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Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The availability of nesting habitat and suitable prey are important natural factors that regulate the distribution and abundance of marine birds. But seabird populations are also affected by human activities that have direct impacts (pollution, bycatch in fishing gear) and indirect effects (global warming alters food availability) on birds.
Return to Ecosystems >> Marine Ecosystems
The Department of Interior (DOI) is mandated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act to conserve and protect all seabirds in U.S. waters up to 200 miles offshore.
Additionally, the DOI is mandated to manage subsistence resources, including birds, under the Federal Subsistence Management Program.
The DOI, through the NPS, has shared responsibility for Humpback Whales and other marine mammals mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) and the Endangered Species Act (1973), and specific regulatory and conservation authority within Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Monument, one of a few marine sanctuaries managed by DOI.
Within DOI, the USGS has a responsibility to assist those DOI agencies with marine jurisdictions (NPS, USFWS, BOEM) by gathering and interpreting data on seabirds and other marine waterfowl, humpback whales and other marine mammals, and relevant components of their marine environments (such as forage fish, zooplankton, oceanography, toxins, etc.) that influence the status and trends of these protected marine animals.
Seabirds also serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— because they can be readily monitored at colonies and at sea. For all these reasons, marine bird research is a vital part of the DOI mission in Alaska and the North Pacific.
We study population biology and feeding ecology of a variety of seabird species, including threatened and endangered species. We use a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates study of marine habitats and food webs so that we can better understand why seabird populations fluctuate over time. This website highlights some of the research conducted by the Seabird, Forage Fish and Marine Ecology Project at the Alaska Science Center.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pulling in the mid-water trawl from the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Pulling in the mid-water trawl from the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Pacific sand lance in a sieve that were captured in a small purse seine in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific sand lance in a sieve that were captured in a small purse seine in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Sarah Schoen with a Pacific Herring in her hand that was caught in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Sarah Schoen with a Pacific Herring in her hand that was caught in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pulling in a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Pulling in a cast net in Prince William Sound.
A scenic view of the sea and the mountains in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the sea and the mountains in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the mountains and the ocean in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the mountains and the ocean in Prince William Sound
Kittlitz’s Murrelets are often found in higher numbers near glaciers like the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Kittlitz’s Murrelets are often found in higher numbers near glaciers like the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet surfaces after a foraging dive in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet surfaces after a foraging dive in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A small flock of Sabine's Gulls flying over the top of the water
A small flock of Sabine's Gulls flying over the top of the water
Tufted Puffins perching near their burrows in a colony on Bogoslof Island (volcano) in the Aleutian Islands.
Tufted Puffins perching near their burrows in a colony on Bogoslof Island (volcano) in the Aleutian Islands.
Two different age classes of sand lance showing length differences and condition between fish in an age class.
Two different age classes of sand lance showing length differences and condition between fish in an age class.
Catch of forage fish from a trawl in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Trawling was part of detecting long-term changes in forage fish populations.
Catch of forage fish from a trawl in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Trawling was part of detecting long-term changes in forage fish populations.
A Tufted Puffin on the water
A Tufted Puffin on the water
Two Least Auklets sitting on rocks on Kasatochi Volcano four years after the catastrophic eruption in 2008.
Two Least Auklets sitting on rocks on Kasatochi Volcano four years after the catastrophic eruption in 2008.
Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The availability of nesting habitat and suitable prey are important natural factors that regulate the distribution and abundance of marine birds. But seabird populations are also affected by human activities that have direct impacts (pollution, bycatch in fishing gear) and indirect effects (global warming alters food availability) on birds.
Return to Ecosystems >> Marine Ecosystems
The Department of Interior (DOI) is mandated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act to conserve and protect all seabirds in U.S. waters up to 200 miles offshore.
Additionally, the DOI is mandated to manage subsistence resources, including birds, under the Federal Subsistence Management Program.
The DOI, through the NPS, has shared responsibility for Humpback Whales and other marine mammals mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) and the Endangered Species Act (1973), and specific regulatory and conservation authority within Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Monument, one of a few marine sanctuaries managed by DOI.
Within DOI, the USGS has a responsibility to assist those DOI agencies with marine jurisdictions (NPS, USFWS, BOEM) by gathering and interpreting data on seabirds and other marine waterfowl, humpback whales and other marine mammals, and relevant components of their marine environments (such as forage fish, zooplankton, oceanography, toxins, etc.) that influence the status and trends of these protected marine animals.
Seabirds also serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— because they can be readily monitored at colonies and at sea. For all these reasons, marine bird research is a vital part of the DOI mission in Alaska and the North Pacific.
We study population biology and feeding ecology of a variety of seabird species, including threatened and endangered species. We use a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates study of marine habitats and food webs so that we can better understand why seabird populations fluctuate over time. This website highlights some of the research conducted by the Seabird, Forage Fish and Marine Ecology Project at the Alaska Science Center.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pulling in the mid-water trawl from the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Pulling in the mid-water trawl from the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Pacific sand lance in a sieve that were captured in a small purse seine in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific sand lance in a sieve that were captured in a small purse seine in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Sarah Schoen with a Pacific Herring in her hand that was caught in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Sarah Schoen with a Pacific Herring in her hand that was caught in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pulling in a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Pulling in a cast net in Prince William Sound.
A scenic view of the sea and the mountains in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the sea and the mountains in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the mountains and the ocean in Prince William Sound
A scenic view of the mountains and the ocean in Prince William Sound
Kittlitz’s Murrelets are often found in higher numbers near glaciers like the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Kittlitz’s Murrelets are often found in higher numbers near glaciers like the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet surfaces after a foraging dive in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet surfaces after a foraging dive in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A small flock of Sabine's Gulls flying over the top of the water
A small flock of Sabine's Gulls flying over the top of the water
Tufted Puffins perching near their burrows in a colony on Bogoslof Island (volcano) in the Aleutian Islands.
Tufted Puffins perching near their burrows in a colony on Bogoslof Island (volcano) in the Aleutian Islands.
Two different age classes of sand lance showing length differences and condition between fish in an age class.
Two different age classes of sand lance showing length differences and condition between fish in an age class.
Catch of forage fish from a trawl in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Trawling was part of detecting long-term changes in forage fish populations.
Catch of forage fish from a trawl in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Trawling was part of detecting long-term changes in forage fish populations.
A Tufted Puffin on the water
A Tufted Puffin on the water
Two Least Auklets sitting on rocks on Kasatochi Volcano four years after the catastrophic eruption in 2008.
Two Least Auklets sitting on rocks on Kasatochi Volcano four years after the catastrophic eruption in 2008.