Population genetic studies of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris): A review and interpretation of available data
Kim T. Scribner, James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Steven R. Fain, Matthew A. Cronin, Maria D. Sanchez
Andrew E. Dixon, Susan J. Chivers, William F. Perrin, editor(s)
1997, Conference Paper, Molecular genetics of marine mammals: Incorporating the proceedings of a workshop on the analysis of genetic data to address problems of stock identity as related to management of marine mammals
Current information about the utility of genetic markers for estimating population structuring in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) is reviewed. Analyses of spatial population structuring with biochemical and molecular genetic markers are discussed in the context of the species' ecology and history of exploitation. Studies that have used a diversity of...
Field guide to the Mesozoic accretionary complex along Turnagain Arm and Kachemak Bay, south-central Alaska
Dwight Bradley, Timothy M. Kusky, Susan M. Karl, Peter J. Haeussler
1997, Book chapter, 1997 Guide to the geology of the Kenai Peninsula. Alaska
Turnagain Arm, just east of Anchorage, provides a readily accessible, world-class cross section through a Mesozoic accretionary wedge. Nearly continuous exposures along the Seward Highway, the Alaska Railroad, and the shoreline of Turnagain Arm display the two main constituent units of the Chugach terrane: the McHugh Complex and Valdez Group....
Alternative interpretations of oil spill data
John F. Piatt
1997, BioScience (47) 202-203
In his article "Oil, Seabirds, and Science" (BioScience 46: 587-597), John Wiens attempted to review Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) damage assessment studies and the politics of EVOS science in one stroke. In my opinion, neither purpose was particularly well served....
A forage fish is what? Summary of the symposium
Alan M. Springer, Suzann G. Speckman
1997, Conference Paper, Forage fishes in marine ecosystems: Proceedings of the international symposium on the role of forage fishes in marine ecosystems
No abstract available....
Seabird, marine mammal, and oceanography coordinated investigations (SMMOCI) near Unimak Pass, Alaska
G. Vernon Byrd, Richard L. Merrick, John F. Piatt, Brenda L. Norcross
1997, Conference Paper, Forage fishes in marine ecosystems: Proceedings of the international symposium on the role of forage fishes in marine ecosystems
No abstract available....
Habitat use, diet and breeding biology of tufted puffins in Prince William Sound, Alaska
John F. Piatt, Daniel D. Roby, Laird A. Henkel, Kriss Neumann
1997, Northwestern Naturalist (78) 102-109
Habitat use, diet and breeding biology of tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) were studied in Prince William Sound, Alaska, during summer 1995. On Seal Island, 112 puffin burrows (71% active) were located. Of 95 accessible burrows, 49% were typical earthen burrows, whereas the remainder were atypical for the species (e.g., under...
Foods of northern fulmars associated with high-seas drift nets in the transitional region of the North Pacific
Patrick J. Gould, William Walker, Peggy H. Ostrom
1997, Northwestern Naturalist (78) 57-61
We examined digestive tract contents and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in breast muscles of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) salvaged from squid and large-mesh drift nets in the transitional North Pacific. Lantern fishes (Myctophidae) were the principal prey item found in the digestive tracts. Pieces of unidentified fishes (probably Pacific pomfret...
Exposure of Spectacled Eiders and other diving ducks to lead in western Alaska
Paul L. Flint, Margaret R. Petersen, J. Barry Grand
1997, Canadian Journal of Zoology (75) 439-443
Lead poisoning, resulting from ingestion of spent shot, has been identified as a cause of mortality in Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. We examined lead-exposure rates of adult and juvenile Spectacled Eiders and other diving ducks, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry of blood samples. Additionally, we X-rayed...
Trophic relationships of albatrosses associated with squid and large-mesh drift-net fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean
Patrick J. Gould, Peggy H. Ostrom, William Walker
1997, Canadian Journal of Zoology (75) 549-562
The diets of Laysan (Diomedea immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (D. nigripes) killed in squid and large-mesh drift nets in the transitional zone of the North Pacific Ocean were investigated by examining the contents of the digestive tracts and determining δ13C and δ15N values in breast-muscle tissue. The results show that...
Winter activity patterns of American martens (Martes americana): Rejection of the hypothesis of thermal-cost minimization
Gary S. Drew, John A. Bissonette
1997, Canadian Journal of Zoology (75) 812-816
Despite their temperate to subarctic geographic range, American martens (Martes americana) possess a thermally inefficient morphology. The lack of morphological adaptations for reducing thermal costs suggests that marten may use behavioral strategies to optimize thermal budgets. During the winters of 1989–1990 and 1990–1991, we radio-collared and monitored the diel activity...
Isolation and characterization of novel waterfowl microsatellite loci: Cross-species comparisons and research applications
R.L. Fields, Kim T. Scribner
1997, Molecular Ecology (6) 199-202
Waterfowl constitute an ecologically diverse group which are the subject of extensive research (e.g. see reviews in Batt et al. 1992), and are intensively managed (Nichols et al.1995). Genetic studies utilizing allozyme electrophoresis and mitochondrial (mt)DNA have provided valuable information on waterfowl ecology and evolutionary history (Cooke & Buckley 1987)....
Mass-mortality of guillemots (Uria aalge) in the Gulf of Alaska in 1993
John F. Piatt, Thomas I. van Pelt
1997, Marine Pollution Bulletin (34) 656-662
During the first six months of 1993, about 3500 dead and moribund guillemots (Uria aalge) were observed throughout the northern Gulf of Alaska coast (ca 1800 km range). Mortality peaked during March. Highest numbers were observed in western Prince William Sound and along the south coast of the Kenai Peninsula....
Long-term changes in diets and populations of piscivorous birds and mammals in Prince William Sound, Alaska
K.J. Kuletz, D.B. Irons, B.A. Agler, John F. Piatt, D.C. Duffy
1997, Conference Paper, Forage fishes in marine ecosystems: Proceedings of the international symposium on the role of forage fishes in marine ecosystems
No abstract available....
Proximate composition and energy density of some North Pacific forage fishes
Thomas I. van Pelt, John F. Piatt, Brian K. Lance, Daniel D. Roby
1997, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology (118) 1393-1398
Mature pelagic forage fish species (capelin, sand lance, squid) had greater lipid concentrations than juvenile age-classes of large demersal and pelagic fish species (walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Atka mackerel, greenling, prowfish, rockfish, sablefish). Myctophids preyed on by puffins have at least twice as much lipid per gram compared to mature...
Investigating trophic relationships of pinnipeds in Alaska and Washington using stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon
Keith A. Hobson, John L. Sease, Richard L. Merrick, John F. Piatt
1997, Marine Mammal Science (13) 114-132
We measured stable-nitrogen (δ15N) and stable-carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in muscle and hair from 7 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, and 27 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and 14 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Gulf of Alaska and coast of Washington State, in order...
Variation in incubation periods and egg metabolism in mallards: Intrinsic mechanisms to promote hatch synchrony
Margaret C. MacCluskie, Paul L. Flint, James S. Sedinger
1997, The Condor (99) 224-228
We investigated factors affecting incubation time and metabolic rates of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs incubated under constant environmental conditions. Time required to reach the star-pipped stage of hatch varied significantly among females, but not with laying sequence or egg size. Metabolic rate of eggs varied positively with position in the...
Behavior of Cackling Canada Geese during brood rearing
Ada C. Fowler, Craig R. Ely
1997, The Condor (99) 406-412
We studied behavior of Cackling Canada Goose (Branta canadensis minima, cacklers) broods between 1992 and 1996 on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in western Alaska. An increase in time spent foraging by goslings during our study was weakly correlated with an increase in the size of the local breeding...
Survival of spectacled eider adult females and ducklings during brood rearing
Paul L. Flint, J. Barry Grand
1997, Journal of Wildlife Management (61) 217-221
We studied survival of adult female and duckling spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) during brood rearing on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska from 1993 to 1995. Duckling survival to 30 days of age averaged 34% with a 95% confidence interval from 25 to 47%. Half (49%) of radiomarked adult females had lost...
Seasonal and annual survival of adult Pacific brant
David H. Ward, Eric A. Rexstad, James S. Sedinger, Mark S. Lindberg, Neil K. Dawe
1997, Journal of Wildlife Management (61) 773-781
Declining mid-winter counts of Pacific brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) and reduced numbers of nesting birds on their main breeding grounds prompted us to assess factors that may be limiting recovery of this population. We estimated seasonal and annual survival rates of adult brant in 1986-93 from resightings of leg-banded birds....
Habitat use by nesting and brood rearing northern pintails on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
J. Barry Grand, Paul L. Flint, Patricia J. Heglund
1997, Journal of Wildlife Management (61) 1199-1207
We studied habitat use by nesting and brood-rearing northern pintails (Anas acuta) on the coastal Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, 1991-93. We used a digital habitat map constructed from color infrared aerial photos to assign habitat types to nest and brood locations and estimate habitat availability. Sixty-nine percent of females nested on...
Relative effects of survival and reproduction on the population dynamics of emperor geese
Joel A. Schmutz, Robert F. Rockwell, Margaret R. Petersen
1997, Journal of Wildlife Management (61) 191-201
Populations of emperor geese (Chen canagica) in Alaska declined sometime between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s and have increased little since. To promote recovery of this species to former levels, managers need to know how much their perturbations of survival and/or reproduction would affect population growth rate (λ). We constructed...
Sea Otter Enhydra lutris
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey
1997, Report
The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, is the largest member of the Mustelidae family and is the only one which lives entirely in marine waters. Sea otters are unique among marine mammals because, unlike whales, dolphins and seals, they do not have a layer of fat or blubber to keep them...
Effect of vegetation management for reducing damage to lodgepole pine seedlings from northern pocket gophers
Richard M. Engeman, Victor G. Barnes Jr., Richard M. Anthony, Heather W. Krupa
1997, Crop Protection (16) 407-410
The effects of vegetation management on northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) activity and damage to lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) seedlings were studied using 2,4-D herbicide to alter the habitat. Treatments were applied to a large (8.1 ha) treatment unit and observed effects were compared with an untreated control unit of...
The effects of Vexar® seedling protectors on the growth and development of lodgepole pine roots
Richard M. Engeman, R. Michael Anthony, Heather W. Krupa, James Evans
1997, Crop Protection (16) 57-61
The effects on the growth and development of lodgepole pine roots from the Vexar® tubes used to protect seedlings from pocket gopher damage were studied in the Targhee National Forest, Idaho and the Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. At each site, Vexar-protected and unprotected seedlings, with and without above-ground gopher damage...
Adaptation of a stage-projection model for species with multiple year reproductive cycles
James R. Gilbert, Mark S. Udevitz
1997, Ecological Modelling (97) 47-57
We apply stage projection matrices to multiple age and reproductive categories, deriving the stable age - reproductive category distribution for populations with multi-year reproductive cycles and identifying conditions for the existence of a dominant latent root. Given the stable distribution of age and reproductive category and the number of female...
