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Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 16759

Acid Rain Acid Rain

Acid deposition, or acid rain as it is more commonly referred to, has become a widely publicized environmental issue in the U.S. over the past decade. The term usually conjures up images of fish kills, dying forests, "dead" lakes, and damage to monuments and other historic artifacts. The primary cause of acid deposition is emission of S02 and NOx to the atmosphere during the combustion...
Authors
Owen P. Bricker, Karen C. Rice

Environmental contaminants in bald eagle eggs—1980–84—and further interpretations of relationships to productivity and shell thickness Environmental contaminants in bald eagle eggs—1980–84—and further interpretations of relationships to productivity and shell thickness

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) eggs were collected in 15 States in the United States in 1980–1984 and analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. Data were compared and combined with data from earlier studies to examine trends and refine relationships of contaminants to shell thickness and young production. Moderate shell thinning...
Authors
Stanley N. Wiemeyer, Christine M. Bunck, Charles J. Stafford

Environmental contaminants in canvasbacks wintering on San Francisco Bay, California Environmental contaminants in canvasbacks wintering on San Francisco Bay, California

The concentrations of 11 trace elements, 21 organochlorines, 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 13 aliphatic hydrocarbons were determined in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering on San Francisco Bay, California during 1988. With the exception of Se, concentrations of potentially toxic elements were low. Similarly, concentrations of most organic compounds were near or below...
Authors
A.K. Miles, H. M. Ohlendorf

Canine parvovirus effect on wolf population change and pup survival Canine parvovirus effect on wolf population change and pup survival

Canine parvovirus infected wild canids more than a decade ago, but no population effect has been documented. In wild Minnesota wolves (Canis lupus) over a 12-yr period, the annual percent population increase and proportion of pups each were inversely related to the percentage of wolves serologically positive to the disease. Although these effects did not seem to retard this large extant...
Authors
L.D. Mech, S.M. Goyal

Social foraging classes in raptorial birds Social foraging classes in raptorial birds

No abstract available.
Authors
D. H. Ellis, J.C. Bednarz, D.G. Smith, S.P. Flemming

Effects of habitat availability on dispersion of a stream cyprinid Effects of habitat availability on dispersion of a stream cyprinid

We analyzed temporal changes in the dispersion of the rosyside dace,Clinostomus funduloides, (family Cyprinidae) in a headwater stream, to assess the role of habitat availability in promoting fish aggregation. The dace foraged alone and in groups of up to about 25 individuals, and dispersion varied significantly among monthly censuses conducted from May through December. In two of three...
Authors
Mary C. Freeman, Gary D. Grossman

Resource protection for waterbirds in Chesapeake Bay Resource protection for waterbirds in Chesapeake Bay

Many living resources in the Chesapeake Bay estuary have deteriorated over the past 50 years. As a result, many governmental committees, task forces, and management plans have been established. Most of the recommendations for implementing a bay cleanup focus on reducing sediments and nutrient flow into the watershed. We emphasize that habitat requirements other than water quality are...
Authors
R.M. Erwin, G.M. Haramis, D.G. Krementz, S.L. Funderburk

Overwinter survival of mallards fed selenium Overwinter survival of mallards fed selenium

Adult male mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 μg/g selenium in the form of selenomethionine. Mortality in each of these treatments was 0, 0, 25, 95, and 100%, respectively, during a 16-week exposure that started in November. After one week of treatment, body weights were significantly depressed by the 20, 40, and 80-μg/g selenium...
Authors
Gary Heinz, M. A. Fitzgerald

Optimal allocation of point-count sampling effort Optimal allocation of point-count sampling effort

Both unlimited and fixed-radius point counts only provide indices to population size. Because longer count durations lead to counting a higher proportion of individuals at the point, proper design of these surveys must incorporate both count duration and sampling characteristics of population size. Using information about the relationship between proportion of individuals detected at a...
Authors
Richard J. Barker, John R. Sauer, William A. Link

Survey and evaluation of contaminants in earthworms and in soils derived from dredged material at confined disposal facilities in the Great Lakes region Survey and evaluation of contaminants in earthworms and in soils derived from dredged material at confined disposal facilities in the Great Lakes region

Soils derived from dredged material were collected, together with earthworms from nine confined disposal facilities located in the Great Lakes Region. These samples were analyzed for 18 elements, 11 organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The concentrations detected in earthworms were evaluated in terms of their potential hazard to wildlife, which for...
Authors
W. N. Beyer, C. Stafford
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