Effects of human recreation on the incubation behavior of American Oystercatchers
C.P. McGowan, T.R. Simons
2006, Wilson Journal of Ornithology (118) 485-493
Human recreational disturbance and its effects on wildlife demographics and behavior is an increasingly important area of research. We monitored the nesting success of American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) in coastal North Carolina in 2002 and 2003. We also used video monitoring at nests to measure the response of incubating birds...
Coulomb stress transfer and tectonic loading preceding the 2002 Denali fault earthquake
Charles G. Bufe
2006, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (96) 1662-1674
Pre-2002 tectonic loading and Coulomb stress transfer are modeled along the rupture zone of the M 7.9 Denali fault earthquake (DFE) and on adjacent segments of the right-lateral Denali–Totschunda fault system in central Alaska, using a three-dimensional boundary-element program. The segments modeled closely follow, for about 95°, the arc...
Deschutes Estuary feasibility study: Hydrodynamics and sediment transport modeling
Douglas A. George, Guy Gelfenbaum, Giles Lesser, Andrew W. Stevens
2006, Open-File Report 2006-1318
Continual sediment accumulation in Capitol Lake since the damming of the Deschutes River in 1951 has altered the initial morphology of the basin. As part of the Deschutes River Estuary Feasibility Study (DEFS), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was tasked to model how tidal and storm processes will influence...
Does anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment increase organic nitrogen concentrations in runoff from forested and human-dominated watersheds?
B.A. Pellerin, S.S. Kaushal, W. H. McDowell
2006, Ecosystems (9) 852-864
Although the effects of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs on the dynamics of inorganic N in watersheds have been studied extensively, "the influence of N enrichment on organic N loss" is not as well understood. We compiled and synthesized data on surface water N concentrations from 348 forested and human-dominated watersheds...
Distribution of boreal toad populations in relation to estimated UV-B dose in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
B. R. Hossack, S. A. Diamond, P.S. Corn
2006, Canadian Journal of Zoology (84) 98-107
A recent increase in ultraviolet B radiation is one hypothesis advanced to explain suspected or documented declines of the boreal toad (Bufo boreas Baird and Girard, 1852) across much of the western USA, where some experiments have shown ambient UV-B can reduce embryo survival. We examined B. boreas occupancy relative...
An assessment of bird habitat quality using population growth rates
M. G. Knutson, L.A. Powell, R. K. Hines, M. A. Friberg, G.J. Niemi
2006, Condor (108) 301-314
Survival and reproduction directly affect population growth rate (lambda) making lambda a fundamental parameter for assessing habitat quality. We used field data, literature review, and a computer simulation to predict annual productivity and lambda for several species of landbirds breeding in floodplain and upland forests in the Midwestern United States....
Prediction of broadband ground-motion time histories: Hybrid low/high-frequency method with correlated random source parameters
P. Liu, R.J. Archuleta, S.H. Hartzell
2006, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (96) 2118-2130
We present a new method for calculating broadband time histories of ground motion based on a hybrid low-frequency/high-frequency approach with correlated source parameters. Using a finite-difference method we calculate low- frequency synthetics (< ∼1 Hz) in a 3D velocity structure. We also compute broadband synthetics in a 1D velocity model...
A reexamination of age-related variation in body weight and morphometry of Maryland nutria
M. H. Sherfy, T.A. Mollett, K.R. McGowan, S.L. Daugherty
2006, Journal of Wildlife Management (70) 1132-1141
Age-related variation in morphometry has been documented for many species. Knowledge of growth patterns can be useful for modeling energetics, detecting physiological influences on populations, and predicting age. These benefits have shown value in understanding population dynamics of invasive species, particularly in developing efficient control and eradication programs. However, development...
Estimation of temporary emigration in male toads
E. Muths, R. D. Scherer, P.S. Corn, B.A. Lambert
2006, Ecology (87) 1048-1056
Male boreal toads (Bufo boreas) are thought to return to the breeding site every year but, if absent in a particular year, will be more likely to return the following year. Using Pollock's robust design we estimated temporary emigration (the probability a male toad is absent from a breeding site...
Foraging destinations and marine habitat use of short-tailed albatrosses: A multi-scale approach using first-passage time analysis
R.M. Suryan, F. Sato, G.R. Balogh, Hyrenbach K. David, P.R. Sievert, K. Ozaki
2006, Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (53) 370-386
We used satellite telemetry, remotely sensed data (bathymetry, chlorophyll a (chl a), sea-surface temperature (SST), wind speed) and first-passage time (FPT) analysis to determine the distribution, movement patterns, and habitat associations of short-tailed albatrosses (Phoebastria albatrus) during the non-breeding season, 2002 and 2003. Satellite transmitters were deployed on birds immediately...
Abundance and distribution of selected elements in soils, stream sediments, and selected forage plants from desert tortoise habitats in the Mojave and Colorado deserts, USA
M.A. Chaffee, K.H. Berry
2006, Journal of Arid Environments (67) 35-87
A baseline and background chemical survey was conducted in southeastern California, USA, to identify potential sources of toxicants in natural and anthropogenically-altered habitats of the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Soil, stream sediment, and plant samples were collected from six tortoise habitat study areas in the Mojave and Colorado deserts...
Assessment of factors limiting Klamath River fall Chinook salmon production potential using historical flows and temperatures
John M. Bartholow, James A. Henriksen
2006, Open-File Report 2006-1249
We parameterized and applied a deterministic salmon production model to infer the degree to which river flows and temperatures may limit freshwater production potential of the Klamath River in California. Specific parameter requirements, data sources, and significant assumptions are discussed in detail. Model simulations covered a wide variety of historical...
Location and timing of river-aquifer exchanges in six tributaries to the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
C.P. Konrad
2006, Journal of Hydrology (329) 444-470
The flow of water between rivers and contiguous aquifers influences the quantity and quality of water resources, particularly in regions where precipitation and runoff are unevenly distributed through the year, such as the Columbia Basin (CB) in northwestern United States. Investigations of basin hydrogeology and gains and losses of streamflow...
CO32- concentration and pCO2 thresholds for calcification and dissolution on the Molokai reef flat, Hawaii
K. K. Yates, R. B. Halley
2006, Biogeosciences (3) 357-369
The severity of the impact of elevated atmospheric pCO2 to coral reef ecosystems depends, in part, on how sea-water pCO2 affects the balance between calcification and dissolution of carbonate sediments. Presently, there are insufficient published data that relate concentrations of pCO 2 and CO32- to in situ rates of reef...
Alpine plant community trends on the elk summer range of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: An analysis of existing data
Linda Zeigenfuss
2006, Open-File Report 2006-1122
The majority of the elk (Cervus elaphus) population of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado summer in the park’s high-elevation alpine and subalpine meadows and willow krummholz. The park’s population of white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus altipetens) depends on both dwarf and krummholz willows for food and cover. Concern about the...
The composite method: An improved method for stream-water solute load estimation
Brent T. Aulenbach, R. P. Hooper
2006, Hydrological Processes (20) 3029-3047
The composite method is an alternative method for estimating stream-water solute loads, combining aspects of two commonly used methods: the regression-model method (which is used by the composite method to predict variations in concentrations between collected samples) and a period-weighted approach (which is used by the composite method to apply...
Lake sturgeon population characteristics in Rainy Lake, Minnesota and Ontario
W.E. Adams Jr., L.W. Kallemeyn, D.W. Willis
2006, Journal of Applied Ichthyology (22) 97-102
Rainy Lake contains a native population of lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens that has been largely unstudied. The aims of this study were to document the population characteristics of lake sturgeon in Rainy Lake and to relate environmental factors to year-class strength for this population. Gill-netting efforts throughout the study resulted...
Palaeomagnetic intensities from 14C-dated lava flows on the Big Island, Hawaii: 0-21 kyr
Nicola Pressling, Carlo Laj, Catherie Kissel, Duane E. Champion, David Gubbins
2006, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (247) 26-40
Thellier–Thellier experiments were carried out on 216 lava samples collected by the USGS on the Big Island. 35 individual flows from the Kilauea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes are represented and independent radiocarbon dating of the flows yields absolute ages ranging from 290 to 20,240 yrs old. The palaeomagnetic analysis was...
Multiple baseline radar interferometry applied to coastal land cover classification and change analyses
Elijah W. Ramsey III, Z. Lu, A. Rangoonwala, Russ Rykhus
2006, GIScience and Remote Sensing (43) 283-309
ERS-1 and ERS-2 SAR data were collected in tandem over a four-month period and used to generate interferometric coherence, phase, and intensity products that we compared to a classified land cover coastal map of Big Bend, Florida. Forests displayed the highest intensity, and marshes the lowest. The intensity for fresh...
Modelling and understanding volcanic processes using high-quality seismological data
Bernard A. Chouet
2006, Géosciences (2006) 56-63
At an active volcano, Very-Long-Period (VLP) seismicity (with typical periods in the range 2-100 s) reflects pressure fluctuations resulting from unsteady mass transport in the sub-surface plumbing system, and hence provides a glimpse of the internal dynamics of the volcanic edifice. Understanding the fundamental fluid-flow mechanisms involved in the...
Use of borehole radar tomography to monitor steam injection in fractured limestone
C. Gregoire, P. K. Joesten
2006, Near Surface Geophysics (4) 355-365
Borehole radar tomography was used as part of a pilot study to monitor steam‐enhanced remediation of a fractured limestone contaminated with volatile organic compounds at the former Loring Air Force Base, Maine, USA. Radar tomography data were collected using 100‐MHz electric‐dipole antennae before and during steam injection to evaluate whether...
Possible effects of the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes on manatee survival rates and movement
C.A. Langtimm, M. D. Krohn, J.P. Reid, B.M. Stith, C.A. Beck
2006, Estuaries and Coasts (29) 1026-1032
Prior research on manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) survival in northwest Florida, based on mark-resighting photo-identification data from 1982-1998, showed that annual adult apparent survival rate was significantly lower during years with extreme storms. Mechanisms that we proposed could have led to lower estimates included stranding, injury from debris, being fatally...
Three-dimensional compressional wavespeed model, earthquake relocations, and focal mechanisms for the Parkfield, California, region
C. Thurber, H. Zhang, F. Waldhauser, J. Hardebeck, A. Michael, D. Eberhart-Phillips
2006, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (96)
We present a new three-dimensional (3D) compressional vvavespeed (V p) model for the Parkfield region, taking advantage of the recent seismicity associated with the 2003 San Simeon and 2004 Parkfield earthquake sequences to provide increased model resolution compared to the work of Eberhart-Phillips and Michael (1993) (EPM93). Taking the EPM93...
Late Cretaceous base level lowering in Campanian and Maastrichtian depositional sequences, Kure Beach, North Carolina
W.B. Harris, Self-Trail J.M.
2006, Stratigraphy (3) 195-216
Campanian through Maastrichtian mixed carbonate and siliciclastic sediments in a 422 m continuous core drilled at Kure Beach, NC provide a record of sea-level change. Based on lithology and stratigraphy, depositional sequences are defined, and calcareous nannofossil zones and 87Sr/86Sr ratios and corresponding ages using the LOWESS Table determined. Campanian...
A new probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for greater Tokyo
R.S. Stein, S. Toda, T. Parsons, E. Grunewald, R. Blong, S. Sparks, H. Shah, J. Kennedy
2006, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (364) 1965-1988
Tokyo and its outlying cities are home to one-quarter of Japan's 127 million people. Highly destructive earthquakes struck the capital in 1703, 1855 and 1923, the last of which took 105 000 lives. Fuelled by greater Tokyo's rich seismological record, but challenged by its magnificent complexity, our joint Japanese-US group...
