Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
Return to Ecosystems
The USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative:
This initiative has been a primary way for the USGS Alaska Science Center to conduct research and collaborations in the Arctic portions of Alaska. The objectives of this initiative are as follows:
- Quantify the responses of wildlife species and their habitats to ecosystem change in the Arctic,
- Provide projections of likely future wildlife and habitat responses, and
- Make information publicly available to inform land and species management decisions and Alaska Native subsistence and co-management council actions.
Research Conducted Through the Initiative:
The USGS conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Information on recent USGS assessments in the Arctic can be found on the USGS Arctic Ecosystems Assessments Factsheet and on this page.
USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative research and collaborations for 2025 – 2027 will focus on the following topics:
- Arctic Water Ecosystems (Rusting of Arctic Rivers, heat stress in salmon, and permafrost)
- New Capacities for Arctic Mammal Research (caribou, polar bears, walrus, and sea otters)
- Changes in the Distribution and Abundance of Arctic Birds
Past efforts of the USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative have provided significant understanding and collaborations on the following topics. See the Science, Publications and Data tabs above for more information on these topics.
- Hydrology
- Wildlife Species of Management Concern
- Minimizing the Effects of Artic Energy Development on Wildlife
- Biosurveillance of Wildlife Pathogens in the Arctic
- Algal Toxins in the Arctic
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Walrus Research
Walrus Research
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 42
Mapping Data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska Mapping Data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
This data package includes 3 child items with mapping data of polar bear den habitat on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Child Item 1: "Data Used to Compare Photo-Interpreted and IfSAR-Derived Maps of Polar Bear Denning Habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2006-2016" Child Item 2: "Polar Bear Maternal Den Habitat on the Coastal Plain of Northern...
Capture and Measurement Data of Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) from the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014 Capture and Measurement Data of Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) from the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014
This data set provides capture information and body size measurements of adult and gosling Greater White-fronted Geese captured at three study sites on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014.
Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Concentrations in Polar Bear Hair and Prey from the Alaska Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 1978-2019 Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Concentrations in Polar Bear Hair and Prey from the Alaska Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 1978-2019
This dataset includes carbon and nitrogen isotope concentrations measured in polar bear hair and marine mammal prey samples collected 1978-2017 in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Marine mammal prey samples were collected opportunistically either from polar bear seal kill sites or from marine mammals harvested by Native hunters. Hair was collected from polar bears captured on the sea ice...
Fatty Acid Composition of Polar Bear Adipose Tissue and Ringed and Bearded Seal Blubber Collected in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017 Fatty Acid Composition of Polar Bear Adipose Tissue and Ringed and Bearded Seal Blubber Collected in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017
These data are the fatty acid compositions (in percent) of adipose tissue samples collected from polar bears and of blubber samples collected from ringed and bearded seal killed by polar bears in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017. The dataset includes sex, age, and age class of the bears that were sampled. The data are provided as percent of each fatty acid identified via nomenclature that...
Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013 Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013
This data release contains measurements of vegetation samples and temperature collected from experimental plots of Carex subspathacea along the Smith River Estuary, Alaska (2011-2013).
Data Associated with Poecivirus Testing of Individual Birds with Beak Deformities Data Associated with Poecivirus Testing of Individual Birds with Beak Deformities
This data set is comprised of two tables, one with results of poecivirus screening of tissues from six North American avian species using PCR followed by Sanger sequencing in addition to unbiased metagenomic sequencing, the second lists the names and sequences of primers used.
Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014 Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014
These data are in one table of territory occupancy data for loons and presence/absence data for fish species based on survey information for Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) and five species of fish (Alaska blackfish, arctic grayling, broad whitefish, least cisco, ninespine stickleback) from freshwater lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain in northern Alaska, 2011...
Information from Bird Nests Monitored on the Colville River Delta, Alaska, 2011-2018 Information from Bird Nests Monitored on the Colville River Delta, Alaska, 2011-2018
This dataset contains nesting information for birds breeding at a site on the Colville River, Alaska, 2011-2018. Nests were located during area searches conducted by biologists, and standardized information on each nest was collected following protocols of the Arctic Shorebird Demographic Network (Brown et al. 2014).
Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015 Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015
These data are in one table with age and sex composition counts of groups of walruses on ice floes in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. Counts were collected by visual observations from boats.
Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska
Soil moisture and temperature were measured at four shallow depths in multiple locations within tundra and forested landscapes of the Agashashok River basin. The measurements were made continuously beginning in 2015 until the most recent download in summer, 2019 or until the sensors or loggers failed.
Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017 Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017
Meteorological data was collected from two locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, one high in the drainage located on tundra (67.5440 N, 161.6828 W) and a second on a rocky knoll near the watershed mouth (67.2821 N, 162.5841 W). The data contain information on air temperatures, rainfall, barometric pressure, relative humidity, incoming and outgoing radiation, and wind speed and...
Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016 Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016
This dataset includes soil data collected from various landscapes adjacent to thaw ponds on the North Slope of Alaska between 2012 and 2018. The landscapes include ice-rich polygonal ground found on basin uplands, as well as bluffs and lake edges. At each site a visual description of soil type and texture was performed, and a permafrost probe was used to determine a 'depth to refusal'...
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 74
Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska
Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) are a species of conservation concern in Alaska due to recent evidence of a population decline on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) in northern Alaska. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a pilot study to evaluate diet and use of nearshore foraging areas as possible drivers of the population decline. We...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Christopher J. Latty, Joel A. Schmutz
U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments
The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to...
Authors
John M. Pearce, Caroline R. Van Hemert
Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing loss of sea ice habitats used to access their marine mammal prey. Simultaneously, ocean warming is changing ecosystems that support marine mammal populations. The interactive effects of sea ice and prey are not well understood yet may explain spatial‐temporal variation in the response of polar bears to sea ice loss. Here, we examined the...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Eric V. Regehr, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Ryan H. Wilson, Michelle St. Martin, Justin A. Crawford, Lori T. Quakenbush
Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber
The variability of lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition across blubber depth and body sites are important considerations for condition and diet studies of marine mammals. We investigated lipid and FA variability among inner and outer blubber layers, three body sites, four study years, and lactation status of adult female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) using...
Authors
Chadwick V. Jay, Sara J. Iverson, Anthony S. Fischbach
Predictors of invertebrate biomass and rate of advancement of invertebrate phenology across eight sites in the North American Arctic Predictors of invertebrate biomass and rate of advancement of invertebrate phenology across eight sites in the North American Arctic
Average annual temperatures in the Arctic increased by 2–3 °C during the second half of the twentieth century. Because shorebirds initiate northward migration to Arctic nesting sites based on cues at distant wintering grounds, climate-driven changes in the phenology of Arctic invertebrates may lead to a mismatch between the nutritional demands of shorebirds and the invertebrate prey...
Authors
Rebecca Shaftel, Daniel J. Rinella, Eunbi Kwon, Stephen C. Brown, H. River Gates, Steve Kendall, David B. Lank, Joseph R. Liebezeit, David C. Payer, Jennie Rausch, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Brett K. Sandercock, Paul A. Smith, David H. Ward, Richard B. Lanctot
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with university, Federal, Tribal, and independent partners, conducts fundamental research on the distribution, vulnerability, and importance of permafrost in arctic and boreal ecosystems. Scientists, land managers, and policy makers use USGS data to help make decisions for development, wildlife habitat, and other needs. Native villages...
Authors
Mark P. Waldrop, Lesleigh Anderson, Mark Dornblaser, Li H. Erikson, Ann E. Gibbs, Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Stephanie R. James, Miriam C. Jones, Joshua C. Koch, Mary-Cathrine Leewis, Kristen L. Manies, Burke J. Minsley, Neal J. Pastick, Vijay Patil, Frank Urban, Michelle A. Walvoord, Kimberly P. Wickland, Christian Zimmerman
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Land Change Science Program, Volcano Hazards Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Volcano Science Center
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
The long-term persistence of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by sea-ice loss due to climate change, which is concurrently providing an opportunity in the Arctic for increased anthropogenic activities including natural resource extraction. Mitigating the risk of those activities, which can adversely affect the population dynamics of the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS)...
Authors
Todd C. Atwood, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Vijay P. Patil, George M. Durner, David C. Douglas, Kristin S. Simac
DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses
Environmental conditions in the Chukchi Sea are changing rapidly and may alter the abundance and distribution of marine species and their benthic prey. We used a metabarcoding approach to identify potentially important prey taxa from Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) fecal samples (n = 87). Bivalvia was the most dominant class of prey (66% of all normalized counts) and...
Authors
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Chadwick V. Jay, Robert S. Cornman, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Sandra L. Talbot
Fatty acid-based diet estimates suggest ringed seal remain the main prey of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears despite recent use of onshore food resources Fatty acid-based diet estimates suggest ringed seal remain the main prey of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears despite recent use of onshore food resources
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation have traditionally fed predominantly upon ice‐seals; however, as the proportion of the subpopulation using onshore habitat has recently increased, foraging on land‐based resources, including remains of subsistence‐harvested bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and colonial nesting seabirds has been observed...
Authors
Jennifer Bourque, Todd C. Atwood, George J. Divoky, Connie Stewart, Melissa A. McKinney
Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
Increasing demands for energy have generated interest in expanding oil and gas production on the North Slope of Alaska, raising questions about the resilience of barren-ground caribou populations to new development. Although the amount of habitat lost directly to energy development in the Arctic will likely be relatively small, there are significant concerns about habitat that may be...
Authors
Heather E. Johnson, Trevor Golden, Layne G. Adams, David Gustine, Elizabeth A. Lenart
Use of subsistence-harvested whale carcasses by polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea Use of subsistence-harvested whale carcasses by polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea
The availability of a food subsidy has the potential to influence the condition, behavior, fitness, and population dynamics of a species. Since the early 2000s, monitoring efforts along the coast of northern Alaska indicated a higher proportion of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation come onshore and feed at subsistence-harvested bowhead whale...
Authors
Kate M Lillie, Eric M Gese, Todd C. Atwood, Mary M Conner
Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens
Large‐scale industrial activities can have negative effects on wildlife populations. Some of these effects, however, could be reduced with effective planning prior to development. The Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in northeastern Alaska, USA, is an important maternal denning area for polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Recent legislation has opened the area for...
Authors
Ryan H. Wilson, George M. Durner
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
Return to Ecosystems
The USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative:
This initiative has been a primary way for the USGS Alaska Science Center to conduct research and collaborations in the Arctic portions of Alaska. The objectives of this initiative are as follows:
- Quantify the responses of wildlife species and their habitats to ecosystem change in the Arctic,
- Provide projections of likely future wildlife and habitat responses, and
- Make information publicly available to inform land and species management decisions and Alaska Native subsistence and co-management council actions.
Research Conducted Through the Initiative:
The USGS conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Information on recent USGS assessments in the Arctic can be found on the USGS Arctic Ecosystems Assessments Factsheet and on this page.
USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative research and collaborations for 2025 – 2027 will focus on the following topics:
- Arctic Water Ecosystems (Rusting of Arctic Rivers, heat stress in salmon, and permafrost)
- New Capacities for Arctic Mammal Research (caribou, polar bears, walrus, and sea otters)
- Changes in the Distribution and Abundance of Arctic Birds
Past efforts of the USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative have provided significant understanding and collaborations on the following topics. See the Science, Publications and Data tabs above for more information on these topics.
- Hydrology
- Wildlife Species of Management Concern
- Minimizing the Effects of Artic Energy Development on Wildlife
- Biosurveillance of Wildlife Pathogens in the Arctic
- Algal Toxins in the Arctic
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Walrus Research
Walrus Research
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 42
Mapping Data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska Mapping Data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
This data package includes 3 child items with mapping data of polar bear den habitat on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Child Item 1: "Data Used to Compare Photo-Interpreted and IfSAR-Derived Maps of Polar Bear Denning Habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2006-2016" Child Item 2: "Polar Bear Maternal Den Habitat on the Coastal Plain of Northern...
Capture and Measurement Data of Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) from the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014 Capture and Measurement Data of Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) from the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014
This data set provides capture information and body size measurements of adult and gosling Greater White-fronted Geese captured at three study sites on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2014.
Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Concentrations in Polar Bear Hair and Prey from the Alaska Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 1978-2019 Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Concentrations in Polar Bear Hair and Prey from the Alaska Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 1978-2019
This dataset includes carbon and nitrogen isotope concentrations measured in polar bear hair and marine mammal prey samples collected 1978-2017 in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Marine mammal prey samples were collected opportunistically either from polar bear seal kill sites or from marine mammals harvested by Native hunters. Hair was collected from polar bears captured on the sea ice...
Fatty Acid Composition of Polar Bear Adipose Tissue and Ringed and Bearded Seal Blubber Collected in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017 Fatty Acid Composition of Polar Bear Adipose Tissue and Ringed and Bearded Seal Blubber Collected in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017
These data are the fatty acid compositions (in percent) of adipose tissue samples collected from polar bears and of blubber samples collected from ringed and bearded seal killed by polar bears in the Chukchi Sea, 2008-2017. The dataset includes sex, age, and age class of the bears that were sampled. The data are provided as percent of each fatty acid identified via nomenclature that...
Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013 Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013
This data release contains measurements of vegetation samples and temperature collected from experimental plots of Carex subspathacea along the Smith River Estuary, Alaska (2011-2013).
Data Associated with Poecivirus Testing of Individual Birds with Beak Deformities Data Associated with Poecivirus Testing of Individual Birds with Beak Deformities
This data set is comprised of two tables, one with results of poecivirus screening of tissues from six North American avian species using PCR followed by Sanger sequencing in addition to unbiased metagenomic sequencing, the second lists the names and sequences of primers used.
Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014 Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014
These data are in one table of territory occupancy data for loons and presence/absence data for fish species based on survey information for Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) and five species of fish (Alaska blackfish, arctic grayling, broad whitefish, least cisco, ninespine stickleback) from freshwater lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain in northern Alaska, 2011...
Information from Bird Nests Monitored on the Colville River Delta, Alaska, 2011-2018 Information from Bird Nests Monitored on the Colville River Delta, Alaska, 2011-2018
This dataset contains nesting information for birds breeding at a site on the Colville River, Alaska, 2011-2018. Nests were located during area searches conducted by biologists, and standardized information on each nest was collected following protocols of the Arctic Shorebird Demographic Network (Brown et al. 2014).
Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015 Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015
These data are in one table with age and sex composition counts of groups of walruses on ice floes in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. Counts were collected by visual observations from boats.
Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska
Soil moisture and temperature were measured at four shallow depths in multiple locations within tundra and forested landscapes of the Agashashok River basin. The measurements were made continuously beginning in 2015 until the most recent download in summer, 2019 or until the sensors or loggers failed.
Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017 Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017
Meteorological data was collected from two locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, one high in the drainage located on tundra (67.5440 N, 161.6828 W) and a second on a rocky knoll near the watershed mouth (67.2821 N, 162.5841 W). The data contain information on air temperatures, rainfall, barometric pressure, relative humidity, incoming and outgoing radiation, and wind speed and...
Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016 Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016
This dataset includes soil data collected from various landscapes adjacent to thaw ponds on the North Slope of Alaska between 2012 and 2018. The landscapes include ice-rich polygonal ground found on basin uplands, as well as bluffs and lake edges. At each site a visual description of soil type and texture was performed, and a permafrost probe was used to determine a 'depth to refusal'...
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 74
Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska
Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) are a species of conservation concern in Alaska due to recent evidence of a population decline on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) in northern Alaska. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a pilot study to evaluate diet and use of nearshore foraging areas as possible drivers of the population decline. We...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Christopher J. Latty, Joel A. Schmutz
U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments
The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to...
Authors
John M. Pearce, Caroline R. Van Hemert
Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing loss of sea ice habitats used to access their marine mammal prey. Simultaneously, ocean warming is changing ecosystems that support marine mammal populations. The interactive effects of sea ice and prey are not well understood yet may explain spatial‐temporal variation in the response of polar bears to sea ice loss. Here, we examined the...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Eric V. Regehr, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Ryan H. Wilson, Michelle St. Martin, Justin A. Crawford, Lori T. Quakenbush
Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber
The variability of lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition across blubber depth and body sites are important considerations for condition and diet studies of marine mammals. We investigated lipid and FA variability among inner and outer blubber layers, three body sites, four study years, and lactation status of adult female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) using...
Authors
Chadwick V. Jay, Sara J. Iverson, Anthony S. Fischbach
Predictors of invertebrate biomass and rate of advancement of invertebrate phenology across eight sites in the North American Arctic Predictors of invertebrate biomass and rate of advancement of invertebrate phenology across eight sites in the North American Arctic
Average annual temperatures in the Arctic increased by 2–3 °C during the second half of the twentieth century. Because shorebirds initiate northward migration to Arctic nesting sites based on cues at distant wintering grounds, climate-driven changes in the phenology of Arctic invertebrates may lead to a mismatch between the nutritional demands of shorebirds and the invertebrate prey...
Authors
Rebecca Shaftel, Daniel J. Rinella, Eunbi Kwon, Stephen C. Brown, H. River Gates, Steve Kendall, David B. Lank, Joseph R. Liebezeit, David C. Payer, Jennie Rausch, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Brett K. Sandercock, Paul A. Smith, David H. Ward, Richard B. Lanctot
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with university, Federal, Tribal, and independent partners, conducts fundamental research on the distribution, vulnerability, and importance of permafrost in arctic and boreal ecosystems. Scientists, land managers, and policy makers use USGS data to help make decisions for development, wildlife habitat, and other needs. Native villages...
Authors
Mark P. Waldrop, Lesleigh Anderson, Mark Dornblaser, Li H. Erikson, Ann E. Gibbs, Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Stephanie R. James, Miriam C. Jones, Joshua C. Koch, Mary-Cathrine Leewis, Kristen L. Manies, Burke J. Minsley, Neal J. Pastick, Vijay Patil, Frank Urban, Michelle A. Walvoord, Kimberly P. Wickland, Christian Zimmerman
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Land Change Science Program, Volcano Hazards Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Volcano Science Center
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
The long-term persistence of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by sea-ice loss due to climate change, which is concurrently providing an opportunity in the Arctic for increased anthropogenic activities including natural resource extraction. Mitigating the risk of those activities, which can adversely affect the population dynamics of the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS)...
Authors
Todd C. Atwood, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Vijay P. Patil, George M. Durner, David C. Douglas, Kristin S. Simac
DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses
Environmental conditions in the Chukchi Sea are changing rapidly and may alter the abundance and distribution of marine species and their benthic prey. We used a metabarcoding approach to identify potentially important prey taxa from Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) fecal samples (n = 87). Bivalvia was the most dominant class of prey (66% of all normalized counts) and...
Authors
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Chadwick V. Jay, Robert S. Cornman, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Sandra L. Talbot
Fatty acid-based diet estimates suggest ringed seal remain the main prey of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears despite recent use of onshore food resources Fatty acid-based diet estimates suggest ringed seal remain the main prey of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears despite recent use of onshore food resources
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation have traditionally fed predominantly upon ice‐seals; however, as the proportion of the subpopulation using onshore habitat has recently increased, foraging on land‐based resources, including remains of subsistence‐harvested bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and colonial nesting seabirds has been observed...
Authors
Jennifer Bourque, Todd C. Atwood, George J. Divoky, Connie Stewart, Melissa A. McKinney
Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
Increasing demands for energy have generated interest in expanding oil and gas production on the North Slope of Alaska, raising questions about the resilience of barren-ground caribou populations to new development. Although the amount of habitat lost directly to energy development in the Arctic will likely be relatively small, there are significant concerns about habitat that may be...
Authors
Heather E. Johnson, Trevor Golden, Layne G. Adams, David Gustine, Elizabeth A. Lenart
Use of subsistence-harvested whale carcasses by polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea Use of subsistence-harvested whale carcasses by polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea
The availability of a food subsidy has the potential to influence the condition, behavior, fitness, and population dynamics of a species. Since the early 2000s, monitoring efforts along the coast of northern Alaska indicated a higher proportion of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation come onshore and feed at subsistence-harvested bowhead whale...
Authors
Kate M Lillie, Eric M Gese, Todd C. Atwood, Mary M Conner
Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens
Large‐scale industrial activities can have negative effects on wildlife populations. Some of these effects, however, could be reduced with effective planning prior to development. The Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in northeastern Alaska, USA, is an important maternal denning area for polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Recent legislation has opened the area for...
Authors
Ryan H. Wilson, George M. Durner