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Brian H Robinson (Former Employee)

Science and Products

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A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska

Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research

Nearshore ecosystems include many resources that are of high ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value. They also are subject to influences from a wide variety of natural and human-caused perturbations, which can originate in terrestrial or oceanic environments. Our research is designed to evaluate sources of variation in the nearshore and how they influence resources of high...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research

Nearshore ecosystems include many resources that are of high ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value. They also are subject to influences from a wide variety of natural and human-caused perturbations, which can originate in terrestrial or oceanic environments. Our research is designed to evaluate sources of variation in the nearshore and how they influence resources of high...
Learn More

North Pacific Wintering Barrow's Goldeneye Body Mass, Morphology, and Prey Sizes 1996-2015

These data provide information in support of the creation of a bioenergetic model to estimate winter prey consumption by Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica). One table consists of mass and morphological measurements of wintering Barrows Goldeneyes captured or collected in Alaska and British Columbia from 1996 to 2015. The second table consists of size classes of Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus
By
Alaska Science Center

Juvenile Shorebird Morphological Data Collected in Alaska and Canada

This dataset consists of shorebird chick measurements (wing, primary feather 10, diagonal tarsus, and bill length) and body mass for various shorebird species captured in Alaska and Canada during 1978-2022. Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center, and collaborators from many government agencies and research institutions have studied shorebirds at numerous sites across N
By
Alaska Science Center

Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, 2017

This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in May 2017. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and (3) Transect
By
Alaska Science Center

Bioenergetics and Morphology of Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) in Kenai Fjords National Park

This dataset provides one table of bioenergetic and morphological measurements of Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus; N = 444) collected at three intertidal sites in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Mussels were collected at the same tidal height across all three sites on a nearly monthly basis from 2014-2015.
By
Alaska Science Center

Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Western Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2017

This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in western Prince William Sound, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2017. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and
By
Alaska Science Center

Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from the outer Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, 2019

This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) near the outer Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2019. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and (
By
Alaska Science Center

Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Northern and Eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2014

This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in northern and eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2014. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the tr
By
Alaska Science Center

Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Black Oystercatcher Nest Density and Chick Diets Data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park, 2006-2016

This data is part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe black oystercatcher nest site and chick provisioning observations conducted in the northern Gulf of Alaska within the GWA program. The data consists of three files: 1. black oystercatcher nest counts from transects surveyed in study areas, 2. black oyster
By
Alaska Science Center
Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher, Alaska
link
Biologist releases a Black Oystercatcher on Beach in Alaska
link

Lack of strong responses to the Pacific marine heatwave by benthivorous marine birds indicates importance of trophic drivers

The Pacific marine heatwave (PMH) of 2014-2016 was an intense, long-lasting environmental disturbance expressed throughout the north Pacific. While dramatic consequences of the PMH on pelagic food webs have been well documented, effects on nearshore food webs, i.e., those based on macroalgae primary productivity, benthic invertebrate intermediate consumers, and specialized benthivorous top predato
Authors
Brian H. Robinson, Heather A. Coletti, Brenda Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Sarah Beth Traiger, Daniel Esler
By
Alaska Science Center

Nearshore ecosystems in the Gulf of Alaska

Nearshore ecosystem monitoring in western Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kachemak Bay, and Katmai National Park and Preserve has been conducted as a single Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program over the past five years (2017-2021). This program builds on the previous five years and continues, in many cases, decades of preceding research and monitoring. During the
Authors
Heather A. Coletti, Daniel Esler, Brenda Ballachey, Jim Bodkin, George G. Esslinger, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Daniel Monson, Brian H. Robinson, Sarah Beth Traiger, Katrin Iken, Brenda Konar, Tom Dean, Mandy Lindeberg, Ben Weitzman
By
Alaska Science Center

Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

Mussels occupy a key middle trophic position in nearshore food webs linking primary producers to predators. Climate-related environmental changes may synergistically combine with changes in predator abundance to affect intertidal ecosystems. We examined the influence of two major events on mussel (Mytilus trossulus) abundance in the northern Gulf of Alaska: the recent Pacific marine heatwave (PMH,
Authors
Sarah Beth Traiger, James L. Bodkin, Heather Coletti, Brenda Ballachey, Dean Thomas, Daniel Esler, Katrin Iken, Brenda Konar, Mandy Lindeberg, Daniel Monson, Brian H. Robinson, Robert M. Suryan, Ben Weitzman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Abundance and distribution of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in the southcentral Alaska stock, 2014, 2017, and 2019

The Southcentral Alaska (SCAK) sea otter (Enhydra lutris) stock is the northernmost stock of sea otters, a keystone predator known for structuring nearshore marine ecosystems. We conducted aerial surveys within the range of the SCAK sea otter stock to provide recent estimates of sea otter abundance and distribution. We defined three survey regions: (1) Eastern Cook Inlet (2017), (2) Outer Kenai Pe
Authors
George G. Esslinger, Brian H. Robinson, Daniel H. Monson, Rebecca L. Taylor, Daniel Esler, Ben P. Weitzman, Joel Garlich-Miller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Energy intake rate influences survival of Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani broods

Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani, a species of conservation concern, depend on marine intertidal prey resources. We examined diet, feeding rates, growth, and survival of Black Oystercatcher broods in southcentral Alaska, 2013-2014. To determine the importance of diet on brood survival, we modeled daily survival rates of broods as a function of energy intake rate and other ecological factor
Authors
B.H. Robinson, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
By
Cooperative Research Units

Are prey remains accurate indicators of chick diet? A comparison of diet quantification techniques for Black Oystercatchers

The quantification of prey remains is a common method for estimating the diet of a variety of birds. However, these estimates may be subject to biases based on prey body type, nesting habitat, and collection date. To better understand biases and limitations associated with this method, we compared it with two others commonly used to characterize diet: direct observation of parents feeding young an
Authors
B.H. Robinson, H.A. Coletti, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
By
Cooperative Research Units

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    A juvenile female sea otter eating small green urchins in the intertidal. Glacier Bay near Geikie Inlet, Alaska

    Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research

    Nearshore ecosystems include many resources that are of high ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value. They also are subject to influences from a wide variety of natural and human-caused perturbations, which can originate in terrestrial or oceanic environments. Our research is designed to evaluate sources of variation in the nearshore and how they influence resources of high...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research

    Nearshore ecosystems include many resources that are of high ecological, recreational, subsistence, and economic value. They also are subject to influences from a wide variety of natural and human-caused perturbations, which can originate in terrestrial or oceanic environments. Our research is designed to evaluate sources of variation in the nearshore and how they influence resources of high...
    Learn More
  • Data

    North Pacific Wintering Barrow's Goldeneye Body Mass, Morphology, and Prey Sizes 1996-2015

    These data provide information in support of the creation of a bioenergetic model to estimate winter prey consumption by Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica). One table consists of mass and morphological measurements of wintering Barrows Goldeneyes captured or collected in Alaska and British Columbia from 1996 to 2015. The second table consists of size classes of Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Juvenile Shorebird Morphological Data Collected in Alaska and Canada

    This dataset consists of shorebird chick measurements (wing, primary feather 10, diagonal tarsus, and bill length) and body mass for various shorebird species captured in Alaska and Canada during 1978-2022. Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center, and collaborators from many government agencies and research institutions have studied shorebirds at numerous sites across N
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, 2017

    This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in May 2017. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and (3) Transect
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Bioenergetics and Morphology of Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) in Kenai Fjords National Park

    This dataset provides one table of bioenergetic and morphological measurements of Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus; N = 444) collected at three intertidal sites in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Mussels were collected at the same tidal height across all three sites on a nearly monthly basis from 2014-2015.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Western Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2017

    This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in western Prince William Sound, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2017. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from the outer Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, 2019

    This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) near the outer Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2019. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the transects, and (
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Sea Otter Aerial Survey Data from Northern and Eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2014

    This dataset consists of three tables related to abundance and distribution of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in northern and eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska, based on data collected during a series of population-wide aerial surveys in June 2014. The dataset consists of: (1) sea otter counts along strip transects, (2) sea otter counts in Intensive Search Unit (ISU) within the tr
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Gulf Watch Alaska Nearshore Component: Black Oystercatcher Nest Density and Chick Diets Data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park, 2006-2016

    This data is part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe black oystercatcher nest site and chick provisioning observations conducted in the northern Gulf of Alaska within the GWA program. The data consists of three files: 1. black oystercatcher nest counts from transects surveyed in study areas, 2. black oyster
    By
    Alaska Science Center
  • Multimedia
    Caitlin Marsteller prepares to release a Black Oystercatcher, Alaska
    link
    Biologist releases a Black Oystercatcher on Beach in Alaska
    link
  • Publications

    Lack of strong responses to the Pacific marine heatwave by benthivorous marine birds indicates importance of trophic drivers

    The Pacific marine heatwave (PMH) of 2014-2016 was an intense, long-lasting environmental disturbance expressed throughout the north Pacific. While dramatic consequences of the PMH on pelagic food webs have been well documented, effects on nearshore food webs, i.e., those based on macroalgae primary productivity, benthic invertebrate intermediate consumers, and specialized benthivorous top predato
    Authors
    Brian H. Robinson, Heather A. Coletti, Brenda Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Sarah Beth Traiger, Daniel Esler
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Nearshore ecosystems in the Gulf of Alaska

    Nearshore ecosystem monitoring in western Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kachemak Bay, and Katmai National Park and Preserve has been conducted as a single Nearshore Component of the Gulf Watch Alaska program over the past five years (2017-2021). This program builds on the previous five years and continues, in many cases, decades of preceding research and monitoring. During the
    Authors
    Heather A. Coletti, Daniel Esler, Brenda Ballachey, Jim Bodkin, George G. Esslinger, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Daniel Monson, Brian H. Robinson, Sarah Beth Traiger, Katrin Iken, Brenda Konar, Tom Dean, Mandy Lindeberg, Ben Weitzman
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

    Mussels occupy a key middle trophic position in nearshore food webs linking primary producers to predators. Climate-related environmental changes may synergistically combine with changes in predator abundance to affect intertidal ecosystems. We examined the influence of two major events on mussel (Mytilus trossulus) abundance in the northern Gulf of Alaska: the recent Pacific marine heatwave (PMH,
    Authors
    Sarah Beth Traiger, James L. Bodkin, Heather Coletti, Brenda Ballachey, Dean Thomas, Daniel Esler, Katrin Iken, Brenda Konar, Mandy Lindeberg, Daniel Monson, Brian H. Robinson, Robert M. Suryan, Ben Weitzman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Abundance and distribution of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in the southcentral Alaska stock, 2014, 2017, and 2019

    The Southcentral Alaska (SCAK) sea otter (Enhydra lutris) stock is the northernmost stock of sea otters, a keystone predator known for structuring nearshore marine ecosystems. We conducted aerial surveys within the range of the SCAK sea otter stock to provide recent estimates of sea otter abundance and distribution. We defined three survey regions: (1) Eastern Cook Inlet (2017), (2) Outer Kenai Pe
    Authors
    George G. Esslinger, Brian H. Robinson, Daniel H. Monson, Rebecca L. Taylor, Daniel Esler, Ben P. Weitzman, Joel Garlich-Miller
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Energy intake rate influences survival of Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani broods

    Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani, a species of conservation concern, depend on marine intertidal prey resources. We examined diet, feeding rates, growth, and survival of Black Oystercatcher broods in southcentral Alaska, 2013-2014. To determine the importance of diet on brood survival, we modeled daily survival rates of broods as a function of energy intake rate and other ecological factor
    Authors
    B.H. Robinson, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
    By
    Cooperative Research Units

    Are prey remains accurate indicators of chick diet? A comparison of diet quantification techniques for Black Oystercatchers

    The quantification of prey remains is a common method for estimating the diet of a variety of birds. However, these estimates may be subject to biases based on prey body type, nesting habitat, and collection date. To better understand biases and limitations associated with this method, we compared it with two others commonly used to characterize diet: direct observation of parents feeding young an
    Authors
    B.H. Robinson, H.A. Coletti, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
    By
    Cooperative Research Units