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Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 16731

Of elephants and blind men: Deer management in the U.S. National Parks Of elephants and blind men: Deer management in the U.S. National Parks

Overabundant populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are becoming common in the eastern United States. Faced with burgeoning deer populations in eastern parks, the National Park Service (NPS) formulated policy based on its long experience with ungulate management in western parks. That the NPS failed to find a management solution acceptable to its many constituencies...
Authors
W.F. Porter, H. Brian Underwood

Influence of temperature and substrate on infection rate, triactinomyxon production, and release duration from eastern tubifex worms infected with Myxobolus cerebralis Influence of temperature and substrate on infection rate, triactinomyxon production, and release duration from eastern tubifex worms infected with Myxobolus cerebralis

Salmonid whirling disease is caused by Myxobolus cerebralis, a metazoan parasite with a two host life cycle involving salmonid fish a an aquatic oligochaete, Tubifex tubifex (Wolf, Markiw and Hiltunen, 1986). Whirling disease has been reported in 22 U.S. states with the greatest losses occurring in the salmonid fisheries of western and Midwestern states. Although whirling disease is...
Authors
Thomas Waldrop, Vicki Blazer, David Smith, Bane Schill, Christine Densmore

Preliminary effects of water hardness on triactinomyxon production and development from eastern tubifex worms infected with Myxobolus cerebralis Preliminary effects of water hardness on triactinomyxon production and development from eastern tubifex worms infected with Myxobolus cerebralis

Whirling disease is caused by Myxobolus cerebralis and requires an intermediate oligochaete host identified as Tubifex tubifex (Wolf, Markiw, and Hiltunen, 1986). M. cerebralis spores ingested by the tubifex worms develop into triactinomyxons (tams) that are eventually released into the water column to infect salmonid fish. There may be many environmental parameters, biotic or abiotic...
Authors
Thomas B. Waldrop, Christine Densmore, Vicki Blazer, Dave Smith, Bane Schill

Assessment of landscape correlates of Eastern hemlock decline due to hemlock woolly adelgid Assessment of landscape correlates of Eastern hemlock decline due to hemlock woolly adelgid

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is in decline throughout its range in the eastern US due to infestation by an exotic insect pest, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). In Shenandoah National Park, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) rapidly killed many stands of hemlock after first appearing in the late-1980’s, while having only minor impact in other stands. At present, few...
Authors
John Young, Craig Snyder, James Akerson, Gary Hunt

Application of aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic surveys in geologic mapping: a case study in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina Application of aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic surveys in geologic mapping: a case study in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina

Aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic survey maps are valuable aids for geologic mapping where rocks are poorly exposed in south-central Virginia and northernmost North Carolina. Broad low areas on the potassium and thorium gamma-ray survey maps distinguish the Carolina, Spring Hope, and Roanoke Rapids terranes from more highly radiogenic areas of the Raleigh and Triplet terranes...
Authors
J. Wright Horton, David L. Daniels

Fish losses to double-crested cormorant predation in Eastern Lake Ontario, 1992-97 Fish losses to double-crested cormorant predation in Eastern Lake Ontario, 1992-97

We examined 4,848 regurgitated digestive pellets of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) over a 6-year period (1992–97) to estimate annual predation on sport and other fishes in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario. We found more than 51,000 fish of 28 species. Using a model that incorporates annual colony nest counts; fledgling production rates; adult, immature, and young-of...
Authors
Robert M. Ross, James H. Johnson

Questions about Thayer's Gull Questions about Thayer's Gull

In response to recently published articles about the taxonomic status of Thayer's Gull, Larus thayeri, we pose several questions that should be answered before a taxonomic decision can be made.
Authors
R.C. Banks, M.R. Browning

Estimating transition probabilities in unmarked populations: Entropy revisited Estimating transition probabilities in unmarked populations: Entropy revisited

The probability of surviving and moving between 'states' is of great interest to biologists. Robust estimation of these transitions using multiple observations of individually identifiable marked individuals has received considerable attention in recent years. However, in some situations, individuals are not identifiable (or have a very low recapture rate), although all individuals in a...
Authors
E.G. Cooch, W.A. Link

Evaluation of mist-net sampling as an index to productivity in Kirtland's Warblers Evaluation of mist-net sampling as an index to productivity in Kirtland's Warblers

Many applied and theoretical investigations require information on how productivity varies in time and space (Temple and Wiens 1989. DeSante 1995). Examples include studies of habitat quality, population trends, life-history tactics, and metapopulation dynamics. From a demographic perspective, productivity is the number of young counted at a given time of year, produced per adult (e.g...
Authors
J. Bart, C. Kepler, P. Sykes, Carol I. Bocetti

Density and habitat of breeding Swallow-tailed Kites in the lower Suwannee ecosystem, Florida Density and habitat of breeding Swallow-tailed Kites in the lower Suwannee ecosystem, Florida

Historically the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) bred in the United States in at least 16 eastern states. Currently it is restricted to seven southeastern states, with most of its breeding range in Florida. Breeding Bird Surveys indicate a declining trend for this Neotropical migrant in most of Florida. Using a rapid survey technique at the Lower Suwannee NWR on 25-27 Mar...
Authors
P.W. Sykes, C. B. Kepler, K.L. Litzenberger, H.R. Sansing, E.T.R. Lewis, Jeff S. Hatfield
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