. Sickley, G.R. Guntenspergen

Hazards to wildlife from soil-borne cadmium reconsidered Hazards to wildlife from soil-borne cadmium reconsidered

Cadmium is a toxic element that should be included in environmental risk assessments of contaminated soils. This paper argues, however, that hazards to wildlife from cadmium have often been overstated. The literature contains only meager evidence that wild animals have been seriously harmed by cadmium, even at severely contaminated sites. Although some researchers have reported that...
Authors
W. N. Beyer

Species variation in osmotic, cryoprotectant, and cooling rate tolerance in poultry, eagle, and Peregrine Falcon spermatozoa Species variation in osmotic, cryoprotectant, and cooling rate tolerance in poultry, eagle, and Peregrine Falcon spermatozoa

Potential factors influencing spermatozoa survival to cryopreservation and thawing were analyzed across a range of the following avian species: domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Studies focused on
Authors
J.M. Blanco, G. Gee, D.E. Wildt, A.M. Donoghue

Managing wetlands for waterbirds: How managers can make a difference in improving habitat to support a North American Bird Conservation Plan Managing wetlands for waterbirds: How managers can make a difference in improving habitat to support a North American Bird Conservation Plan

Wetlands are the most productive ecosystems in the world, yet they have suffered more loss and degradation than any other ecosystem. Not surprisingly, 50% (29 of 58) of all the bird species in the U. S. (excluding Hawaii and territories) that are listed either as federally threatened or endangered, or are on the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1995 List of Migratory Nongame Birds of...
Authors
R.M. Erwin, M.K. Laubhan, J.E. Cornely, D.M. Bradshaw

Grassland birds: An overview of threats and recommended management strategies Grassland birds: An overview of threats and recommended management strategies

Grassland ecosystems are dependent on periodic disturbance for habitat maintenance. Historically, grazing by native herbivores and prairie fires were the agents principally responsible for maintaining grassland areas. However, elimination of native herbivores, wide-spread fire suppression, and conversion for agriculture have greatly altered grasslands in the United States and Canada...
Authors
P.D. Vickery, J.R. Herkert, F.L. Knopf, J. Ruth, C.E. Keller

Combining information from monitoring programs: Complications associated with indices and geographic scale Combining information from monitoring programs: Complications associated with indices and geographic scale

To adequately monitor Neotropical migratory birds, information must be collected to assess population change at local, regional, and continent-wide scales. I suggest that large-scale survey results (such as those derived from the North American Breeding Bird Survey) should not be used to predict population attributes on parks, refuges, and other protected areas. These areas are often...
Authors
J.R. Sauer

A comprehensive monitoring program for North American shorebirds A comprehensive monitoring program for North American shorebirds

Anthropogenic changes to the biosphere, including widespread degradation and losses of habitats and ecosystems, are causing rapid and profound changes to bird and other wildlife populations throughout the world. Such changes have led to increasing risks and rates of extinction. As a consequence, information on how bird populations are changing is becoming increasingly important to...

Monitoring is not enough: on the need for a model-based approach to migratory bird management Monitoring is not enough: on the need for a model-based approach to migratory bird management

Informed management requires information about system state and about effects of potential management actions on system state. Population monitoring can provide the needed information about system state, as well as information that can be used to investigate effects of management actions. Three methods for investigating effects of management on bird populations are (1) retrospective...
Authors
J.D. Nichols
Was this page helpful?