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Sarah is a Biologist with the Alaska Science Center. Her work focuses on species interactions and environmental variables driving spatial and temporal variation in nearshore ecosystems.
My projects focus on nearshore ecosystems, particularly on top-down and bottom up factors that drive species composition and variability. My current research uses data from the Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore component. Recent projects include examining the effects of the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting outbreak on abundance of mussels. Currently I am examining relationships between abundance of intertidal invertebrates and their larval counterparts in the plankton.
Ridged hull inflatable skiffs are used by scientists to conduct rocky intertidal monitoring for the Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program. Data are collected to estimate percent cover and densities of intertidal invertebrates and algae to assess change in communities from sheltered rocky shorelines.
Ridged hull inflatable skiffs are used by scientists to conduct rocky intertidal monitoring for the Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program. Data are collected to estimate percent cover and densities of intertidal invertebrates and algae to assess change in communities from sheltered rocky shorelines.
North River Air pilot Taj Shoemaker getting ready for takeoff in Prince William Sound.
North River Air pilot Taj Shoemaker getting ready for takeoff in Prince William Sound.
A resting sea otter in the Homer harbor, Alaska. Photo was taken in 2011. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean.
A resting sea otter in the Homer harbor, Alaska. Photo was taken in 2011. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean.
A resting sea otter with eyes closed. Photo taken in the Homer harbor in Alaska. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean
A resting sea otter with eyes closed. Photo taken in the Homer harbor in Alaska. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean
A sea otter resting in kelp as two orcas swim past. Photo taken in Glacier Bay at Point Carolus, Alaska
A sea otter resting in kelp as two orcas swim past. Photo taken in Glacier Bay at Point Carolus, Alaska
A female sea otter resting in the morning light in Cook Inlet Alaska.
A female sea otter resting in the morning light in Cook Inlet Alaska.
Brian Robinson (USGS) and Ben Weitzman (NOAA) record observations along nearshore transects in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. USGS is studying the migration strategies and movement ecology of Black Oystercatchers as part of the new tracking study.
Brian Robinson (USGS) and Ben Weitzman (NOAA) record observations along nearshore transects in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. USGS is studying the migration strategies and movement ecology of Black Oystercatchers as part of the new tracking study.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller releases a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller releases a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
A young sea otter foraging for small invertebrates off an emergent rock covered with seaweed, snails, and barnacles. Photo taken in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A young sea otter foraging for small invertebrates off an emergent rock covered with seaweed, snails, and barnacles. Photo taken in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) filter feeding during high tide in Jakolof Bay, Alaska.
Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) filter feeding during high tide in Jakolof Bay, Alaska.
A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Photo taken in Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska.
A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Photo taken in Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska.
A sea otter at sunset eating a basket star in Glacier Bay near Bartlett Cove, Alaska
A sea otter at sunset eating a basket star in Glacier Bay near Bartlett Cove, Alaska
Ridged hull inflatable skiffs are used by scientists to conduct rocky intertidal monitoring for the Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program. Data are collected to estimate percent cover and densities of intertidal invertebrates and algae to assess change in communities from sheltered rocky shorelines.
Ridged hull inflatable skiffs are used by scientists to conduct rocky intertidal monitoring for the Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program. Data are collected to estimate percent cover and densities of intertidal invertebrates and algae to assess change in communities from sheltered rocky shorelines.
North River Air pilot Taj Shoemaker getting ready for takeoff in Prince William Sound.
North River Air pilot Taj Shoemaker getting ready for takeoff in Prince William Sound.
A resting sea otter in the Homer harbor, Alaska. Photo was taken in 2011. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean.
A resting sea otter in the Homer harbor, Alaska. Photo was taken in 2011. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean.
A resting sea otter with eyes closed. Photo taken in the Homer harbor in Alaska. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean
A resting sea otter with eyes closed. Photo taken in the Homer harbor in Alaska. Sea otters provide one of the best documented examples of top-down forcing effects on the structure and function of nearshore marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean
A sea otter resting in kelp as two orcas swim past. Photo taken in Glacier Bay at Point Carolus, Alaska
A sea otter resting in kelp as two orcas swim past. Photo taken in Glacier Bay at Point Carolus, Alaska
A female sea otter resting in the morning light in Cook Inlet Alaska.
A female sea otter resting in the morning light in Cook Inlet Alaska.
Brian Robinson (USGS) and Ben Weitzman (NOAA) record observations along nearshore transects in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. USGS is studying the migration strategies and movement ecology of Black Oystercatchers as part of the new tracking study.
Brian Robinson (USGS) and Ben Weitzman (NOAA) record observations along nearshore transects in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. USGS is studying the migration strategies and movement ecology of Black Oystercatchers as part of the new tracking study.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller releases a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
USGS Biologist Caitlin Marsteller releases a Black Oystercatcher after assisting with the collection of morphometric data and tagging. Data were collected from Black Oystercatchers as part of a new study to better understand migration strategies and movement ecology of the species.
A young sea otter foraging for small invertebrates off an emergent rock covered with seaweed, snails, and barnacles. Photo taken in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A young sea otter foraging for small invertebrates off an emergent rock covered with seaweed, snails, and barnacles. Photo taken in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) filter feeding during high tide in Jakolof Bay, Alaska.
Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) filter feeding during high tide in Jakolof Bay, Alaska.
A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Photo taken in Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska.
A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Photo taken in Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska.
A sea otter at sunset eating a basket star in Glacier Bay near Bartlett Cove, Alaska
A sea otter at sunset eating a basket star in Glacier Bay near Bartlett Cove, Alaska
*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