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Jane Austin, PhD (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 47

Capturing spatiotemporal patterns in presence-absence data to inform monitoring and sampling designs for the threatened Dakota skipper (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in the Great Plains of the United States

Declines among species of insect pollinators, especially butterflies, has garnered attention from scientists and managers. Often these declines have spurred governments to declare some species as threatened or endangered. We used existing presence–absence data from surveys for the threatened Dakota skipper Hesperia dacotae (Skinner) to build statistical maps of species presence that could be used
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Conversion of wetlands for agriculture and other land development

No abstract available.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Unintentional and intentional poisoning or harassment of cranes related to agriculture

No abstract available.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Changes in agricultural land use and practices

No abstract available.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Response of vegetation in open and partially wooded fens to prescribed burning at Seney National Wildlife Refuge

The health and function of northern peatlands, particularly for fens, are strongly affected by fire and hydrology. Fens are important to several avian species of conservation interest, notably the yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Fire suppression and altered hydrology often result in woody encroachment, altering the plant community and structure. Woody encroachment and its effects on biod
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Whooping Cranes past and present

The Whooping Crane (Grus americana), endemic to North America, is the rarest of all crane species. It is believed that in the early 1800s, the Whooping Crane was widespread in North America, though it was never very abundant. Whooping Crane numbers decreased precipitously as westward migration of Euro-American settlers converted prairie to cropland and the birds were hunted. By the early 1940s the
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Revisiting the historic distribution and habitats of the Whooping Crane

The endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) historically had a wide distribution that covered diverse ecoregions across North America while retaining consistent habitat preferences within each ecoregion. We reevaluate the historic information compiled by Robert Porter Allen in 1952 and added 74 other records. Based on the ecological features of historic locations relative to crane life history,
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Interactions and impacts of domesticated animals on cranes in agriculture

Affiliations of most cranes to humans and agriculture means they often interact with a variety of domestic animals. Those interactions can be beneficial or neutral when domestic animal densities and their impact on wetland or grassland systems are low to moderate, as found in more traditional agricultural practices. The most common interaction is with grazers, primarily domestic ungulates such as
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Threats to cranes related to agriculture

The greatest threats to cranes worldwide are related to agricultural activities. They include direct losses of wetlands or grasslands; altered wetland hydrology due to water control systems such as dams or irrigation ditches; fire; direct and indirect impacts from agricultural chemicals; human disturbances; disease risks where cranes congregate in high densities on crops or in association with dom
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Methods to reduce conflicts between cranes and farmers

Alternative methods to reduce conflicts between cranes and farmers range from relatively simple, inexpensive disturbance methods to changes in land use at a landscape scale. Visual and acoustics disturbance methods can be useful for small fields or gardens but require frequent changes to prevent habituation by the cranes. Changes in farming practices can be implemented by individual farmers and ma
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Introduction to "Cranes and Agriculture: A handbook for cranes and humans sharing the landscape"

No abstract available.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Synthesis

Cranes have a close relationship with arable and pastoral agriculture that goes back hundreds, presumably thousands of years. The landscapes and ecoregions important to cranes are also those areas most conducive to agriculture. Thus, cranes and humans are attracted to the same landscapes and will therefore have futures that remain co-mingled. As such, agriculture can both benefit and inhibit crane
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Austin, J. E.  1990.  Comparison of activities within pairs and families of wintering Canada geese.  Wilson Bulletin 102:536–542.
Austin, J. E.  1987.  Wintering ecology of Canada geese in Missouri.  Dissertation, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.  283pp.
Austin, J. E., and L. H. Fredrickson.  1987.  Body and organ weight and body composition of postbreeding female lesser scaup.  Auk 104:694–699.
Austin, J. E., 1987. Activities of postbreeding lesser scaup in southwestern Manitoba.  Wilson Bulletin 99:448–456.
Austin, J. E., and L. H. Fredrickson.  1986.  Molt of female lesser scaup immediately following breeding.  Auk 103:293–298.
Austin, J. E.  1983.  Postbreeding ecology of female lesser scaup.  M.S. thesis, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.  124pp.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

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Male Lesser Scaup

Distribution and habitat use of waterbirds

Waterbird distribution and habitat use are influenced by human activities of agriculture and land-management practices, such as grazing or burning. For many waterbird species, our knowledge of their ecology and factors influencing their abundance and importance of different habitats is very limited. Such information can help direct more effective habitat restoration, management, and conservation...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wildlife Program (unpublished), Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Distribution and habitat use of waterbirds

Waterbird distribution and habitat use are influenced by human activities of agriculture and land-management practices, such as grazing or burning. For many waterbird species, our knowledge of their ecology and factors influencing their abundance and importance of different habitats is very limited. Such information can help direct more effective habitat restoration, management, and conservation...
Learn More
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Examining plant community zones in a temporary wetland in North Dakota

Long-term changes in wetland and prairie landscapes

Over the past 50 years, wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains have experienced a wide range of climatic conditions (severe drought to extreme wet), expansion of invasive species such as hybrid cattail, and disturbances (e.g., grazing, burning, flooding, drainage). In this study, we revisited wetlands that Stewart and Kantrud (1971) studied 50 years ago to evaluate...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Status and Trends Program (unpublished), Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Long-term changes in wetland and prairie landscapes

Over the past 50 years, wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains have experienced a wide range of climatic conditions (severe drought to extreme wet), expansion of invasive species such as hybrid cattail, and disturbances (e.g., grazing, burning, flooding, drainage). In this study, we revisited wetlands that Stewart and Kantrud (1971) studied 50 years ago to evaluate...
Learn More

Breeding bird species in peatland habitats, Seney NWR, 2007-2009

The avian community of peatland habitats were surveyed along belt transects established in multiple units of Seney National Wildlife Refuge, representing peatland habitats dominated by a range of sedge to shrub cover at varying levels. Surveys were conducted during the 3-week period of mid-May to early June and again during mid-June-early July in three years (2007-2009). Three datasets are include
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Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Effects of fire on vegetation in fens at Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Woody encroachment and its effects on biodiversity in fens and grasslands has become an increasing concern in the conservation and management of plant communities. These data were collected to examine the effects of spring and summer prescribed burns on the plant community, cover, and structure in open and partially wooded fens at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan, using a before-after-cont
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Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wetlands of the Yellowknife Study Area, 1962-1965: Physical characteristics

The Yellowknife Study Area (YSA), Northwest Territories, Canada, was established in 1961 by H. W. Murdy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for the study of wetland and waterfowl ecology. The study area is located on the western edge of the Precambrian Shield and edge of the taiga and is recognized for its high wetland densities and waterfowl abundance. The region is underlain by discontinuous, warm
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Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government