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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: 41764

Death feigning by ducks in response to predation by red foxes (Vulpes fulva)

Predation by captive red foxes (Vulpes fulva) on approximately 50 ducks comprised of five species was observed in tests conducted at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota. Most ducks were attacked from a rear or lateral position and seized in the cervical or thoracic region. All birds became immobile (death-feigned) immediately when seized and with few exceptions r
Authors
Alan B. Sargeant, L. E. Eberhardt

A spring aerial census of red foxes in North Dakota

Systematic aerial searches were flown on transects to locate adult red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), pups, and rearing dens on 559.4 km2 (six townships) in eastern North Dakota during mid-May and mid-June each year from 1969 through 1973 and during mid-April 1969 and early May 1970. The combined sightings of foxes and fox dens from the mid-May and mid-June searches were used to identify individual fox fa
Authors
A. B. Sargeant, W.K. Pfeifer, S.H. Allen

Some nutritional aspects of reproduction in prairie nesting pintails

The nutritional significance of invertebrate foods in the diet of breeding hen waterfowl during the period of egg formation is discussed. Proximate, elemental, and amino acid analyses of the principal foods consumed by hen pintails (Anas acuta) during the nesting season indicate the animal foods selected are rich sources of protein and calcium, whereas plant foods tested were low in protein, parti
Authors
G.L. Krapu, G.A. Swanson

Migration of birds in North Dakota during fall 1974

Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
J. T. Lokemoen, D. H. Johnson

Predation by fish on walleye eggs on a spawning reef in western Lake Erie, 1969-71

Nearly 2,000 fish representing 21 species were captured with experimental gillnets on Kelleys Island Shoal during the spawning and incubation periods of walleyes (Stizostedion v. vitreum) in 1969-71. A total of 794 stomachs were examined. Four species contained walleye eggs: yellow perch (Perca flavescens), spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), stonecat (Noturus flavus) and white sucker (Catostomu
Authors
David R. Wolfert, Wolf-Dieter N. Busch, Carl T. Baker

Life histories and abundance of crustacean zooplankton in the outlet of Lake Superior, 1971-72

In sampling throughout a year, at about 3-wk intervals, of the crustacean zooplankton discharged from Lake Superior through the St. Marys River, 30 species were collected, including three not previously recorded for the lake: the copepod Cyclops strenuus, and the cladocerans Alona costata and Alonella acutirostris. Five copepods, Cyclops bicuspidatus thomasi, Diaptomus ashlandi, D. sicilis, Limnoc
Authors
James H. Selgeby

Phallodrilus hallae, a new tubificid oligochaete from the St. Lawrence Great Lakes

The predominantly marine tubificid genus Phallodrilus is defined, a key to its nine species constructed, and an illustrated description of Phallodrilus hallae n. sp. from the St. Lawrence Great Lakes presented. The species is distinguished from other members of the genus by its well-developed atrial musculature, extensions of which ensheath the posterior prostatic ducts.Phallodrilus hallae n. sp.
Authors
David G. Cook, Jarl K. Hiltunen

Annual contribution of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus by migrant Canada geese to a hardwater lake

Each year more than 6,000 migrant Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior Todd) rest for 3 to 10 days during the months of March, October, November, and December on Wintergreen Lake, a productive 15 ha (33 acre) hardwater lake in the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary of Michigan State University in southwestern Michigan. For the past six years accurate weekly counts have been made of resident and migr
Authors
Bruce A. Manny, Robert G. Wetzel, W.C. Johnson

Environmental factors affecting the strength of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) year-classes in western Lake Erie, 1960-70

Commercial production of walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) from western Lake Erie declined from 5.9 million pounds in 1956 to 140,000 pounds by 1969. Since 1956, marked irregularity in year-class success has developed. Only four year-classes were considered good during 1959–70. The rate and regularity of water warming during the spring spawning and incubation periods in 1960–70 had a positiv
Authors
Wolf-Dieter N. Busch, Russell L. Scholl, Wilbur L. Hartman

Effect of different constant incubation temperatures on egg survival and embryonic development in lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)

Eggs of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) were incubated in a constant-flow incubator at constant temperatures of 0.5, 2.0, 4.0, 5.9, 7.8, and 10.0 C. The time from fertilization to median hatch was inversely related to temperature, and ranged from 41.7 days at 10.0 C to 182 days at 0.5 C. The percentage hatch was highest (70.9-73.3%) at 4.0, 5.9, and 7.8 C, and was greatly reduced (6.0-28.4
Authors
L.T. Brooke

Dieldrin in the diet of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): uptake and effect on growth

Fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were given diets containing 0, 0.4, 0.8, or 4.0 I?g dieldrin/g of food (dry weight) for 210 days, followed by a dieldrin-free diet for 56 days. Catfish receiving 4.0 I?g dieldrin/g food gained about 17% less weight than the control fish in 210 days and about 35% less weight during the last 126 days of the 210-day period. No growth differences were a
Authors
Ray L. Argyle, George C. Williams, Clara B. Daniel