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These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16785

Correlates of nest-defense behavior of common terns

Nest-defense behavior was studied at seven Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) colonies in southern coastal New Jersey during June and July 1981. Data were collected weekly on numbers of adults, nests, eggs, and young in relation to the frequency and intensity of dive attacks on a human intruder by nesting terns. I explored the relationships between attack behavior and colony size/density, seasonality,
Authors
R.M. Erwin

Survival of juvenile ring-necked ducks on wetlands of different pH

Brood and duckling survival of ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) was examined in relation to wetland water chemistry in eastcentral Maine during 1983-85. Daily survival rates (DSR) of broods and ducklings were determined for 381 ducklings from 64 broods by counts of each brood at 6-10-day intervals during broodrearing. Twelve of 64 females lost entire broods. Only 176 of 381 (46%) ducklings surv
Authors
D.G. McAuley, J. R. Longcore

The effects of hunting on survival rates of American black ducks

Using data from 10 preseason and 10 winter major reference areas from 1950-83, the authors tested hypotheses regarding the effects of hunting on the survival and recovery rates of the American black duck (Anas rubripes ). Although estimates of the proportion of total annual mortality due to hunting are low (35% for ad and 45% for young) compared to Blandin's (1982) estimates, mean mortality and k
Authors
D.G. Krementz, M.J. Conroy, J. E. Hines, H.F. Percival

Foods of juvenile ring-necked ducks: Relationship to wetland pH

Foods of 37 juvenile ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) from 16 different wetlands were examined in eastcentral Maine in 1983-85. Invertebrates made up 70% aggregate dry weight (100% occurrence) of the foods of Class Ia-lla ( 24 days old) ducklings and 32% (86% occurrence) of Class lIb-III ( 25 days old) ducklings. These percentages may be as high as 85% for Ia-lla ducklings and 47% for lIb-III d
Authors
D.G. McAuley, J. R. Longcore

Simple, specific analysis of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in sediments using column extraction and gas chromatography

A simple, specific procedure was developed for the analysis of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in sediment. The wet soil was mixed with anhydrous sodium sulfate to bind water and the residues were column extracted in acetonermethylene chloride (1:1, v/v). Coextracted water was removed by additional sodium sulfate packed below the sample mixture. The eluate was concentrated and analyzed d
Authors
A. A. Belisle, D. M. Swineford

Distribution patterns of American black duck and mallard winter band recoveries

We compared the distribution patterns of winter band recoveries of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mallards (A. platyrhynchos) banded in the same breeding areas. Young black ducks wintered northeast of young mallards but no differences in distribution patterns were detected between adult birds of the 2 species. Mallards exhibited greater temporal variation in distribution patterns and les
Authors
D.R. Diefenbach, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines

Organochlorine residues in great blue herons from the northwestern United States

We collected eggs or young Great Blue Herons from eight nesting colonies in the northwestern United States from 1977 through 1982. Subadults were collected at three estuarine areas in Puget Sound in 1981 and dead young or adults were collected at various localities. Nearly all samples analyzed contained organochlorine residues. There was no evidence that nay of the organochlorines detected were
Authors
R. E. Fitzner, L. J. Blus, C. J. Henny, D.W. Carlile

Evaluation of aerial transect surveys for wintering American black ducks

We used an experimental aerial transect survey with stratified random sampling, to estimate the size of the population of wintering black ducks (Anas rubripes) in coastal New Jersey during 2 winters, and the coastal Atlantic Flyway (Me. to S.C.) during 4 years. Population estimates were precise (CV < 0.20) on a flyway basis, whereas individual strata (states) had coefficients of variation of 0.16-
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J.R. Goldsberry, J. E. Hines, D.B. Stotts

Length of stay and fat content of migrant semipalmated sandpipers in eastern Maine

Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) stop at coastal staging areas in the Canadian maritime provinces and northeastern United States to replenish fat reserves before initiating a nonstop transoceanic flight of at least 3,200 km to wintering areas in South America. The relationship between estimated fat content at capture and length of stay (days between marking and last observation) of Semip
Authors
P.O. Dunn, T.A. May, M.A. McCollough, M.A. Howe

How sensitive are bats to insecticides?

Concern about the loss of bat populations to insecticides, first stated by Mohr (1953) has stimulated toxicological research to quantify the sensitivity of bats to these chemicals. This report is a review of results of research to date and a discussion of implications for bats in the wild.
Authors
D. R. Clark