Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
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Influence of observers and stream flow on northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) relative abundance estimates in Acadia and Shenandoah National Parks, USA Influence of observers and stream flow on northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) relative abundance estimates in Acadia and Shenandoah National Parks, USA
We investigated effects of observers and stream flow on Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) counts in streams in Acadia (ANP) and Shenandoah National Parks (SNP). We counted salamanders in 22 ANP streams during high flow (May to June 2002) and during low flow (July 2002). We also counted salamanders in SNP in nine streams during high flow (summer 2003) and 11...
Authors
J.B. Crocker, M.S. Bank, Cynthia S. Loftin, R.E. Jung Brown
Calculating background levels for ecological risk parameters in toxic harbor sediment Calculating background levels for ecological risk parameters in toxic harbor sediment
Establishing background levels for biological parameters is necessary in assessing the ecological risks from harbor sediment contaminated with toxic chemicals. For chemicals in sediment, the term contaminated is defined as having concentrations above background and significant human health or ecological risk levels. For biological parameters, a site could be considered contaminated if...
Authors
C.J. Leadon, T.R. McDonnell, J. Lear, D. Barclift
Bayesian multimodel inference for dose-response studies Bayesian multimodel inference for dose-response studies
Statistical inference in dose-response studies is model-based: The analyst posits a mathematical model of the relation between exposure and response, estimates parameters of the model, and reports conclusions conditional on the model. Such analyses rarely include any accounting for the uncertainties associated with model selection. The Bayesian inferential system provides a convenient...
Authors
W.A. Link, P.H. Albers
Morphological diversity and evolution of egg and clutch structure in amphibians Morphological diversity and evolution of egg and clutch structure in amphibians
The first part of this synthesis summarizes the morphology of the jelly layers surrounding an amphibian ovum. We propose a standard terminology and discuss the evolution of jelly layers. The second part reviews the morphological diversity and arrangement of deposited eggs?the ovipositional mode; we recognize 5 morphological classes including 14 modes. We discuss some of the oviductal
Authors
Ronald Altig, Roy W. McDiarmid
Are two methods better than one? Area constrained transects and leaf litterbags for sampling stream salamanders Are two methods better than one? Area constrained transects and leaf litterbags for sampling stream salamanders
No abstract available.
Authors
S.D. Mattfeldt, E.H.C. Grant
Historical Shoreline Changes at Rincon, Puerto Rico, 1936-2006 Historical Shoreline Changes at Rincon, Puerto Rico, 1936-2006
The coast from Punta Higuero to Punta Cadena in Rincon, Puerto Rico is experiencing long-term erosion. This study documents historical shoreline changes at Rincon for the period 1936-2006 and constitutes a significant expansion and revision of previous work. The study area extends approximately 8 km from Punta Higuero to Punta Cadena. Fourteen historical shoreline positions were compiled...
Authors
E. Robert Thieler, Rafael W. Rodriguez, Emily A. Himmelstoss
New records of Phyllonastes Heyer 1977 (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from Ecuador and Peru New records of Phyllonastes Heyer 1977 (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from Ecuador and Peru
No abstract available.
Authors
D.F. Cisneros-Heredia, R.P. Reynolds
Water level management and contaminant exposure to tree swallows nesting on the Upper Mississippi River Water level management and contaminant exposure to tree swallows nesting on the Upper Mississippi River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted a water drawdown on Navigation Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River during the summers of 2001 and 2002 to increase aquatic vegetation production and thereby improve fish and wildlife habitat. Flooding of previously dried wetlands, however, may increase the rate of mercury methylation and make mercury more available to terrestrial vertebrates...
Authors
T. W. Custer, P.M. Dummer, Christine M. Custer, A.U. Li, D. Warburton, M. J. Melancon, D. J. Hoffman, C. W. Matson, J. W. Bickham
Optimal control of Atlantic population Canada geese Optimal control of Atlantic population Canada geese
Management of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) can be a balance between providing sustained harvest opportunity while not allowing populations to become overabundant and cause damage. In this paper, we focus on the Atlantic population of Canada geese and use stochastic dynamic programming to determine the optimal harvest strategy over a range of plausible models for population dynamics...
Authors
C.E. Hauser, M.C. Runge, E.G. Cooch, Fred A. Johnson, W.F. Harvey
Enhancing bird banding information sharing across the western hemishpere Enhancing bird banding information sharing across the western hemishpere
Bird banding and marking provide indispensable tools for ornithological research, management, and conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along migratory routes, breeding and non-breeding grounds. With the growing interest in international coordination of tracking bird movements, coordination amongst developing and existing programs is essential for effective data management...
Authors
A. Rojo, H. Berlanga, L. Howes, M. Tomosy
Results of a Wildlife Toxicology Workshop held by the Smithsonian Institution ? Identification and prioritization of problem statements Results of a Wildlife Toxicology Workshop held by the Smithsonian Institution ? Identification and prioritization of problem statements
On March 13-15, 2007 nearly 50 scientists and administrators from the US and Canada participated in a Smithsonian-sponsored Wildlife Toxicology Workshop. Invitees were from academic, government, conservation and the private organizations and were selected to represent the diverse disciplines that encompass wildlife toxicology. The workshop addressed scientific and policy issues...
Authors
K.C. Grim, A. Fairbrother, S. Monfort, S. Tan, Barnett A. Rattner, S. Gerould, V. Beasley, A. Aguirre, T. Rowles
The R3/R5 impoundment study: A large-scale management experiment The R3/R5 impoundment study: A large-scale management experiment
Managed wetlands provide a broad spectrum of resources to migratory waterbirds (shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl) throughout the annual cycle. Successful conservation and management of waterbirds depends on integrated approaches that (1) incorporate larger spatial and temporal scales than traditional approaches to wetland management, and (2) use experimental designs to reduce...
Authors
J. E. Lyons, H. P. Laskowski, M.C. Runge, S. Lor, W. L. Kendall, S. Talbott