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: 16904

Environmental contaminant hazards to wildlife at National Capital region and Mid-Atlantic National Park Service units Environmental contaminant hazards to wildlife at National Capital region and Mid-Atlantic National Park Service units

Pollutant data for air, water, soil and biota were compiled from databases and internet sources and by staff interviews at 23 National Park Service (NPS) units in 2005. A metric was derived describing the quality and quantity of data for each park, and in combination with known contaminant threats, the need for ecotoxicological study was identified and ranked. Over half of NP units were...
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, B.K. Ackerson

Bird response to silviculture induced change in forest structure within bottomland hardwood forests Bird response to silviculture induced change in forest structure within bottomland hardwood forests

Silvicultural treatments prescribed to encourage development of desired stand structure (i.e., wildlife-forestry) should result in increased abundance of many bird species of management concern, especially species using dense understory habitat. Desired forest conditions within bottomland vary among sites, but average 60-70% overstory canopy that is heterogeneously distributed with >5...
Authors
D.J. Twedt, S.G. Somershoe

Ticks Ticks

The most common vector-borne diseases in both Europe and North America are transmitted by ticks. Lyme borreliosis (LB), a tick-borne bacterial zoonosis, is the most highly prevalent. Other important tick-borne diseases include TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Europe, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in North America, and numerous less common tick...
Authors
H. S. Ginsberg, M.K. Faulde

Framework for Evaluating Water Quality of the New England Crystalline Rock Aquifers Framework for Evaluating Water Quality of the New England Crystalline Rock Aquifers

Little information exists on regional ground-water-quality patterns for the New England crystalline rock aquifers (NECRA). A systematic approach to facilitate regional evaluation is needed for several reasons. First, the NECRA are vulnerable to anthropogenic and natural contaminants such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), arsenic, and radon gas. Second, the physical characteristics of...
Authors
Philip T. Harte, Gilpin R. Robinson, Joseph D. Ayotte, Sarah M. Flanagan

Ocean forecasting in terrain-following coordinates: Formulation and skill assessment of the Regional Ocean Modeling System Ocean forecasting in terrain-following coordinates: Formulation and skill assessment of the Regional Ocean Modeling System

Systematic improvements in algorithmic design of regional ocean circulation models have led to significant enhancement in simulation ability across a wide range of space/time scales and marine system types. As an example, we briefly review the Regional Ocean Modeling System, a member of a general class of three-dimensional, free-surface, terrain-following numerical models. Noteworthy
Authors
D.B. Haidvogel, H. Arango, W.P. Budgell, B.D. Cornuelle, E. Curchitser, Lorenzo E. Di, K. Fennel, W.R. Geyer, A.J. Hermann, L. Lanerolle, J. Levin, J.C. McWilliams, A.J. Miller, A.M. Moore, T.M. Powell, A.F. Shchepetkin, C. R. Sherwood, R. P. Signell, J.C. Warner, J. Wilkin

Scientific results from Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project Leg 1 drilling: Introduction and overview Scientific results from Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project Leg 1 drilling: Introduction and overview

The Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project (JIP) is a consortium of production and service companies and some government agencies formed to address the challenges that gas hydrates pose for deepwater exploration and production. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and with scientific assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey and academic partners, the JIP has...
Authors
C. Ruppel, R. Boswell, E. Jones

Migration of Florida sub-adult Bald Eagles Migration of Florida sub-adult Bald Eagles

We used satellite telemetry locations accurate within 1 km to identify migration routes and stopover sites of 54 migratory sub-adult Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) hatched in Florida from 1997 to 2001. We measured number of days traveled during migration, path of migration, stopover time and locations, and distance traveled to and from winter and summer areas for each eagle (1?5...
Authors
E.K. Mojica, J.M. Meyers, B.A. Millsap, K.L. Haley

Sources of variation in detection of wading birds from aerial surveys in the Florida Everglades Sources of variation in detection of wading birds from aerial surveys in the Florida Everglades

We conducted dual-observer trials to estimate detection probabilities (probability that a group that is present and available is detected) for fixed-wing aerial surveys of wading birds in the Everglades system, Florida. Detection probability ranged from
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J.T. Peterson, O.L. Bass, C.J. Fonnesbeck, J.E. Howell, C. T. Moore, J.P. Runge

Physical properties of sediments from Keathley Canyon and Atwater Valley, JIP Gulf of Mexico gas hydrate drilling program Physical properties of sediments from Keathley Canyon and Atwater Valley, JIP Gulf of Mexico gas hydrate drilling program

Physical property measurements and consolidation behavior are different between sediments from Atwater Valley and Keathley Canyon in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Void ratio and bulk density of Atwater Valley sediment from a seafloor mound (holes ATM1 and ATM2) show little effective stress (or depth) dependence to 27 meters below seafloor (mbsf), perhaps owing to fluidized transport...
Authors
William J. Winters, Brandon Dugan, Timothy S. Collett

Mineral resource of the month: vermiculite Mineral resource of the month: vermiculite

Vermiculite, a hydrated magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate mineral, has a range of uses that take advantage of its fire resistance, good insulating properties, high liquid absorption capacity, inertness and low density. Most applications for vermiculite use an exfoliated (heat-expanded) form of the mineral. In general, coarser grades of vermiculite are used as loose fill insulation and in
Authors
M.J. Potter

Mineral resource of the month: gemstones Mineral resource of the month: gemstones

Humans have been intrigued by gemstones since prehistoric times. Gemstones have been valued as treasured objects throughout history by all societies in all parts of the world. The first stones known to have been used for making jewelry include amber, amethyst, coral, diamond, emerald, garnet, jade, jasper, lapis lazuli, pearl, rock crystal, ruby, serpentine and turquoise. These stones...
Authors
Donald W. Olson

Mycobacteriosis in striped bass Mycobacteriosis in striped bass

Mycobacteriosis is a bacterial disease in which striped bass (rockfish) may be disfigured as a result of skin ulcers and internal lesions. The bass may also be skinny or in extremely poor condition due to the chronic nature of this wasting disease. Stripers are a highly prized target species for both recreational anglers and commercial fishermen. As such, the economic impact of diseased...
Authors
Frank Panek
Was this page helpful?