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Publications

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center staff publish results of their research in USGS series reports and in peer-reviewed journals. Publication links are below.  Information on all USGS publications can be found at the USGS Publications Warehouse.

Filter Total Items: 1907

First flowering dates and flowering periods of prairie plants at Woodworth, North Dakota

We recorded flowering events for 97 species of prairie plants for 2-6 years near Woodworth, ND. Earliest and latest flower initiation dates varied by year. Temperature seemed much more important than precipitation in influencing phenology of species that bloom from late March through May, but no strong climatic effect was evident for plants that bloom later in the growing season.
Authors
J.M. Callow, H.A. Kantrud, K.F. Higgins

Nest and nest site characteristics of some ground-nesting, non-passerine birds of northern grasslands

We summarized biological and ecologic characteristics of 2490 nests of 16 species of upland-nesting, non-passerine birds of northern grasslands found during 1963 through 1991. Nest initiation and hatch dates, clutch sizes, nest fates, causes of failure, success rates of nests among major habitat types and land uses, and vegetation measurements at nest sites are analyzed.
Authors
Harold A. Kantrud, Kenneth F. Higgins

Influence of age and selected environmental factors on reproductive performance of canvasbacks

Age, productivity, and other factors affecting breeding performance of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) are poorly understood. Consequently, we tested whether reproductive performance of female canvasbacks varied with age and selected environmental factors in southwestern Manitoba from 1974 to 1980. Neither clutch size, nest parasitism, nest success, nor the number of ducklings/brood varied with a
Authors
Jerome R. Serie, David L. Trauger, Jane E. Austin

A new device for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments

A sampler for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments is described. It differs from other sampling devices because it does not have to be filled with solution to facilitate diffusion, it does not have to be removed from the wetland to collect samples, and it can be used to draw repeated samples over time from identical locations. The device facilitates “in situ” measurement of a wi
Authors
Ned H. Euliss, Ronald K. Barnes

Evaluating habitat selection with radio-telemetry triangulation error

Radio-telemetry triangulation errors result in the mislocation of animals and misclassification of habitat use. We present analytical methods that provide improved estimates of habitat use when misclassification probabilities can be determined. When misclassification probabilities cannot be determined, we use random subsamples from the error distribution of an estimated animal location to improve
Authors
M. D. Samuel, K.P. Kenow

Effects of irrigation on seed production and vegetative characteristics of four moist-soil plants on impounded wetlands in California

We examined the effects of irrigation on 4 moist-soil plants commonly managed for waterfowl in the Sacramento Valley, California. Irrigation resulted in taller and heavier swamp timothy (Heleochloa schoenoides), pricklegrass (Crypsis niliaca), and sprangletop (Leptochloa fasicularis). Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli) grew taller in irrigated wetlands, but no significant difference in weight w
Authors
D.M. Mushet, N.H. Euliss, S.W. Harris

Record of a redhead, Aythya americana, laying eggs in a northern harrier, Circus cyaneus, nest

An active Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus, nest containing Redhead, Aythya americana, eggs, found in an Alberta wetland, apparently represents the first record of a Redhead parasitizing a harrier.
Authors
J. P. Fleskes

Application of a computer simulation model to migrating white-fronted geese in the Klamath Basin

The Pacific greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) population has declined precipitously over the past 20 years. Loss of wetland habitat in California wintering areas has had a significant effect on the population, so recovery of the population may depend on innovative management of the few remaining wetlands. A computer simulation model, REFMOD, was applied to greater white-fronted geese i
Authors
R.B. Frederick, William R. Clark, John Y. Takekawa

Breeding population inventories and measures of recruitment

In this chapter we review the techniques used to measure two important parameters of waterfowl populations, size of breeding population and recruitment. If waterfowl are to be managed toward goals defined in terms of population sizes such as those in the recently signed North American Waterfowl Management Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] and Canadian Wildlife Service [CWS] 1986), there
Authors
L.M. Cowardin, R.J. Blohm

Does supplemental feeding of red squirrels change population density, movements, or both?

Supplemental feeding increased the number of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) captured on two trapping grids, leading Sullivan (Journal of Mammalogy, 71:579–590, 1990) to infer that the population density of residents had increased. This conclusion is questionable because the residency status of captured squirrels was unknown.
Authors
Rolf R. Koford

Foraging ecology and nutrition

No abstract available.
Authors
G.L. Krapu, K. J. Reinecke