Publications
USGS research activities relevant to Alaska have yielded more than 9400 historical publications. This page features some of the most recent newsworthy research findings.
Filter Total Items: 2885
[Book review] The Ancient Murrelet. A natural history in the Queen Charlotte Islands
Leadership in ecological research on north-temperate-zone seabirds has long been associated with the region of the northeastern Atlantic, which enjoys a tradition of detailed, innovative work spanning several decades. Although the temperate North Pacific is home to several of the same species that figure prominently in the Atlantic and also has a host of interesting species found nowhere else, Pac
Authors
Scott A. Hatch
Postbreeding dispersal and drift-net mortality of endangered Japanese Murrelets
The incidental catch of seabirds in high-seas drift nets was recorded in 1990-1991 by scientific observers on commercial squid and large-mesh fishery vessels operating in the North Pacific Transitional Zone. Twenty-six Synthliboramphus murrelet deaths were recorded in the months of August through December. All but one were from the Korean squid fishery in a small area bounded by 38°-44°N and 142°-
Authors
John F. Piatt, Patrick J. Gould
Shorebirds in western North America: Late 1800s to late 1900s
Only anecdotal information is available to assess whether populations of the 47 shorebird species that breed or winter west of the Rocky Mountains changed in size or distribution during the past century. Unregulated hunting from 1870 to 1927 reduced populations of several species, at least temporarily, and was a factor in bringing the Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) close to extinction. Large sc
Authors
Gary W. Page, Robert E. Gill
Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
ound, Alaska, spilling approximately 11 million barrels of crude oil. Oil wasdeposited on beaches nearly 700 km from the spill site (Galt and Payton 1990,Piatt et al. 1990), affecting thousands of hectares of sea otter(Enhydra lutris)habitat. Two of the principal limitations in determining the initial effects of theExxon Valdez oil spill on sea
Authors
Anthony R. DeGange, Angela M. Doroff, Daniel H. Monson
Environmental variability facilitates coexistence within an alcid community at sea
We examined coexistence at sea among 7 taxa of diving, wing-propelled seabirds (Alcidae) in the genera Aethia, Uria, Cepphus, and Fratercula. Species abundances were measured simultaneously with a suite of environmental factors in the northern Bering Sea, Alaska, USA; data from 260 adjacent and non-adjacent sites occupied by alcids foraging offshore near breeding colonies were then subjected to pr
Authors
J. Christopher Haney, Amy E.S. Schauer
Reproductive ecology of tundra swans on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Management of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) is hampered by a lack of information on their nesting and brood-rearing ecology. We studied tundra swan nesting and brood-rearing ecology on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Alaska, 1988-90. Nest success was 58% (n = 31) in 1988, 83% (n = 36) in 1989, 84% (n = 43) in 1990, and 76% (n = 110) for the 3 years. Nests were located predominately
Authors
Matthew J. Monda, John T. Ratti, Thomas R. McCabe
Decoy trapping and rocket-netting for northern pintails in spring
Decoy traps and rocket-nets were compared for capturing Northern Pintails (Anas acuta: hereafter pintails) during May 1991 on the Yukon Flats, Alaska. Males were captured at similar rates using both methods (1.38 vs. 1.07 males/trap d, respectively), but baited rocket-nets were more efficient than decoy traps for capturing females (0.52 vs. 0.12 females/trap d). There were no significant differenc
Authors
J. Barry Grand, Thomas F. Fondell
Seasonal and annual survival of emperor geese
Population levels of emperor geese (Chen canagica) in Alaska in 1993 were about half that estimated in the 1960s. Survival information is necessary for managers to decide how to best enhance recovery of this species to former levels. We calculated seasonal and annual estimates of emperor goose survival from resightings of neck-collared birds. Geese were neck collared in 1988-90 on their breeding g
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz, Susan E. Cantor, Margaret R. Petersen
Geology of Seward Peninsula and Saint Lawrence Island
Seward Peninsula (Fig. 1) may be divided into two geologic terranes (Fig. 2) on the basis of stratigraphy, structure, and metamorphic history. The Seward terrane, an area 150 by 150 km in the central and eastern peninsula, is dominated by Precambrian(?) and early Paleozoic blueschist-, greenschist-, and amphibolite-facies schist and marble, and intruded by three suites of granitic rocks. The York
Authors
Alison B. Till, Julie A. Dumoulin
Map and table showing isotopic age data in Alaska
The source of the data reported here is a compilation of radiometric ages maintained in conjunction with the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP) studies for Alaska. The symbol shape plotted at each location is coded for rock type, whether igneous, metamorphic, or other; the color of the symbol shows the geologic era or period for the Sample(s) at each locale. A list of references fo
Authors
Frederic H. Wilson, Nora B. Shew, G.D. DuBois
Blood sampling in juvenile buff-breasted sandpipers: Movement, weight change and survival
The effect of blood sampling on juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Tryngites subruficollis) was evaluated by comparing movements, mass, and survival of 10 broods (37 chicks) that were bled and eight broods (31 chicks) that were not bled. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein of chicks when they weighed 9.1 ± 0.9 g (x̄ ± SD) on or within 1 d of hatch. Chicks showed few short-term negative effects
Authors
Richard B. Lanctot
Geology of south-central Alaska
South-central Alaska is defined as the region bounded by the Kuskokwim Mountains to the northwest, the basins north of the Alaska Range to the north, the Canadian border to the east, and the Chugach Mountains to the south (Fig. 1). This region, hereafter called the study area, includes the Alaska Range, the Wrangell, Nutzotin, and Talkeetna mountains, the Copper River and the Susitna basins, the n
Authors
Warren J. Nokleberg, George Plafker, Frederic H. Wilson