Marine mammals
Marine Mammals Research
Marine Mammals Research
Filter Total Items: 34
No results found.
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS marine mammal research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS marine mammal data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 56
Walrus Used and Available Resource Units for Northeast Chukchi Sea, 2008-2012 Walrus Used and Available Resource Units for Northeast Chukchi Sea, 2008-2012
Sea ice loss represents a stressor to the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which feeds on benthic macroinvertebrates in the Bering and Chukchi seas. However, no studies have examined the effects of sea ice on foraging walrus space use patterns. Thus, we examined walrus foraging resource selection as a function of proximity to resting substrates and prey biomass with a...
Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003 Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003
The data package "Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003" provides raw data for examining abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Southeast Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys. The USGS aerial sea otter surveys have been completed multiple times using consistent methodology...
Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data Katmai National Park and Preserve, 2008-2018 Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data Katmai National Park and Preserve, 2008-2018
These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe sea otter (Enhydra lutris) aerial survey observations from the waters around Katmai National Park and Preserve from surveys conducted in 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2018. Sea otters are a keystone predator, well known for structuring the nearshore...
Sea Otter Mortality Age Data from Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2006-2017 Sea Otter Mortality Age Data from Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2006-2017
These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. The dataset is a comma separated file exported from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The data consist of information related to collection of sea otter carcasses. Collectors walked selected shorelines searching for signs of carcasses. Date, location, carcass condition, parts...
Walrus Haulout Photographs Near Pt. Lay Alaska, September 2014 Walrus Haulout Photographs Near Pt. Lay Alaska, September 2014
These data are three sets of aerial photos used to estimate the number of walruses at a haulout near Pt. Lay, Alaska in September 2014. They were collected during photographic aerial surveys of the only major haulout that occurred on the eastern shores of the Chukchi Sea after sea ice receded beyond the continental shelf on 25 and 27 September 2014.
Pacific Walrus Blubber Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition, St. Lawrence Island, 2007-2010 Pacific Walrus Blubber Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition, St. Lawrence Island, 2007-2010
This dataset contains lab-measured percent lipid and fatty acid composition data from Pacific walruses harvested in waters near Saint Lawrence Island. Each row indicates data from a single layer from a blubber core sample collected from one body site (flank, rump, or sternum) from one walrus harvested by Native Alaskans during the spring walrus hunts of 2007 - 2010. Blubber cores were...
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD)
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) is maintained by the USGS Alaska Science Center and includes survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The data provided here relate to observations of marine birds and mammals observed during at-sea surveys throughout the North Pacific including the Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea...
Polar Bear Microsatellite Data Southern Beaufort Sea 2010-2013 Polar Bear Microsatellite Data Southern Beaufort Sea 2010-2013
This data set provides Polar Bear microsatellite genotypes derived from twenty loci (G1A, G10B, G10C, CXX110, G1D, G10H, G10J, G10L, G10M, MSUT2, MU59, G10P, 145P07, CPH9, CXX20, MU50, MU51, G10X, CXX173, G10U). Samples for microsatellite genetic analysis were collected from polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea during the spring and fall, 2010-2013. Tissue samples were collected...
Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018 Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018
This data reports on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 530 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens observed in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and neighboring areas between 1910 and 2018, and archived partly by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, and partly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, in Anchorage, Alaska. Data...
Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018 Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018
This data reports on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 530 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens observed in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and neighboring areas between 1910 and 2018, and archived partly by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, and partly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, in Anchorage, Alaska. Data...
Satellite Location and Tri-Axial Accelerometer Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014 Satellite Location and Tri-Axial Accelerometer Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014
This data package includes 2 child items with location and activity data from adult female polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014. Child Item 1: "GPS and Argos Location Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014" Child Item 2: "Tri-axial Accelerometer and Conductivity Sensor Data from Adult Female Polar...
Measurement Data of Polar Bears Captured in the Chukchi and Southern Beaufort Sea, 1981-2017 Measurement Data of Polar Bears Captured in the Chukchi and Southern Beaufort Sea, 1981-2017
This dataset includes measures collected on polar bears captured in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, 1981-2017 by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Data collected include body length, body mass, axillary girth, skull width and tail lengths. Bears were also aged as described in the methods. For some bears, an adipose tissue sample was collected and percent lipid...
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS marine mammal research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS marine mammal publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 59
Genetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees Genetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees
The Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. In Brazil, the manatee population is listed as endangered with an estimated population size of 500–1,000. Historic hunting, recent habitat degradation, and fisheries bycatch have decreased the population size. The Amazonian manatee is...
Authors
Fabia Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda Attademo, Adriana Miranda, Juan Torres-Florez, Glaucia de Sousa, Jose Passavate, Margaret Hunter
Diving and foraging behaviors Diving and foraging behaviors
Manatees and dugongs live in tropical and semi-tropical regions around the world. Their preferred habitats are seagrass beds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Manatees live in both freshwater and marine systems although habitat preferences vary across the three species, while the dugong is entirely marine. Sirenians are shallow water divers, and their dive durations are short compared to...
Authors
Lucy W Keith-Diagne, Margaret Barlas, James Reid, Amanda J Hodgson, Helene Marsh
Diving and foraging behaviors Diving and foraging behaviors
Manatees and dugongs live in tropical and semi-tropical regions around the world. Their preferred habitats are seagrass beds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Manatees live in both freshwater and marine systems although habitat preferences vary across the three species, while the dugong is entirely marine. Sirenians are shallow water divers, and their dive durations are short compared to...
Authors
Lucy W Keith-Diagne, Margaret Barlas, James Reid, Amanda J Hodgson, Helene Marsh
Examining the potential conflict between sea otter recovery and Dungeness crab fisheries in California Examining the potential conflict between sea otter recovery and Dungeness crab fisheries in California
Human exploitation of marine mammals led to precipitous declines in many wild populations within the last three centuries. Legal protections enacted throughout the 20th century have enabled the recovery of many of these species and some recoveries have resulted in conflict with humans for shared resources. With legal protections and reintroduction programs, the southern sea otter...
Authors
Andre Boustany, David Hernandez, Emily Miller, Fujii. Jessica, Teri Nicholson, Joseph Tomoleoni, Kyle Van Houtan
Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic
The Arctic is entering a new ecological state, with alarming consequences for humanity. Animal-borne sensors offer a window into these changes. Although substantial animal tracking data from the Arctic and subarctic exist, most are difficult to discover and access. Here, we present the new Arctic Animal Movement Archive (AAMA), a growing collection of more than 200 standardized...
Authors
Sarah C Davidson, Gil Bohrer, Eliezer Gurarie, Scott LaPoint, Peter Mahoney, Natalie Boelman, Jan Eitel, Laura Prugh, Lee Vierling, Jyoti Jennewein, Emma Grier, Ophelie Couriot, Allicia Kelly, Arjan Meddens, Ruth Oliver, Roland Kays, Martin Wikelski, Tomas Aarvak, Josh Ackerman, Monica Almeida e Silva, José A. Alves, Erin Bayne, Bryan Bedrosian, Jerrold Belant, Andrew Berdahl, Alicia Berlin, Dominique Berteaux, Joel Bety, Dmitrij Boiko, Travis Booms, Bridget Borg, Stan Boutin, W. Sean Boyd, Kane Brides, Stephen Brown, Victor Bulyuk, Kurt K Burnham, David Cabot, Michael Casazza, Katherine Christie, Erica Craig, Shanti Davis, Tracy Davison, Dominic Demma, Christopher DeSorbo, Andrew Dixon, Robert Domenech, Gotz Eichhorn, Kyle Elliott, Joseph Evenson, Klaus-Michael Exo, Steven Ferguson, Wolfgang Fiedler, Aaron Fisk, J. Fort, Alastair Franke, Mark Fuller, Stefan Garthe, Gilles Gauthier, Grant Gilchrist, Petr Glazov, Carrie E. Gray, David Gremillet, Larry Griffin, Mike Hallworth, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Holly Hennin, J Hipfner, James Hodson, James Johnson, Kyle Joly, Kimberly Jones, Todd E. Katzner, Jeff W Kidd, Elly Knight, Michael Kochert, Andrea Kolzsch, Helmut Kruckenberg, Benjamin J Lagassé, Sandra Lai, Jean-François Lamarre, Richard B. Lanctot, Nicholas Larter, A Latham, Christopher Latty, James Lawler, Don-Jean Leandri-Breton, Hansoo Lee, Stephen Lewis, Oliver Love, Jesper Madsen, Mark Maftei, Mark Mallory, Buck Mangipane, Mikhail Markovets, Peter Marra, Rebecca L McGuire, Carol McIntyre, Emily McKinnon, Tricia Miller, Sander Moonen, Tong Mu, Gerhard Muskens, Janet Ng, Kerry Nicholson, Ingar Jostein Oien, Cory Overton, Patricia Owen, Allison Patterson, Aevar Petersen, Ivan Pokrovsky, Luke Powell, Rui Prieto, Petra Quillfeldt, Jennie Rausch, Kelsey Russell, Sarah Saalfeld, Hans Schekkerman, Joel Schmutz, Philipp Schwemmer, Dale Seip, Adam Shreading, Mónica A. Silva, Brian Smith, Fletcher Smith, Jeff Smith, Katherine Snell, Aleksandr Sokolov, Vasiliy Sokolov, Diana Solovyeva, Mathew Sorum, Grigori Tertitski, J. Therrien, Kasper Thorup, T. Lee Tibbitts, Ingrid Tulp, Brian Uher-Koch, Rob van Bemmelen, Steve Van Wilgenburg, Andrew Von Duyke, Jesse Watson, Bryan Watts, Judy Williams, Matthew Wilson, Jay Wright, Michael A Yates, David Yurkowski, Ramūnas Žydelis, Mark Hebblewhite
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
The long-term persistence of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by sea-ice loss due to climate change, which is concurrently providing an opportunity in the Arctic for increased anthropogenic activities including natural resource extraction. Mitigating the risk of those activities, which can adversely affect the population dynamics of the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS)...
Authors
Todd Atwood, Jeffrey Bromaghin, Vijay Patil, George Durner, David Douglas, Kristin Simac
How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate? How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?
Plants and animals undergo certain recurring life-cycle events, such as migrations between summer and winter habitats or the annual blooming of plants. Known as phenology, the timing of these events is very sensitive to changes in climate (and changes in one species’ phenology can impact entire food webs and ecosystems). Shifts in phenology have been described as a “fingerprint” of the...
Authors
Adrian Jordaan, Daniel Pendleton, Chris Sutherland, Michelle Staudinger
Drivers and consequences of apex predator diet composition in the Canadian Beaufort Sea Drivers and consequences of apex predator diet composition in the Canadian Beaufort Sea
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) rely on annual sea ice as their primary habitat for hunting marine mammal prey. Given their long lifespan, wide geographic distribution, and position at the top of the Arctic marine food web, the diet composition of polar bears can provide insights into temporal and spatial ecosystem dynamics related to climate-mediated sea ice loss. Polar bears with the...
Authors
Katie Florko, Gregory Thiemann, Jeffrey Bromaghin
Kelp forest monitoring at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California: Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, fifth annual report Kelp forest monitoring at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California: Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, fifth annual report
IntroductionKelp forests and rocky reefs are among the most recognized marine ecosystems and provide the primary habitat for several species of fishes, invertebrates, and algal assemblages (Stephens and others, 2006). In addition, kelp forests have been shown to be important carbon dioxide sinks (Wilmers and others, 2012) and are an important source of nearshore marine primary production...
Authors
Michael Kenner, Joseph A. Tomoleoni
Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington
Forage fish are primary prey for seabirds, fish and marine mammals. Elevated levels of pollutants in Puget Sound, Washington salmon and killer whale tissues potentially could be sufficiently high to elicit adverse effects and hamper population recovery efforts. Contaminant transfer and biomagnification of the toxic compounds measured in this study likely contribute to those elevated...
Authors
Kathleen E. Conn, Theresa Liedtke, Renee Takesue, Richard S. Dinicola
Investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure Investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure
To investigate a Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) mortality event following a red tide bloom in Southwest Florida, an RNA sequencing experiment was conducted. Gene expression changes in white blood cells were assessed in manatees rescued from a red tide affected area (n = 4) and a control group (n = 7) using RNA sequencing. The genes with the largest fold changes were...
Authors
Rebecca Lazensky, Margaret Hunter, David M. Amador, Basima Al-Khedery, Fahong Yu, Cathy Walsh, Matthew Gitzendanner, Katie Tripp, Mike Walsh, Nancy D. Denslow
Emergence of a zoonotic pathogen in a coastal marine sentinel: Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum)-associated hepatitis in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) Emergence of a zoonotic pathogen in a coastal marine sentinel: Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum)-associated hepatitis in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Capillaria hepatica is a globally distributed zoonotic nematode parasite that most commonly infects feral and native rats. Soil contact, pica, and living in close proximity to rat populations are risk factors for human infection. Larval nematodes and eggs that were morphologically consistent with C. hepatica were observed microscopically in livers of stranded southern sea otters (Enhydra...
Authors
Melissa Miller, Padraig Duignan, Erin Dodd, Francesca Batac, Michelle Staedler, Joseph Tomoleoni, Michael Murray, Heather Harris, Chris Gardiner
Software related to USGS marine mammal research is listed below.
Marine mammals
Marine Mammals Research
Marine Mammals Research
Filter Total Items: 34
No results found.
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS marine mammal research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS marine mammal data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 56
Walrus Used and Available Resource Units for Northeast Chukchi Sea, 2008-2012 Walrus Used and Available Resource Units for Northeast Chukchi Sea, 2008-2012
Sea ice loss represents a stressor to the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which feeds on benthic macroinvertebrates in the Bering and Chukchi seas. However, no studies have examined the effects of sea ice on foraging walrus space use patterns. Thus, we examined walrus foraging resource selection as a function of proximity to resting substrates and prey biomass with a...
Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003 Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003
The data package "Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Southeast Alaska, 2002-2003" provides raw data for examining abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Southeast Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys. The USGS aerial sea otter surveys have been completed multiple times using consistent methodology...
Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data Katmai National Park and Preserve, 2008-2018 Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data Katmai National Park and Preserve, 2008-2018
These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe sea otter (Enhydra lutris) aerial survey observations from the waters around Katmai National Park and Preserve from surveys conducted in 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2018. Sea otters are a keystone predator, well known for structuring the nearshore...
Sea Otter Mortality Age Data from Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2006-2017 Sea Otter Mortality Age Data from Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2006-2017
These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. The dataset is a comma separated file exported from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The data consist of information related to collection of sea otter carcasses. Collectors walked selected shorelines searching for signs of carcasses. Date, location, carcass condition, parts...
Walrus Haulout Photographs Near Pt. Lay Alaska, September 2014 Walrus Haulout Photographs Near Pt. Lay Alaska, September 2014
These data are three sets of aerial photos used to estimate the number of walruses at a haulout near Pt. Lay, Alaska in September 2014. They were collected during photographic aerial surveys of the only major haulout that occurred on the eastern shores of the Chukchi Sea after sea ice receded beyond the continental shelf on 25 and 27 September 2014.
Pacific Walrus Blubber Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition, St. Lawrence Island, 2007-2010 Pacific Walrus Blubber Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition, St. Lawrence Island, 2007-2010
This dataset contains lab-measured percent lipid and fatty acid composition data from Pacific walruses harvested in waters near Saint Lawrence Island. Each row indicates data from a single layer from a blubber core sample collected from one body site (flank, rump, or sternum) from one walrus harvested by Native Alaskans during the spring walrus hunts of 2007 - 2010. Blubber cores were...
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD)
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) is maintained by the USGS Alaska Science Center and includes survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The data provided here relate to observations of marine birds and mammals observed during at-sea surveys throughout the North Pacific including the Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea...
Polar Bear Microsatellite Data Southern Beaufort Sea 2010-2013 Polar Bear Microsatellite Data Southern Beaufort Sea 2010-2013
This data set provides Polar Bear microsatellite genotypes derived from twenty loci (G1A, G10B, G10C, CXX110, G1D, G10H, G10J, G10L, G10M, MSUT2, MU59, G10P, 145P07, CPH9, CXX20, MU50, MU51, G10X, CXX173, G10U). Samples for microsatellite genetic analysis were collected from polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea during the spring and fall, 2010-2013. Tissue samples were collected...
Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018 Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018
This data reports on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 530 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens observed in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and neighboring areas between 1910 and 2018, and archived partly by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, and partly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, in Anchorage, Alaska. Data...
Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018 Catalogue of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Nearby Areas, 1910-2018
This data reports on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 530 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens observed in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and neighboring areas between 1910 and 2018, and archived partly by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, and partly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, in Anchorage, Alaska. Data...
Satellite Location and Tri-Axial Accelerometer Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014 Satellite Location and Tri-Axial Accelerometer Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014
This data package includes 2 child items with location and activity data from adult female polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014. Child Item 1: "GPS and Argos Location Data from Adult Female Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, April-October 2014" Child Item 2: "Tri-axial Accelerometer and Conductivity Sensor Data from Adult Female Polar...
Measurement Data of Polar Bears Captured in the Chukchi and Southern Beaufort Sea, 1981-2017 Measurement Data of Polar Bears Captured in the Chukchi and Southern Beaufort Sea, 1981-2017
This dataset includes measures collected on polar bears captured in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, 1981-2017 by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Data collected include body length, body mass, axillary girth, skull width and tail lengths. Bears were also aged as described in the methods. For some bears, an adipose tissue sample was collected and percent lipid...
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS marine mammal research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS marine mammal publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 59
Genetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees Genetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees
The Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. In Brazil, the manatee population is listed as endangered with an estimated population size of 500–1,000. Historic hunting, recent habitat degradation, and fisheries bycatch have decreased the population size. The Amazonian manatee is...
Authors
Fabia Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda Attademo, Adriana Miranda, Juan Torres-Florez, Glaucia de Sousa, Jose Passavate, Margaret Hunter
Diving and foraging behaviors Diving and foraging behaviors
Manatees and dugongs live in tropical and semi-tropical regions around the world. Their preferred habitats are seagrass beds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Manatees live in both freshwater and marine systems although habitat preferences vary across the three species, while the dugong is entirely marine. Sirenians are shallow water divers, and their dive durations are short compared to...
Authors
Lucy W Keith-Diagne, Margaret Barlas, James Reid, Amanda J Hodgson, Helene Marsh
Diving and foraging behaviors Diving and foraging behaviors
Manatees and dugongs live in tropical and semi-tropical regions around the world. Their preferred habitats are seagrass beds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Manatees live in both freshwater and marine systems although habitat preferences vary across the three species, while the dugong is entirely marine. Sirenians are shallow water divers, and their dive durations are short compared to...
Authors
Lucy W Keith-Diagne, Margaret Barlas, James Reid, Amanda J Hodgson, Helene Marsh
Examining the potential conflict between sea otter recovery and Dungeness crab fisheries in California Examining the potential conflict between sea otter recovery and Dungeness crab fisheries in California
Human exploitation of marine mammals led to precipitous declines in many wild populations within the last three centuries. Legal protections enacted throughout the 20th century have enabled the recovery of many of these species and some recoveries have resulted in conflict with humans for shared resources. With legal protections and reintroduction programs, the southern sea otter...
Authors
Andre Boustany, David Hernandez, Emily Miller, Fujii. Jessica, Teri Nicholson, Joseph Tomoleoni, Kyle Van Houtan
Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic
The Arctic is entering a new ecological state, with alarming consequences for humanity. Animal-borne sensors offer a window into these changes. Although substantial animal tracking data from the Arctic and subarctic exist, most are difficult to discover and access. Here, we present the new Arctic Animal Movement Archive (AAMA), a growing collection of more than 200 standardized...
Authors
Sarah C Davidson, Gil Bohrer, Eliezer Gurarie, Scott LaPoint, Peter Mahoney, Natalie Boelman, Jan Eitel, Laura Prugh, Lee Vierling, Jyoti Jennewein, Emma Grier, Ophelie Couriot, Allicia Kelly, Arjan Meddens, Ruth Oliver, Roland Kays, Martin Wikelski, Tomas Aarvak, Josh Ackerman, Monica Almeida e Silva, José A. Alves, Erin Bayne, Bryan Bedrosian, Jerrold Belant, Andrew Berdahl, Alicia Berlin, Dominique Berteaux, Joel Bety, Dmitrij Boiko, Travis Booms, Bridget Borg, Stan Boutin, W. Sean Boyd, Kane Brides, Stephen Brown, Victor Bulyuk, Kurt K Burnham, David Cabot, Michael Casazza, Katherine Christie, Erica Craig, Shanti Davis, Tracy Davison, Dominic Demma, Christopher DeSorbo, Andrew Dixon, Robert Domenech, Gotz Eichhorn, Kyle Elliott, Joseph Evenson, Klaus-Michael Exo, Steven Ferguson, Wolfgang Fiedler, Aaron Fisk, J. Fort, Alastair Franke, Mark Fuller, Stefan Garthe, Gilles Gauthier, Grant Gilchrist, Petr Glazov, Carrie E. Gray, David Gremillet, Larry Griffin, Mike Hallworth, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Holly Hennin, J Hipfner, James Hodson, James Johnson, Kyle Joly, Kimberly Jones, Todd E. Katzner, Jeff W Kidd, Elly Knight, Michael Kochert, Andrea Kolzsch, Helmut Kruckenberg, Benjamin J Lagassé, Sandra Lai, Jean-François Lamarre, Richard B. Lanctot, Nicholas Larter, A Latham, Christopher Latty, James Lawler, Don-Jean Leandri-Breton, Hansoo Lee, Stephen Lewis, Oliver Love, Jesper Madsen, Mark Maftei, Mark Mallory, Buck Mangipane, Mikhail Markovets, Peter Marra, Rebecca L McGuire, Carol McIntyre, Emily McKinnon, Tricia Miller, Sander Moonen, Tong Mu, Gerhard Muskens, Janet Ng, Kerry Nicholson, Ingar Jostein Oien, Cory Overton, Patricia Owen, Allison Patterson, Aevar Petersen, Ivan Pokrovsky, Luke Powell, Rui Prieto, Petra Quillfeldt, Jennie Rausch, Kelsey Russell, Sarah Saalfeld, Hans Schekkerman, Joel Schmutz, Philipp Schwemmer, Dale Seip, Adam Shreading, Mónica A. Silva, Brian Smith, Fletcher Smith, Jeff Smith, Katherine Snell, Aleksandr Sokolov, Vasiliy Sokolov, Diana Solovyeva, Mathew Sorum, Grigori Tertitski, J. Therrien, Kasper Thorup, T. Lee Tibbitts, Ingrid Tulp, Brian Uher-Koch, Rob van Bemmelen, Steve Van Wilgenburg, Andrew Von Duyke, Jesse Watson, Bryan Watts, Judy Williams, Matthew Wilson, Jay Wright, Michael A Yates, David Yurkowski, Ramūnas Žydelis, Mark Hebblewhite
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
The long-term persistence of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by sea-ice loss due to climate change, which is concurrently providing an opportunity in the Arctic for increased anthropogenic activities including natural resource extraction. Mitigating the risk of those activities, which can adversely affect the population dynamics of the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS)...
Authors
Todd Atwood, Jeffrey Bromaghin, Vijay Patil, George Durner, David Douglas, Kristin Simac
How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate? How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?
Plants and animals undergo certain recurring life-cycle events, such as migrations between summer and winter habitats or the annual blooming of plants. Known as phenology, the timing of these events is very sensitive to changes in climate (and changes in one species’ phenology can impact entire food webs and ecosystems). Shifts in phenology have been described as a “fingerprint” of the...
Authors
Adrian Jordaan, Daniel Pendleton, Chris Sutherland, Michelle Staudinger
Drivers and consequences of apex predator diet composition in the Canadian Beaufort Sea Drivers and consequences of apex predator diet composition in the Canadian Beaufort Sea
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) rely on annual sea ice as their primary habitat for hunting marine mammal prey. Given their long lifespan, wide geographic distribution, and position at the top of the Arctic marine food web, the diet composition of polar bears can provide insights into temporal and spatial ecosystem dynamics related to climate-mediated sea ice loss. Polar bears with the...
Authors
Katie Florko, Gregory Thiemann, Jeffrey Bromaghin
Kelp forest monitoring at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California: Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, fifth annual report Kelp forest monitoring at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California: Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, fifth annual report
IntroductionKelp forests and rocky reefs are among the most recognized marine ecosystems and provide the primary habitat for several species of fishes, invertebrates, and algal assemblages (Stephens and others, 2006). In addition, kelp forests have been shown to be important carbon dioxide sinks (Wilmers and others, 2012) and are an important source of nearshore marine primary production...
Authors
Michael Kenner, Joseph A. Tomoleoni
Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington
Forage fish are primary prey for seabirds, fish and marine mammals. Elevated levels of pollutants in Puget Sound, Washington salmon and killer whale tissues potentially could be sufficiently high to elicit adverse effects and hamper population recovery efforts. Contaminant transfer and biomagnification of the toxic compounds measured in this study likely contribute to those elevated...
Authors
Kathleen E. Conn, Theresa Liedtke, Renee Takesue, Richard S. Dinicola
Investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure Investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure
To investigate a Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) mortality event following a red tide bloom in Southwest Florida, an RNA sequencing experiment was conducted. Gene expression changes in white blood cells were assessed in manatees rescued from a red tide affected area (n = 4) and a control group (n = 7) using RNA sequencing. The genes with the largest fold changes were...
Authors
Rebecca Lazensky, Margaret Hunter, David M. Amador, Basima Al-Khedery, Fahong Yu, Cathy Walsh, Matthew Gitzendanner, Katie Tripp, Mike Walsh, Nancy D. Denslow
Emergence of a zoonotic pathogen in a coastal marine sentinel: Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum)-associated hepatitis in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) Emergence of a zoonotic pathogen in a coastal marine sentinel: Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum)-associated hepatitis in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Capillaria hepatica is a globally distributed zoonotic nematode parasite that most commonly infects feral and native rats. Soil contact, pica, and living in close proximity to rat populations are risk factors for human infection. Larval nematodes and eggs that were morphologically consistent with C. hepatica were observed microscopically in livers of stranded southern sea otters (Enhydra...
Authors
Melissa Miller, Padraig Duignan, Erin Dodd, Francesca Batac, Michelle Staedler, Joseph Tomoleoni, Michael Murray, Heather Harris, Chris Gardiner
Software related to USGS marine mammal research is listed below.