Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16731
Patterns of prey selection by wolves in Denali National Park, Alaska Patterns of prey selection by wolves in Denali National Park, Alaska
The patterns of selection by wolves (Canis lupus) preying on moose (Alces alces), caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and Dall sheep (Ovis dalli) in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska were studied from 1986 through early 1992. Wolves and their prey are legally protected or relatively unharvested in most of the area, and wolf numbers doubled during the study. Based on remains of 294 moose...
Authors
L. David Mech, T.J. Meier, John W. Burch, Layne G. Adams
Accuracy of migrant landbird habitat maps produced from LANDSAT TM data: Two case studies in southern Belize Accuracy of migrant landbird habitat maps produced from LANDSAT TM data: Two case studies in southern Belize
The study investigated the utility of Landsat TM data applied to produce geo-referenced habitat maps for two study areas (Toledo and Stann Creek). Locational and non-site-specific map accuracy was evaluated by stratified random sampling and statistical analysis of satellite classification (SCR) versus air photo interpretation results (PIR) for the overall classification and individual...
Authors
J.P. Spruce, S. Sader, C.S. Robbins, B.A. Dowell
On the use of secondary capture-recapture samples to estimate temporary emigration and breeding proportions On the use of secondary capture-recapture samples to estimate temporary emigration and breeding proportions
The use of the Cormack- Jolly-Seber model under a standard sampling scheme of one sample per time period, when the Jolly-Seber assumption that all emigration is permanent does not hold, leads to the confounding of temporary emigration probabilities with capture probabilities. This biases the estimates of capture probability when temporary emigration is a completely random process, and...
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J.D. Nichols
Neotropical migrant landbirds and landscape changes in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico Neotropical migrant landbirds and landscape changes in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico
Faced with the problem of habitat loss and with the need to preserve the remaining components of the original avian biodiversity in neotropical regions such as Los Tuxtlas, it is imperative to determine how the neotropical migrant bird species have responded to the anthropogenic alterations of their natural habitats. To provide data in this direction, we censused neotropical migrant...
Authors
A. Estrada, R. Coates-Estrada, E. Diaz-Islas, C.S. Robbins, B.A. Dowell, D. Meritt
Changing land use: Problems and opportunities Changing land use: Problems and opportunities
Under the pressure of increasing human populations and expanding demands for food and fiber, native tropical and temperate habitats are becoming more restricted, and populations of many resident and migratory birds are declining. Mist net surveys of 111 forest and agricultural sites in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala show that some migratory species use a wide variety of habitats during...
Authors
C.S. Robbins, D.K. Dawson, B.A. Dowell
Population trends of the loggerhead shrike from the North American Breeding Bird Survey Population trends of the loggerhead shrike from the North American Breeding Bird Survey
North American Breeding Bird Survey data indicated a general decline in Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) populations during 1966-1993. At the continental level, shrikes declined at an average rate of 2.9% per year. Average rates of regional declines varied from 2.5-3.4% annually. These declines were prevalent in most states, provinces, and physiographic strata. Only the Edwards...
Authors
B.G. Peterjohn, J.R. Sauer
Introduction Introduction
No abstract available.
Authors
D. J. Hoffman, Barnett A. Rattner, G.A. Burton, J. Cairns
Bioindicators used in aquatic and terrestrial monitoring Bioindicators used in aquatic and terrestrial monitoring
There are many different types of contaminants present in the environment ranging from synthetic chemicals, which would not be present in the environment without man's intervention, to trace metals that are required for life. Concerns range from possible harmful effects on flora and fauna to possible harm to humans consuming such organisms. The complete chemical analysis for all possible
Authors
Mark J. Melancon
Evidence from tooth surface morphology for a posterior maxillary origin of the proteroglyph fang Evidence from tooth surface morphology for a posterior maxillary origin of the proteroglyph fang
Although the front-fanged venom delivery system of the Elapidae is believed to be derived from an aglyphous or opisthoglyphous colubroid ancestor, opinion is divided as to the end of the maxilla on which the proteroglyph fang originated. This study was undertaken to determine whether the evolutionary precursor of the proteroglyph fang was (a) a grooved posterior fang which migrated...
Authors
Thomas H. Fritts, K. Jackson
The challenge and opportunity of recovering wolf populations The challenge and opportunity of recovering wolf populations
The gray wolf once inhabited a wide variety of habitats throughout most of the northern hemisphere north of 20°N latitude. Because the animal preyed on livestock and competed with humans for wild prey, it was extirpated from much of its range outside of wilderness areas. Environmental awareness in the late 1960s brought for the wolf legal protection, increased research, and favorable...
Authors
L.D. Mech
Reliability of the Breeding Bird Survey: Effects of restricting surveys to roads Reliability of the Breeding Bird Survey: Effects of restricting surveys to roads
Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS), which are widely used to monitor trends in avian populations (e.g. Robbins et al. 1989, Sauer and Droege 1993), are conducted along roads but are used to infer changes in regionwide populations. Such inferences may be inaccurate if trends in habitat along roads differ from regionwide trends. For example, if forest cover regionwide remained constant but forest...
Authors
J. Bart, M. Hofschen, B.G. Peterjohn
Accumulation in and effects of lead and cadmium on waterfowl and passerines in northern Idaho Accumulation in and effects of lead and cadmium on waterfowl and passerines in northern Idaho
Waterfowl and passerines in northern Idaho in 1987 had high levels of lead in their blood and tissues that originated primarily from mining and smelting activities. Four Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and one common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) found dead contained 8 to 38 μg/g (wet mass) of lead in their livers. These levels exceed the lower lethal limit of 5 μg/g in experimental...
Authors
L. J. Blus, Charles J. Henny, D. J. Hoffman, R. A. Grove