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Michael P Carey, Ph.D.

Community ecology of fish, Food web dynamics, Anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function, Invasive species

My research program seeks to better understand the role of ecological processes in shaping fish distribution and population characteristics, habitat requirements of fish, and evolutionary adaptations of aquatic organisms in response to environmental gradients. Specifically, I focus on three drivers of fish communities and populations: (1) aquatic thermal regimes, (2) Arctic landscapes dynamics, and (3) invasive species.

Currently, we lack a robust understanding of how these processes influence fish communities in high-latitude ecosystems for which information is critical to inform management and policy decisions due to a rapidly changing landscape from natural and human pressures. To understand processes that influence fish communities in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems, my research program combines field monitoring, large-scale comparative studies, simulation modeling, and experiments at multiple spatial and temporal scales and results of these studies are used to guide conservation, protection, and management of fish and fish habitats throughout the North Pacific Rim and Alaska.

Professional Experience

  • 2012 - Present  Research Fishery Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2009 - 2012      Research Associate of the National Research Council, NOAA Fisheries,
                                Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA

  • 2003 - 2009      Research Assistant, Illinois Natural History Survey

  • 1999 - 2002      Research Assistant, Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
                                Unit USGS-BRD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

  • 1998                    Fisheries Technician, U.S. Forest Service, Payette National Forest,
                                Council, ID

  • 1996-1997        Biological Technician, Trout Lake Field Station, Northern Temperate Lakes
                               LTER, Boulder Junction, WI

  • 1996  NSF         Research experience for Undergraduates fellowship, Trout Lake Field Station,
                               North Temperate Lakes LTER, Boulder Junction, WI

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D.  2009  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
                          Biology

  • M.S.   2002   University of Massachusetts-Amherst   Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation

  • B.S.   1997     University of Wisconsin-Madison   Zoology

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Fisheries Society

  • Ecological Society of America, Aquatic Section

Science and Products

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Spawing sockeye salmon in a Matanuska River side channel, Alaska

Fish and Aquatic Ecology

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...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Fish and Aquatic Ecology

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...
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A tributary of the Salmon River located in the Kobuk River National Park, Alaska. The tributary is orange in color.

The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
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Alaska Science Center
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The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
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Male scientist with fishing rod and female scientist using a plankton on small boat on a lake. Green hills in background.

Tracing Mercury Through Lake Food Webs

Mercury concentrations in fish likely reflect different energy sources in lake food webs. Species, populations, or individuals may contain higher and variable concentrations of mercury, which may relate directly to prey mercury content, diets of fish, and fish foraging strategies.
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Alaska Science Center
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Tracing Mercury Through Lake Food Webs

Mercury concentrations in fish likely reflect different energy sources in lake food webs. Species, populations, or individuals may contain higher and variable concentrations of mercury, which may relate directly to prey mercury content, diets of fish, and fish foraging strategies.
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Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska

Q&A: Arctic Rivers Project

Alaska is home to numerous cultural and linguistic Indigenous groups and the largest number of Federally Recognized Tribes in the United States. Indigenous Alaskans, often living in rural remote communities, are facing multiple impacts due to climate change. As infrastructure, landscapes, and subsistence resources continue to be impacted by warming temperatures, the safety, well-being, and...
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Alaska Science Center
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Q&A: Arctic Rivers Project

Alaska is home to numerous cultural and linguistic Indigenous groups and the largest number of Federally Recognized Tribes in the United States. Indigenous Alaskans, often living in rural remote communities, are facing multiple impacts due to climate change. As infrastructure, landscapes, and subsistence resources continue to be impacted by warming temperatures, the safety, well-being, and...
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Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument

Beavers Impacting Tundra Ecosystems (BITE)

The range expansion of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has implications for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries in Arctic streams.
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Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Beavers Impacting Tundra Ecosystems (BITE)

The range expansion of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has implications for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries in Arctic streams.
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Canning River with bars view

Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River

In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
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Alaska Science Center
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Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River

In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
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Scientist walking up the Akilik River with a minnow trap to catch fish

Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology

Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
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Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology

Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
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Elodea spp. on a rake in Sand Lake in Anchorage, Alaska

Effect of Elodea spp. on Fish Performance Mediated Through Food Web Interactions

The potential for invasive species introductions in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems is growing as climate change manifests and human activity increases in high latitudes.
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Effect of Elodea spp. on Fish Performance Mediated Through Food Web Interactions

The potential for invasive species introductions in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems is growing as climate change manifests and human activity increases in high latitudes.
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A fish weir on the Pilgrim River to prevent fish from going downstream except when controlled by a gate

Sockeye Salmon Migrating at the Northern Edge of Their Distribution

The physiological challenge for anadromous fish to migrate upriver to spawn and complete their life cycle is influenced by river temperature.
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Alaska Science Center
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Sockeye Salmon Migrating at the Northern Edge of Their Distribution

The physiological challenge for anadromous fish to migrate upriver to spawn and complete their life cycle is influenced by river temperature.
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Biologist transferring a muscle biopsy from the sampler to the vial

Assessing heat stress in migrating Yukon River Chinook Salmon

We will examine evidence of heat stress in Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using heat shock proteins and gene expression.
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Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Assessing heat stress in migrating Yukon River Chinook Salmon

We will examine evidence of heat stress in Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using heat shock proteins and gene expression.
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The north fork of the Agashashok River

Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology

The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
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Land Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology

The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
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Chemistry of Orange and Reference Streams in Northwestern Alaska

These data include water chemistry from headwater streams to large rivers that have recently turned orange and reference rivers that have not. These samples were collected in two national parks in Arctic Alaska: Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve.
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Alaska Science Center

Length, Weight, Energy Density, and Isotopic Values of Fish from Rivers in Northwest Alaska, 2015-2019

This dataset contains length, weight, energy density, and isotope values of fish collected in northwest Alaskan rivers during summer and fall 2015-2019.
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Alaska Science Center

Macroinvertebrates From Streams and Springs in the 1002 Region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2021

This dataset includes tables related to macroinvertebrate collections in streams and springs of the 1002 region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska. Macroinvertebrates were collected using kicknets and driftnets in April and August with the goal of comparing populations to those sampled from the same water bodies by the USGS in the 1970s.
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Alaska Science Center

Limnological Data from Experimental Exposure of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to Elodea in a High Latitude Lake

This dataset provides nine tables of data from an experimental study in which juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were reared in floating net pens (limnocorrals) and exposed to Elodea spp. (a potential invasive species in high latititude lakes) and native aquatic vegetation. Data include: (1) coho salmon body, otolith, and stable isotope measurements, (2) abundance of macroinvertebrates, (
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Alaska Science Center

Nearshore Fish Isotope Values, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, 2017-2019

This dataset contains isotope values of muscle tissue from fish collected in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, Alaska in summers 2017-2019.
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Alaska Science Center

Stream and River Chemistry in Watersheds of Northwestern Alaska, 2015-2019

These data include stream water chemistry from headwater streams to large rivers across three national parks in Arctic Alaska: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve.
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Alaska Science Center

Stream Temperatures in the Noatak River and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2017 - 2019

This data set includes 15-minute interval data on stream temperature from low-order streams and main-stem rivers in the Noatak and Kobuk River valleys in Northwestern Alaska, collected during the summer months. The water temperatures were determined using a HOBO Water Temp Pro v2 (Onset Computer Corporation, Bourne, MA, USA)with ±0.2 degrees C accuracy. Sensors were place in several locations with
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Alaska Science Center

Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska

Soil moisture and temperature were measured at four shallow depths in multiple locations within tundra and forested landscapes of the Agashashok River basin. The measurements were made continuously beginning in 2015 until the most recent download in summer, 2019 or until the sensors or loggers failed.
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Alaska Science Center

Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017

Meteorological data was collected from two locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, one high in the drainage located on tundra (67.5440 N, -161.6828 E) and a second on a rocky knoll near the watershed mouth (67.2821 N, -162.5841 E). The data contain information on air temperatures, rainfall, barometric pressure, relative humidity, incoming and outgoing radiation, and wind speed and direction.
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Alaska Science Center

Physical, Hydraulic, and Thermal Properties of Soils in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska, 2016

This dataset includes physical, hydraulic, and thermal properties of soils collected in two sub-watersheds in the Noatak River Basin in northwestern Alaska. Physical properties include dry bulk density and porosity. Hydraulic properties include field- and lab-based hydraulic conductivity, soil-water retention data, and parameters used in a common soil-water retention model (van Genuchten model). T
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Alaska Science Center

Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2015 - 2017

This data set includes 15-minute interval data on stream temperature, stage, and discharge from low-order streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River valleys in Northwestern Alaska, collected during the summer months. Several sites in the Agashashok River basin were monitored in 2015 and 2016, and additional sites were added in 2017. The depth of the water and temperature were determined using a combine
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Alaska Science Center

Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Body Condition and Water Temperature Along the Pilgrim River, Northwestern Alaska, 2013-2016

This data set is four spreadsheets with: 1) the body condition and egg counts of Sockeye Salmon captured at several sites along the Pilgrim River 2013-2016, 2) water temperature from 10 automated temperature dataloggers during the summers of 2013-2016, 3) results from an experiment to determine the effect of elevated water temperature on levels of Heat Shock Protein (HSP70) in captive juvenile Soc
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Alaska Science Center
Filter Total Items: 49
Kugururok River confluence showing both orange water and blue water. Shrubs along bank with mountains in background.
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Kugururok River confluence Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Orange water in tributary of Kugururok River. Shrubs along the bank with hills in the background.
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Tributary of Kugururok River, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Tributary of Salmon River, Alaska with orange color flowing into river. Fall vegetation and hill in the background.
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Tributary of Salmon River, Alaska
Deposition on tributary of Salmon River. A dead tree lays across the water and another is on the bank next to hill.
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Deposition on tributary of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Mainstem of Salmon River with cloudy, brownish orange water. Fall vegetation and hill surrounding riverbanks.
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Mainstem of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
A tributary of the Salmon River located in the Kobuk River National Park, Alaska. The tributary is orange in color.
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Tributary of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Hillside fall colors on the North fork of the Agashashok River. The foreground shows dead shrubs from iron seep.
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Iron seep on the North fork of the Agashashok River
Map of Arctic rivers study sites with six stars marking sites. Three aerial images with orange streams below map.
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Map of orange stream observations across ARCN parks in northern Alaska
Hills with patches of snow and orange coloring along the bank and vegetation along the tributary of the Agashashok River, AK
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Tributary of Agashashok River, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of smiling white man in a red and white striped beanie. AD version. link
Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Mike Carey, Research Fish Ecologist (AD)
Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of smiling white man in a red and white striped beanie link
Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Mike Carey, Research Fish Ecologist
Beaver dam complex and lodge at the confluence of Wrench Creek and Kelly River, Noatak National Preserve
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Beaver dam complex and lodge at the confluence
Beaver dam and lodge on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
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Beaver dam and lodge on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Dolly varden (Salvelinus malma) from impounded water of beaver dam on the Wrench Creek
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Arctic grayling and Dolly varden from impounded water of beaver dam
Measuring temperature and dissolved oxygen in impounded water of beaver dam on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
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Measuring temperature and dissolved oxygen in impounded water
Gnawed tree from beaver activity on tributary of the Agashashok River, Noatak National Preserve
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Gnawed tree from beaver activity on tributary of the Agashashok River
Beaver dam crossing mainstem of Rabbit Creek near the headwaters, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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Beaver dam crossing mainstem of Rabbit Creek near the headwaters
Measuring the amount of water impounded by a beaver dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument.
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Measuring the amount of water impounded by a beaver dam
Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
Beaver swimming near dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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Beaver swimming near dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern
Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
Filter Total Items: 22

Comparing sediment microbial communities of Arctic beaver ponds to tundra lakes and streams

In recent decades the habitat of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has expanded from boreal forests into Arctic tundra ecosystems. Beaver ponds in Arctic watersheds are known to alter stream biogeochemistry, which is likely coupled with changes in the activity and composition of microbial communities inhabiting beaver pond sediments. We investigated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communit
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Kelly Shannon, Natasha R. Christman, Byron C. Crump, Michael P. Carey, Joshua C. Koch, Laura L. Lapham, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Brett A. Poulin, Ken D. Tape, Jason A. Clark, Frederick S. Colwell
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Alaska Science Center

Elodea mediates juvenile salmon growth by altering physical structure in freshwater habitats

Invasive species introductions in high latitudes are accelerating and elevating the need to address questions of their effects on Subarctic and Arctic ecosystems. As a driver of ecosystem function, submerged aquatic vegetation is one of the most deleterious biological invasions to aquatic food webs. The aquatic plant Elodea spp. has potential to be a widespread invader to Arctic and Subarctic ecos
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Michael P. Carey, Gordon H. Reeves, Suresh Sethi, Theresa L. Tanner, Daniel B. Young, Krista K. Bartz, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Investigating effects of climate-induced changes in water temperature and diet on mercury concentrations in an Arctic freshwater forage fish

The amount of mercury (Hg) in Arctic lake food webs is, and will continue to be, affected by rapid, ongoing climate change. At warmer temperatures, fish require more energy to sustain growth; changes in their metabolic rates and consuming prey with potentially higher Hg concentrations could result in increased Hg accumulation. To examine the potential implications of climate warming on forage fish
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Sarah M. Laske, Samantha M. Burke, Michael P. Carey, Heidi K. Swanson, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Alaska Science Center

How beavers are changing Arctic landscapes and Earth’s climate

Beavers build dams that change the way water moves between streams, lakes, and the land. In Alaska, beavers are moving north from the forests into the Arctic tundra. When beavers build dams in the Arctic, they cause frozen soil, called permafrost, to thaw. Scientists are studying how beavers and the thawing of permafrost are impacting streams and rivers in Alaska’s national parks. For example, per
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Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Michael P. Carey, Brett Poulin, Ken Tape, Joshua C. Koch
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Alaska Science Center

Sensitivity of headwater streamflow to thawing permafrost and vegetation change in a warming Arctic

Climate change has the potential to impact headwater streams in the Arctic by thawing permafrost and subsequently altering hydrologic regimes and vegetation distribution, physiognomy and productivity. Permafrost thaw and increased subsurface flow have been inferred from the chemistry of large rivers, but there is limited empirical evidence of the impacts to headwater streams. Here we demonstrate h
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Joshua C. Koch, Ylva Sjöberg, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Michael P. Carey, Pamela Sullivan, A. Terskaia
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Alaska Science Center

Premature mortality observations among Alaska’s Pacific salmon during record heat and drought in 2019

Widespread mortality of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. returning to spawn in Alaska coincided with record-breaking air temperatures and prolonged drought in summer 2019. Extreme environmental conditions are expected to happen more frequently with rapid climate change and challenge the notion that Alaska could indefinitely provide abundant, cool freshwater habitat for Pacific salmon. A total of 1
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Vanessa R. von Biela, Christopher J. Sergeant, Michael P. Carey, Zachary Liller, Charles M. Russell, Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, Peter S. Rand, P. A. H. Westley, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Alaska Science Center

Multi-year, spatially extensive, watershed-scale synoptic stream chemistry and water quality conditions for six permafrost-underlain Arctic watersheds

Repeated sampling of spatially distributed river chemistry can be used to assess the location, scale, and persistence of carbon and nutrient contributions to watershed exports. Here, we provide a comprehensive set of water chemistry measurements and ecohydrological metrics describing the biogeochemical conditions of permafrost-affected Arctic watersheds. These data were collected in watershed-wide
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Arial Shogren, Jay P. Zarnetske, Benjamin W. Abbott, Samuel P. Bratsman, Brian C. Brown, Michael P. Carey, Randy Fulweiber, Heather Greaves, Emma Haines, Frances Iannucci, Joshua C. Koch, Alex Medvedeff, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Leika Patch, Brett Poulin, Tanner J. Williamson, William B. Bowden
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Alaska Science Center

Migration strategies supporting salmonids in Arctic Rivers: A case study of Arctic Cisco and Dolly Varden

Amphidromous fish such as Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic Cisco (Coregonus autumnalis) have distinct life histories that facilitate their success in Arctic environments. Both species spawn in freshwater and make annual migrations between marine, brackish, or freshwater environments. Dolly Varden rear for one or more years in freshwater before migrating to sea whereas Arctic Cisco migrat
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Michael P. Carey, Vanessa R. von Biela, Randy J Brown, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Egg retention of high-latitude sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the Pilgrim River, Alaska, during the Pacific marine heatwave of 2014–2016

Ocean and freshwater conditions can influence spawning success of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) by governing the energy content of fish at the start of and during the spawning migration. Ocean conditions determine the energy stores of fish at the freshwater entry, while freshwater conditions determine how quickly stored energy is depleted as individuals migrate to spawning grounds in natal ri
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Michael P. Carey, Vanessa R. von Biela, Ashley Dunker, Kevin D. Keith, Merlyn Schelske, Charlie Lean, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Alaska Science Center

Permafrost promotes shallow groundwater flow and warmer headwater streams

The presence of permafrost influences the flow paths of water through Arctic landscapes and thereby has the potential to impact stream discharge and thermal regimes. Observations from eleven headwater streams in Alaska showed that July water temperatures were higher in catchments with more near‐surface permafrost. We apply a fully coupled cryohydrology model to investigate if the impact of permafr
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Ylva Sjöberg, Adam K. Janke, S Painter, E. Coonradt, Michael P. Carey, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Joshua C. Koch
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Alaska Science Center

A manipulative thermal challenge protocol for adult salmonids in remote field settings

Manipulative experiments provide stronger evidence for identifying cause-and-effect relationships than correlative studies, but protocols for implementing temperature manipulations are lacking for large species in remote settings. We developed an experimental protocol for holding adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and exposing them to elevated temperature treatments. The goal of the e
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Daniel S. Donnelly, Vanessa R. von Biela, Stephen D. McCormick, Sarah M. Laske, Michael P. Carey, Shannon C. Waters, Lizabeth Bowen, Randy J Brown, Sean Larson, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Transcriptomic response to elevated water temperatures in adult migrating Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) declines are widespread and may be attributed, at least in part, to warming river temperatures. Water temperatures in the Yukon River and tributaries often exceed 18°C, a threshold commonly associated with heat stress and elevated mortality in Pacific salmon. Untangling the complex web of direct and indirect physiological effects of heat stress on salmon i
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Lizabeth Bowen, Vanessa R. von Biela, Stephen D. McCormick, Amy M. Regish, Shannon C. Waters, Blythe Durbin-Johnson, Monica Britton, Matt Settles, Daniel S. Donnelly, Sarah M. Laske, Michael P. Carey, Randy J Brown, Christian E. Zimmerman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Non-USGS Publications**

Carey, M.P., P.S. Levin, H. Townsend, T.J. Minello, G.R. Sutton, T.B. Francis, C.J. Harvey, J.E. Toft, K. K. Arkema, J.L. Burke, C.K. Kim, A.D. Guerry, M. Plummer, G. Spiridonov, and M. Ruckelshaus. 2014. Characterizing coastal food webs with qualitative links to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of ecosystem based management. ICES Journal of Marine Science: 71 (3): 713-724. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fst012.
Toft, J. E., J. L. Burke, M. P. Carey, C. K. Kim, G. Spiridonov, M. Marsik, D. A. Sutherland, K. K. Arkema, A. D. Guerry, P. S. Levin, T. J. Minello, M. Plummer, M. H. Ruckelshaus and H. M. Townsend. 2014. From mountains to sound: Modelling the sensitivity of Dungeness crab and Pacific oyster to land-sea interactions in Hood Canal, WA. ICES Journal of Marine Science: 71 (3): 725-738. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fst072.
Carey, M.P., B.L. Sanderson, K.A. Barnas, and J.D. Olden. 2012. Native invaders – challenges for science, management, policy, and society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10(7): 373–381. doi:10.1890/110060
Carey, M.P., B.L. Sanderson, T.A. Friesen, K.A. Barnas, and J.D. Olden. 2011. Smallmouth Bass in the Pacific Northwest: A Threat to Native Species, a Benefit for Anglers. Reviews in Fisheries Science 19(3): 305-315. doi:10.1080/10641262.2011.598584
Carey, M.P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Foraging modes of predators and behaviors of prey determine the outcome of multiple predator interactions. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140: 1015-1022. doi:10.1080/00028487.2011.603983
Vanlandeghem, M., M.P. Carey, and D.H. Wahl. 2011. Turbidity-induced changes in emergent effects of multiple predators with different foraging strategies. Ecology of Freshwater 20: 279–286. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2011.00494.x
Carey, M.P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Fish diversity as a determinant of ecosystem properties across multiple trophic levels. Oikos 120: 84–94. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18352.x
Carey, M. P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Determining the mechanism by which fish diversity influences production. Oecologia 167:189-198. doi:10.1007/s00442-011-1967-3
Carey, M. P. and D. H. Wahl. 2010. Native fish diversity alters the effects of an invasive species on food webs. Ecology 91(10):2965-2974. doi:10.1890/09-1213.1
Carey, M.P., and M.E. Mather. 2008. Tracking change in a human-dominated landscape: developing conservation guidelines using freshwater fish. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 877-890.
Hrabik, T.R., M. P. Carey, and M.S. Webster. 2001. Interactions between Young-of-the-Year Exotic Rainbow Smelt and Native Yellow Perch in a Northern Temperate Lake. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 130: 568-582. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(2001)130<0568:IBYOTY>2.0.CO;2

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

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USGS Scientists Podcast Interviews

In 2023, USGS Alaska Science Center scientists participated in a weekly radio program and podcast called Liquid Assets, airing on KTNA 88.9 FM, a...

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Why are Arctic Rivers Turning Orange?

Permafrost thaw may be contributing to discoloration of Arctic rivers by exposing iron-bearing minerals that were previously frozen and are now...

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How Elodea Affects Juvenile Salmon Growth

The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service are collaborating to understand the impacts of Elodea, an invasive...

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Publication Finds That Permafrost Presence Results in Warmer Headwater Streams

Permafrost thaw is occurring across the Arctic with potential consequences for hydrology, ecosystems, humans, and wildlife. A team of scientists from...

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Science and Products

  • Science
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    Spawing sockeye salmon in a Matanuska River side channel, Alaska

    Fish and Aquatic Ecology

    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...
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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    Fish and Aquatic Ecology

    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...
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    A tributary of the Salmon River located in the Kobuk River National Park, Alaska. The tributary is orange in color.

    The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

    The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
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    The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

    The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
    Learn More
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    Male scientist with fishing rod and female scientist using a plankton on small boat on a lake. Green hills in background.

    Tracing Mercury Through Lake Food Webs

    Mercury concentrations in fish likely reflect different energy sources in lake food webs. Species, populations, or individuals may contain higher and variable concentrations of mercury, which may relate directly to prey mercury content, diets of fish, and fish foraging strategies.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
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    Tracing Mercury Through Lake Food Webs

    Mercury concentrations in fish likely reflect different energy sources in lake food webs. Species, populations, or individuals may contain higher and variable concentrations of mercury, which may relate directly to prey mercury content, diets of fish, and fish foraging strategies.
    Learn More
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    Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska

    Q&A: Arctic Rivers Project

    Alaska is home to numerous cultural and linguistic Indigenous groups and the largest number of Federally Recognized Tribes in the United States. Indigenous Alaskans, often living in rural remote communities, are facing multiple impacts due to climate change. As infrastructure, landscapes, and subsistence resources continue to be impacted by warming temperatures, the safety, well-being, and...
    By
    Alaska Science Center
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    Q&A: Arctic Rivers Project

    Alaska is home to numerous cultural and linguistic Indigenous groups and the largest number of Federally Recognized Tribes in the United States. Indigenous Alaskans, often living in rural remote communities, are facing multiple impacts due to climate change. As infrastructure, landscapes, and subsistence resources continue to be impacted by warming temperatures, the safety, well-being, and...
    Learn More
    link
    Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument

    Beavers Impacting Tundra Ecosystems (BITE)

    The range expansion of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has implications for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries in Arctic streams.
    By
    Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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    Beavers Impacting Tundra Ecosystems (BITE)

    The range expansion of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has implications for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries in Arctic streams.
    Learn More
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    Canning River with bars view

    Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River

    In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
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    Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River

    In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
    Learn More
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    Scientist walking up the Akilik River with a minnow trap to catch fish

    Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology

    Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
    By
    Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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    Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology

    Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
    Learn More
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    Elodea spp. on a rake in Sand Lake in Anchorage, Alaska

    Effect of Elodea spp. on Fish Performance Mediated Through Food Web Interactions

    The potential for invasive species introductions in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems is growing as climate change manifests and human activity increases in high latitudes.
    By
    Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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    Effect of Elodea spp. on Fish Performance Mediated Through Food Web Interactions

    The potential for invasive species introductions in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems is growing as climate change manifests and human activity increases in high latitudes.
    Learn More
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    A fish weir on the Pilgrim River to prevent fish from going downstream except when controlled by a gate

    Sockeye Salmon Migrating at the Northern Edge of Their Distribution

    The physiological challenge for anadromous fish to migrate upriver to spawn and complete their life cycle is influenced by river temperature.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
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    Sockeye Salmon Migrating at the Northern Edge of Their Distribution

    The physiological challenge for anadromous fish to migrate upriver to spawn and complete their life cycle is influenced by river temperature.
    Learn More
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    Biologist transferring a muscle biopsy from the sampler to the vial

    Assessing heat stress in migrating Yukon River Chinook Salmon

    We will examine evidence of heat stress in Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using heat shock proteins and gene expression.
    By
    Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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    Assessing heat stress in migrating Yukon River Chinook Salmon

    We will examine evidence of heat stress in Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using heat shock proteins and gene expression.
    Learn More
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    The north fork of the Agashashok River

    Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology

    The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
    By
    Land Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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    Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology

    The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
    Learn More
  • Data
    Filter Total Items: 14

    Chemistry of Orange and Reference Streams in Northwestern Alaska

    These data include water chemistry from headwater streams to large rivers that have recently turned orange and reference rivers that have not. These samples were collected in two national parks in Arctic Alaska: Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Length, Weight, Energy Density, and Isotopic Values of Fish from Rivers in Northwest Alaska, 2015-2019

    This dataset contains length, weight, energy density, and isotope values of fish collected in northwest Alaskan rivers during summer and fall 2015-2019.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Macroinvertebrates From Streams and Springs in the 1002 Region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2021

    This dataset includes tables related to macroinvertebrate collections in streams and springs of the 1002 region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska. Macroinvertebrates were collected using kicknets and driftnets in April and August with the goal of comparing populations to those sampled from the same water bodies by the USGS in the 1970s.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Limnological Data from Experimental Exposure of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to Elodea in a High Latitude Lake

    This dataset provides nine tables of data from an experimental study in which juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were reared in floating net pens (limnocorrals) and exposed to Elodea spp. (a potential invasive species in high latititude lakes) and native aquatic vegetation. Data include: (1) coho salmon body, otolith, and stable isotope measurements, (2) abundance of macroinvertebrates, (
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Nearshore Fish Isotope Values, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, 2017-2019

    This dataset contains isotope values of muscle tissue from fish collected in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, Alaska in summers 2017-2019.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Stream and River Chemistry in Watersheds of Northwestern Alaska, 2015-2019

    These data include stream water chemistry from headwater streams to large rivers across three national parks in Arctic Alaska: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Stream Temperatures in the Noatak River and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2017 - 2019

    This data set includes 15-minute interval data on stream temperature from low-order streams and main-stem rivers in the Noatak and Kobuk River valleys in Northwestern Alaska, collected during the summer months. The water temperatures were determined using a HOBO Water Temp Pro v2 (Onset Computer Corporation, Bourne, MA, USA)with ±0.2 degrees C accuracy. Sensors were place in several locations with
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Continuous Records of Shallow Soil Temperature and Moisture in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska

    Soil moisture and temperature were measured at four shallow depths in multiple locations within tundra and forested landscapes of the Agashashok River basin. The measurements were made continuously beginning in 2015 until the most recent download in summer, 2019 or until the sensors or loggers failed.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017

    Meteorological data was collected from two locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, one high in the drainage located on tundra (67.5440 N, -161.6828 E) and a second on a rocky knoll near the watershed mouth (67.2821 N, -162.5841 E). The data contain information on air temperatures, rainfall, barometric pressure, relative humidity, incoming and outgoing radiation, and wind speed and direction.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Physical, Hydraulic, and Thermal Properties of Soils in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska, 2016

    This dataset includes physical, hydraulic, and thermal properties of soils collected in two sub-watersheds in the Noatak River Basin in northwestern Alaska. Physical properties include dry bulk density and porosity. Hydraulic properties include field- and lab-based hydraulic conductivity, soil-water retention data, and parameters used in a common soil-water retention model (van Genuchten model). T
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2015 - 2017

    This data set includes 15-minute interval data on stream temperature, stage, and discharge from low-order streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River valleys in Northwestern Alaska, collected during the summer months. Several sites in the Agashashok River basin were monitored in 2015 and 2016, and additional sites were added in 2017. The depth of the water and temperature were determined using a combine
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Body Condition and Water Temperature Along the Pilgrim River, Northwestern Alaska, 2013-2016

    This data set is four spreadsheets with: 1) the body condition and egg counts of Sockeye Salmon captured at several sites along the Pilgrim River 2013-2016, 2) water temperature from 10 automated temperature dataloggers during the summers of 2013-2016, 3) results from an experiment to determine the effect of elevated water temperature on levels of Heat Shock Protein (HSP70) in captive juvenile Soc
    By
    Alaska Science Center
  • Multimedia
    Filter Total Items: 49
    Kugururok River confluence showing both orange water and blue water. Shrubs along bank with mountains in background.
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    Kugururok River confluence Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
    Orange water in tributary of Kugururok River. Shrubs along the bank with hills in the background.
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    Tributary of Kugururok River, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
    Tributary of Salmon River, Alaska with orange color flowing into river. Fall vegetation and hill in the background.
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    Tributary of Salmon River, Alaska
    Deposition on tributary of Salmon River. A dead tree lays across the water and another is on the bank next to hill.
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    Deposition on tributary of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
    Mainstem of Salmon River with cloudy, brownish orange water. Fall vegetation and hill surrounding riverbanks.
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    Mainstem of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
    A tributary of the Salmon River located in the Kobuk River National Park, Alaska. The tributary is orange in color.
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    Tributary of Salmon River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
    Hillside fall colors on the North fork of the Agashashok River. The foreground shows dead shrubs from iron seep.
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    Iron seep on the North fork of the Agashashok River
    Map of Arctic rivers study sites with six stars marking sites. Three aerial images with orange streams below map.
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    Map of orange stream observations across ARCN parks in northern Alaska
    Hills with patches of snow and orange coloring along the bank and vegetation along the tributary of the Agashashok River, AK
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    Tributary of Agashashok River, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Alaska
    Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of smiling white man in a red and white striped beanie. AD version. link
    Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Mike Carey, Research Fish Ecologist (AD)
    Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of smiling white man in a red and white striped beanie link
    Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Mike Carey, Research Fish Ecologist
    Beaver dam complex and lodge at the confluence of Wrench Creek and Kelly River, Noatak National Preserve
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    Beaver dam complex and lodge at the confluence
    Beaver dam and lodge on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
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    Beaver dam and lodge on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
    Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Dolly varden (Salvelinus malma) from impounded water of beaver dam on the Wrench Creek
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    Arctic grayling and Dolly varden from impounded water of beaver dam
    Measuring temperature and dissolved oxygen in impounded water of beaver dam on the Wrench Creek, Noatak National Preserve
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    Measuring temperature and dissolved oxygen in impounded water
    Gnawed tree from beaver activity on tributary of the Agashashok River, Noatak National Preserve
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    Gnawed tree from beaver activity on tributary of the Agashashok River
    Beaver dam crossing mainstem of Rabbit Creek near the headwaters, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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    Beaver dam crossing mainstem of Rabbit Creek near the headwaters
    Measuring the amount of water impounded by a beaver dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument.
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    Measuring the amount of water impounded by a beaver dam
    Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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    Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
    Beaver swimming near dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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    Beaver swimming near dam on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern
    Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
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    Beaver dams on Rabbit Creek, Cape Krusenstern National Monument
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 22

    Comparing sediment microbial communities of Arctic beaver ponds to tundra lakes and streams

    In recent decades the habitat of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has expanded from boreal forests into Arctic tundra ecosystems. Beaver ponds in Arctic watersheds are known to alter stream biogeochemistry, which is likely coupled with changes in the activity and composition of microbial communities inhabiting beaver pond sediments. We investigated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communit
    Authors
    Kelly Shannon, Natasha R. Christman, Byron C. Crump, Michael P. Carey, Joshua C. Koch, Laura L. Lapham, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Brett A. Poulin, Ken D. Tape, Jason A. Clark, Frederick S. Colwell
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Elodea mediates juvenile salmon growth by altering physical structure in freshwater habitats

    Invasive species introductions in high latitudes are accelerating and elevating the need to address questions of their effects on Subarctic and Arctic ecosystems. As a driver of ecosystem function, submerged aquatic vegetation is one of the most deleterious biological invasions to aquatic food webs. The aquatic plant Elodea spp. has potential to be a widespread invader to Arctic and Subarctic ecos
    Authors
    Michael P. Carey, Gordon H. Reeves, Suresh Sethi, Theresa L. Tanner, Daniel B. Young, Krista K. Bartz, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Investigating effects of climate-induced changes in water temperature and diet on mercury concentrations in an Arctic freshwater forage fish

    The amount of mercury (Hg) in Arctic lake food webs is, and will continue to be, affected by rapid, ongoing climate change. At warmer temperatures, fish require more energy to sustain growth; changes in their metabolic rates and consuming prey with potentially higher Hg concentrations could result in increased Hg accumulation. To examine the potential implications of climate warming on forage fish
    Authors
    Sarah M. Laske, Samantha M. Burke, Michael P. Carey, Heidi K. Swanson, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    How beavers are changing Arctic landscapes and Earth’s climate

    Beavers build dams that change the way water moves between streams, lakes, and the land. In Alaska, beavers are moving north from the forests into the Arctic tundra. When beavers build dams in the Arctic, they cause frozen soil, called permafrost, to thaw. Scientists are studying how beavers and the thawing of permafrost are impacting streams and rivers in Alaska’s national parks. For example, per
    Authors
    Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Michael P. Carey, Brett Poulin, Ken Tape, Joshua C. Koch
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sensitivity of headwater streamflow to thawing permafrost and vegetation change in a warming Arctic

    Climate change has the potential to impact headwater streams in the Arctic by thawing permafrost and subsequently altering hydrologic regimes and vegetation distribution, physiognomy and productivity. Permafrost thaw and increased subsurface flow have been inferred from the chemistry of large rivers, but there is limited empirical evidence of the impacts to headwater streams. Here we demonstrate h
    Authors
    Joshua C. Koch, Ylva Sjöberg, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Michael P. Carey, Pamela Sullivan, A. Terskaia
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Premature mortality observations among Alaska’s Pacific salmon during record heat and drought in 2019

    Widespread mortality of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. returning to spawn in Alaska coincided with record-breaking air temperatures and prolonged drought in summer 2019. Extreme environmental conditions are expected to happen more frequently with rapid climate change and challenge the notion that Alaska could indefinitely provide abundant, cool freshwater habitat for Pacific salmon. A total of 1
    Authors
    Vanessa R. von Biela, Christopher J. Sergeant, Michael P. Carey, Zachary Liller, Charles M. Russell, Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, Peter S. Rand, P. A. H. Westley, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Multi-year, spatially extensive, watershed-scale synoptic stream chemistry and water quality conditions for six permafrost-underlain Arctic watersheds

    Repeated sampling of spatially distributed river chemistry can be used to assess the location, scale, and persistence of carbon and nutrient contributions to watershed exports. Here, we provide a comprehensive set of water chemistry measurements and ecohydrological metrics describing the biogeochemical conditions of permafrost-affected Arctic watersheds. These data were collected in watershed-wide
    Authors
    Arial Shogren, Jay P. Zarnetske, Benjamin W. Abbott, Samuel P. Bratsman, Brian C. Brown, Michael P. Carey, Randy Fulweiber, Heather Greaves, Emma Haines, Frances Iannucci, Joshua C. Koch, Alex Medvedeff, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Leika Patch, Brett Poulin, Tanner J. Williamson, William B. Bowden
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Migration strategies supporting salmonids in Arctic Rivers: A case study of Arctic Cisco and Dolly Varden

    Amphidromous fish such as Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic Cisco (Coregonus autumnalis) have distinct life histories that facilitate their success in Arctic environments. Both species spawn in freshwater and make annual migrations between marine, brackish, or freshwater environments. Dolly Varden rear for one or more years in freshwater before migrating to sea whereas Arctic Cisco migrat
    Authors
    Michael P. Carey, Vanessa R. von Biela, Randy J Brown, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Egg retention of high-latitude sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the Pilgrim River, Alaska, during the Pacific marine heatwave of 2014–2016

    Ocean and freshwater conditions can influence spawning success of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) by governing the energy content of fish at the start of and during the spawning migration. Ocean conditions determine the energy stores of fish at the freshwater entry, while freshwater conditions determine how quickly stored energy is depleted as individuals migrate to spawning grounds in natal ri
    Authors
    Michael P. Carey, Vanessa R. von Biela, Ashley Dunker, Kevin D. Keith, Merlyn Schelske, Charlie Lean, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Permafrost promotes shallow groundwater flow and warmer headwater streams

    The presence of permafrost influences the flow paths of water through Arctic landscapes and thereby has the potential to impact stream discharge and thermal regimes. Observations from eleven headwater streams in Alaska showed that July water temperatures were higher in catchments with more near‐surface permafrost. We apply a fully coupled cryohydrology model to investigate if the impact of permafr
    Authors
    Ylva Sjöberg, Adam K. Janke, S Painter, E. Coonradt, Michael P. Carey, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Joshua C. Koch
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    A manipulative thermal challenge protocol for adult salmonids in remote field settings

    Manipulative experiments provide stronger evidence for identifying cause-and-effect relationships than correlative studies, but protocols for implementing temperature manipulations are lacking for large species in remote settings. We developed an experimental protocol for holding adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and exposing them to elevated temperature treatments. The goal of the e
    Authors
    Daniel S. Donnelly, Vanessa R. von Biela, Stephen D. McCormick, Sarah M. Laske, Michael P. Carey, Shannon C. Waters, Lizabeth Bowen, Randy J Brown, Sean Larson, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

    Transcriptomic response to elevated water temperatures in adult migrating Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) declines are widespread and may be attributed, at least in part, to warming river temperatures. Water temperatures in the Yukon River and tributaries often exceed 18°C, a threshold commonly associated with heat stress and elevated mortality in Pacific salmon. Untangling the complex web of direct and indirect physiological effects of heat stress on salmon i
    Authors
    Lizabeth Bowen, Vanessa R. von Biela, Stephen D. McCormick, Amy M. Regish, Shannon C. Waters, Blythe Durbin-Johnson, Monica Britton, Matt Settles, Daniel S. Donnelly, Sarah M. Laske, Michael P. Carey, Randy J Brown, Christian E. Zimmerman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Alaska Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Carey, M.P., P.S. Levin, H. Townsend, T.J. Minello, G.R. Sutton, T.B. Francis, C.J. Harvey, J.E. Toft, K. K. Arkema, J.L. Burke, C.K. Kim, A.D. Guerry, M. Plummer, G. Spiridonov, and M. Ruckelshaus. 2014. Characterizing coastal food webs with qualitative links to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of ecosystem based management. ICES Journal of Marine Science: 71 (3): 713-724. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fst012.
    Toft, J. E., J. L. Burke, M. P. Carey, C. K. Kim, G. Spiridonov, M. Marsik, D. A. Sutherland, K. K. Arkema, A. D. Guerry, P. S. Levin, T. J. Minello, M. Plummer, M. H. Ruckelshaus and H. M. Townsend. 2014. From mountains to sound: Modelling the sensitivity of Dungeness crab and Pacific oyster to land-sea interactions in Hood Canal, WA. ICES Journal of Marine Science: 71 (3): 725-738. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fst072.
    Carey, M.P., B.L. Sanderson, K.A. Barnas, and J.D. Olden. 2012. Native invaders – challenges for science, management, policy, and society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10(7): 373–381. doi:10.1890/110060
    Carey, M.P., B.L. Sanderson, T.A. Friesen, K.A. Barnas, and J.D. Olden. 2011. Smallmouth Bass in the Pacific Northwest: A Threat to Native Species, a Benefit for Anglers. Reviews in Fisheries Science 19(3): 305-315. doi:10.1080/10641262.2011.598584
    Carey, M.P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Foraging modes of predators and behaviors of prey determine the outcome of multiple predator interactions. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140: 1015-1022. doi:10.1080/00028487.2011.603983
    Vanlandeghem, M., M.P. Carey, and D.H. Wahl. 2011. Turbidity-induced changes in emergent effects of multiple predators with different foraging strategies. Ecology of Freshwater 20: 279–286. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2011.00494.x
    Carey, M.P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Fish diversity as a determinant of ecosystem properties across multiple trophic levels. Oikos 120: 84–94. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18352.x
    Carey, M. P. and D. H. Wahl. 2011. Determining the mechanism by which fish diversity influences production. Oecologia 167:189-198. doi:10.1007/s00442-011-1967-3
    Carey, M. P. and D. H. Wahl. 2010. Native fish diversity alters the effects of an invasive species on food webs. Ecology 91(10):2965-2974. doi:10.1890/09-1213.1
    Carey, M.P., and M.E. Mather. 2008. Tracking change in a human-dominated landscape: developing conservation guidelines using freshwater fish. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 877-890.
    Hrabik, T.R., M. P. Carey, and M.S. Webster. 2001. Interactions between Young-of-the-Year Exotic Rainbow Smelt and Native Yellow Perch in a Northern Temperate Lake. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 130: 568-582. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(2001)130<0568:IBYOTY>2.0.CO;2

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

  • News
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    USGS Scientists Podcast Interviews

    In 2023, USGS Alaska Science Center scientists participated in a weekly radio program and podcast called Liquid Assets, airing on KTNA 88.9 FM, a...

    Read Article
    link

    Why are Arctic Rivers Turning Orange?

    Permafrost thaw may be contributing to discoloration of Arctic rivers by exposing iron-bearing minerals that were previously frozen and are now...

    Read Article
    link

    How Elodea Affects Juvenile Salmon Growth

    The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service are collaborating to understand the impacts of Elodea, an invasive...

    Read Article
    link

    Publication Finds That Permafrost Presence Results in Warmer Headwater Streams

    Permafrost thaw is occurring across the Arctic with potential consequences for hydrology, ecosystems, humans, and wildlife. A team of scientists from...

    Read Article

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government