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
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Walrus Research
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
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
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
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
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
Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013 Vegetation and Temperature Data, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Below are publications associated with this project.
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
U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments
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
Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber
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
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
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
DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses
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
Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
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
Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens Seismic survey design and impacts to maternal polar bear dens
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
Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska
Walrus Research
Working with management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners
Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Resources that have ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
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
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
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
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
Vegetation and Temperature Data, Smith River Estuary, Alaska, 2011-2013 Vegetation and Temperature Data, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Below are publications associated with this project.