Water quality of the Crescent River basin, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2003-2004
Timothy P. Brabets, Robert T. Ourso
2006, Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5151
The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service conducted a water-quality investigation of the Crescent River Basin in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve from May 2003 through September 2004. The Crescent River Basin was studied because it has a productive sockeye salmon run that is important to the...
Large-scale movements and habitat characteristics of king eiders throughout the nonbreeding period
Laura M. Phillips, A.N. Powell, E.A. Rexstad
2006, Condor (108) 887-900
King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) breeding in western Canada and Alaska molt wing feathers and spend the winter in remote areas of the Bering Sea, precluding direct observation. To characterize timing of migration and habitat used by King Eiders during the nonbreeding period, we collected location data for 60 individuals (27...
Growth history of Kilauea inferred from volatile concentrations in submarine-collected basalts
Michelle L. Coombs, Thomas W. Sisson, Peter W. Lipman
2006, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (151) 19-49
Major-element and volatile (H2O, CO2, S) compositions of glasses from the submarine flanks of Kilauea Volcano record its growth from pre-shield into tholeiite shield-stage. Pillow lavas of mildly alkalic basalt at 2600–1900 mbsl on the upper slope of the south flank are an intermediate link...
North Kona slump: Submarine flank failure during the early(?) tholeiitic shield stage of Hualalai Volcano
P. W. Lipman, M.L. Coombs
2006, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (151) 189-216
The North Kona slump is an elliptical region, about 20 by 60 km (1000-km2 area), of multiple, geometrically intricate benches and scarps, mostly at water depths of 2000–4500 m, on the west flank of Hualalai Volcano. Two dives up steep scarps in the slump area were made in September 2001,...
Site-specific effects on productivity of an upper trophic-level marine predator: Bottom-up, top-down, and mismatch effects on reproduction in a colonial seabird
R.M. Suryan, D.B. Irons, E.D. Brown, P.G.R. Jodice, D.D. Roby
2006, Progress in Oceanography (68) 303-328
We investigated the relative roles of bottom-up and top-down factors in limiting productivity of an upper trophic level marine predator. Our primary working hypothesis was that the reproductive success of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) a piscivorous, colonial-nesting seabird, was most limited by the abundance, distribution, and species composition of surface-schooling...
Stand and landscape level effects of a major outbreak of spruce beetles on forest vegetation in the Copper River Basin, Alaska
J. L. Allen, S. Wesser, C. J. Markon, K.C. Winterberger
2006, Forest Ecology and Management (227) 257-266
From 1989 to 2003, a widespread outbreak of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the Copper River Basin, Alaska, infested over 275,000 ha of forests in the region. During 1997 and 1998, we measured forest vegetation structure and composition on one hundred and thirty-six 20-m ?? 20-m plots to assess both...
Microsatellite DNA and mitochondrial DNA variation in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, Alaska
M. A. Cronin, Steven C. Amstrup, K.T. Scribner
2006, Canadian Journal of Zoology (84) 655-660
Radiotelemetry data have shown that polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) occur in separate subpopulations in the Chukchi Sea and the southern Beaufort Sea. However, segregation is not absolute, and there is overlap of ranges of animals in each subpopulation. We used genetic variation at eight microsatellite DNA loci and...
Colony mapping: A new technique for monitoring crevice-nesting seabirds
H.M. Renner, M. Renner, J.H. Reynolds, A.M.A. Harping, I.L. Jones, D.B. Irons, G.V. Byrd
2006, Condor (108) 423-434
Monitoring populations of auklets and other crevice-nesting seabirds remains problematic, although numerous methods have been attempted since the mid-1960s. Anecdotal evidence suggests several large auklet colonies have recently decreased in both abundance and extent, concurrently with vegetation encroachment and succession. Quantifying changes in the geographical extent of auklet colonies may...
Scaling uncertainties in estimating canopy foliar maintenance respiration for black spruce ecosystems in Alaska
X. Zhang, A. D. McGuire, Roger W. Ruess
2006, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change (11) 147-174
A major challenge confronting the scientific community is to understand both patterns of and controls over spatial and temporal variability of carbon exchange between boreal forest ecosystems and the atmosphere. An understanding of the sources of variability of carbon processes at fine scales and how these contribute to uncertainties in...
Atmospheric deposition of current-use and historic-use pesticides in snow at National Parks in the Western United States
K.J. Hageman, S.L. Simonich, K. Campbell, G.R. Wilson, D.H. Landers
2006, Environmental Science & Technology (40) 3174-3180
The United States (U.S.) National Park Service has initiated research on the atmospheric deposition and fate of semi-volatile organic compounds in its alpine, sub-Arctic, and Arctic ecosystems in the Western U.S. Results for the analysis of pesticides in seasonal snowpack samples collected in spring 2003 from seven national parks are...
Predictable hotspots and foraging habitat of the endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) in the North Pacific: Implications for conservation
John F. Piatt, J. Wetzel, K. Bell, A.R. DeGange, G.R. Balogh, G.S. Drew, T. Geernaert, C. Ladd, G.V. Byrd
2006, Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (53) 387-398
The short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is a rare and endangered seabird that ranges widely over the northern North Pacific. Populations are slowly recovering but birds face several threats at sea, in particular the incidental capture of birds in long-line fisheries. Conservation efforts are hampered by a lack of information about...
Habitat-based adaptive management at Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area
R.B. Keigley, C.W. Fager
2006, Alces (42) 49-54
The 22,743-hectare Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area was purchased in 1976, in part for moose (Alces alces) winter range. Observed moose populations climbed from a low of 7 in 1976 to a high of 56 in 2000. A 4-step management program was initiated in 2000 consisting of definition of management...
Vascular flora of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, westernmost Alaska Peninsula, Alaska
Stephen S. Talbot, Sandra Looman Talbot, Wilfred B. Schofield
2006, Rhodora (108) 249-293
The vascular flora of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), where few previous collections had been reported, was collected and recorded at sites selected to represent the totality of environmental variation. A total of 349 species (339 native and 10 introduced) was identified. To provide a comparative phytogeographic framework, we analyzed...
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar: Building tomorrow's tools today
Zhong Lu
2006, Alaska Satellite Facility News and Notes (15) 12-14
A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system transmits electromagnetic (EM) waves at a wavelength that can range from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. The radar wave propagates through the atmosphere and interacts with the Earth’s surface. Part of the energy is reflected back to the SAR system and recorded....
Large rock avalanches triggered by the M 7.9 Denali Fault, Alaska, earthquake of 3 November 2002
R.W. Jibson, E. L. Harp, W. Schulz, D. K. Keefer
2006, Engineering Geology (83) 144-160
The moment magnitude (M) 7.9 Denali Fault, Alaska, earthquake of 3 November 2002 triggered thousands of landslides, primarily rock falls and rock slides, that ranged in volume from rock falls of a few cubic meters to rock avalanches having volumes as great as 20 ?? 106 m3. The pattern of...
Traversing a boreal forest landscape: Summer movements of Tule Greater White-fronted Geese
Craig R. Ely, K.S. Bollinger, Jerry W. Hupp, D.V. Derksen, J. Terenzi, John Y. Takekawa, D.L. Orthmeyer, T.C. Rothe, M.J. Petrula, D.R. Yparraguirre
2006, Waterbirds (29) 43-55
We monitored the movement, distribution and site affinities of radio-marked Tule Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons elgasi) during spring and summer in Alaska, 1994-1997 and 2004. Our assessment of summer movements was comprehensive, as locations were obtained during prenesting, nesting, and molt for over 90% of geese with active radios...
Genetic and demographic criteria for defining population units for conservation: The value of clear messages
Daniel Esler, S. A. Iverson, D.J. Rizzolo
2006, Condor (108) 480-483
In a recent paper on Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) interannual site fidelity (Iverson et al. 2004), we concluded that wintering populations were demographically structured at a finer geographic scale than that at which genetic differentiation was observed and that conservation efforts should recognize this degree of demographic independence. In a...
Factors affecting distribution of wood, detritus, and sediment in headwater streams draining managed young-growth red alder - Conifer forests in southeast Alaska
T. Gomi, A.C. Johnson, R.L. Deal, P.E. Hennon, E.H. Orlikowska, M.S. Wipfli
2006, Canadian Journal of Forest Research (36) 725-737
Factors (riparian stand condition, management regimes, and channel properties) affecting distributions of wood, detritus (leaves and branches), and sediment were examined in headwater streams draining young-growth red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) - conifer riparian forests (<40 years old) in southeast Alaska. More riparian red alder were found along streams affected...
Incorporating diverse data and realistic complexity into demographic estimation procedures for sea otters
M. Timothy Tinker, Daniel F. Doak, James A. Estes, Brian B. Hatfield, Michelle M. Staedler, Arthur Gross
2006, Ecological Applications (16) 2293-2312
Reliable information on historical and current population dynamics is central to understanding patterns of growth and decline in animal populations. We developed a maximum likelihood-based analysis to estimate spatial and temporal trends in age/sex-specific survival rates for the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), using annual population censuses and...
Steelhead of the south-central/southern California coast: Population characterization for recovery planning
David A. Boughton, P.B. Adams, E. Anderson, Craig Fusaro, E. Keller, Elsie Kelley, Leo Lentsch, J. L. Nielsen, Katie Perry, Helen Regan, C. Swift, Fred Watson
2006, Report
This report by the National Marine Fisheries Service applies a formal evaluation framework to the problem of delineating Oncorhynchus mykiss populations in the South-Central/Southern California Coast recovery domain, in support of recovery planning under the Endangered Species Act....
Pelagic seabird surveys in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos, French Polynesia
Eric A. Vanderwerf, Ray J. Pierce, Verena A. Gill, Graham Wragg, Philippe Raust, T. Lee Tibbitts
2006, Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation (34) 65-70
We conducted pelagic seabird surveys in the Gambier and Tuamotu Archipelagos in the southeastern Pacific Ocean totaling 40 hours during 7-27 March 2003 and 22.5 hours during 22-27 July 2001. We used a 300-m-wide strip transect to estimate seabird density, and we estimated relative abundance of birds at all distances....
Blood lead levels of wild Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri) and black scoters (Melanitta nigra) in Alaska using a portable blood lead analyzer
Corrine S. Brown, Joanne Luebbert, Daniel M. Mulcahy, Jason L. Schamber, Daniel H. Rosenberg
2006, Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (37) 361-365
Sea duck populations are declining in Alaska. The reasons for the decline are not known; environmental lead exposure is one suspected cause. Thirty wild Steller's eider ducks (Polysticta stelleri) and 40 wild black scoter ducks (Melanitta nigra) were tested for blood lead levels using a portable blood lead analyzer (LeadCare;...
Tracking the movements of Denali's wolves
T.J. Meier, John W. Burch, Layne G. Adams
2006, Alaska Park Science
The wolves of Denali National Park (formerly Mount McKinley National Park) were the subject of some of the earliest research on wolf ecology. From 1939 to 1941, Adolph Murie performed groundbreaking studies of wolves, observing wolves and their prey and collecting wolf scats and prey remains. His work resulted in...
Nest survival in dusky Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis): Use of discrete-time models
J.B. Grand, T.F. Fondell, Dick Miller, R. Michael Anthony
2006, The Auk (123) 198-210
The Dusky Canada Goose (Branta canadensis occidentalis) population that breeds in the Copper River Delta, Alaska, has declined substantially since the late 1970s. Persistent low numbers have been attributed to low productivity in recent years. We examined patterns in survival rates of 1,852 nests to better understand ecological processes that...
Evaluating light-based geolocation for estimating demersal fish movements in high latitudes
Andrew C. Seitz, Brenda L. Norcross, Derek Wilson, Jennifer L. Nielsen
2006, Fishery Bulletin (104) 571-578
We evaluated light-based geolocation estimates from pop-up satellite tags in high latitudes because some of the largest fisheries in the world are in areas where this technique has not been assessed. Daily longitude and latitude were estimated by using two Wildlife Computers software programs: 1) Argos Message Processor (AMP), which...
