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Publications

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

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Petroleum and individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Petroleum and individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Crude petroleum, refined-petroleum products, and individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained within petroleum are found throughout the world. their presence has been detected in living and nonliving components of ecosystems. Petroleum can be an environmental hazard for wild animals and plants. Individual PAHs are also hazardous to wildlife, but they are most commonly...
Authors
Peter H. Albers

Environmental factors affecting contaminant toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates Environmental factors affecting contaminant toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates

Environmental factors have long been demonstrated to influence the toxicity of pollutants to vertebrates. The vast majority of data has been derived from studies on fish, highly inbred laboratory rodents, and man.1,2 The magnitude and significance of these factors on toxicity has almost exclusively been elucidated in controlled experiments conducted in a laboratory setting. The...
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, Alan G. Heath

Agricultural drainwater effects on wildlife in central California Agricultural drainwater effects on wildlife in central California

In California's San Joaquin Valley and in numerous other agricultural areas in the western U.S., irrigation wastewater may accumulate in confined shallow aquifers, eventually rising to levels that adversely affect crops. To sustain long-term agricultural productivity in these regions, systems for the drainage and disposal of this subsurface wastewater must be installed.1,2 the drained...
Authors
Harry M. Ohlendorf, Roger L. Hothem

Ecotoxicological damage from zinc smelting at Palmerton, Pennsylvania Ecotoxicological damage from zinc smelting at Palmerton, Pennsylvania

The two zinc smelters at Palmerton, PA emitted huge amounts of contaminants ( 260,000 t of Zn, 3,300 t of Cd, 6,800 t of Pb) to the air and severely damaged the forest on Blue Mountain. The high Zn concentrations in soil killed tree seedlings by inhibiting root elongation. The result was a forest with too few young trees. When natural stresses such as fire challenged the forest, the...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, Gerald L. Storm

Oil, biological communities and contingency planning Oil, biological communities and contingency planning

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 mandates the inclusion of a fish and wildlife response plan in the National Contingency Plan (NCP) and the creation of Area Committees that must develop an Area Contingency Plan (ACP). Area Contingency Plans must include a detailed annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments Plan. Tank vessels, offshore facilities, and certain onshore...
Authors
P.H. Albers

Net photosynthesis and respiration of sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) exposed to herbicides Net photosynthesis and respiration of sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) exposed to herbicides

We determined net photosynthesis and respiration rates for sago pondweed (potamogeton pectinatus) exposed to various concentrations of 11 herbicides widely used in Maryland during the past decade. Net photosynthesis and respiration were determined by measuring changes in the. oxygen content of solutions containing dilutions of technical grade herbicides. At 20-22? C and 58 umol/m2/sec of
Authors
W. James Fleming, M.S. Ailstock, J.J. Momot

Avian reproductive physiology Avian reproductive physiology

Knowledge of the many physiological factors associated with egg production , fertility, incubation, and brooding in nondomestic birds is limited. Science knows even less about reproduction in most of the 238 endangered or threatened birds. This discussion uses studies of nondomestic and, when necessary, domestic birds to describe physiological control of reproduction. Studies of the few
Authors
G.F. Gee

Gray wolves Gray wolves

No abstract available.
Authors
L.D. Mech, D.H. Pletscher, C.J. Martinka

Puerto Rican parrots and potential limitations of the metapopulation approach to species conservation Puerto Rican parrots and potential limitations of the metapopulation approach to species conservation

No abstract available.
Authors
M.H. Wilson, C. B. Kepler, N.F.R. Snyder, S.R. Derrickson, F. J. Dein, J. W. Wiley, J.M. Wunderle, A.E. Lugo, D.L. Graham, W.D. Toone

Non-native birds Non-native birds

No abstract available.
Authors
C.S. Robbins

Breeding bird survey: Population trends 1966-92 Breeding bird survey: Population trends 1966-92

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) was begun in 1966 to collect standardized data on bird populations along more than 3,400 survey routes across the continental United States and southern Canada. The BBS has been used to document distributions and establish continental, regional, and local population trends for more than 250 species. We summarize here survey-wide patterns in...
Authors
Bruce G. Peterjohn, John R. Sauer, Sandra Orsillo

California condors California condors

The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a member of the vulture family. With a wingspan of about 3 m (9 ft) and weighing about 9 kg (20 lb), it spends much of its time in soaring flight visually seeking dead animals as food. The California condor has always been rare (Wilbur 1978; Pattee and Wilbur 1989). Although probably numbering in the thousands during the Pleistocene...
Authors
Oliver H. Pattee, Robert Mesta
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