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Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 16727

Promoting wildness in sandhill cranes conditioned to follow an ultralight aircraft Promoting wildness in sandhill cranes conditioned to follow an ultralight aircraft

During the 1998 field season, we developed and tested a new protocol to teach sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) to follow ultralight aircraft yet avoid humans. Although successful in teaching the cranes a migration route, our previous migration (1997) resulted in birds that were overly tame and sought association with humans. For this study, 16 sandhill cranes were costume-reared at USGS
Authors
Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, D. A. Clark, G.F. Gee, D.T. Sprague, D. H. Ellis

The one-by-one method for releasing cranes The one-by-one method for releasing cranes

Although the trend for the past 2 decades has been toward releasing naive groups of juveniles after a lengthy acclimation period, in 5 separate releases (1996-2000) we tested the idea that naive juvenile greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) would survive better if released singly into a wild flock of predator-wary birds than if left as a group, inexperienced at foraging and...
Authors
D. H. Ellis, D.P. Mummert, R.P. Urbanek, M. Kinloch, C. Mellon, T. Dolbeare, D.P. Ossi

Chemical weathering of the Panola Granite: Solute and regolith elemental fluxes and the weathering rate of biotite Chemical weathering of the Panola Granite: Solute and regolith elemental fluxes and the weathering rate of biotite

Present-day elemental and mineral weathering rates based on solute fluxes are compared quantitatively to past long-term rates determined from solid-state elemental fractionation in a saprolitic granite regolith at Panola, Georgia, USA. Saturated fluid flow across a low-permeability kaolin duripan controls the rate of steady-state unsaturated flow in the underlying saprolite. Water and Cl...
Authors
Art F. White, Alex E. Blum, Marjorie S. Schulz, Thomas G. Huntington, Norman E. Peters, David A. Stonestrom

Methodology and significance of studies of atmospheric deposition in highway runoff Methodology and significance of studies of atmospheric deposition in highway runoff

Atmospheric deposition and the processes that are involved in causing and altering atmospheric deposition in relation to highway surfaces and runoff were evaluated nationwide. Wet deposition is more easily monitored than dry deposition, and data on wet deposition are available for major elements and water properties (constituents affecting acid deposition) from the inter-agency National
Authors
John A. Colman, Karen C. Rice, Timothy C. Willoughby

Modern sedimentation on the shoreface and inner continental shelf at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, U.S.A Modern sedimentation on the shoreface and inner continental shelf at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, U.S.A

The geologic framework and surficial morphology of the shoreface and inner continental shelf off the Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, barrier island were mapped using high-resolution sidescan-sonar, bathymetric, and seismic-reflection surveying techniques, a suite of over 200 diver vibracores, and extensive seafloor observations by divers. The inner shelf is a sediment-starved, active...
Authors
R.E. Thieler, O.H. Pilkey, W.J. Cleary, W. C. Schwab

A comparison of susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis among strains of rainbow trout and steelhead field and laboratory trials A comparison of susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis among strains of rainbow trout and steelhead field and laboratory trials

Three strains of rainbow trout and steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss were evaluated for the presence of whirling disease in field and laboratory trials. In the field exposures, fingerling Salmon River steelhead and Cayuga Lake and Randolph strains of rainbow trout were placed in wire cages in an earthen, stream-fed pond in New York State that was known to harbor Myxobolus cerebralis. Control...
Authors
Christine L. Densmore, V. S. Blazer, Deborah D. Cartwright, W. B. Schill, J. H. Schachte, C. J. Petrie, M.V. Batur, T.B. Waldrop, A. Mack, P.S. Pooler

Florida panther habitat use response to prescribed fire Florida panther habitat use response to prescribed fire

The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with only 30-50 adults surviving in and around Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve. Managers at these areas conduct annual prescribed burns in pine (Pinus sp.) as a cost-effective method of managing wildlife habitat. Our objectives were to...
Authors
Catherine S. Dees, Joseph D. Clark, Frank T. van Manen

Minimum survival rates for Mississippi sandhill cranes: a comparison of hand-rearing and parent-rearing Minimum survival rates for Mississippi sandhill cranes: a comparison of hand-rearing and parent-rearing

Hand-reared (56) and parent-reared (76) juvenile Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) were produced at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (Patuxent), Laurel, Maryland over a 4-year period (1989-92) and released at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), Gautier, Mississippi in a controlled experiment. Hand-reared survival rates proved higher...
Authors
D. H. Ellis, G.F. Gee, Glenn H. Olsen, Scott G. Hereford, Jane M. Nicolich, N. J. Thomas, Meenakshi Nagendran

Satellite tracking of two lesser spotted eagles, Aquila pomarina, migrating from Namibia Satellite tracking of two lesser spotted eagles, Aquila pomarina, migrating from Namibia

One immature and one subadult Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina, were followed by satellite telemetry from their non-breeding areas in Namibia. Both birds were fitted with transmitters (PTTs) in February 1994 and tracked, the immature for six months and three weeks, the subadult for eight months and two weeks, over distances of 10 084 and 16 773 km, respectively. During their time in...
Authors
B.-U. Meyburg, D. H. Ellis, C. Meyburg, J. Mendelsohn, W. Scheller

Sulfur and lead isotope geochemistry of hypogene mineralization at the Barite Hill Gold Deposit, Carolina Slate Belt, southeastern United States: A window into and through regional metamorphism Sulfur and lead isotope geochemistry of hypogene mineralization at the Barite Hill Gold Deposit, Carolina Slate Belt, southeastern United States: A window into and through regional metamorphism

The Barite Hill gold deposit, at the southwestern end of the Carolina slate belt in the southeastern United States, is one of four gold deposits in the region that have a combined yield of 110 metric tons of gold over the past 10 years. At Barite Hill, production has dominantly come from oxidized ores. Sulfur isotope data from hypogene portions of the Barite Hill gold deposit vary...
Authors
Robert R. Seal,, Robert A. Ayuso, Nora K. Foley, Sandra H. B. Clark

Assessment of habitat, fish communities, and streamflow requirements for habitat protection, Ipswich River, Massachusetts, 1998-99 Assessment of habitat, fish communities, and streamflow requirements for habitat protection, Ipswich River, Massachusetts, 1998-99

The relations among stream habitat, fish communities, and hydrologic conditions were investigated in the Ipswich River Basin in northeastern Massachusetts. Data were assessed from 27 sites on the mainstem of the Ipswich River from July to September 1998 and from 10 sites on 5 major tributaries in July and August 1999. Habitat assessments made in 1998 determined that in a year with...
Authors
David S. Armstrong, Todd A. Richards, Gene W. Parker
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