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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

Care and use of wildlife in field research

Abstract not submitted to date
Authors
F. J. Dein, D. E. Toweill, K.P. Kenow

Characterizing stopover sites of migrating passerine birds in the lower Chesapeake Bay region for conservation: an integrated radar-habitat study

Many conservation organizations and initiatives including Partners-in-Flight and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's regional Joint Ventures have identified migratory songbird stopover habitat as a priority conservation target. However, the spatial and temporal variability inherent in migration presents a number of challenges to both identifying and characterizing stopover habitat. Scarce conse
Authors
S. Mabey, B. Watts, B. Paxton, F. Smith, B. Truitt, D. Dawson

Chronology of the development of sediment quality assessment methods in North America

No abstract available.
Authors
R. M. Engler, E. L. Long, Richard C. Swartz, D. M. Di Toro, C.G. Ingersoll, R. M. Burgess, T. H. Gries, W. J. Berry, G.A. Burton, T.P. O'Connor, P. M. Chapman, L.J. Field, L. M. Porebski

Coal systems analysis: A new approach to the understanding of coal formation, coal quality and environmental considerations, and coal as a source rock for hydrocarbons

Coal is an important and required energy source for today's world. Current rates of world coal consumption are projected to continue at approximately the same (or greater) levels well into the twenty-first century. This paper will provide an introduction to the concept of coal systems analysis and the accompanying volume of papers will provide examples of how coal systems analysis can be used to u
Authors
Peter D. Warwick

Coastal foredune displacement and recovery, Barrett Beach-Talisman, Fire Island, New York, USA

Coastal foredune mobility has been tracked at Fire Island National Seashore since 1976 with annual field surveys and analysis of frequent aerial photography. Sequential mapping of the foredune crestline depicts nearly islandwide displacement during major storm events, such as in 1992, and localized displacement during alongshore passage of inshore circulation cells during other years. An instanc
Authors
N.P. Psuty, J.P. Pace, J.R. Allen

Decision making with environmental indices

Since Ott's seminal book on environmental indices (1978), the use of indices has expanded into several natural resource disciplines, including ecological studies, environmental policymaking, and agricultural economics. However, despite their increasing use in natural resource disciplines, researchers and public decision makers continue to express concern about validity of these instruments to capt
Authors
Dana L. Hoag, James C. Ascough, C. Keske-Handley, Lynne Koontz

Delineation of surf scoter habitat in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: macrobenthic and sediment composition of surf scoter feeding sites

Surveys of surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) along the Atlantic coast of the United States have shown population declines in recent decades. The Chesapeake Bay has traditionally been a key wintering area for surf scoters. Past and present research has shown that bivalves constitute a major food item for seaducks in the Chesapeake Bay, with surf scoters feeding primarily on hooked mussel (Is
Authors
D.M. Kidwell, M. C. Perry

Diseases of amphibian eggs and embryos

Amphibians generally are prolific egg producers. In tropical and semi-tropical regions, deposition of eggs may occur year-round or may coincide with rainy seasons, while in temperate regions, deposition of eggs usually occurs immediately after emergence from hibernation. Numbers of eggs produced by each species may vary from a few dozen to thousands. Accordingly, some eggs may be infertile and was
Authors
D. E. Green, K. A. Converse

Diseases of frogs and toads

This chapter presents information on infectious diseases of free-living frogs and toads that have completed metamorphosis. The diseases discussed in this chapter pertain principally to sub-adult and adult frogs and toads that are at least 60-90 days removed from completion of metamorphosis. The main emphasis of this chapter is the diseases found in amphibians of Canada and the United States. Disea
Authors
D. E. Green, K. A. Converse

Diseases of salamanders

Few diseases are reported in salamanders. Two notable exceptions are infections by Ranavirus and Ichthyophonus. Except for mortality events associated with ranaviruses in tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) and spotted salamanders (A. maculatum), dieoffs of salamanders are rarely detected or reported. Diseases presented in this chapter are those encountered in free-living salamanders of the Uni
Authors
K. A. Converse, D. E. Green