Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Anthony Fischbach

Population monitoring and modeling; applying population biology to problems of conservation and subsistence; managing records of population biology field work.

Professional Experience

  • 2022 - Present  Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2004 - 2022      Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2003 - 2004      Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak, Alaska

  • 1999 - 2003      Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Biological Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1998 - 1999       Wildlife Biologist, Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1997 - 1999 (summers) Volunteer Wildlife Biologist, Tongass Bat Habitat Project, U.S. Forest Service, Thorne Bay, Alaska

  • 1995 - 1998     Biological Technician / Walrus Harvest Monitor, Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1994 - 1995     Volunteer, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Soldotna, Alaska

Education and Certifications

  • M.A.  1994  University of Texas, Austin, TX    Ecology

  • B.S.   1989   University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI   Molecular Biology

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Reviewer: BioScience, Arctic, Marine Mammal Science, Progress In Oceanography, Polar Biology

  • Contributor: R-sig-geo

Honors and Awards

  • 1989-1990 Fulbright Scholar, Bayreuth, Germany

Science and Products

link
Walruses resting on an ice floe

Walrus Research

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

Walrus Research

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
Learn More
link
Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Alaska

Q&A: Estimates of Abundance for Pacific Walrus

The Pacific walrus ranges across the Bering and Chukchi seas during the year. This wide geographic distribution makes it difficult to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance. However, recent technological advances in genetics and drone imagery have generated precise regional and range-wide abundance estimates.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Q&A: Estimates of Abundance for Pacific Walrus

The Pacific walrus ranges across the Bering and Chukchi seas during the year. This wide geographic distribution makes it difficult to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance. However, recent technological advances in genetics and drone imagery have generated precise regional and range-wide abundance estimates.
Learn More
link
Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Alaska

Tracking Data for Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Available here are tracking data of Pacific walrus, a marine mammal that ranges between the Alaska Peninsula, up through the Bering and Chukchi seas, and over to Russia. These data were collected from animals marked in the northern Bering and Chuckchi sea to understand seasonal movement patterns, use of coastal haulouts in northwestern Alaska, and determine estimates of abundance in autumn.
By
Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

Tracking Data for Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Available here are tracking data of Pacific walrus, a marine mammal that ranges between the Alaska Peninsula, up through the Bering and Chukchi seas, and over to Russia. These data were collected from animals marked in the northern Bering and Chuckchi sea to understand seasonal movement patterns, use of coastal haulouts in northwestern Alaska, and determine estimates of abundance in autumn.
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 20

Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery, 2023

This data release contains maps, geospatial files, and a table of the satellite imagery types with the dates when they were collected and examined to interpret the presence of, and area occupied by, walruses at terrestrial haulouts. Estimates of the land area occupied by walruses are provided based on interpretation by experienced image reviewers. The images are from a variety of Earth observing s
By
Alaska Science Center

Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Images from Remote Cameras

This data package contains digital photos of a walrus haulout location at Cape Greig, on the Alaska Peninsula summer 2023. Photos are taken up to three times daily from a remotely operated camera located on a bluff above the haulout. The camera was installed in the early spring 2023, prior to arrival of walruses at the site. Images are transferred via satellite link. A summary of image collection
By
Alaska Science Center

Data Supporting Walrus Areas of Use in the Chukchi Sea During Sparse Sea Ice Cover

The dataset consists of geospatial files depicting the estimated June-to-November distribution of walrus foraging and occupancy during a four year period of sparse sea ice cover above the Chukchi Sea continental shelf (2008-2011). The walrus distribution and utilization estimates are based on location data from satellite-linked radio-tracked walruses in the Chukchi Sea (2008-2011). Compared to pre
By
Alaska Science Center

Walrus Haulout and In-water Activity Levels Relative to Vessel Interactions in the Chukchi Sea, 2012-2015

These data were used to evaluate effects of vessel exposure on Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) behaviors. We obtained greater than 120,000 hours of location and behavior (foraging, in-water not foraging, hauled out) data from 218 satellite-tagged walruses and linked them to vessel locations from the marine Automated Information System. This yielded 206 vessel-exposed walrus telemetry
By
Alaska Science Center

Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery

This data release contains maps, geospatial files, and a table of the satellite imagery types with the dates when they were collected and examined to interpret the presence of, and area occupied by, walruses at terrestrial haulouts. Estimates of the land area occupied by walruses are provided based on interpretation by experienced image reviewers. The images are from a variety of Earth observing s
By
Alaska Science Center

Tracking Data for Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 921 satellite transmitters attached to adult Pacific walruses in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, in U.S. and Russian waters, 1988-2019. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and
By
Alaska Science Center

Walrus Haulout Aerial Survey Data Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019

This dataset consists of the complete set of aerial imagery and data from walrus haulouts collected by unoccupied aerial system (UAS) surveys near Pt. Lay, Alaska, during the autumns of 2018 and 2019. The data include: 1) georeferenced digital aerial imagery and flight logs from UAS surveys, and 2) orthoimages derived from the aerial imagery and flight logs by standardized structure from motion al
By
Alaska Science Center

Behavior of Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Hauled Out on Sea Ice During UAS Overflights, Eastern Chukchi Sea, 2015

This dataset is comprised of three tables showing the reaction of walruses hauled out on sea ice of the Chukchi Sea to overflights by rotary wing Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS). Data include behavior of walruses before, during, and after overflights, and environmental conditions during flights.
By
Alaska Science Center

Walrus Haulout Outlines Apparent from Satellite Imagery Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018-2020

These data are in three folders of Keyhole Markup Language (KML) geospatial polygons representing the outlines of walrus herds apparent in satellite imagery. Each KML file contains one or more geospatial polygons of walrus herd outlines created by one observer who visually interpreted the images. The attribute values from all KML files are collected in a CSV table included with this data package.
By
Alaska Science Center

Walrus Haulout Outlines and Count Data Apparent from Aerial Survey Images Collected Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019

This dataset provides walrus haulout group outlines, systematic grids cast over the outlines, and digitized points at the centroids of the individual walruses identified inside a randomly selected subset of grid cells. These data are based on visual interpretation of unpublished imagery from 26 aerial surveys by an Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS) operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Scien
By
Alaska Science Center

Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015

These data are in one table with age and sex composition counts of groups of walruses on ice floes in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. Counts were collected by visual observations from boats.
By
Alaska Science Center

Metabarcoding of Feces of Pacific Walruses and Autosomal DNA Sequence Data of Marine Invertebrates, 2012-2015, Alaska

This data set describes nucleotide sequence data derived from 18S ribosomal DNA amplified in two fragments. A total of 87 feces from Pacific walrus and 57 marine invertebrates were examined for this study. Samples were collected from the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Samples used in the study originated from feces or muscle samples collected in the field from ice floes or benthic van Veen gr
By
Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory
Two panels showing two Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia.
link
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia
Figure comparing four Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses haulout near Point Lay, Alaska
link
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses
Three Sea World Orlando marine mammal trainers measure healthy mature female walrus.
link
Three marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Adult female walrus being measured by two marine mammal trainers at Indianapolis Zoo
link
Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Graphical abstract showing use of satellite imagery for monitoring large Pacific walrus haulouts in northwestern Alaska
link
Evaluation of Satellite Imagery Monitoring Pacific Walruses haulouts
Aerial view of a large walrus haulout on the northwestern shores of Alaska.
link
Aerial view of a large walrus haulout on the northwestern shores of Alaska
adult female Pacific walrus resting on the beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
link
Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
A young male Pacific walrus resting along shoreline of the Chukchi Sea
link
Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Young male Pacific walrus on beach along the Chukchi Sea
link
Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea
Aerial view of walruses crowded tightly on a thin strip of land surrounded by sea water. link
Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)
Aerial view of the edge of a large walrus haulout on the northwestern shores of Alaska
link
Aerial view of the edge of a large walrus haulout
Tony Fischbach's staff photo
link
Tony Fischbach's staff photo
Image: Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
link
Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
Image: Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
link
Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
Image: Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
link
Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
Image: Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
link
Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
Image: Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
link
Walrus on Chukchi Sea Shores with Skin Lesions
Filter Total Items: 38

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in resident wildlife species in Arctic Alaska

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are zoonotic protozoan parasites that can infect humans and other taxa, including wildlife, often causing gastrointestinal illness. Both have been identified as One Health priorities in the Arctic, where climate change is expected to influence the distribution of many wildlife and zoonotic diseases, but little is known about their prevalence in local wildlife. To help f
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Lora Ballweber, David R. Sinnett, Todd C. Atwood, Anthony S. Fischbach, David Gustine, Kristy Pabilonia
By
Alaska Science Center

Exploring effects of vessels on walrus behaviors using telemetry, automatic identification system data and matching

Arctic marine mammals have had little exposure to vessel traffic and potential associated disturbance, but sea ice loss has increased accessibility of Arctic waters to vessels. Vessel disturbance could influence marine mammal population dynamics by altering behavioral activity budgets that affect energy balance, which in turn can affect birth and death rates. As an initial step in studying these l
Authors
Rebecca L. Taylor, Chadwick V. Jay, William S. Beatty, Anthony S. Fischbach, Lori T. Quakenbush, Justin A. Crawford
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

Regional walrus abundance estimate in the United States Chukchi Sea in autumn

Human activities (e.g., shipping, tourism, oil, gas development) have increased in the Chukchi Sea because of declining sea ice. The declining sea ice itself and these activities may affect Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) abundance; however, previous walrus abundance estimates have been notably imprecise. When sea ice is absent from the eastern Chukchi Sea, walruses in waters of the U
Authors
Anthony S. Fischbach, Rebecca L. Taylor, Chadwick V. Jay
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Evaluation of satellite imagery for monitoring Pacific walruses at a large coastal haulout

Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are using coastal haulouts in the Chukchi Sea more often and in larger numbers to rest between foraging bouts in late summer and autumn in recent years, because climate warming has reduced availability of sea ice that historically had provided resting platforms near their preferred benthic feeding grounds. With greater numbers of walruses hauling out
Authors
Anthony S. Fischbach, David C. Douglas
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber

The variability of lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition across blubber depth and body sites are important considerations for condition and diet studies of marine mammals. We investigated lipid and FA variability among inner and outer blubber layers, three body sites, four study years, and lactation status of adult female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) using blubber samples
Authors
Chadwick V. Jay, Sara J. Iverson, Anthony S. Fischbach
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses

Environmental conditions in the Chukchi Sea are changing rapidly and may alter the abundance and distribution of marine species and their benthic prey. We used a metabarcoding approach to identify potentially important prey taxa from Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) fecal samples (n = 87). Bivalvia was the most dominant class of prey (66% of all normalized counts) and occurred in 98% o
Authors
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Chadwick V. Jay, Robert S. Cornman, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Sandra L. Talbot
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

Regional ocean models indicate changing limits to biological invasions in the Bering Sea

Minimal vessel traffic and cold water temperatures are believed to limit non-indigenous species (NIS) in high-latitude ecosystems. We evaluated whether suitable conditions exist in the Bering Sea for the introduction, survival, and reproduction of NIS. We compiled temperature and salinity thresholds of known NIS and compared these to ocean conditions projected during two study periods: current (20
Authors
Amanda Droghini, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jordan Watson, Jesika Reimer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Catalogue of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and nearby areas, 1910–2018

This report presents data 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 from 1910 to 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. A description
Authors
George M. Durner, Steven C. Amstrup, Todd C. Atwood, David C. Douglas, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jay W. Olson, Karyn D. Rode, Ryan H. Wilson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

A multi-species synthesis of satellite telemetry data in the Pacific Arctic (1987–2015): Overlap of marine mammal distributions and core use areas

We collated available satellite telemetry data for six species of ice-associated marine mammals in the Pacific Arctic: ringed seals (Pusa hispida; n = 118), bearded seals(Erignathus barbatus, n = 51), spotted seals (Phoca largha, n = 72), Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens, n = 389); bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus, n = 46), and five Arctic and sub-arctic stocks of beluga whales (Del
Authors
John J. Citta, Lloyd F. Lowry, Lori T. Quakenbush, Brendan P. Kelly, Anthony S. Fischbach, Josh M. London, Chadwick V. Jay, Kathryn J. Frost, Gregory O'Corry Crowe, Justin A. Crawford, Peter L. Boveng, Michael Cameron, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Mark Nelson, Lois A. Harwood, Pierre Richard, Robert Suydam, Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Roderick C. Hobbs, Dennis I. Litovka, Marianne Marcoux, Alex Whiting, Amy S. Kennedy, John C. George, Jack Orr, Tom Gray
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Forecasting consequences of changing sea ice availability for Pacific walruses

The accelerating rate of anthropogenic alteration and disturbance of environments has increased the need for forecasting effects of environmental change on fish and wildlife populations. Models linking projections of environmental change with behavioral responses and bioenergetic effects can provide a basis for these forecasts. There is particular interest in forecasting effects of projected reduc
Authors
Mark S. Udevitz, Chadwick V. Jay, Rebecca L. Taylor, Anthony S. Fischbach, William S. Beatty, Shawn R. Noren
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

Assessing the risk of non-native marine species in the Bering Sea

Invasive species are one of the leading global conservation concerns, which can have strong, negative impacts on ecosystems, vulnerable species, and valuable natural resources. Arctic regions have experienced a relatively low number of biological introductions to date. Their geographical remoteness, cold waters, and presence of sea ice present challenging conditions for both non-native organisms a
Authors
Jesika Reimer, Amanda Droghini, Anthony S. Fischbach, Jordan Watson, Bonnie Bernard, Aaron Poe
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Evaluation of a method using survey counts and tag data to estimate the number of Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) using a coastal haulout in northwestern Alaska

Increased periods of sparse sea ice over the continental shelf of the Chukchi Sea in late summer have reduced offshore haulout habitat for Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) and increased opportunities for human activities in the region. Knowing how many walruses could be affected by human activities would be useful to conservation decisions. Currently, there are no adequate estimates
Authors
Brian Battaile, Chadwick V. Jay, Mark S. Udevitz, Anthony S. Fischbach
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

R script for email delivery of sea ice imagery and charts to users with limited bandwidth

This software package represents an effort to enable access of sea ice charts and imagery in support of daily logistics planning where internet bandwidth and geoprocessing abilities are limited. The script acquires, processes and delivers these data in a format that may be manipulated by openly available virtual globe software, be visualized by software commonly installed on all smart phones and c
By
Land Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

More than 160 years of Walrus Haulout Observations Reported by Russians and Americans Published as Database

Information will aid marine and conservation planning

Read Article

Science and Products

*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