Images

Short-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.

Geologists climb a slope above Larsen Bay, Nagai Island, Alaska. Geologists studying coastal evidence of past Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone earthquakes and high tsunamis climb a slope above Larsen Bay on Nagai Island in the Shumagin seismic gap, Alaska.

Humpback whitefish (Coregonus pidschian) captured along the Beaufort Sea coastline in Alaska. Humpback whitefish are part of subsistence fisheries in Alaska.

Broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus) captured along the Beaufort Sea coastline in Alaska. Broad whitefish are part of subsistence fisheries in Alaska.

Least cisco (Coregonus sardinella) captured along the Beaufort Sea coastline in Alaska. Least cisco are part of subsistence fisheries in Alaska.

Two Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) captured along the Beaufort Sea coastline in Alaska. Arctic cod are the primary forage fish and a key prey item for predators in the Pacific Arctic.

Female McKay's Bunting with berry stained feathers on St. Matthew Island, Alaska.

USGS Alaska Science Center scientists Sarah Laske, Vanessa von Biela, and Ashley Stanek near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska departing for a day of field work in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, to study fish community response to environmental conditions including sea ice, water temperature and salinity.

Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Tatiana Korthuis recording fish catch data on board the USGS research vessel Alaskan Gyre in Herring Bay, Alaska. This was part of a USGS study to monitor forage fish and seabirds in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Red fox kits on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

Canada goose (Branta canadensis), Anchorage, AK

USGS Alaska Science Center scientists Vanessa von Biela and Sarah Laske near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska departing for a day of field work in the nearshore Beaufort Sea to study fish community response to environmental conditions including sea ice, water temperature and salinity.

Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.

A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.

USGS Scientist Sarah Schoen with a plankton sample to test for harmful algal bloom toxins in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

Preparing the boat for isokinetic water sampling using the equal discharge increment method on the Alsek River.

The sampling team (Sean Burril of BOEM; Ashley Stanek of USGS ASC and Sarah Laske of USGS ASC) removes individual fish from floating net pens, identify, measure length, and release the fish back to the lagoon.

Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska

USGS scientist Sarah Schoen gets ready to deploy a net in Cook Inlet to collect plankton samples to test for harmful algal bloom toxins. 

Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon on the Canning River Delta, Alaska, July 2019 as part of a USGS study on loon marine habitat use areas. Jakob was an intern for the summer with the U.S. Geological Survey.

An Arctic Tern with zooplankton in Prince William Sound, Alaska.