December 18 , 2003

Unanticipated Long-term Effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Work conducted by USGS scientists Dr. Brenda Ballachey and James Bodkin of the Alaska Science Center was highlighted in the journal Science this week. The report identifies how oil spills such as the one that devastated Alaska's Prince William Sound almost 15 years ago can have unanticipated long-term effects. It was previously thought that events such as oil spills had dramatic immediate effects, but long-term consequences were not considered likely. A synthesis of studies conducted since the 1989 spill has identified unanticipated volumes of largely unweatherd crude oil that becomes bio-available as animals such as sea otters excavate sediments to obtain prey species such as clams, or through other disturbances. Once released oil becomes available to the larger community of nearshore residents that can also acquire exposure through consumption of prey that accumulate environmental hydrocarbons. Elevated levels of exposure to oil has been documented in species of invertebrates, fishes, birds and mammals. These results require a complete reconsideration of the foundations of ecological risk assessment and ecotoxicology because acute mortality from oil involves concentrations perhaps 1,000 times greater. Earlier experiments incorrectly implied that lower oil concentrations were safe, which the new work clearly showed was not true. The results presented on the Exxon Valdez oil spill should lead to a new understanding of how lingering oil deposits affect species over many years, how sublethal, chronic doses compromise health, growth and reproduction and how impaired species interact negatively with one another in "cascade" fashion. The lead author on the paper was Dr. Charles Peterson, with contributions from Drs. Stanley D. Rice and Jeffrey W. Short of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau; Dr. Daniel Esler of Canada's Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.; and Dr. David B. Irons of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage. (James L. Bodkin, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK , 907-786-3550)

October 23 , 2003

USGS and Russian Scientists Collaborate to Monitor Changes in Arctic Ice Pack: USGS Research Biologist David Douglas will travel to Moscow November 1-6 to convene a peer-review of the collaborative research on sea ice habitats that has been ongoing with USGS and the Russia Academy of Science since 1990. USGS has invited two outside reviewers to participate in the Moscow meetings: Dr. Robert Stone, a University of Colorado atmospheric scientist, and Dr. Walter Meier, a sea ice specialist from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Reviews will focus on the methods and preliminary results of a project designed to detect and monitor changes in the Arctic’s perennial ice pack. Recommendations will also be developed to guide future scientific directions. A NATO Collaborative Linkage Grant has funded all associated travel costs. (David Douglas, Juneau, Alaska 907-364-1576).

September 11 , 2003

Publications on the use of free-ranging fish and wildlife in research. The use of live animals in research is sometimes controversial. The federal Animal Welfare Act and other regulations were clearly written with an eye towards captive, laboratory animal research, and they are difficult to apply to research on free-ranging animals (fish and wildlife). USGS wildlife veterinarian Dan Mulcahy authored two papers for a special issue of the National Research Council journal, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Journal, dealing with research done outside the laboratory [ILAR Journal 44(4) 2003]. The articles, entitled: “Does the Animal Welfare Act Apply to Free-ranging Animals?” and “Surgical Implantation of Transmitters into Fish”, are written to provide Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees guidance in their mandated review of research projects involving free-ranging fish and wildlife. Compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and other federal regulations is the most basic step in protecting the use of free-ranging fish and wildlife in research projects. (Daniel M. Mulcahy, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3451)

July 31 , 2003

Earthquake Induced Mortality of Incubating Salmon Eggs: USGS scientist Christian Zimmerman will present a paper at the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society, August 10-14 in Quebec City, Canada, examining possible mortality of incubating chum salmon eggs in Yukon River tributaries resulting from last year’s magnitude 7.9 Denali Earthquake. Immediately following the earthquake in November of 2002, Zimmerman and USGS scientist Jim Finn, revisited historic study sites to assess the potential for shock-induced mortality resulting from the earthquake. They concluded that a significant proportion of chum salmon eggs deposited in gravels of the Delta River and its tributaries were at a stage of extreme sensitivity to mechanical shock. (Christian Zimmerman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3954)

New Method for Estimating Population Size: Population size is perhaps the most universally desired parameter of interest to wildlife managers. Around the world, a great deal of effort is expended annually to estimate the sizes of wild animal populations. Unfortunately, population size remains one of the most intractable of parameters to estimate. In a paper published in the current issue of BioScience (Manly, B.F.J., T. L. McDonald, S. C. Amstrup, and E. V. Regehr. 2003. Improving Size Estimates of Open Animal Populations by Incorporating Information on Age. BioScience 53(7): 666-669), USGS researchers teamed up with private sector statisticians to show that incorporating age information can dramatically improve population size estimates for many species. This method offers important potential improvements over current methods. First, it can provide size estimates from only two sample occasions rather than the three usually required, second, it allows increased precision of derived estimates, and finally, it allows estimation using the logistic regression module in any standard statistical package, rather than requiring the use of specialized programs that deal only with mark-recapture data. (Steve Amstrup, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3424)

July 11 , 2003

USGS Provides Fishery Leadership: Dr. Jennifer Nielsen, Fisheries Supervisory Research Biologist at USGS Alaska Science Center, was elected 2nd Vice President of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and will be inducted into the Board of Officers for the Society at this year’s Annual Meeting August 12 in Quebec City, Canada. This represents a five-year commitment to AFS for Jennifer, and a great opportunity for a representative of USGS to play a guiding role in fisheries research and policy throughout the world. She will serve as President for the Society in 2007. (Jennifer Nielsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

USGS Science in Alaska's National Parks: The National Park Service just released the summer 2003 issue of Alaska Park Science, featuring scientific studies of the USGS Alaska Science Center. Sea otter research of Jim Bodkin is described in "Return to Glacier Bay." Dr. Tom Smith and Steve Partridge contributed "Bear-Human Interactions at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Conflict Risk Assessment." Dr. Carol Ann Woody's work is highlighted in "Unlocking the Secrets of Lake Clark Sockeye Salmon." Alaska Park Science is widely distributed to a broad scientific and public audience, thus communicating the relevance of USGS science in Alaska. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

June 5 , 2003

Fellowship Awarded to USGS Salmon Researcher: USGS fisheries biologist Scott Pavey recently received a National Science Foundation Fellowship from the Alaska Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) through the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) for his Masters of Science work on "Genetic differentiation of sockeye salmon in Albert Johnson Creek and the recently colonized Surprise Lake, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Alaska". Scott's proposal was ranked first in Alaska for the 2003 EPSCoR review. This fellowship covers one year full-time salary and a tuition waiver from UAA for his graduate research at Aniakchak. (Jennifer Nielsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

May 1, 2003

USGS Alaska Science Center Director Receives Meritorious Service Award: Dr. William K. Seitz, Director of the USGS Alaska Science Center, was given a Meritorious Service Award by the Department of the Interior in April in recognition for his many contributions to the science activities of the USGS. Under his outstanding leadership, the Alaska Science Center has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent scientific expertise, achievements, productivity, and partnerships. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

USGS Website Used in International Marine Education: The website of USGS scientist Dr. John Piatt is featured in a web-based learning activity for senior biology students, developed by Bronwyn Atcheson at Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia. Using this website, http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/bronwyn_atcheson/learningactivitytwo.htm, students learn how environmental variables such as water temperature, depth, salinity and nutrients affect the distribution of organisms. All of the information and data for this learning activity are from Piatt's USGS seabird research webpage: http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/ marinehabitat/ index.html (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

USGS Scientists in Anchorage Daily News (http://www.adn.com/alaska_ap/story/3028245p-3052113c.html): USGS biologist Lee Tibbitts along with USFWS biologists recently returned home with new counts of the rare Alaska bristle-thighed curlew from Polynesian islands, more than 5,000 miles from their only known nesting grounds in upland tundra of Alaska's Seward Peninsula and the Nulato Hills. They helped document new populations of several critically endangered bird species and the threats they face from rats, feral cats and coconut plantations where undergrowth has been burned away. The research will be used to figure out whether the invasive predators can be eliminated from certain islands and native habitat restored. The team was laying the groundwork for monitoring and protecting Alaska's bird species during their migratory journeys across the Pacific Ocean and beyond, said USGS shorebird biologist and curlew researcher Bob Gill. Alaska is one of the hemispheric centers for breeding shorebirds, with at least three dozen species of regular breeders scattering to five continents and Oceania during winter. One of the most intriguing of these is the bristle-thighed curlew, named for the bristlelike feathers on its upper legs. This Alaska-born bird is the only migratory shorebird that winters exclusively on oceanic islands. Because there are thought to be fewer than 10,000 of them, including about 7,000 of breeding age, and they seem to be declining for unknown reasons, the species is listed by federal agencies as one that might be in trouble. To figure out why, shorebird specialists need to learn more about what happens to the birds during time they spend away from Alaska. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

April 7, 2003

Future Science Directions for Alaska: USGS Director Chip Groat participated in the second annual USGS Alaska Science Center Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska, April 8-10. The symposium is designed to identify opportunities for the USGS related to the complex and pressing issues that Alaska may face in the future. Research needs, data gaps, and the formulation of strategies for developing USGS science initiatives for the Alaska Science Center were discussed. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

March 4 , 2003

PRESS INQUIRIES/MEDIA

Veterinarian Dan Mulcahy of the U.S. Geological Survey holds a Steller's eider on Thursday following surgery to remove a piece of the duck's liver. As part of an environmental study by the city of Unalaska, eiders are being tested for industrial pollutants in Unalaska Bay. The study was prompted by the city's plans to build a new boat harbor. The birds are caught in a net, operated on in a rented van and then returned to the ocean following a resting period. Anchorage Daily News (http://www.adn.com) March 4, 2003. (Dan Mulcahy, USGS, Alaska Science Center, 907-786-3451) Click on image for larger view.

February 14 , 2003

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

USGS Discovers Lead Poisoning in Pacific Loon: Lead poisoning was diagnosed in an adult female Pacific loon (Gavia pacifica) found moribund, and later dead, by USGS scientist Heather Wilson on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. In a necropsy performed by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, three pellets of ingested lead shot were found in the gizzard of the bird, and the concentration of lead in the loon's liver was 31.11 ppm wet weight, consistent with metallic lead poisoning. This is the first known report of lead poisoning in a Pacific loon and is the first account of lead poisoning in any loon species breeding in Alaska. Lead poisoning in this group of nesting waterbirds on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) is cause for concern, as it indicates that the effects of available spent lead shot may be more widespread than previously considered. Significant efforts have been made to reduce the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting on the YKD because of previous USGS studies that identified lead exposure there as an important factor influencing population dynamics of spectacled eiders and common eiders. The discovery of lead poisoning in a Pacific loon expands the range of species known to be affected by spent lead shot and introduces a new cause of mortality for loons on the Alaska breeding grounds. Additional sampling of loons across the breeding range in Alaska is necessary to define the impact of lead poisoning at the population level. (Paul Flint, USGS Alaska Science Center, 907-786-3608)

December 9, 2002

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Sustainability of Salmon: Two USGS scientists contributed chapters to a book just released by the American Fisheries Society entitled "Sustaining North American Salmon: Perspectives Across Boundaries and Disciplines." This book reviews the challenges to sustainability of salmon and provides important recommendations for their restoration and maintenance. Mr. Stephen G. Rideout, Director of the USGS Silvio Conte Anadromous Fish Lab, co-authored with Dr. John Ritter "Canadian and U.S. Atlantic salmon institutions and politics: where are the fish and who cares?" This chapter reviews the socio-political framework and institutions responsible for managing Atlantic salmon stocks in the United States and Canada and the issues currently known or believed to be contributing to stock declines. Dr. Eric Knudsen, Chief of the USGS Alaska Science Center Marine and Freshwater Ecology Branch wrote the chapter "Ecological perspectives on Pacific salmon: can we sustain biodiversity and fisheries?" Dr. Knudsen reviewed the possibilities for successful salmon recovery and sustainability in the context of salmon habitat suitability, population biodiversity, productive biomass, and migration patterns. He makes a number of recommendations that will support healthy Pacific salmon populations and fisheries. (Eric Knudsen, 907-786-3842)

December 2 , 2002

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Developing Long-term Monitoring Strategies: USGS scientist Dr. John Piatt is one of several marine biology experts meeting at the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California at Santa Cruz to help the National Marine Fishery Service establish protocols and guidelines for monitoring of marine bird and mammal populations on National Marine Sanctuaries on the U.S. Pacific Coast (including Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallons, and Outer Coast Marine Sanctuaries). Dr. Piatt will present information on methods for conducting long-term studies of marine birds and the ecosystems on which they depend. The goal of the meeting is to develop long-term monitoring strategies that can be integrated across trophic levels and standardized among National Sanctuaries. (John Piatt, 907-786-3549)

Bear-Human Interactions: Writer Christopher Batin is interviewing USGS scientist Dr. Tom Smith in December for an upcoming article on bears in Outdoor Life magazine. Dr. Smith (http://www.absc.usgs.gov/staff/MFEB/tsmith.htm) is working closely with Dr. Steve Herrero of the University of Calgary, Canada to better understand factors associated with bear-human conflict. Smith and Herrero are testing theories that attempt to explain the regional nature of bear attacks. An interesting finding is that areas with the greatest bear concentrations experience the fewest aggressive interactions. Smith and Herrero's work is ongoing but expected to be concluded in 2003. Batin is writing an article for Outdoor Life regarding their research, particularly what has been learned to date and what is expected in the coming months. (Tom S. Smith, 907-786-3456)

October 21, 2002

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Chronic Impacts of Oil Pollution: USGS scientists report on the long-term impacts of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in papers just released in the journal, Marine Ecology Progress Series. Authors present evidence of continued impacts of the 11-million liter spill on sea otters and harlequin ducks in the Prince William Sound, Alaska. Studies suggest that these animals continue to be exposed to oil while feeding, despite the patchy distribution of oil remaining in the environment. (Leslie Holland-Bartels, La Crosse, WI, 608-783-7550; Dede Bohn 907-786-3685 and Jim Bodkin 907-786-3550, Anchorage, AK)

June 13, 2002

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Alaska's Oceans and Watersheds: Sustainability in the Context of Change: USGS is a sponsor of this 2-day symposium June 18-19, in Anchorage, AK along with the State of Alaska, University of Alaska, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, North Pacific Research Board, North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Alaska Board of Fisheries, Alaska Coastal Policy Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, and EPA. This statewide symposium will include government leaders, resource managers and policy-makers, scientists, stakeholders and members of the public. The purpose is to obtain an overall picture of the status and trends of Alaska's marine resources and ecosystems and to discuss ecosystem-based management and changes in oceans and watersheds policy and governance. The symposium will result in the Alaska's Oceans and Watersheds Status Report, to be published in November, 2002. Three USGS Alaska Science Center scientists are presenting papers. Dr. Eric Knudsen will discuss the relevance of recent scientific developments to Alaskan salmon management, particularly focusing on the role of marine derived nutrients, population biodiversity, and salmon population modeling. Dr. Jennifer Nielsen will present a brief history of the development and implementation of electronic tags and tagging in marine fishes throughout the world, a description of current and proposed activity in Alaska's marine ecosystems, and an overview of our ongoing tagging studies on halibut, coho and steelhead. Dr. John Piatt will present his findings on evidence for regime shifts in the North Pacific and links between oceanography, primary production, forage fish and seabirds in coastal Alaska. His talk will help provide a basis for discussion about future long-term monitoring of marine ecosystems. The results of the symposium will be published in Alaska's Oceans and Watersheds Status Report, November, 2002. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

USGS Alaska Science Center Director selected to advise Gulf of Alaska marine research program - Bill Seitz, Director of the USGS Alaska Science Center, has been selected as one of six scientific and technical advisors for the newly formed Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Program (GEM) sponsored by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. The advisors will provide programmatic advice and guidance to meet the Council's goals of detecting, understanding and predicting annual and long-term changes in the ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Alaska. Seitz is the only advisor chosen from the government sector, and provides a knowledge of the interface between science and resource management and a pragmatic view of how to monitor the effects of human activities on Alaska's marine resources. The GEM program is funded with a $120 million endowment from the remaining Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement funds. (Dede Bohn, Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3685)

What is a Kittlitz's Murrelet? USGS Researcher Tom Van Pelt was invited to speak at the Alaska Natural History Symposium held in Palmer, Alaska, May 4, on the natural history of this bird. Work by the USGS Alaska Science Center in Glacier Bay, Alaska, has documented an alarming decline in the population of Kittlitz's Murrelets, a rare seabird that nests in alpine terrain and generally forages near tidewater glaciers during the breeding season. A coalition of environmental groups has recently petitioned the USFWS to list the Kittlitz's Murrelet under the Endangered Species Act. Because so little is known about this seabird, both the causes and the true magnitude of their decline are unknown. Researchers at the Alaska Science Center have launched an integrated investigation to fill gaps in our understanding of Kittlitz's Murrelets, including information on distribution, abundance, feeding ecology, and sensitivity to disturbance by vessel traffic. (Tom Van Pelt, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3675) 

Long-term Effects of Amchitka Island Underground Nuclear Tests : USGS Scientist Jim Bodkin was invited to speak about nearshore ecosystems at a workshop February 11-14, 2002 on the hazards posed by past nuclear testing at Amchitka Island and the pathways by which radionuclides could impact humans and the environment. About 16% of the explosive energy of the US underground test program was released beneath Amchitka Island. One of the blasts, the 5 megaton Cannikin in 1971, was the largest underground explosion ever conducted by the United States. The U.S. government is now seeking closure of the test site. The questions to be addressed include whether contaminants are being released in this active earthquake fault area in the midst of a productive marine environment and important international fishery. The workshop is being sponsored by the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation and the University of Alaska. Bodkin's research over the past decade on ecosystem processes and marine mammals in this area of Alaska is providing relevant information for these concerns. (Jim Bodkin, Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3550)  

USGS Helps Improve Knowledge of Walruses: Pacific and Atlantic walruses occur over the continental shelves of much of the Arctic. Field research on these animals, such as radio tracking and dietary studies, require the capture of individual animals. Capture is usually accomplished by chemical immobilization, because the animal's large size precludes their capture by physical restraint. For reasons that are not completely understood, the use of immobilizing drugs on walruses yield results that are inconsistent and suboptimal for many applications. In working towards a solution to this problem, the USGS Alaska Center and Hubbs - SeaWorld Research Institute are hosting a workshop on the chemical restraint of walruses, which will be held in San Diego, February 20-22, 2002. The goal of the workshop will be to share results of walrus anesthesia in field and captive situations, and to recommend future research efforts that would alleviate problems. The workshop will be attended by scientists from several countries and include field researchers as well as zoo and wildlife veterinarians. Solving the problems of walrus immobilization will allow scientists to provide scientific information necessary for the understanding and management of these internationally important marine mammals. (Chad Jay, Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3856)

PRESS INQUIRIES/MEDIA

USGS Scientist Invited to Teach Course at National Training Center: Dr. Philip Hooge will teach a course entitled "The Animal Movement Program: Integrating GIS with statistical analysis and modeling of animal movements" at the National Conservation Training Center at Shepardstown, WV, February 11- 15, 2002. Dr Hooge has gained worldwide recognition as an expert in the analysis of animal movement data. In response to the lack of tools for analyzing the movements of animals within a GIS environment, he developed software that integrates a commonly used GIS program (ARCView). This application can be loaded as an extension under multiple operating systems platforms (PC, Unix, Mac OS). The extension contains over 50 functions, including parametric an nonparametric home range analysis, random walk models habitat analysis functions, point and circular statistics, tests of complete spatial randomness, autocorrelation, sample size tests, point and line manipulation tools and animation tools. Several functions represent new analysis methods or have not previously been implemented as computer algorithms. At the course, Dr Hooge will demonstrate the use of these functions to analyze animal movements. The extension is available at http://www.absc.usgs.gov/glba/gistools/index.htm. He will also discuss the worldwide use of this program, the range of application (from endangered species to criminals), and the special role that the USGS can play in making analysis tools like this available. (Eric Knudsen, 907-786-3842).

PRESS INQUIRIES/MEDIA

USGS research in Gulf of Alaska draws media interest - The Alaska Science Center (ASC) continues to provide crucial scientific input to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council. ASC scientists were invited to present their findings on the effects of lingering Exxon Valdez oil on sea otter and harlequin duck populations at the annual EVOS symposium January 22-25 in Anchorage. Dr. Brenda Ballachey (USGS) and Dr. Dan Esler, formerly with USGS, presented evidence that damage to sea otters and harlequin ducks in the oiled area of Prince William Sound continued to occur at least through 2001; 2002 field studies have been planned to further document potential effects linked to lingering oil from the 1989 spill. An interview with Dr. Ballachey was aired on National Public Radio January 23. A front-page report was featured in the January 23 edition of the Anchorage Daily News. The story was also reported in the Canadian Edmonton Journal. Dr. Jennifer Nielsen spoke on how ecosystem science in USGS fisheries research is being used to fill existing knowledge gaps. ASC scientists also participated in discussions to further develop a comprehensive Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring program for the Gulf of Alaska over the next 100 years. The conference provided an opportunity for intensive review by the public, resource agencies, user groups, and scientists of this significant new program, which will be funded starting in 2003 from a $115 million investment by the EVOS Trustee Council. (Dede Bohn, Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3685

November 29, 2001

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Lingering oil from 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill still injuring wildlife: Sea otter and Harlequin duck populations have failed to completely recover in heavily oiled areas of Prince William Sound. Evidence of chronic exposure to hydrocarbons, liver damage and elevated mortality will be presented by USGS scientist Jim Bodkin to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council on Dec. 11. Drue Pearce, Senior Advisor for Alaska Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior, and the other 5 members of the Council will hear this evidence along with results from a 2001 NOAA survey that located at least 20 acres of oil-contaminated beaches in western Prince William Sound, 11 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Council will decide what further research to fund, following these surprising results. USGS has been pioneering research in biomarkers and other population assessment techniques as part of these studies. (Dede Bohn, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3685)

USGS Reports Findings at International Marine Mammal Conference: USGS biologists from Alaska are presenting results of recent research at the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia, November 28-December 3. George Durner is speaking on "Predicting the Numbers of Polar Bears Impacted by Oil Spills," Tony Fischbach is presenting "Polar Bear Aerial Survey in the Eastern Chukchi Sea," Kristen Simac is presenting "Use of Forward-looking Infrared Radar - a New Method for Predicting Polar Bear Dens," and Brenda Ballachey is speaking on "Post-weaning Survival of Juvenile Sea Otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska." (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, Alaska 907-786-3668)

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

USGS partners with Shorebird Sister Schools on Buff-breasted Sandpipers Migration: Each year Arctic-nesting shorebirds migrate from their wintering grounds in Central and South America, Australia, and southeastern Asia to their nesting grounds in Alaska, Canada, and the Russian Far East. The Shorebird Sister Schools Program (http://sssp.fws.gov/sssp.html) enables students to track the migration and share their experiences with other "sister schools" around the world. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper will be the first shorebird species followed along the Central Flyway of the United States and Canada north to Alaska. This effort will help educate school children about Buff-breasted Sandpipers and shorebird conservation in five South American countries, and will coordinate observations of the species by school children and birding enthusiasts along the entire migration pathway. USGS biologists will contribute data from their field research. (Rick Lanctot, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3609)

PRESS INQUIRIES/MEDIA

Greater shearwater makes rare Alaskan appearance: The Anchorage Daily News (September 2) published a photo and a story about the finding of a greater shearwater in the Gulf of Alaska by USGS biologist John Pearce. This sighting, while still being verified by ornithologists, was highly unusual; previously there has been only one documented sighting of a greater shearwater on the entire West coast and none in Alaska. (John Pearce, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3893).

August 9, 2001

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

USGS Provides Leadership to Fisheries Issues: USGS scientist Dr. Eric Knudsen is President -Elect of the Western Division American Fisheries Society and is co-organizer of a highlight symposium at the August 19-23 meeting of AFS in Phoenix. The symposium, "Fisheries Sustainability in North America: Journeying Beyond Traditional Science and Education" includes 22 invited leaders and experts in a wide variety of fisheries management, science, and related topics. Importantly, this symposium emphasizes some of the most intransigent issues constraining fisheries sustainability, such as human population expansion, water availability, and community involvement in fisheries sustainability, among many other challenging issues. The symposium will result in a peer-reviewed book to be published by AFS next year. (Eric Knudsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3842)

USGS Provides Leadership in Ecological Monitoring: USGS scientists Karen Oakley, Kurt Jenkins, Charlie Roman, Bill Halvorson and Caroline Rogers have been invited to participate in a National Park Service (NPS) meeting on ecological monitoring, August 21-23 in Phoenix. The NPS is launching a new phase of its monitoring program by funding 32 monitoring networks comprising 270 park units. At this first "Meeting of the Networks", lessons learned from prototype monitoring program (begun in 1992), will be shared. The meeting will include the new Network Coordinators and a wide audience of NPS managers involved in the development of monitoring programs. Karen Oakley will discuss "Monitoring Protocols: What should they include? How to get the R&D work done?" (Karen Oakley, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3579)

PRESS INQUIRIES/MEDIA

"See" Otters on Television: USGS sea otter biologist Jim Bodkin and his staff hosted a crew from the Discovery Channel Canada July 26-28 while conducting sea otter research in Prince William Sound. The film footage and science interviews will be used to develop a series of 13 science programs that will be broadcast on television within the next year. The research is related to status and recovery of sea otters in Prince WIlliam Sound affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Unique methods filmed include capturing sea otters with closed circuit scuba and using laproscopy/endoscopy techniques to obtain some of the first liver biopsies from wild sea otters. Analyses will be used to evaluate relative exposure, and potential effects of exposure, to sea otters from residual oil in Prince William Sound. (Jim Bodkin, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3550)

DEPARTMENTAL/BUREAU NEWS

Humpback Movement in Glacier Bay Related to Presence of Prey and Vessels: In response to concerns at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve about the potential impacts of changing food supplies and vessel traffic on endangered humpback whales, the USGS initiated a pilot study on whales and their prey in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS). During the past few weeks, USGS and NPS biologists identified and tracked individual whales (identified from known fluke patterns) as they moved around Glacier Bay and fed on prey in different oceanographic settings. Behavior of whales in the presence of prey schools and with respect to the movements of tourist vessels was monitored continuously. Preliminary results indicate that whales move rapidly between turbulent areas that support dense prey patches (herring, pollock, euphausiids, etc.), rest or sleep in calm waters, and actively respond to the presence of large vessels (including the research vessel). More extensive surveys are planned for next year. (John Piatt, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3549)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

A Rude Awakening: Fresh snow had fallen, but excavation marks 2 days earlier indicated the polar bears had probably emerged from their dens. Details of a surprise encounter for the sow and cubs with USGS biologists Steve Amstrup and Geoff York, conducting their spring research on polar bear dens, are covered in Alaska Magazine's August issue, on line at http://www.alaskamagazine.com/stories/0801/ktob_rude.shtml . ( Geoff York , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3928)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

USGS Bear Expertise Featured in British Educational TV Show: Two Hands Productions of the United Kingdom produces a wildlife show for children called "Tiger! Tiger!" This half-hour feature is currently the highest rated such show in the UK. Two Hands crews recently met up with USGS bear biologist Tom Smith along the coast of Katmai National Park and Preserve on the Alaska Peninsula. Tom discussed his ongoing research with coastal brown bears, some basic bear facts and their ecology. The film company succeeded in getting a lot of good footage for the feature, which is scheduled to air in February 2002. ( Tom S. Smith , Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3456)

June 14, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Importance of Genetics and Ecology in Resource Management : USGS scientist Jennifer L. Nielsen has been invited by the State of Idaho to conduct a seminar and workshop on "Conservation Units in Resource Management: Integrating Genetics and Ecology" in Boise and Twin Falls, July 9, 2001. The audience will include agency personnel (USGS, Idaho Fish and Game Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management), members the Idaho House of Representatives and Senate, staff from the Governor’s office, and the general public. Dr. J. Michael Scott, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Moscow, Idaho organized the seminar and workshop and invited Dr. Nielsen to give the presentation. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

New Technology To Help Answer Questions about Salmon: USGS research biologists Jennifer L. Nielsen and Derek Wilson successfully released 57 coho salmon smolts implanted with new microcomputer archival tags that will be used to monitor fish behavior and migration patterns throughout their marine life stage. The coho smolts used in this initial experiment were hatchery fish raised and released near Anchorage earlier this month where their natural downstream migration will lead them into Cook Inlet. This is the first application of a new electronic tagging technology that will allow us to document and study marine migrations in salmon throughout the North Pacific Ocean. This technology provides the opportunity to ask questions about the "black box" of salmon oceanic migrations and their impact on salmon productivity and sustainability. USGS will study salmon performance in different marine habitats, critical environmental oceanic conditions, and aspects of salmon migration and behavior in relationship to changing ocean and climatic conditions that were inaccessible with previous technologies. This study is a three-year collaboration between USGS, the Exxon Valdez Trustee Council, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

April 13, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Why Pacific Salmon Have Declined: USGS scientist Dr Eric Knudsen has been invited to speak at the "Restoring Nutrients to Salmonid Ecosystems" conference, in Eugene, Oregon, April 24-26. Recent research has shown that a key factor contributing to Pacific salmon declines is a reduction in freshwater productivity due to fewer salmon carcasses delivering nutrients to the freshwater ecosystem. Eric was invited to address the topic of changes needed in spawner escapement management to allow adequate fertilization of freshwater systems. His presentation, and later book chapter, will focus on how traditional salmon population modeling has inadvertently contributed to population declines, and he will present some new ideas for an ecosystem-based approach to salmon population modeling. The presentation includes a case study that examines the effects of including previously ignored nutrient feedback loops in salmon population modeling using the new approach. (Eric Knudsen , Anchorage, AK , 907-786-3842)

Science for the Parks: USGS scientists will participate in the 2001 George Wright Society Biennial Conference, "Crossing Boundaries in Park Management: on the Ground, in the Mind, among Disciplines," April 16-20, in Denver, Colorado. Karen Oakley will speak on "Key features of protocols for long-term ecological monitoring." Gail Irvine will present a talk entitled "Detecting change across broad-scales: An inferential design for long-term intertidal monitoring at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve," and will also chair the session on Marine Protected Areas. ( Joy Geiselman , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

March 29, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

A laska Magazine Reports USGS Testing of Satellite Pop-Up Tags on Halibut. The April 2001 issue of Alaska Magazine's Field Notes includes an article on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) funded USGS project testing satellite pop-up tags in Pacific halibut in Resurrection Bay, Alaska. USGS Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office (ASC - BSO) scientists Jennifer Nielsen (PI), Derek Wilson, and Andy Seitz have successfully tagged halibut as part of a study designed to determine the efficiency of this new technology in cold climates by following movement patterns in Pacific halibut throughout Prince William Sound, Alaska. Pop-up tags record environmental conditions that allow tracking of the halibut across marine habitats. At a preprogrammed time the tags detach from the fish and float to the surface of the ocean. Data collected from tags are then downloaded via ARGOS satellite to ASC - BSO. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

March 22, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Prominent in International Goose Research: Ten scientists from the USGS Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office (ASC - BSO) are participating in the North American Arctic Goose Conference April 3-7, 2001 in Quebec City, Canada. Over 200 researchers and managers from North America, Europe, and Asia are expected to attend, sharing the most recent results on all species of geese and their habitats. Joel Schmutz, USGS ASC - BSO, was selected to chair a plenary session on "Comparative Population Dynamics of Geese Nesting Sympatrically on the Yukon-Kuskowim." Workshops will address "Management of Overabundant White Goose Populations" and "Estimating Hunting Mortality in Geese: Some Methodological Considerations." More details on the science agenda can be found at www.goose.org/naag. ( Dirk Derksen , 907-786-3531)

Equal Employment Opportunity In Alaska: USGS staff are participating in EEO management and employee training March 21, 22, and 27. Fred Gonzalez, Sharon Salpini, and James Wiggins are providing valuable information to employees and supervisors on rights and responsibilities. ( Cindy Gilder , 907-786-3524)

March 8, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Supports Special Olympics - The 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games are taking place March 4-11 in Anchorage. Thousands of volunteers have been recruited for this event, in which 2,000 athletes from 80 nations are participating. USGS is well represented among the volunteers, providing assistance various areas including information booths, opening and closing ceremonies, and as cheer teams for various countries. ( Joy Geiselman , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Underwater World of Glacier Bay: Alaska Public Broadcasting Station KTOO accompanied USGS researchers and National Park Service managers in Glacier Bay on March 5. A broadcast next week will feature the cooperative efforts of the two agencies in producing a film for the public on the underwater features of Glacier Bay, including highlights on USGS research on halibut, crab, sea otters, and other marine life. ( Philip Hooge , Gustavus, AK, 907-697-2637)

March 1, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Avoiding Conflicts with Bears: USGS biologist Tom Smith spoke on "Safe Conduct in Bear Country" February 26 and 27 in the Alaska Science Forum series, sponsored by the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation and the University of Alaska . About 1200 people attended the 2 lectures presented in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. ( Tom Smith , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3456)

Science Outreach: USGS biologist Bobbi Pierson participated in the Anchorage School District's Girls' Math Experience at Bartlett High School Saturday, February 24. The 1-day conference is held to encourage middle school girls to continue their interests in math by inviting women professionals to present small-group seminars on math and its use in their careers. As a geneticist, Bobbi provided examples of how math and pattern recognition are used to calculate the proper amounts of chemicals in DNA reactions, to assess relationships between individuals, to verify the sex of mammals and birds, and to determine the source population of mixed stocks. ( Bobbi Pierson , Anchorage, AK, 907- 786-3694)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Potential Conflicts with Bears: USGS biologist Tom Smith was quoted in an article published by the Anchorage Daily News February 25 ("Bear Lover Alarmingly Close to his Subject" - http://www.adn.com/nation/story/0,2360,242795,00.html ) about a bear watcher who recently appeared on the David Letterman Show. ( Tom Smith , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3456)

February 22, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Deformed-bill Birds in Alaska: USGS biologist Colleen Handel gave a presentation to the Mat-Su Bird Club on "The Scientific Mystery of the Cross-billed Chickadees in Alaska" on February 14, 2001, in Palmer, Alaska. An article was published in the "Talkeetna Good Times" newspaper on the epidemic of bill deformities in Alaska songbirds and featured research activities by USGS researchers Lisa Pajot, Nathan Senner, and Colleen Handel ("A Chickadee's Tale," by Robin Song, Talkeetna Good Times, February 2001, Vol. 2, Issue 9, p.7). ( Colleen Handel, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3418)

February 1, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Provides Fisheries Expertise : Dr. Jennifer Nielsen, USGS Fisheries Biologist, has been appointed to the Scientific Steering Committee for the Census of Marine Life (CoML) for Pacific Salmon sponsored by the Sloan Foundation. The major effort of this committee will be to design and implement a program of research for documenting salmonid use of near shore and open ocean habitats from Baha, Mexico, to Alaska and Japan. Fellow members of this Committee include David Welch (Division of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada), George Boehlert (National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), California), Bill Pearcy (Oregon State University), Hirosi Ueda (Hokkaido University Japan), Krevin Friedland (NMFS, Woods Hole, MA), and Mike Healey (University of British Columbia). Dr. Vera Alexander, Dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Science, is a member of the Census of Marine Life Development Committee and hopes to bring many opportunities for marine research to Alaska through this program. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) Technology Meets the Polar Bear: Stumbling into an active polar bear den will ruin your day! In addition, disturbing a bear in her maternal den could result in death of the new-born cubs that are too small to go outside in winter. To prevent both, researchers from the USGS are working with British Petroleum in Alaska to test whether thermography (Forward Looking Infrared, or FLIR) might be a key to den avoidance in the oil field. This fall, a dozen polar bears were radiocollared and followed to their dens. The researchers are now testing whether a FLIR imager can detect the temperature difference between the snow over a polar bear den and the adjacent snow drifts. FLIR images taken over these dens have shown that most do stand out against the cold landscape. Through the FLIR, dens look like small tufts of white cotton on a dark gray or black background of cold snow. In the course of this work using FLIR, the researchers discovered four dens of bears that were not radio-collared. By testing the FLIR on known dens in a variety of weather conditions, researchers hope to determine the circumstances needed to clearly detect other unknown polar bears under the snow. If the circumstances when FLIR is effective at detecting dens can be quantified, then it could be determined when it is possible to tell for certain whether there are any denned bears near a proposed activity. That ability would provide a tool to prevent unintentional disturbance of polar bears by winter exploration and development activities as well as to prevent human injuries. ( Steven Amstrup , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3424)

January 4, 2001

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Scientific Review of Salmon Escapement Goals - USGS supervisory fisheries administrator Dr. Eric Knudsen is serving on a scientific peer review panel for proposed Pacific salmon Biological Escapement Goals (BEGs) for Western Alaska. The panel will help ensure that the best possible science is provided in this process. The proposed BEGs are recommended by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for use by the Alaska Board of Fisheries on escapement issues as well as on subsistence, commercial and recreational yield levels. Weak salmon runs in Western Alaska over the past several years have intensified discussions on trade-offs between potential harvest rates and future production. ( Eric Knudsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3842)

December 14, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Web Site Featured in Science . The Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office (ASC - BSO) in Anchorage, Alaska, conducts a wide variety of research on seabirds, forage fish and marine ecosystems with emphasis on factors influencing marine animal populations such as oil pollution, fisheries and natural changes in the marine environment. An ASC - BSO web site that documents this work, offering educational and research resources for students, scientists, and managers, was featured in Science this week ("Netwatch," Vol. 290, 8 Dec., 2000). For more information, see http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird&foragefish/index.html . ( Mary Whalen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3496)

November 30, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

High Impact Science: USGS fisheries biologist Jennifer Nielsen serves as Editor-in-Chief for Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, a professional scientific journal published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. This journal received the highest impact ISI index rating (4.444) in the categories of Fisheries and Marine & Freshwater Biology. It is #1 again this year (by a long shot!) All USGS biologists should be encouraged to keep up the excellent contributions to this fine journal. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Fish Behavior Tagged: A small, electronic-packed bobber that one day may help unlock the mysterious ocean life of halibut, salmon, and other species is being tested right now on halibut in Alaska. The Anchorage Daily News featured this work of USGS researcher Jennifer Nielsen on Sunday, November 26 (http://www.adn.com/metro/story/0,2633,216267,00.html). The work is funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. While the immediate goal is to test the tags, which constantly record water pressure, light, and temperature and extrapolate longitude and latitude, the long-term goal is to provide needed information on fish migration and behavior in the ocean. ( Jennifer Nielsen , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3670)

November 16, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Alaska/New Zealand Bird Migrations Explored: USGS scientist Bob Gill was invited as keynote speaker at 25th anniversary meetings of New Zealand Wader Study Group and Miranda Naturalists Trust in Auckland, New Zealand, October 19-November 1, 2000. Links between arctic breeding waders and the same birds that spend the austral summer in New Zealand were investigated. Gill reported on his research on Bar-tailed Godwits ( Limosa lapponica ) and Bristle-thighed Curlews ( Numenius tahitiensis ) in Alaska, focusing on their breeding ecology and southward migration. For godwits, the latter entails a nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean in which over 50% of a bird's body mass is fat. The migration is initiated during predictable weather systems in the Bering Sea/North Pacific that provide favorable tailwinds from Alaska to New Zealand. During his 17 days in New Zealand, Gill gave five, hour-long lectures on various aspects of shorebird research in Alaska, was interviewed by two newspapers, and conducted three radio interviews, including a 15-minute live (call-in) program over New Zealand Public Radio. He also participated in marking and capture of godwits as part of an international cooperative shorebird research project. Gill helped develop several joint research efforts concerning migration and stopover ecology, especially identification of key sites at both ends of the migration corridor as well as at sites in China, Korea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. These will expand multinational scientific studies with the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Russia. ( Bob Gill , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3514).

"Best of the Web" Honors: The USGS Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office website (www.absc.usgs.gov), in particular the seabird project web pages of USGS scientist John Piatt, was selected as "best of the web" by a National Science Foundation-sponsored project at University of Wisconsin.

Click on:

http://scout.cs.wisc.edu -to see overall UW/NSF project

http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/current/index.html -to see inclusion of USGS ASC - BSO seabird pages. (Joy Geiselman, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3668).

"Seas at the Millennium:" USGS scientist Gail Irvine authored a chapter entitled "Persistence of Spilled Oil on Shores and Its Effects on Biota" in a three-volume book, "Seas at the Millennium: an Environmental Evaluation," which was recently released this fall by Pergamon Press. ( Gail Irvine , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3653).

November 9, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Involved in Alaska Fisheries Meeting: Alaskan fisheries biologists, ecologists, and managers will be gathering November 14-16 at the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 27th annual meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska. Featured speakers include Jim Estes, USGS research biologist; Elliot Norse, president of the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, Washington; the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, Fran Ulmer; and Ray Hilborn, University of Washington. Two continuing education courses are offered: Bootstrap Data Analysis, and Everything You Wanted to Know About Genetics but Were Afraid to Ask. Technical sessions include such topics as Fishing Effects on the Seafloor; Marine Protected Areas; Sustainable Fisheries in Alaska; Modeling: A Tool for Managing Fisheries; and Subsistence Fisheries. More information is available from the web site http://www.fisheries.org/afs-ak/meetings/2000/meet2000.htm . Carol Ann Woody, USGS Research Fishery Biologist, is President-Elect of the Alaska Chapter of The American Fisheries Society and is responsible for planning and executing this year's program. ( Carol Ann Woody , Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3314)

Scientists Examine Denali's Complex Ecosystem: The Denali Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Conference was held October 24-25, 2000, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Widely attended by interested parties from other parks, other federal and state agencies, and the university, it was also reported on in the press (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Anchorage Daily News). USGS scientist Dr. Layne Adams reported on wolf and caribou monitoring, and University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists Dr. Eric Rexstad, Ed Debevec, and Dr. Sarah Conn, whose involvement in the Denali program has been supported by the USGS, talked about small mammals, data integration, and aquatic invertebrates. Also at the conference, the National Park Service presented USGS scientist Karen Oakley with an award for her work with the National Park Service on development of inventory and monitoring programs in Alaska. ( Karen Oakley , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3579)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Birdwatchers Assist USGS Research on Deformed Chickadees: The Anchorage Daily News (November 7) featured the ongoing bird studies by USGS researchers Steve Matsuoka and Colleen Handel. They are again seeking help from local birders and feeder-watchers as they try to determine what is causing an epidemic of bill deformities in black-capped chickadees and other Southcentral Alaska songbirds. Since 1991, Alaska bird-watchers have reported seeing almost 500 birds with deformed bills, with an exponential rise in sightings over the past couple of years. This time, the researchers are looking for banded birds that are part of a nest-box study begun last April. Among preliminary findings was an alarming statistic: Out of 100 black-capped chickadee parents, five had deformed bills. More information on deformed-bill chickadees and other birds can be obtained by visiting the USGS Web site at http://www.absc.usgs.gov and clicking on "Chickadee Alert."      ( Colleen Handel , Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3418)

October 12, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Sharing Research Tools with the State: At the request of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, USGS ecologist Philip Hooge presented his Animal Movement Analyst program to a meeting of State fish and game biologists on October 9-10. This meeting was designed to teach the biologists how the new capabilities of Geographic Information Systems can be applied to their research. The Animal Movement Analyst is an extension to ESRI's widely used ArcView GIS software. This extension analyzes the positions and movements of tracked animals, performing a broad range of spatial statistics, home range analysis, and modeling. The extension is used around the world on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic species, and is also used by law enforcement agencies to analyze crime patterns. The extension is available on the web at http://www.absc.usgs.gov/glba/gistools/index.htm (Philip Hooge, Glacier Bay, AK, 907-697-2637)

September 7, 2000

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

American Fisheries Society Recognizes USGS Employee: Dr. Jennifer Nielsen, Fisheries Research Team Leader at the USGS Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the recent American Fisheries Society annual meeting in St Louis. Dr. Nielsen made a tremendous contribution to the visibility and scientific credibility of AFS by organizing and orchestrating the widely acclaimed conference, "Evolution and the Aquatic Ecosystem - Defining Unique Units in Population Conservation." She then edited and published the peer-reviewed proceedings. She also Chaired the Program Committee for the 1997 AFS annual meeting in Monterey. The Society also recognized Dr. Nielsen's career record of prestigious contributions to fisheries science. Dr. Nielsen is currently President of the AFS Genetics Section and was named to the AFS Special Management Committee at the St Louis meeting. (Eric Knudsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3842).

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

USGS Biologists Team with Cu'pik Eskimo Youths: The Alaska Science Center just completed the fifteenth year of a cooperative project with Cu'pik Eskimo youths of Chevak, Alaska, banding cackling Canada geese on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. The program hinges on the participation of children, 13 to 20 years of age, who spend up to 4 days living with biologists at a remote field site capturing and banding flightless geese. Geese are marked with metal leg bands and plastic neck collars as part of a long-term marking effort undertaken by USGS and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor the population dynamics of a population once in jeopardy. Since 1986, the banding program has evolved from an experimental endeavor to an annual event, with many youths returning to band geese for several seasons, learning field biology first-hand. (Craig Ely, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3526).

Sustaining Renewable Natural Resources: USGS fishery biologist Dr. Eric Knudsen has been invited to participate in the fourth national congress "Promoting Sustainability in the 21st Century," to be convened by the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation in Portland, Oregon, September 6-9, 2000. Dr. Knudsen is a delegate from the American Fisheries Society and recently edited the book, "Sustainable Fisheries Management of Pacific Salmon." (Eric Knudsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3842).

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Polar Bear Expertise Sought After Unusual Sighting: USGS polar bear biologist Steve Amstrup was interviewed by the Alaska Public Radio Network for broadcast throughout Alaska, after a tour boat in Prince William Sound reportedly sighted a polar bear floating on some glacier ice. This is farther south than these bears are normally found. (Steve Amstrup, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3424).

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Diversity Internships in Alaska Salmon Research: The USGS Alaska Science Center initiated the Native Alaskan Fisheries Internship Program with recruitment of two honor roll, athletically oriented women, Kristy Balluta and Janell Kakarek, for the program's first season. The program will give students ages 17 - 23 hands-on experience in fisheries science with the goal of encouraging them to pursue a college degree in fisheries science. This year the students will count, radiotag, track, and collect genetic samples from sockeye salmon returning to the Lake Clark, Alaska, watershed. (Carol Ann Woody, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3314)

Alaska Geographic Features Sea Otters: This week Alaska Geographic released its summer 2000 issue on "Seals, Sea Lions and Sea Otters." USGS biologist Jim Bodkin authored the chapter on sea otters, which he has studied throughout the northern Pacific Ocean for the past 20 years. (Jim Bodkin, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3550).

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Salmon Restoration: USGS biologist Eric Knudsen will chair "Salmonid Restoration via Natural Colonization: Lessons from Nature and Experiments" at the Western Division, American Fisheries Society (AFS) Meeting, July 17-20, Telluride, CO. This session will explore the concepts of natural salmonid population expansion, including speed at which new populations become established, stray rates, homing variation, genetic relationships of new and source populations, likelihood of reestablishment in altered habitats, and the importance of sufficient spawners in recolonizing underutilized habitats. Dr. Knudsen, who is currently Vice President of the Western Division, AFS, will present "Colonization and development of stream communities across a 200-year gradient following glacial recession in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska" at this session and also at the Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, August 20-24 St Louis, MO. (Eric Knudsen, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3842).

PRESS/MEDIA  CONTACTS:

Kittiwake Haven on Remote Alaska Island: The Anchorage Daily News (Sunday, July 2) featured a front page article on the unique kittiwake research of USGS biologist Scott Hatch. On Middleton Island in the Gulf of Alaska, 1,200 pairs of kittiwakes and 900 pairs pelagic cormorants are nesting on an abandoned radar tower. Hatch has installed hundreds of one-way glass windows through which the birds can be observed during feeding experiments as well as briefly captured for weighing, measuring, and banding. The unique site is under consideration for long-term, multi-agency research and monitoring of seabirds as well as the Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem. (Scott Hatch, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3529).

Curlews in the News: USGS employee Nathan Senner, a high school senior who was first a USGS Volunteer in Science, published an article in the Anchorage Daily News Friday, June 30, about his field work on curlews, which nest in only two breeding areas worldwide, one in Alaska and one in Russia. Although the breeding grounds are in no danger, the wintering grounds on the atolls of the South Pacific are subject to burgeoning population and tourist industry. The USGS study is providing useful information to wildlife managers on the curlew populations. (Nathan Senner, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3514).

People Magazine: USGS scientist George Durner appears in the July 10 issue of People Magazine as one of the "100 most eligible bachelors." Durner spends 3 months a year capturing and tagging polar bears north of the Arctic Circle. (George Durner, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3366)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Interest Continues in the Long-Term Impacts of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: The journal Science (9 June 2000) published a note about the USGS research on long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters. Decreased survival rates are persisting for sea otters of all ages. (Dan Monson, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3449)

Bear With Us: On June 29 Public Radio Station KCHU (Valdez, Alaska) featured USGS biologist Tom Smith in an hour call-in program about safe conduct in bear country. (Tom Smith, Anchorage, AK 907- 786-3456)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Bear Advice May Not Ring Through:  The Anchorage Daily News ran a front page story June 18 about USGS biologist Tom Smith's research project regarding bear response to the sights, scents and sounds associated with human activity. His preliminary findings in Katmai National Park showed that brown bears did not react to bear bells, a popular hiker accessory thought to warn bears of human presence. This article was subsequently picked up by Associated Press who ran it nationwide in papers ranging from USA Today to the Wall Street Journal. National Public Radio ran a piece on the research as well. (Tom Smith, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3456)

Tracking Walruses: USGS Researcher Chad Jay is using satellite transmitters to track the migration routes of Pacific walrus and to obtain more accurate population estimates. His project was featured in the Anchorage Daily News June 19. Walrus are important components of the Bering Sea ecosystem and are important culturally to Eskimos along the Bering Sea coast, who still use their meat, hides, and ivory as part of their subsistence life. (Chad Jay, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3856).

Salmon and Conservation Biology: USGS researcher Carol Ann Woody will be a session chair for genetics and conservation at an international meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology June 8 to 13. She will also present a paper entitled "Temporal variation in phenotypic and genotypic traits in two sockeye salmon populations, Tustumena Lake, Alaska." Sockeye salmon in two tributary streams of the same lake were compared for temporal variation in phenotypic (length, depth adjusted for length) and genotypic (six microsatellite loci) traits. Fish from the larger stream were larger; fish from the smaller stream were smaller, suggesting differential fitness related to size. Results indicate run time differences among and within sockeye salmon populations may strongly influence levels of gene flow, possibly more than spatial differences. (Carol Ann Woody, Anchorage, Alaska, 907-786-3314)

Do Catch-and-Release Regulations Help or Harm Trout? Originally thought to be the saving grace for rainbow populations suffering from overharvest, catch and release regulations may have important effects on trout populations. In USGS studies on the popular Alagnak River in Alaska, 47% of 2000 Alagnak rainbows examined had one or more serious mutilations caused by previous hooking. This summer, USGS researchers, in cooperation with the National Park Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are testing the effects of hook and release on fish stress and chronic injury. The study is designed also to test for the effects of different types of tackle, in hopes of finding some tackles that result in less injury. Results from this research will provide fisheries managers with ideas for best managing trout fisheries to minimize the effects of heavy fishing.  (Jennifer Nielsen, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3587)

USGS Leads Marine Science Issues Workshop: Marine scientists and managers from all four divisions of USGS, and from FWS, NPS, MMS and NOAA, met May 23-26 in Florida to identify important marine issues for DOI agencies, areas for collaboration and integration within and between agencies, and future research priorities and strategies for a marine science program within the Department of Interior. Dr. John Piatt, USGS marine research scientist in Anchorage, AK, chaired the workshop. Roger McManus, recently appointed "Ocean Advisor" to DOI Secretary Babbitt out of growing concern for DOI marine issues and habitats, was keynote speaker. During the coming year, the newly-formed DOI Inter-Disciplinary Committee for Marine Science will distribute a series of reports on the top-priority issues identified at the workshop, and lay the groundwork for a long-term strategy for DOI marine research. (John Piatt, Anchorage, AK, 907-786-3549).

Worldwide Interest Continues in the Long-Term Impacts of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: The Washington Post and the BBC News (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_759000/759308.stm) published news stories about the USGS study of long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters. In addition, a reporter from the Belgian newspaper "De morgen" contacted Dan Monson about the results, which show that the difficult-to-detect long-term impacts of the spill may still be highly significant. (Dan Monson, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3449)

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS

Bear Attack Database Used in Alaska: In response to a request from the Governor's office in Alaska, USGS researcher Tom Smith provided statistics on bear-human interactions. This information is being used in the development of a new campaign in Alaska to prevent problems between people and wildlife and to protect both. (Tom Smith, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3456)

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES

Long-Term Impacts of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: A press release and on-line publication by the National Academy of Science prompted media interest in the USGS study of long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters. Reporters from Discovery Magazine, the Associated Press, the Canadian Broadcast Service, and Liberation (Paris, France) interviewed Dan Monson about the results which show that the difficult-to-detect long-term impacts of the spill may still be highly significant. (Dan Monson, Anchorage, AK 907-786-3449)

KEY BRD/CENTER NEWS