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Publications

This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.  

Filter Total Items: 41771

Bird population trends detected by the North American breeding bird survey

Continental populations of most bird species have remained quite stable since 1966, but there have been many regional changes associated with migration disasters, breeding failures and range expansions, and a few dramatic increases in populations of introduced species. These changes often are better represented by curvilinear than by linear regressions.
Authors
D.R. Bystrak, C.S. Robbins

Bird atlasing in the United States

Since the Breeding Bird Survey provides an annual quantitative sample of about 75% of the 1? blocks of latitude and longitude in every state except Alaska and Hawaii, and 47% of the 1/2? blocks (equivalent on the average to a 48 km square), no national Atlas based on merely presence or absence has been contemplated. Conventional atlases are in progress in the states of Maryland (2.5 km), Massaohus
Authors
C.S. Robbins

Ticks as a factor in nest desertion of California brown pelicans

In summary, our observations suggest that O. denmarki may be an important environmental factor influencing the distribution and success of Brown Pelican nests in the Gulf of California. More information on these relationships may be unobtainable without seriously disturbing and destroying large numbers of nests.
Authors
Kirke A. King, James O. Keith, Christine A. Mitchell, James E. Keirans

Application of census techniques to habitat preservation strategy

Island biogeography concepts applied to breeding bird populations of woodlots clearly explain why certain passerine species typical of tracts of 1 km2 or more are absent from tracts one-half or one-quarter that size. Many 'natural areas' now being preserved are too small to support the complete complement of nesting species; this is partly because little knowledge of the minimum areas required is
Authors
R.F. Whitcomb, C.S. Robbins

A comparison of 2 techniques for estimating deer density

We applied mark-resight and area-conversion methods to estimate deer abundance at a 2,862-ha area in and surrounding the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site during 1987-1991. One observer in each of 11 compartments counted marked and unmarked deer during 65-75 minutes at dusk during 3 counts in each of April and November. Use of radio-collars and vinyl collars p
Authors
C.S. Robbins

Effects of DDE on experimentally poisoned free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis): Lethal brain concentrations

Adult female free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) were collected at Bracken Cave, Texas, and shipped to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Treated mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) containing 107 ppm DDE were fed to 17 bats; five other bats were fed untreated mealworms. After 40 days on dosage, during which one dosed bat was killed accidentally, four dosed bats were frozen and the remaining 17
Authors
D. R. Clark, J.C. Kroll

Experimental feeding of DDE and PCB to female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Twenty-two female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) were collected in a house attic in Montgomery County, Maryland. Seventeen were fed mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) that contained 166 ppm DDE; the other five were fed uncontaminated mealworms. After 54 days of feeding, six dosed bats were frozen and the remaining 16 were starved to death. In a second experiment, 21 female big brown bats were
Authors
D. R. Clark, R. M. Prouty

Effects of petroleum on birds

No abstract available.
Authors
Robert C. Szaro

DDE increased the toxicity of parathion to coturnix quail

Adult male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) were exposed to DDE or chlordane in the diet and subsequently dosed with parathion or paraoxon. Pretreatment with 5 or 50 ppm DDE in the diet for 12 weeks resulted in increased cholinesterase (ChE) activity in plasma, but not in the brain. Dietary concentrations of 5 and 50 ppm DDE caused increased susceptibility of quail that were challenged with para
Authors
J. L. Ludke

Status, distribution, and movements of martens in northeastern Minnesota

The decline of martens in Minnesota is reviewed and a recent increase documented. Adjacent and partially overlapping home ranges of 4.3 to 19.9 sq km were determined by telemetry for a female and three males. Habitat use is described. If current trapping and timber management practices persist, martens should continue to increase.
Authors
L. D. Mech, L.L. Rogers