Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species
S. Leclaire, T. Merkling, C. Raynaud, Herve Mulard, J.-M. Bessiere, E.M. Lhuillier, Scott A. Hatch, E. Danchin
2012, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (279) 1185-1193
Several vertebrates choose their mate according to genetic heterozygosity and relatedness, and use odour cues to assess their conspecifics' genetic make-up. In birds, although several species (including the black-legged kittiwake) exhibit non-random mating according to genetic traits, the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. The importance of olfaction...
The footprint of Alaskan tundra fires during the past half-century: implications for surface properties and radiative forcing
Adrian V. Rocha, Michael M. Loranty, Phil E. Higuera, Michelle C. Mack, Feng Sheng Hu, Benjamin M. Jones, Amy L. Breen, Edward B. Rastetter, Scott J. Goetz, Gus R. Shaver
2012, Environmental Research Letters (7)
Recent large and frequent fires above the Alaskan arctic circle have forced a reassessment of the ecological and climatological importance of fire in arctic tundra ecosystems. Here we provide a general overview of the occurrence, distribution, and ecological and climate implications of Alaskan tundra fires over the past half-century using...
Methods
Jonathan Bart, Victoria Johnston, Paul A. Smith, Ann Manning, Jennie Rausch, Stephen Brown
Jonathan Bart, Victoria Johnston, editor(s)
2012, Book chapter, Arctic shorebirds in North America: A decade of monitoring
Detecting declines in population size is one of the highest priorities of the shorebird initiatives in Canada and the United States. The quantitative goal is 80% power to detect a 50% decline, occurring during no more than 20 years, with a significance level of 0.15, using a two-tailed test, and...
Airborne electromagnetic imaging of discontinuous permafrost
B. J. Minsley, J.D. Abraham, B. D. Smith, J. C. Cannia, C.I. Voss, M.T. Jorgenson, Michelle Ann Walvoord, B.K. Wylie, L. Anderson, L.B. Ball, M. Deszcz-Pan, T.P. Wellman, T. A. Ager
2012, Geophysical Research Letters (39) 1-8
The evolution of permafrost in cold regions is inextricably connected to hydrogeologic processes, climate, and ecosystems. Permafrost thawing has been linked to changes in wetland and lake areas, alteration of the groundwater contribution to streamflow, carbon release, and increased fire frequency. But detailed knowledge about the dynamic state of permafrost...
Shorebird surveys in western Alaska
Brian J. McCaffery, Jonathan Bart, Catherine Wightman, David J. Krueper
2012, Book chapter, Arctic shorebirds in North America: A decade of monitoring
Surveys for breeding shorebirds were conducted during 2001-2002 in four National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in western Alaska - Alaska Maritime, Alaska Peninsula, Yukon Delta and Selawik. The sizes of our study areas on and adjacent to these four refuges were 9,243 km2, 24,493 km2, 853 km2, and 15,170 km2, respectively....
Functional ecology of saltglands in shorebirds: Flexible responses to variable environmental conditions
J.S. Gutierrez, M.W. Dietz, J.A. Masero, Robert E. Gill Jr., Anne Dekinga, Phil F. Battley, J. M. Sanchez-Guzman, Theunis Piersma
2012, Functional Ecology (26) 236-244
1. Birds of marine environments have specialized glands to excrete salt, the saltglands. Located on the skull between the eyes, the size of these organs is expected to reflect their demand, which will vary with water turnover rates as a function of environmental (heat load, salinity of prey and drinking...
Petroleum prospectivity of the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean
Arthur Grantz, Patrick E. Hart
2012, Marine and Petroleum Geology (30) 126-143
Reconnaissance seismic reflection data indicate that Canada Basin is a >700,000 sq. km. remnant of the Amerasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean that lies south of the Alpha-Mendeleev Large Igneous Province, which was constructed across the northern part of the Amerasia Basin between about 127 and 89–83.5 Ma. Canada Basin...
The Quaternary thrust system of the northern Alaska Range
Sean P. Bemis, Gary A. Carver, Richard D. Koehler
2012, Geosphere (8) 196-205
The framework of Quaternary faults in Alaska remains poorly constrained. Recent studies in the Alaska Range north of the Denali fault add significantly to the recognition of Quaternary deformation in this active orogen. Faults and folds active during the Quaternary occur over a length of ∼500 km along the...
Paired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds
John M. Pearce, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Jeffrey S. Hall
2012, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (48) 812-814
Surveillance has revealed low prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in shorebirds except Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) on the North American Atlantic coast. Similarly, of five species of shorebirds surveyed in Alaska in 2010, Ruddy Turnstones had the highest AIV antibody prevalence; prevalence of AIV RNA was low or zero....
Anthropogenic aerosols as a source of ancient dissolved organic matter in glaciers
Aron Stubbins, Eran Hood, Peter A. Raymond, George R. Aiken, Rachel L. Sleighter, Peter J. Hernes, David Butman, Patrick G. Hatcher, Robert G. Striegl, Paul F. Schuster, Hussain A.N. Abdulla, Andrew W. Vermilyea, Durelle T. Scott, Robert G.M. Spencer
2012, Nature Geoscience (5) 198-201
Glacier-derived dissolved organic matter represents a quantitatively significant source of ancient, yet highly bioavailable carbon to downstream ecosystems. This finding runs counter to logical perceptions of age–reactivity relationships, in which the least reactive material withstands degradation the longest and is therefore the oldest. The remnants of ancient peatlands and forests...
Numerical simulations examining the possible role of anthropogenic and volcanic emissions during the 1997 Indonesian fires
Melissa A. Pfeffer, Barbel Langmann, Angelika Heil, Hans-F. Graf
2012, Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health (5) 277-292
The regional atmospheric chemistry and climate model REMOTE has been used to conduct numerical simulations of the atmosphere during the catastrophic Indonesian fires of 1997. These simulations represent one possible scenario of the event, utilizing the RETRO wildland fire emission database. Emissions from the fires dominate the atmospheric concentrations of...
Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2010
Julie A. Dumoulin, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, editor(s)
2011, Professional Paper 1784
The collection of papers that follows continues the series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigative reports in Alaska under the broad umbrella of the geologic sciences. This series represents new and sometimes-preliminary findings that are of interest to Earth scientists in academia, government, and industry; to land and resource managers;...
Multilocus phylogeography and population structure of common eiders breeding in North America and Scandinavia
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. Talbot, Kim T. Scribner, Kevin G. McCracken
2011, Journal of Biogeography (38) 1368-1380
Aim Glacial refugia during the Pleistocene had major impacts on the levels and spatial apportionment of genetic diversity of species in northern latitude ecosystems. We characterized patterns of population subdivision, and tested hypotheses associated with locations of potential Pleistocene refugia and the relative contribution of these refugia to the post-glacial colonization...
Peat
L.E. Apodaca
2011, Mining Engineering (63) 86-87
In 2010, domestic production of peat, excluding Alaska, was estimated to be 612 kt (674,600 st), compared with 609 kt (671,300 st) in 2009. In 2010, imports increased to 947 kt (1.04 million st), compared with 906 kt (998,600 st) in 2009. Exports were estimated to have decreased to 69...
Variation in spring migration routes and breeding distribution of northern pintails Anas acuta that winter in Japan
Jerry W. Hupp, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, Paul L. Flint, John M. Pearce, Ken-ichi Tokita, Tetsuo Shimada, Andrew M. Ramey, Sergei Kharitonov, Hiroyoshi Higuchi
2011, Journal of Avian Biology (42) 289-300
In North America, spring migration routes and breeding distribution of northern pintails Anas acuta vary because some individuals opportunistically nest at mid-latitudes in years when ephemeral prairie wetlands are available, whereas others regularly nest in arctic and sub-arctic regions where wetland abundance is more constant. Less was known about migration...
Carryover effects associated with winter location affect fitness, social status, and population dynamics in a long-distance migrant
James S. Sedinger, Jason L. Schamber, David H. Ward, Christopher A. Nicolai, Bruce Conant
2011, American Naturalist (178) E110-E123
We used observations of individually marked female black brant geese (Branta bernicla nigricans; brant) at three wintering lagoons on the Pacific coast of Baja California—Laguna San Ignacio (LSI), Laguna Ojo de Liebre (LOL), and Bahía San Quintín (BSQ)—and the Tutakoke River breeding colony in Alaska to assess hypotheses about carryover...
Variations in eruption style during the 1931 A.D. eruption of Aniakchak volcano, Alaska
Robert S. Nicholson, James E. Gardner, Christina A. Neal
2011, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (207) 69-82
The 1931 A.D. eruption of Aniakchak volcano, Alaska, progressed from subplinian to effusive eruptive style and from trachydacite to basaltic andesite composition from multiple vent locations. Eyewitness accounts and new studies of deposit stratigraphy provide a combined narrative of eruptive events. Additional field, compositional, grain size, componentry, density, and grain...
Experimental challenge and pathology of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in dunlin (Calidris alpina), an intercontinental migrant shorebird species
Jeffrey S. Hall, J. Christian Franson, Robert E. Gill Jr., Carol U. Meteyer, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Sean W. Nashold, Robert J. Dusek, S. Ip
2011, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses (5) 365-372
Background Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are considered one of the primary reservoirs of avian influenza. Because these species are highly migratory, there is concern that infected shorebirds may be a mechanism by which highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 could be introduced into North America from Asia. Large numbers of dunlin...
Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems
Jane M. Wolken, Teresa N. Hollingsworth, T. Scott Rupp, Stuart Chapin, Sarah F. Trainor, Tara M. Barrett, Patrick F. Sullivan, A. David McGuire, Eugénie S. Euskirchen, Paul E. Hennon, Erik A. Beever, Jeff S. Conn, Lisa K. Crone, David V. D’Amore, Nancy Fresco, Thomas A. Hanley, Knut Kielland, James J. Kruse, Trista Patterson, Edward A.G. Schuur, David L. Verbyla, John Yarie
2011, Ecosphere (2) 1-35
The structure and function of Alaska's forests have changed significantly in response to a changing climate, including alterations in species composition and climate feedbacks (e.g., carbon, radiation budgets) that have important regional societal consequences and human feedbacks to forest ecosystems. In this paper we present the first comprehensive synthesis of...
Concentrations and bioaccessibility of metals in vegetation and dust near a mining haul road, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska
William G. Brumbaugh, Suzette A. Morman, Thomas W. May
2011, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (182) 325-340
Vegetation, sub-surface peat, and road dust were sampled near the Delong Mountain Transportation System (DMTS) haul road in northwest Alaska in 2005-2006 to document aluminum, barium, cadmium, lead, and zinc concentrations, and to evaluate bioaccessibility of these metals. The DMTS haul road is the transport corridor between Red Dog Mine...
Developing Gyrfalcon surveys and monitoring for Alaska
Mark R. Fuller, Philip F. Schempf, Travis L. Booms
2011, Conference Paper, Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World
We developed methods to monitor the status of Gyrfalcons in Alaska. Results of surveys and monitoring will be informative for resource managers and will be useful for studying potential changes in ecological communities of the high latitudes. We estimated that the probability of detecting a Gyrfalcon at an occupied nest...
Mercury export from the Yukon River Basin and potential response to a changing climate
Paul F. Schuster, Robert G. Striegl, George R. Aiken, David P. Krabbenhoft, John F. DeWild, Kenna D. Butler, Ben Kamark, Mark Dornblaser
2011, Environmental Science & Technology (45) 9262-9267
We measured mercury (Hg) concentrations and calculated export and yield from the Yukon River Basin (YRB) to quantify Hg flux from a large, permafrost-dominated, high-latitude watershed. Exports of Hg averaged 4400 kg Hg yr-1. The average annual yield for the YRB during the study period was 5.17 μg m-2 yr-1,...
Surficial geologic map of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Thomas D. Hamilton, Keith A. Labay
2011, Scientific Investigations Map 3125
The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (GAAR) is centered over the central Brooks Range of northern Alaska. To the west, it abuts the Noatak National Preserve; its eastern boundary is the transportation corridor occupied by the Dalton Highway and the Alyeska Pipeline. The GAAR extends northward beyond...
Wild bird migration across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A transmission route for highly pathogenic H5N1
Diann J. Prosser, Peng Cui, John Y. Takekawa, Mingjie Tang, Yuansheng Hou, Bridget M. Collins, Baoping Yan, Nichola J. Hill, Tianxian Li, Yongdong Li, Fumin Lei, Shan Guo, Zhi Xing, Yubang He, Yuanchun Zhou, David C. Douglas, William M. Perry, Scott H. Newman
2011, PLoS ONE (6)
Background Qinghai Lake in central China has been at the center of debate on whether wild birds play a role in circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. In 2005, an unprecedented epizootic at Qinghai Lake killed more than 6000 migratory birds including over 3000 bar-headed geese (Anser indicus). H5N1...
Gas hydrate prospecting using well cuttings and mud-gas geochemistry from 35 wells, North Slope, Alaska
T.D. Lorenson, Timothy S. Collett
2011, Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5195
Gas hydrate deposits are common on the North Slope of Alaska around Prudhoe Bay; however, the extent of these deposits is unknown outside of this area. As part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Bureau of Land Management gas hydrate research collaboration, well-cutting and mud-gas samples have been collected...
