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Our Alaska Science Center priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices. If you need additional assistance, please contact Chris Zimmerman.
In the Spotlight
A new USGS fact sheet describes assessments on focal species and important topic areas in the Arctic. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
View PublicationCurrent Water Conditions
Explore real-time Alaska streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data with our new interactive map application.
Current ConditionsNews
Magnitude 8.2 Earthquake in Alaska
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck 50 miles south of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021 at 10:15 pm local time (July 29, 2021 06:15 UTC). Seismic instruments indicate the earthquake originated at a depth of 20 miles (32.2 kilometers).
Alaska Science Center Newsletter - Summer 2021
We hope you enjoy and subscribe. Below are links to recent publications, data releases, and highlights of on-going research programs. In this issue, we feature Wildfire Research, our Research Landscape Ecologist, a Geology publication on prospectivity for lode gold, and video about USGS Seabird Research. See new additions to our Data & Tools and Publications pages.
Wildfire Research
Learn how USGS scientists provide information, work with partners, and develop tools to help make decisions before, during, and after wildfires in desert, grassland, tundra, wetland, and forest ecosystems across the United States.
Publications
Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein...
Rode, Karyn D.; Robbins, Charles T.; Stricker, Craig A.; Taras, Brian D.; Tollefson, Troy N Response of forage plants to alteration of temperature and spring thaw date: Implications for geese in a warming Arctic
Changes in summer temperatures in Arctic Alaska have led to longer and warmer growing seasons over the last three decades. Corresponding with these changes in climate, the abundance and distributions of geese have increased and expanded over the same period. We used an experimental approach to assess the response of goose forage plants to...
Flint, Paul L.; Meixell, Brandt W. Human-polar bear interactions
Human-wildlife interactions (HWI) are driven fundamentally by overlapping space and resources. As competition intensifies, the likelihood of interaction and conflict increases. In turn, conflict may impede conservation efforts by lowering social tolerance of wildlife, especially when human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses a threat to human safety and...
Davis, Randall W.; Pagano, Anthony M.; Atwood, Todd C.; Wilder, James