Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Fish and aquatic habitats in Alaska support important commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries and provide forage fish that support wildlife populations. The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts interdisciplinary research to inform local, state, federal, and international policy makers regarding conservation of fish, aquatic species, and their habitats. We work collaboratively with hydrologists, geologists and other biologists to study fish and aquatic systems in an ecosystem based framework. The goal of our current research effort is to improve our understanding of the biocomplexity, resilience, and function of aquatic ecosystems to better inform future predictions of fish and aquatic ecosystems as they respond to a changing environment.
Return to Ecosystems
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
An inclined plane trap on the Kwethluk River. Biologists are capturing chum salmon juvenile smolt.
An inclined plane trap on the Kwethluk River. Biologists are capturing chum salmon juvenile smolt.
A side channel of the Matanuska River. Results from this study were published in Curran, J.H., McTeague, M.L., Burril, S.E., and Zimmerman, C.E., 2011, Distribution, persistence, and hydrologic characteristics of salmon spawning habitats in clearwater side channels of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska: U.S.
A side channel of the Matanuska River. Results from this study were published in Curran, J.H., McTeague, M.L., Burril, S.E., and Zimmerman, C.E., 2011, Distribution, persistence, and hydrologic characteristics of salmon spawning habitats in clearwater side channels of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska: U.S.
Pacific sand lance catch from a beach seine in the Aleutian Islands.
Pacific sand lance catch from a beach seine in the Aleutian Islands.
Spawning sockeye salmon in the Grand Central River, near Nome, Alaska
Spawning sockeye salmon in the Grand Central River, near Nome, Alaska
Sockeye salmon in shallow waters of Salmon Lake which is at the headwaters of the Pilgrim River.
Sockeye salmon in shallow waters of Salmon Lake which is at the headwaters of the Pilgrim River.
A weir on the Snake River, near Nome, Alaska. This weir was used to count chum and coho salmon adults.
A weir on the Snake River, near Nome, Alaska. This weir was used to count chum and coho salmon adults.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Yukon River and rainbow near Eagle, Alaska
Yukon River and rainbow near Eagle, Alaska
Clams layed out on a piece of plywood as part of a sea otter forage survey in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Clams layed out on a piece of plywood as part of a sea otter forage survey in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Results from a trawl run in Kuskokwim Bay. Mostly juvenile chum salmon and one stickleback.
Results from a trawl run in Kuskokwim Bay. Mostly juvenile chum salmon and one stickleback.
Fish and aquatic habitats in Alaska support important commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries and provide forage fish that support wildlife populations. The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts interdisciplinary research to inform local, state, federal, and international policy makers regarding conservation of fish, aquatic species, and their habitats. We work collaboratively with hydrologists, geologists and other biologists to study fish and aquatic systems in an ecosystem based framework. The goal of our current research effort is to improve our understanding of the biocomplexity, resilience, and function of aquatic ecosystems to better inform future predictions of fish and aquatic ecosystems as they respond to a changing environment.
Return to Ecosystems
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
Biologists checking a fyke net as part of a fish project for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Otoliths were extracted and read for ages from the fish captured in this fyke net.
An inclined plane trap on the Kwethluk River. Biologists are capturing chum salmon juvenile smolt.
An inclined plane trap on the Kwethluk River. Biologists are capturing chum salmon juvenile smolt.
A side channel of the Matanuska River. Results from this study were published in Curran, J.H., McTeague, M.L., Burril, S.E., and Zimmerman, C.E., 2011, Distribution, persistence, and hydrologic characteristics of salmon spawning habitats in clearwater side channels of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska: U.S.
A side channel of the Matanuska River. Results from this study were published in Curran, J.H., McTeague, M.L., Burril, S.E., and Zimmerman, C.E., 2011, Distribution, persistence, and hydrologic characteristics of salmon spawning habitats in clearwater side channels of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska: U.S.
Pacific sand lance catch from a beach seine in the Aleutian Islands.
Pacific sand lance catch from a beach seine in the Aleutian Islands.
Spawning sockeye salmon in the Grand Central River, near Nome, Alaska
Spawning sockeye salmon in the Grand Central River, near Nome, Alaska
Sockeye salmon in shallow waters of Salmon Lake which is at the headwaters of the Pilgrim River.
Sockeye salmon in shallow waters of Salmon Lake which is at the headwaters of the Pilgrim River.
A weir on the Snake River, near Nome, Alaska. This weir was used to count chum and coho salmon adults.
A weir on the Snake River, near Nome, Alaska. This weir was used to count chum and coho salmon adults.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Fish River on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Scenic view of the Nome River
Yukon River and rainbow near Eagle, Alaska
Yukon River and rainbow near Eagle, Alaska
Clams layed out on a piece of plywood as part of a sea otter forage survey in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Clams layed out on a piece of plywood as part of a sea otter forage survey in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Results from a trawl run in Kuskokwim Bay. Mostly juvenile chum salmon and one stickleback.
Results from a trawl run in Kuskokwim Bay. Mostly juvenile chum salmon and one stickleback.