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Alaska Science Center

The mission of the Alaska Science Center is to provide objective and timely data, information, and research findings about the earth and its flora and fauna to Federal, State, and local resource managers and the public to support sound decisions regarding natural resources, natural hazards, and ecosystems in Alaska and circumpolar regions. We have offices in Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks. 

News

USGS Measures Glacial Flooding in Juneau, Alaska

USGS Measures Glacial Flooding in Juneau, Alaska

Science Spotlight: USGS Monitoring of Glacial Outburst Flood in Juneau Alaska

Science Spotlight: USGS Monitoring of Glacial Outburst Flood in Juneau Alaska

Project Spotlight: USGS Scientists Work with Kenai Peninsula Communities to Define Baseline Water Data Amid Climate Uncertainty

Project Spotlight: USGS Scientists Work with Kenai Peninsula Communities to Define Baseline Water Data Amid Climate Uncertainty

Publications

The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears

Omnivores often face tradeoffs between selecting for spatially dispersed energy-dense vertebrate prey versus densely distributed herbivorous resources that have limited energetic value per unit intake. Arctic grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are large omnivores within a resource-limited ecosystem that are known to exhibit smaller body masses and occur at lower densities than grizzly bears in...
Authors
Anthony Pagano, Karyn Rode, Kerry Nicholson, William Leacock, Craig Stricker, Charles Robbins

Observational, virological, and serological data provide insights into an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza among wild birds on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska in 2022 Observational, virological, and serological data provide insights into an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza among wild birds on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska in 2022

In 2021–22, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses were introduced by wild birds into North America, leading to geographically widespread disease. In response to HPAI outbreaks throughout late 2021 and early 2022, we recorded observations of sick and dead birds, estimated abundance of carcasses, collected swab and sera samples to detect viruses, and monitored...
Authors
Bryan Daniels, Erik Osnas, Megan Boldenow, Robert Gerlach, Christina Ahlstrom, Sarah Coburn, Michael Brook, Michael Brubaker, Julian Fischer, David Koons, Angela Matz, Marin Murphy, Daniel Rizzolo, Laura Scott, David Sinnett, Jordan Thompson, Juliana Lenoch, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson, Andrew Ramey

Reply to the discussion by Pilfold “Polar bear mass change confirms hyperphagia follows ringed seal whelping” Reply to the discussion by Pilfold “Polar bear mass change confirms hyperphagia follows ringed seal whelping”

The spring is a critical period when polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) are thought to have peak access to seals and acquire the majority of their annual energy requirements during a period of hyperphagia. Pagano et al. (Pagano A.M., Atkinson S.N., and Archer L.C. 2025. Arctic Science.11:1-14. doi:10.1139/as-2024-0051) examined the intra-seasonal changes in body mass of 31 polar...
Authors
Anthony Pagano, Stephen Atkinson, Louise Archer

Science

ASC Energy and Mineral Resources Data Releases

Data products grouped by: Geochemistry, Geochronology, Geologic hazards, Geologic mapping, Mineral resources, Topographic data, and Geologic terrain
ASC Energy and Mineral Resources Data Releases

ASC Energy and Mineral Resources Data Releases

Data products grouped by: Geochemistry, Geochronology, Geologic hazards, Geologic mapping, Mineral resources, Topographic data, and Geologic terrain
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Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Polar Bear Research

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Learn More

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
Learn More

Multimedia

Black and white three-ring binders with content labels.
Shelf of legacy seabird data
Shelf of legacy seabird data
White and brown carboard boxes stacked on top of each other.
Physical data ready for archive
Physical data ready for archive
map of placer tailing samples in Alaska.
Alaska locations of USGS placer tailings sampling sites
Alaska locations of USGS placer tailings sampling sites
Three scientists stand on a bridge above a flooded river holding a rope attached to scientific equipment in the water below.
USGS Measures Glacial Flooding in Juneau, Alaska
USGS Measures Glacial Flooding in Juneau, Alaska
Yellow sunset over mountains and water.
Sunset over Katmai
Sunset over Katmai
Two boats anchored to a rocky shoreline.
Waiting for passengers at Katmai National Park and Preserve
Waiting for passengers at Katmai National Park and Preserve
A hand in a purple glove holds a black tube.
A retrieved HOBO temperature logger at Katmai National Park and Preserve
A retrieved HOBO temperature logger at Katmai National Park and Preserve
A yellow and black bumble bee feeding on a yellow flower.
Bumble bee pollinating a wild celery (Angelica lucida) flower at Katmai National Park and Preserve
Bumble bee pollinating a wild celery (Angelica lucida) flower at Katmai National Park and Preserve
Two people looking through telescopes.
Scientists observing foraging sea otters through telescopes
Scientists observing foraging sea otters through telescopes
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