The State of California studies dead sea otters, like this one found by USGS scientists in Piedras Blancas, Calif., to learn about their causes of death and to understand the variety of environment stress factors that impact the nearshore marine environment.
Brian B Hatfield
Brian Hatfield is a Scientist Emeritus at the Western Ecological Research Center.
Brian Hatfield has been involved with sea otter research since the late 1970s and has been employed with USGS (migrating from USFWS and NBS) since the mid-1980s. Currently, he coordinates the range-wide sea otter surveys in California, including those at San Nicolas Island, and co-coordinates the sea otter stranding network. Brian maintains rebreather diving certification in order to capture sea otters for tagging and sample collection. He has participated in sea otter research in the Commander and Aleutian Islands, Prince William Sound, SE Alaska, Vancouver Island, Washington, as well as California. His current interests include the increasing shark bite-caused sea otter mortality, sea otter-fisheries interactions, recolonization of the California Islands by sea otters and the colonization of the Point Piedras Blancas, California, area by northern elephant seals.
Recent Accomplishments
Education
- MSc, Biology, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 1979
- BA, Biology (with honors), University of California Santa Cruz, 1975
Professional Studies/Experience
Mentorship/Outreach
Professional societies/affiliations/committees/editorial boards
Honors, awards, recognition, elected offices
Scientific/Oral Presentations, Abstracts
Science and Products
California Sea Otter Surveys and Research
California Sea Otter Stranding Network
Population Biology and Behavior of Sea Otters
Pacific Nearshore Project
Santa Cruz Field Station
Sea Otter Counts Near Subtidal Monitoring Sites Around San Nicolas Island, California 1980-2017 Sea Otter Counts Near Subtidal Monitoring Sites Around San Nicolas Island, California 1980-2017
Annual California Sea Otter Census-2018 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census-2018 Spring Census Summary
Summary of Stranded Southern Sea Otters, 1985-2018 (ver. 3.0, June 2021) Summary of Stranded Southern Sea Otters, 1985-2018 (ver. 3.0, June 2021)
Annual California Sea Otter Census-1985-2014 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census-1985-2014 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2016 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2016 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2015 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2015 Spring Census Summary
The State of California studies dead sea otters, like this one found by USGS scientists in Piedras Blancas, Calif., to learn about their causes of death and to understand the variety of environment stress factors that impact the nearshore marine environment.
Dynamic and context-dependent keystone species effects in kelp forests Dynamic and context-dependent keystone species effects in kelp forests
Southern (California) sea otter population status and trends at San Nicolas Island, 2020–2023 Southern (California) sea otter population status and trends at San Nicolas Island, 2020–2023
An integrated population model for southern sea otters An integrated population model for southern sea otters
Sea otter population collapse in southwest Alaska: Assessing ecological covariates, consequences, and causal factors Sea otter population collapse in southwest Alaska: Assessing ecological covariates, consequences, and causal factors
Habitat features predict carrying capacity of a recovering marine carnivore Habitat features predict carrying capacity of a recovering marine carnivore
Southern (California) sea otter population status and trends at San Nicolas Island, 2017–2020 Southern (California) sea otter population status and trends at San Nicolas Island, 2017–2020
California sea otter (<i>Enhydra lutris nereis</i>) census results, spring 2019 California sea otter (<i>Enhydra lutris nereis</i>) census results, spring 2019
Drift and beaching patterns of sea otter carcasses and car tire dummies Drift and beaching patterns of sea otter carcasses and car tire dummies
California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) census results, spring 2018 California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) census results, spring 2018
California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) census results, Spring 2017 California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) census results, Spring 2017
California sea otter (<i>Enhydra lutris nereis</i>) census results, Spring 2016 California sea otter (<i>Enhydra lutris nereis</i>) census results, Spring 2016
Dramatic increase in sea otter mortality from white sharks in California Dramatic increase in sea otter mortality from white sharks in California
Science and Products
California Sea Otter Surveys and Research
California Sea Otter Stranding Network
Population Biology and Behavior of Sea Otters
Pacific Nearshore Project
Santa Cruz Field Station
Sea Otter Counts Near Subtidal Monitoring Sites Around San Nicolas Island, California 1980-2017 Sea Otter Counts Near Subtidal Monitoring Sites Around San Nicolas Island, California 1980-2017
Annual California Sea Otter Census-2018 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census-2018 Spring Census Summary
Summary of Stranded Southern Sea Otters, 1985-2018 (ver. 3.0, June 2021) Summary of Stranded Southern Sea Otters, 1985-2018 (ver. 3.0, June 2021)
Annual California Sea Otter Census-1985-2014 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census-1985-2014 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2017 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2016 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2016 Spring Census Summary
Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2015 Spring Census Summary Annual California Sea Otter Census - 2015 Spring Census Summary
The State of California studies dead sea otters, like this one found by USGS scientists in Piedras Blancas, Calif., to learn about their causes of death and to understand the variety of environment stress factors that impact the nearshore marine environment.
The State of California studies dead sea otters, like this one found by USGS scientists in Piedras Blancas, Calif., to learn about their causes of death and to understand the variety of environment stress factors that impact the nearshore marine environment.