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Book Chapters

Browse more than 5,500 book chapters authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

Filter Total Items: 6063

Contaminant effects on Great Lakes' fish-eating birds: a population perspective

Preventing environmental contaminants from reducing wildlife populations is the greatest concern in wildlife toxicology. In the Great Lakes, environmental contaminants have a history of reducing populations of many species of fish-eating birds. Endocrine effects may have contributed to declines in fish-eating bird populations, but the overriding harm was caused by DDE-induced eggshell thinning.
Authors
G. H. Heinz

Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates?

Estimates of annual survival rates for a multispecies sample of neotropical birds from Panama have proven controversial. Traditionally, tropical birds were thought to have high survival rates for their size, but analyses by Kart et al. (1990. Am. Nat. 136:277-91) contradicted that view, suggesting tropical birds may not have systematically high survival rates. A persistent criticism of that study
Authors
J. D. Brawn, J.R. Karr, J. D. Nichols, W.D. Robinson

Ecology and behaviour of the Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum, Tyrannidae in winter

The Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum (Tyrannidae) winters from Colombia and Venezuela, south to northern Argentina. We studied the species in Manu National Park, Madre de Dios, Peru. In this area the species occupies riparian zones along lowland meander rivers as well as adjacent transition zone forest in the floodplain. These habitats have a number of age-related longitudinal zones (parallel
Authors
M. Foster

Effects of contaminants on Double-crested Cormorant reproduction in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

In 1994 and 1995, Double-crested Cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus were monitored from egg-laying through 12 days of age at Cat Island, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Sample eggs at hatching were analysed for organochlorines (including total PCBs, PCB congeners, and DDE), hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity in livers of embryos, and eggshell thickness. The number of eggs p
Authors
T. W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, K. L. Stromborg, M. J. Melancon

Effects of hunting on survival and habitat use by American Woodcock on breeding and migration areas

No abstract available.
Authors
D.G. McAuley, J. R. Longcore, R.B. Allen, G.F. Sepik

Effects of landscape composition and wetland fragmentation on frog and toad abundance and species richness in Iowa and Wisconsin, USA [abstract]

We examined the relationships between anuran diversity and landscape features in the Upper Midwestern United States. Anuran relative abundance and species richness were measured using data collected by Wisconsin and Iowa state calling surveys conducted from 1990-1995. Landscape features surrounding survey points were determined using National Wetland Inventory and Wisconsin Wetland Inventory map
Authors
M. G. Knutson, J.R. Sauer, D.A. Olsen, M.J. Mossman, L.M. Hemesath, M.J. Lannoo

Effects of pesticides on Canada Geese

This paper summarizes published and unpublished sources relating to exposure of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) to pesticides, emphasizing documented episodes of poisoning by organochlorine (OC), organophosphorus (OP), and carbamate compounds. Canada geese accumulate the lipid-soluble OC compounds, although they have a lower potential for biomagnification of these pesticides than animals at high
Authors
L. J. Blus

Elk reintroductions

Rocky Mountain elk are native to northcentral New Mexico, including the Jemez Mountains, whereas a different subspecies, Merriam’s elk, inhabited southern New Mexico, east-central Arizona, and the Mexican border region (Hall 1981). Merriam’s elk went extinct around 1900 in New Mexico, and native Rocky Mountain elk were extirpated by 1909 (Findley et al. 1975). Although elk were known to early inha
Authors
Craig D. Allen

Estimating population parameters for northern and southern breeding populations of Canada geese

Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have been managed largely as a migratory resource. In the 1960's, Canada goose flocks were restored to historic breeding ranges in the United States and southern Canada to enhance recreational opportunity for observation and harvest. These populations of southern breeding geese have rapidly expanded, increasing conflicts with social and economic interests and cau
Authors
J.B. Hestbeck

Evolution of life histories in Pinus

No abstract available at this time
Authors
J. E. Keeley, P.H. Zedler