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: 41918
Fitting Richards' curve to data of diverse origins
Published techniques for fitting data to nonlinear growth curves are briefly reviewed, most techniques require knowledge of the shape of the curve. A flexible growth curve developed by Richards (1959) is discussed as an alternative when the shape is unknown. The shape of this curve is governed by a specific parameter which can be estimated from the data. We describe in detail the fitting of a dive
Authors
D. H. Johnson, A. B. Sargeant, S.H. Allen
Shorebird and game bird nests in North Dakota croplands
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
K.F. Higgins
Some aspects of the breeding biology of the upland sandpiper in North Dakota
Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
K.F. Higgins, L.M. Kirsch
The role of indigenous wild, semidomestic, and exotic birds in the epizootiology of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease in southern California, 1972-1973
During an epornitic of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease (VVND) in southern California, free-flying wild birds, captive and free-ranging semidomestic birds, and exotic birds were collected from the quarantine area to determine their role in the epizootiology of the disease. The VVND virus was isolated from 0.04% of 9,446 free-flying wild birds, 0.76% of 4,367 semidomestic birds, and 1.01%
Authors
G.L. Pearson, M.K. McCann
Fatal pox infection in a rough-legged hawk
Natural pox infection occurred in a free-living rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) in northeastern North Dakota. Gross, histological and electron microscopic findings were typical of pox infection, and characteristic lesions developed in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) but not in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) following inoculation with case material. Death of the rough-legged hawk was a
Authors
G.L. Pearson, D.A. Pass, E.C. Beggs
Home range defense in the red fox, Vulpes vulpes L
This paper describes the home range defense behavior observed when nonresident male red foxes were introduced into established home ranges of resident male-female pairs. In 12 observation periods, four intruders were introduced to each of three mated pairs which had been given three weeks to acclimate to a 4.05-hectare, fenced enclosure. The residents centered their activities around a natural den
Authors
E.M. Preston
Duck plague in free-flying waterfowl observed during the Lake Andes epizootic
The first major epizootic of duck plague in free-flying waterfowl occurred at Lake Andes, South Dakota, in January and February, 1973. Duck plague was diagnosed in black ducks, mallards, pintail-mallard hybrids, redheads, common mergansers, common golden eyes, canvasbacks, American widgeon, wood ducks, and Canada geese, indicating the general susceptibility of ducks to duck plague. Clinical signs
Authors
S.J. Proctor, G.L. Pearson, Louis Leibovitz
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