Eelgrass is the predominant aquatic plant within embayments of southwestern Alaska and provides an important habitat for birds, fish, and invertebrates. The USGS has conducted extensive research on the status, trends, and use of eelgrass by migratory birds in southwestern Alaska primarily at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Return to Ecosystems
Along the coast of southwestern Alaska in sheltered embayments, eelgrass (Zostera marina) forms some of the largest seagrass meadows in the world. These meadows support a rich diversity of marine organisms, including virtually the entire population of Pacific black brant (Brant bernicla) outside of their summer breeding season. Black brant feed on the eelgrass to meet energy demands in fall for transoceanic migrations south, and in spring for coastal migrations north and egg-laying during breeding. In winter, an increasing number of black brant that do not migrate south, rely on eelgrass for winter forage. The USGS has conducted assessments of eelgrass abundance and distribution throughout southwestern Alaska (see map) to better understand the status and trends of this important habitat.
Information and data from these assessments can be found in the Data and Publications tabs above.
Related Research
A list of other USGS work on the distribution, health, and importance of eelgrass in Alaska is below.
Below are data associated with this project.
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Microsatellite DNA Data; Pacific Coast of North America, 2000-2009
Below are photos associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Predicted eelgrass response to sea level rise and its availability to foraging Black Brant in Pacific coast estuaries
Long-term change in eelgrass distribution at Bahía San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico, using satellite imagery
Distribution and stability of eelgrass beds at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Inventory and mapping of flood inundation using interactive digital image analysis techniques
Eelgrass is the predominant aquatic plant within embayments of southwestern Alaska and provides an important habitat for birds, fish, and invertebrates. The USGS has conducted extensive research on the status, trends, and use of eelgrass by migratory birds in southwestern Alaska primarily at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Return to Ecosystems
Along the coast of southwestern Alaska in sheltered embayments, eelgrass (Zostera marina) forms some of the largest seagrass meadows in the world. These meadows support a rich diversity of marine organisms, including virtually the entire population of Pacific black brant (Brant bernicla) outside of their summer breeding season. Black brant feed on the eelgrass to meet energy demands in fall for transoceanic migrations south, and in spring for coastal migrations north and egg-laying during breeding. In winter, an increasing number of black brant that do not migrate south, rely on eelgrass for winter forage. The USGS has conducted assessments of eelgrass abundance and distribution throughout southwestern Alaska (see map) to better understand the status and trends of this important habitat.
Information and data from these assessments can be found in the Data and Publications tabs above.
Related Research
A list of other USGS work on the distribution, health, and importance of eelgrass in Alaska is below.
Below are data associated with this project.
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Microsatellite DNA Data; Pacific Coast of North America, 2000-2009
Below are photos associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.