Brielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Ecology Active
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
Roles and responsibilities of USGS and DOI in conservation of marine birds and mammals
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.
Projects
- Tidewater Glacier Influence on Marine Ecosystems
- Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
- Detecting Long-term Changes in Forage Fish Populations in Prince William Sound, Alaska (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill)
- Harmful algal bloom toxins in Alaska seabirds
- North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database
- Pacific Marine Heatwave
- Seabird Die-offs in Alaska
- USGS Research Vessel Alaskan Gyre
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Brielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
Large amount of Common Murres in the water
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
Schools (shadows along the shore) of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William Sound
Schools (shadows along the shore) of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William Sound
Three Arctic Terns sitting on a log floating in the water in Prince William Sound.
Three Arctic Terns sitting on a log floating in the water in Prince William Sound.
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet flying over waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. You can see the reflection of the Kittlitz’s Murrelet in the water below.
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet flying over waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. You can see the reflection of the Kittlitz’s Murrelet in the water below.
Brielle Heflin and Sarah Schoen catching forage fish with a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Brielle Heflin and Sarah Schoen catching forage fish with a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance
Black-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance.
Scientists on the bow of the R/V Alaskan Gyre looking through binoculars
Scientists on the bow of the R/V Alaskan Gyre looking through binoculars
Euphausids (also known as krill) and a shrimp from a trawl catch. Some of the most important forage fish species in this region include Pacific capelin, sand lance, herring and, even though they aren’t fish, euphausiids (also known as krill).
Euphausids (also known as krill) and a shrimp from a trawl catch. Some of the most important forage fish species in this region include Pacific capelin, sand lance, herring and, even though they aren’t fish, euphausiids (also known as krill).
Scientist pulling in the beginning of the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Scientist pulling in the beginning of the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan Gyre
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
Below are the publications associated with this project.
Puffins reveal contrasting relationships between forage fish and ocean climate in the North Pacific
Influence of glacier runoff on ecosystem structure in Gulf of Alaska fjords
Testing the effectiveness of automated acoustic sensors for monitoring vocal activity of Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus marmoratus
User’s guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0
Icefield-to-ocean linkages across the northern Pacific coastal temperate rainforest ecosystem
Evidence for the assimilation of ancient glacier organic carbon in a proglacial stream food web
Fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) nestlings, Alaska, USA
Identifying marine Important Bird Areas using at-sea survey data
Recolonization of the intertidal and shallow subtidal community following the 2008 eruption of Alaska’s Kasatochi Volcano
Energy cost of vessel disturbance to Kittlitz's Murrelets Brachyramphus brevirostris
Modeled distribution and abundance of a pelagic seabird reveal trends in relation to fisheries
Kittiwake diets and chick production signal a 2008 regime shift in the Northeast Pacific
Below are news items associated with this research.
- Overview
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
Roles and responsibilities of USGS and DOI in conservation of marine birds and mammals
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.
Projects
- Tidewater Glacier Influence on Marine Ecosystems
- Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
- Detecting Long-term Changes in Forage Fish Populations in Prince William Sound, Alaska (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill)
- Harmful algal bloom toxins in Alaska seabirds
- North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database
- Pacific Marine Heatwave
- Seabird Die-offs in Alaska
- USGS Research Vessel Alaskan Gyre
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 118Capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for study in Cook Inlet, AlaskaCapturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for study in Cook Inlet, AlaskaBrielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.
Brielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.
Scientist holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, AKScientist holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, AKBrian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, AlaskaBlack-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, AlaskaBlack-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Melanistic Common Murre on Gull IslandA melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
Common Murres at breeding colony, Alaska-close up of eggCommon Murres at breeding colony, Alaska-close up of eggCommon Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
A Horned Puffin taking off from the waterA Horned Puffin taking off from the water
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
Common Murres in the waterLarge amount of Common Murres in the water
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on small fish in the waterA flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on small fish in the waterA flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A Horned Puffin flying over the waterA Horned Puffin flying over the water
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
Schools of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William SoundSchools of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William SoundSchools (shadows along the shore) of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William Sound
Schools (shadows along the shore) of Pacific sand lance in Cabin Bay, Prince William Sound
Three Arctic Terns sitting on a log in Prince William SoundThree Arctic Terns sitting on a log in Prince William SoundThree Arctic Terns sitting on a log floating in the water in Prince William Sound.
Three Arctic Terns sitting on a log floating in the water in Prince William Sound.
Kittlitz’s Murrelet in flightA Kittlitz’s Murrelet flying over waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. You can see the reflection of the Kittlitz’s Murrelet in the water below.
A Kittlitz’s Murrelet flying over waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. You can see the reflection of the Kittlitz’s Murrelet in the water below.
Biologists with cast net caught forage fish in Prince William SoundBiologists with cast net caught forage fish in Prince William SoundBrielle Heflin and Sarah Schoen catching forage fish with a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Brielle Heflin and Sarah Schoen catching forage fish with a cast net in Prince William Sound.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance
Black-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwake captured 2 Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwake foraging on Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwake foraging on Pacific sand lanceBlack-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance.
Scientist conducting marine bird and mammal surveyScientist conducting marine bird and mammal surveyScientists on the bow of the R/V Alaskan Gyre looking through binoculars
Scientists on the bow of the R/V Alaskan Gyre looking through binoculars
Euphausids and a shrimp from a trawl catchEuphausids (also known as krill) and a shrimp from a trawl catch. Some of the most important forage fish species in this region include Pacific capelin, sand lance, herring and, even though they aren’t fish, euphausiids (also known as krill).
Euphausids (also known as krill) and a shrimp from a trawl catch. Some of the most important forage fish species in this region include Pacific capelin, sand lance, herring and, even though they aren’t fish, euphausiids (also known as krill).
Erica Madison bringing in the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan GyreErica Madison bringing in the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan GyreScientist pulling in the beginning of the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan Gyre
Scientist pulling in the beginning of the mid-water trawl on the R/V Alaskan Gyre
The R/V Alaskan Gyre in Harriman Fjord, Prince William Sound, AlaskaThe R/V Alaskan Gyre in Harriman Fjord, Prince William Sound, AlaskaA 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
- Publications
Below are the publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 52Puffins reveal contrasting relationships between forage fish and ocean climate in the North Pacific
Long-term studies of predator food habits (i.e., ‘predator-based sampling’) are useful for identifying patterns of spatial and temporal variability of forage nekton in marine ecosystems. We investigated temporal changes in forage fish availability and relationships to ocean climate by analyzing diet composition of three puffin species (horned puffin Fratercula corniculata, tufted puffin FraterculaAuthorsWilliam J. Sydeman, John F. Piatt, Sarah Ann Thompson, Marisol Garcia-Reyes, Scott A. Hatch, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Leslie Slater, Jeffrey C. Williams, Nora A. Rojek, Stephani G. Zador, Heather M. RennerInfluence of glacier runoff on ecosystem structure in Gulf of Alaska fjords
To better understand the influence of glacier runoff on fjord ecosystems, we sampled oceanographic conditions, nutrients, zooplankton, forage fish and seabirds within 4 fjords in coastal areas of the Gulf Alaska. We used generalized additive models and geostatistics to identify the range of glacier runoff influence into coastal waters within fjords of varying estuarine influence and topographic coAuthorsMayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt, Franz J. MueterTesting the effectiveness of automated acoustic sensors for monitoring vocal activity of Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus marmoratus
Cryptic nest sites and secretive breeding behavior make population estimates and monitoring of Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus marmoratus difficult and expensive. Standard audio-visual and radar protocols have been refined but require intensive field time by trained personnel. We examined the detection range of automated sound recorders (Song Meters; Wildlife Acoustics Inc.) and the reliability ofAuthorsJenna L. Cragg, Alan E. Burger, John F. PiattUser’s guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) was created in 2005 to consolidate data on the oceanic distribution of marine bird species in the North Pacific. Most of these data were collected on surveys by counting species within defined areas and at known locations (that is, on strip transects). The NPPSD also contains observations of other bird species and marine mammals. The original NPPSAuthorsGary S. Drew, John F. Piatt, Martin RennerIcefield-to-ocean linkages across the northern Pacific coastal temperate rainforest ecosystem
Rates of glacier mass loss in the northern Pacific coastal temperate rainforest (PCTR) are among the highest on Earth, and changes in glacier volume and extent will affect the flow regime and chemistry of coastal rivers, as well as the nearshore marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Alaska. Here we synthesize physical, chemical and biological linkages that characterize the northern PCTR ecosystem, withAuthorsShad O'Neel, Eran Hood, Allison L. Bidlack, Sean W. Fleming, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Anthony Arendt, Evan W. Burgess, Christopher J. Sergeant, Anne E. Beaudreau, Kristin Timm, Gregory D. Hayward, Joel H. Reynolds, Sanjay PyareEvidence for the assimilation of ancient glacier organic carbon in a proglacial stream food web
We used natural abundance δ13C, δ15N, and Δ14C to compare trophic linkages between potential carbon sources (leaf litter, epilithic biofilm, and particulate organic matter) and consumers (aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish) in a nonglacial stream and two reaches of the heavily glaciated Herbert River. We tested the hypothesis that proglacial stream food webs are sustained by organic carbon releasAuthorsJason Fellman, Eran Hood, Peter A. Raymond, J.H. Hudson, Maura Bozeman, Mayumi L. ArimitsuFatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) nestlings, Alaska, USA
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is an acute toxic illness in humans resulting from ingestion of shellfish contaminated with a suite of neurotoxins (saxitoxins) produced by marine dinoflagellates, most commonly in the genus Alexandrium. Poisoning also has been sporadically suspected and, less often, documented in marine wildlife, often in association with an outbreak in humans. Kittlitz's MurreAuthorsValerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Ellen W. Lance, Robin Corcoran, John F. Piatt, Barbara Bodenstein, Elizabeth Frame, James LawonnIdentifying marine Important Bird Areas using at-sea survey data
Effective marine bird conservation requires identification of at-sea locations used by populations for foraging, staging, and migration. Using an extensive database of at-sea survey data spanning over 30 years, we developed a standardized and data-driven spatial method for identifying globally significant marine Important Bird Areas in Alaska. To delineate these areas we developed a six-step proceAuthorsMelanie A. Smith, Nathan J. Walker, Christopher M. Free, Matthew J. Kirchhoff, Gary S. Drew, Nils Warnock, Iain J. StenhouseRecolonization of the intertidal and shallow subtidal community following the 2008 eruption of Alaska’s Kasatochi Volcano
The intertidal and nearshore benthic communities of Kasatochi Island are described following a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 2008. Prior to the eruption, the island was surrounded by a dense bed of canopy-forming dragon kelp Eualaria fistulosa which supported a productive nearshore community. The eruption extended the coastline of the island approximately 400 m offshore to roughly the 20 m isoAuthorsS.C. Jewett, Gary S. DrewEnergy cost of vessel disturbance to Kittlitz's Murrelets Brachyramphus brevirostris
We evaluated the energy cost of vessel disturbance for individual Kittlitz’s Murrelets Brachyramphus brevirostris in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska, USA. We used Monte Carlo simulations to model the daily energy expense associated with flight from vessels by both breeding and non-breeding birds and evaluated risk based on both the magnitude of costs incurred and the degree to whiAuthorsAlison M. Agness, Kristin N. Marshall, John F. Piatt, James C. Ha, Glenn R. VanBlaricomModeled distribution and abundance of a pelagic seabird reveal trends in relation to fisheries
The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis is one of the most visible and widespread seabirds in the eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. However, relatively little is known about its abundance, trends, or the factors that shape its distribution. We used a long-term pelagic dataset to model changes in fulmar at-sea distribution and abundance since the mid-1970s. We used an ensemble model, based onAuthorsMartin Renner, Julia K. Parrish, John F. Piatt, Kathy J. Kuletz, Ann E. Edwards, George L. HuntKittiwake diets and chick production signal a 2008 regime shift in the Northeast Pacific
I examined ~2700 food samples collected from adult and nestling black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla from 1978 through 2011 on Middleton Island in the Gulf of Alaska. The kittiwake diet was composed chiefly of fish, but invertebrates were taken in appreciable quantities in April and May. Upon spring arrival at the colony, adult kittiwakes foraged regularly at night on vertically migrating mesoAuthorsScott A. Hatch - Web Tools
- News
Below are news items associated with this research.