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Brian Uher-Koch

Brian is a Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Science Center.

Professional Experience

  • 2011 - Present    Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2008 - 2010       Biological Science Technician, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

Education and Certifications

  • M.S.   2013    Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia       Wildlife Ecology

  • B.S.   2009    Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, Alaska            Environmental Science

Science and Products

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A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake

Does fish prey influence red-throated loon productivity?

This study will evaluate the nearshore marine feeding areas of breeding adult red-throated loons and assess the response of loon reproductive success to differences in the relative abundance, composition, and nutritional content of nearshore fish communities that vary in space and time.
By
Alaska Science Center
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Does fish prey influence red-throated loon productivity?

This study will evaluate the nearshore marine feeding areas of breeding adult red-throated loons and assess the response of loon reproductive success to differences in the relative abundance, composition, and nutritional content of nearshore fish communities that vary in space and time.
Learn More
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Emperor Goose on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta

Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
By
Alaska Science Center
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Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
Learn More
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Male Surf Scoter

Tracking Data for Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Available here are tracking data of Surf Scoter, a duck species that breeds throughout higher latitudes of Alaska and Canada and winters along coastal areas of North America. These data were collected to better understand the timing and patterns of migratory movements between breeding and wintering areas.
By
Alaska Science Center
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Tracking Data for Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Available here are tracking data of Surf Scoter, a duck species that breeds throughout higher latitudes of Alaska and Canada and winters along coastal areas of North America. These data were collected to better understand the timing and patterns of migratory movements between breeding and wintering areas.
Learn More
link
Image: Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)

Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope of Alaska.
By
Alaska Science Center
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Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope of Alaska.
Learn More
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Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Tracking Data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada. This species winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska
By
Alaska Science Center
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Tracking Data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada. This species winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska
Learn More
link
A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake

Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
Learn More
link
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

Loon Research

Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
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Loon Research

Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 17

Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) Nest Survival Encounter History from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1994-2017

These data are in four tables relating to nest visit data of Emperor Geese on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, 1994-2017. The tables provide: (1) nest visit and hatch success, (2) visit history, (3) capture history, and (4) environmental covariates such as fox and vole abundance and weather data. The code used to conduct the analyses is also included as a text file.
By
Alaska Science Center

Gavia Species Identification and Diet Composition from Feces, Central North Slope, Alaska, 2012-2014

This data set is comprised of one table with sampling information and NCBI BioProject accession numbers for sequence information of this amplicon-based study targeting Loon (Gavia sp.) and fish species expected in lake systems of the North Slope of Alaska from fecal samples. Highly conserved primers which could differentiate species of interest were developed for five portions of gavia mtDNA genes
By
Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

Blood Parasite Infection, Body Mass, and Survival Data from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus), Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2006-2016

This dataset provides two tables of blood parasite infection data collected from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) on Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2006-2016. Three genera of blood parasites (Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium) were detected by molecular sequencing of a 479 bp fragment of the Cytochrome-b gene. The data provided in the tables are: 1) age, sex, mass, infection status, and NCBI
By
Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 53 satellite transmitters attached to Emperor geese on their breeding range in western Alaska, 1999-2003. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identical content) contain th
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Alaska Science Center

Blood Parasite Infection Data from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) and Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii minima), Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1998-2014

This dataset includes one table of blood parasite (hematozoa) infection data from 197 Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) and 110 Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii minima) sampled on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, in 1998 and 2014. Three genera of blood parasites (Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium) were detected by molecular sequencing of a 479 bp fragment of the Cytochrome-b gene. The table
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Alaska Science Center

Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014

These data are in one table of territory occupancy data for loons and presence/absence data for fish species based on survey information for Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) and five species of fish (Alaska blackfish, arctic grayling, broad whitefish, least cisco, ninespine stickleback) from freshwater lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain in northern Alaska, 2011-2014. We
By
Alaska Science Center

Counts and Abdominal Profile Indices of Wintering Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) at Three Islands in Alaska, 2003 and 2015-2017

These data are in two tables related to surveys conducted on wintering Emperor Geese in Alaska. Surveys counting the number of wintering Emperor Geese were conducted on Shemya Island in 2003 and 2016, and on Adak Island in 2016-2017. Data on abdominal profile indices (body condition) of Emperor Geese were collected on Shemya Island in 2016, on Adak Island in 2016-2017, and on Kodiak Island in 2015
By
Alaska Science Center

Tracking data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 92 satellite transmitters attached to Red-throated Loons on their breeding range in coastal areas throughout Alaska, 2000-2010. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identic
By
Alaska Science Center

Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains data collected by the Argos System from 12 satellite transmitters attached to Pacific Loons on their breeding range in arctic, 2015-2016. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and decode raw sensor data. Two Comma Sepa
By
Alaska Science Center

Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 92 satellite transmitters attached to adult Yellow-billed Loons on their breeding range in Arctic Alaska and Canada, 2002-2017. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identic
By
Alaska Science Center

Aerial Imagery Captured at Nesting Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Colonies on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993-2016

This data set contains one table of the habitat classifications from imagery captured during aerial photographic surveys at the five primary Pacific black brant colonies on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska from 1993-2016.
By
Alaska Science Center

Influenza A Virus Data from Emperor Geese, Alaska

Data set containing avian influenza A virus (IAV) sampling information for Emperor Geese in Alaska, 2015-2017. The data are in three tables: 1) collection data and IAV screening results from fecal samples at several sites in southwestern Alaska, 2) results of blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) tests for IAV antibodies in blood serum collected from nesting female Emperor geese near
By
Alaska Science Center
Filter Total Items: 23
Biological Science Technician holding a red-throated loon with a GPS transmitter attached.
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Two Red-throated loons in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Grassy vegetation in the background.
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Student attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon with pliers. Student wearing gloves and mosquito net.
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Emperor geese standing near the shoreline on Kodiak Island
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Emperor geese at the shoreline in Kodiak
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Three Greater White-fronted geese flying
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Large bird on a bush
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Large bird in a tree
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Large bird on a line
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Large bird in a tree
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Large bird on the ground
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Large bird in a tree
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Large bird on a building
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Large bird on a fence post
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Large bird on a fence post
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Small bird in a bush
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Small bird in a bush
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Small bird in a bush
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Small bird in a bush
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Seven small birds on the ground
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Large bird on a log
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Filter Total Items: 30

Nest traits and major flooding events influence nest survival of Emperor Geese while regional environmental variation linked to climate does not

The reproductive ecology of geese that breed in the Arctic and subarctic is likely susceptible to the effects of climate change, which is projected to alter the environmental conditions of northern latitudes. Nest survival is an important component of productivity in geese; however, the effects of regional environmental conditions on nest survival are not well understood for some species, includin
Authors
Jordan M. Thompson, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Bryan L. Daniels, Joel A. Schmutz, Benjamin S. Sedinger
By
Alaska Science Center

eDNA Metabarcoding Analyses of Diet in Yellow-Billed Loons of Northern Alaska

Environmental DNA is a burgeoning tool used to address wide-ranging scientific questions, including determining diets of difficult-to-sample predators. Loons are large piscivorous diving birds that capture and consume prey underwater, making it nearly impossible to visually determine their diet via observation alone. Identifying species' diets is important for understanding basic life history trai
Authors
Damian M. Menning, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Melanie J. Flamme, Trey Simmons, Joel Schmutz, Sandra Talbot
By
Alaska Science Center

Assessment of variation in the detection and prevalence of blood parasites among sympatrically breeding geese in western Alaska, USA

Haemosporidian parasites may impact avian health and are subject to shifts in distribution and abundance with changing ecologic conditions. Therefore, understanding variation in parasite prevalence is important for evaluating biologically meaningful changes in infection patterns and associated population level impacts. Previous research in western Alaska, US, indicated a possible increase in Leuco
Authors
Raymond M. Buchheit, Joel Schmutz, John A. Reed, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Andrew M. Ramey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Negligible evidence for detrimental effects of Leucocytozoon infections among Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) are iconic waterfowl endemic to Alaska and adjacent areas of northeastern Russia that are considered to be near threatened by the International Union for Conservation. This species has been identified as harboring diverse viruses and parasites which have, at times, been associated with disease in other avian taxa. To better assess if disease represents a vulnerabili
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Raymond Bucheit, Brian D. Uher-Koch, John Reed, M. Andreina Pacheco, Ananias Escalante, Joel Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska

Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) are a species of conservation concern in Alaska due to recent evidence of a population decline on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) in northern Alaska. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a pilot study to evaluate diet and use of nearshore foraging areas as possible drivers of the population decline. We collected fat
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Christopher J. Latty, Joel A. Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Effects of fish populations on Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) lake occupancy and chick production in northern Alaska

Predator populations are vulnerable to changes in prey distribution or availability. With warming temperatures, lake ecosystems in the Arctic are predicted to change in terms of hydrologic flow, water levels, and connectivity with other lakes. We surveyed lakes in northern Alaska to understand how shifts in the distribution or availability of fish may affect the occupancy and breeding success of P
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright, Hannah R. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Shifts in the wintering distribution and abundance of Emperor Geese in Alaska

For wildlife species that winter at northern latitudes, harsh overwinter conditions can play an important role in population dynamics. Recent changes in global temperatures have resulted in distributional shifts of wildlife species, as well as amelioration of winter climates in northern landscapes. The emperor goose (Anser canagicus), an endemic migratory bird of the Bering Sea region, winters acr
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Raymond M. Buccheit, Charles R. Eldermire, Heather M. Wilson, Joel A. Schmutz
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

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 terrestrial and mar
Authors
Sarah C Davidson, Gil Bohrer, Eliezer Gurarie, Scott LaPoint, Peter J Mahoney, Natalie Boelman, Jan UH Eitel, Laura R. Prugh, Lee A. Vierling, Jyoti Jennewein, Emma Grier, Ophélie Couriot, Allicia P Kelly, Arjan JH Meddens, Ruth Y Oliver, Roland Kays, Martin Wikelski, Tomas Aarvak, Josh T. Ackerman, Mónica Almeida e Silva, José A. Alves, Erin Bayne, Bryan Bedrosian, Jerrold L. Belant, Andrew M Berdahl, Alicia Berlin, Dominique Berteaux, Joël Bêty, Dmitrij Boiko, Travis L. Booms, Bridget L Borg, Stan Boutin, W. Sean Boyd, Kane Brides, Stephen C. Brown, Victor N. Bulyuk, Kurt K Burnham, David Cabot, Michael L. Casazza, Katherine S. Christie, Erica H. Craig, Shanti E. Davis, Tracy Davison, Dominic Demma, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Andrew E. Dixon, Robert Domenech, Götz Eichhorn, Kyle Elliott, Joseph R. Evenson, Klaus-Michael Exo, Steven Ferguson, Wolfgang Fiedler, Aaron T. Fisk, J. Fort, Alastair Franke, Mark R. Fuller, Stefan Garthe, Gilles Gauthier, Grant Gilchrist, Petr Glazov, Carrie E. Gray, David Grémillet, Larry Griffin, Mike Hallworth, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Holly Hennin, J Mark Hipfner, James Hodson, James A. Johnson, Kyle Joly, Kimberly Jones, Todd E. Katzner, Jeff W Kidd, Elly Knight, Michael N. Kochert, Andrea Kölzsch, Helmut Kruckenberg, Benjamin J Lagassé, Sandra Lai, Jean-François Lamarre, Richard B. Lanctot, Nicholas C Larter, A David Latham, Christopher J. Latty, James P. Lawler, Don-Jean Léandri-Breton, Hansoo Lee, Stephen B. Lewis, Oliver P. Love, Jesper Madsen, Mark Maftei, Mark L. Mallory, Buck Mangipane, Mikhail Y. Markovets, Peter P. Marra, Rebecca L McGuire, Carol McIntyre, Emily A McKinnon, Tricia A. Miller, Sander Moonen, Tong Mu, Gerhard JDM Müskens, Janet Ng, Kerry L Nicholson, Ingar Jostein Øien, Cory T. Overton, Patricia A Owen, Allison G. L. Patterson, Aevar Petersen, Ivan Pokrovsky, Luke L. Powell, Rui Prieto, Petra Quillfeldt, Jennie Rausch, Kelsey Russell, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Hans Schekkerman, Joel A. Schmutz, Philipp Schwemmer, Dale R. Seip, Adam Shreading, Mónica A. Silva, Brian W. Smith, Fletcher Smith, Jeff P. Smith, Katherine RS Snell, Aleksandr Sokolov, Vasiliy Sokolov, Diana V Solovyeva, Mathew S Sorum, Grigori Tertitski, J. F. Therrien, Kasper Thorup, Lee Tibbitts, Ingrid Tulp, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Rob SA van Bemmelen, Steve Van Wilgenburg, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Jesse Watson, Bryan D Watts, Judy A Williams, Matthew Wilson, Jay Wright, Michael A Yates, David Yurkowski, Ramūnas Žydelis, Mark Hebblewhite
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska

Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, may pose threats to wildlife. Management guidelines within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska dictate buffer zones for coastal wildlife habitat and for breeding and foraging sites of yellow-billed loons (YBLOs; Gavia adamsii), a species of conservation concern. However, few data exist to assess the value of these buffer zones for YB
Authors
Sharon Poessel, Brian D. Uher-Koch, John M. Pearce, Joel A. Schmutz, Todd E. Katzner, David C. Douglas, Vanessa R. von Biela, Autumn-Lynne Harrison
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

The Yellow-billed Loon

The Yellow-billed Loon, known in Europe as the White-billed Diver, is a relatively rare bird nesting in arctic tundra regions of North America and Eurasia. This species was first described by G. R. Gray in 1859 (1), and named (Gavia adamsii) after the surgeon Dr. Edward Adams (who collected the first specimen) aboard the H.M.S. Enterprise on a voyage through Bering Strait. The Yellow-billed Loon i
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Mike North, Joel A. Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Ecosystem scale loss of grazing habitat impacted by abundance of dominant herbivores

Grazing lawns, patches of grazing tolerant plants with high nutrient value, provide important habitat for herbivores, and changes in abundance can impact herbivore populations. Grazing lawns are maintained in quality and quantity by repeated grazing and are a result of a positive feedback since the availability of grazing lawn can increase herbivore populations and increased herbivore populations
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz, Heather M. Wilson, R Michael Anthony, Thomas L Day, Thomas F Fondell, Brian T. Person, James S. Sedinger
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Emperor geese (Anser canagicus) are exposed to a diversity of influenza A viruses, are infected during the non-breeding period and contribute to intercontinental viral dispersal

Emperor geese (Anser canagicus) are endemic to coastal areas within Beringia and have previously been found to have antibodies to or to be infected with influenza A viruses (IAVs) in Alaska. In this study, we use virological, serological and tracking data to further elucidate the role of emperor geese in the ecology of IAVs in Beringia during the non‐breeding period. Specifically, we assess eviden
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Andrew B. Reeves, Joel A. Schmutz, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
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Movements and Habitat Use of Loons for Assessment of Conservation Buffer Zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska

Few data exist to assess the value of National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska management buffer zones for conservation-reliant yellow-billed loons or...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake

    Does fish prey influence red-throated loon productivity?

    This study will evaluate the nearshore marine feeding areas of breeding adult red-throated loons and assess the response of loon reproductive success to differences in the relative abundance, composition, and nutritional content of nearshore fish communities that vary in space and time.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Does fish prey influence red-throated loon productivity?

    This study will evaluate the nearshore marine feeding areas of breeding adult red-throated loons and assess the response of loon reproductive success to differences in the relative abundance, composition, and nutritional content of nearshore fish communities that vary in space and time.
    Learn More
    link
    Emperor Goose on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta

    Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

    Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

    Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
    Learn More
    link
    Male Surf Scoter

    Tracking Data for Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

    Available here are tracking data of Surf Scoter, a duck species that breeds throughout higher latitudes of Alaska and Canada and winters along coastal areas of North America. These data were collected to better understand the timing and patterns of migratory movements between breeding and wintering areas.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Tracking Data for Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

    Available here are tracking data of Surf Scoter, a duck species that breeds throughout higher latitudes of Alaska and Canada and winters along coastal areas of North America. These data were collected to better understand the timing and patterns of migratory movements between breeding and wintering areas.
    Learn More
    link
    Image: Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)

    Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

    Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope of Alaska.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

    Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope of Alaska.
    Learn More
    link
    Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

    Tracking Data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

    Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada. This species winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Tracking Data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

    Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada. This species winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska
    Learn More
    link
    A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake

    Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

    Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

    Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
    Learn More
    link
    A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

    Loon Research

    Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    Loon Research

    Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
    Learn More
  • Data
    Filter Total Items: 17

    Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) Nest Survival Encounter History from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1994-2017

    These data are in four tables relating to nest visit data of Emperor Geese on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, 1994-2017. The tables provide: (1) nest visit and hatch success, (2) visit history, (3) capture history, and (4) environmental covariates such as fox and vole abundance and weather data. The code used to conduct the analyses is also included as a text file.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Gavia Species Identification and Diet Composition from Feces, Central North Slope, Alaska, 2012-2014

    This data set is comprised of one table with sampling information and NCBI BioProject accession numbers for sequence information of this amplicon-based study targeting Loon (Gavia sp.) and fish species expected in lake systems of the North Slope of Alaska from fecal samples. Highly conserved primers which could differentiate species of interest were developed for five portions of gavia mtDNA genes
    By
    Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

    Blood Parasite Infection, Body Mass, and Survival Data from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus), Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2006-2016

    This dataset provides two tables of blood parasite infection data collected from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) on Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2006-2016. Three genera of blood parasites (Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium) were detected by molecular sequencing of a 479 bp fragment of the Cytochrome-b gene. The data provided in the tables are: 1) age, sex, mass, infection status, and NCBI
    By
    Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

    Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

    This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 53 satellite transmitters attached to Emperor geese on their breeding range in western Alaska, 1999-2003. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identical content) contain th
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Blood Parasite Infection Data from Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) and Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii minima), Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1998-2014

    This dataset includes one table of blood parasite (hematozoa) infection data from 197 Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) and 110 Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii minima) sampled on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, in 1998 and 2014. Three genera of blood parasites (Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium) were detected by molecular sequencing of a 479 bp fragment of the Cytochrome-b gene. The table
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014

    These data are in one table of territory occupancy data for loons and presence/absence data for fish species based on survey information for Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) and five species of fish (Alaska blackfish, arctic grayling, broad whitefish, least cisco, ninespine stickleback) from freshwater lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain in northern Alaska, 2011-2014. We
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Counts and Abdominal Profile Indices of Wintering Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) at Three Islands in Alaska, 2003 and 2015-2017

    These data are in two tables related to surveys conducted on wintering Emperor Geese in Alaska. Surveys counting the number of wintering Emperor Geese were conducted on Shemya Island in 2003 and 2016, and on Adak Island in 2016-2017. Data on abdominal profile indices (body condition) of Emperor Geese were collected on Shemya Island in 2016, on Adak Island in 2016-2017, and on Kodiak Island in 2015
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Tracking data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata)

    This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 92 satellite transmitters attached to Red-throated Loons on their breeding range in coastal areas throughout Alaska, 2000-2010. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identic
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Tracking Data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica)

    This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains data collected by the Argos System from 12 satellite transmitters attached to Pacific Loons on their breeding range in arctic, 2015-2016. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and decode raw sensor data. Two Comma Sepa
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

    This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 92 satellite transmitters attached to adult Yellow-billed Loons on their breeding range in Arctic Alaska and Canada, 2002-2017. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identic
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Aerial Imagery Captured at Nesting Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Colonies on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993-2016

    This data set contains one table of the habitat classifications from imagery captured during aerial photographic surveys at the five primary Pacific black brant colonies on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska from 1993-2016.
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Influenza A Virus Data from Emperor Geese, Alaska

    Data set containing avian influenza A virus (IAV) sampling information for Emperor Geese in Alaska, 2015-2017. The data are in three tables: 1) collection data and IAV screening results from fecal samples at several sites in southwestern Alaska, 2) results of blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) tests for IAV antibodies in blood serum collected from nesting female Emperor geese near
    By
    Alaska Science Center
  • Multimedia
    Filter Total Items: 23
    Biological Science Technician holding a red-throated loon with a GPS transmitter attached.
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    Two Red-throated loons in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Grassy vegetation in the background.
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    Student attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon with pliers. Student wearing gloves and mosquito net.
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    Emperor geese standing near the shoreline on Kodiak Island
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    Emperor geese at the shoreline in Kodiak
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    Three Greater White-fronted geese flying
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    Large bird on a bush
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    Large bird in a tree
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    Large bird on a line
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    Large bird in a tree
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    Large bird on the ground
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    Large bird in a tree
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    Large bird on a building
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    Large bird on a fence post
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    Large bird on a fence post
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    Small bird in a bush
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    Small bird in a bush
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    Small bird in a bush
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    Small bird in a bush
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    Seven small birds on the ground
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    Large bird on a log
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  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 30

    Nest traits and major flooding events influence nest survival of Emperor Geese while regional environmental variation linked to climate does not

    The reproductive ecology of geese that breed in the Arctic and subarctic is likely susceptible to the effects of climate change, which is projected to alter the environmental conditions of northern latitudes. Nest survival is an important component of productivity in geese; however, the effects of regional environmental conditions on nest survival are not well understood for some species, includin
    Authors
    Jordan M. Thompson, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Bryan L. Daniels, Joel A. Schmutz, Benjamin S. Sedinger
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    eDNA Metabarcoding Analyses of Diet in Yellow-Billed Loons of Northern Alaska

    Environmental DNA is a burgeoning tool used to address wide-ranging scientific questions, including determining diets of difficult-to-sample predators. Loons are large piscivorous diving birds that capture and consume prey underwater, making it nearly impossible to visually determine their diet via observation alone. Identifying species' diets is important for understanding basic life history trai
    Authors
    Damian M. Menning, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Melanie J. Flamme, Trey Simmons, Joel Schmutz, Sandra Talbot
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    Alaska Science Center

    Assessment of variation in the detection and prevalence of blood parasites among sympatrically breeding geese in western Alaska, USA

    Haemosporidian parasites may impact avian health and are subject to shifts in distribution and abundance with changing ecologic conditions. Therefore, understanding variation in parasite prevalence is important for evaluating biologically meaningful changes in infection patterns and associated population level impacts. Previous research in western Alaska, US, indicated a possible increase in Leuco
    Authors
    Raymond M. Buchheit, Joel Schmutz, John A. Reed, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Andrew M. Ramey
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Negligible evidence for detrimental effects of Leucocytozoon infections among Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

    Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) are iconic waterfowl endemic to Alaska and adjacent areas of northeastern Russia that are considered to be near threatened by the International Union for Conservation. This species has been identified as harboring diverse viruses and parasites which have, at times, been associated with disease in other avian taxa. To better assess if disease represents a vulnerabili
    Authors
    Andrew M. Ramey, Raymond Bucheit, Brian D. Uher-Koch, John Reed, M. Andreina Pacheco, Ananias Escalante, Joel Schmutz
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska

    Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) are a species of conservation concern in Alaska due to recent evidence of a population decline on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) in northern Alaska. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a pilot study to evaluate diet and use of nearshore foraging areas as possible drivers of the population decline. We collected fat
    Authors
    Brian D. Uher-Koch, Christopher J. Latty, Joel A. Schmutz
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Effects of fish populations on Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) lake occupancy and chick production in northern Alaska

    Predator populations are vulnerable to changes in prey distribution or availability. With warming temperatures, lake ecosystems in the Arctic are predicted to change in terms of hydrologic flow, water levels, and connectivity with other lakes. We surveyed lakes in northern Alaska to understand how shifts in the distribution or availability of fish may affect the occupancy and breeding success of P
    Authors
    Brian D. Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright, Hannah R. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Shifts in the wintering distribution and abundance of Emperor Geese in Alaska

    For wildlife species that winter at northern latitudes, harsh overwinter conditions can play an important role in population dynamics. Recent changes in global temperatures have resulted in distributional shifts of wildlife species, as well as amelioration of winter climates in northern landscapes. The emperor goose (Anser canagicus), an endemic migratory bird of the Bering Sea region, winters acr
    Authors
    Brian D. Uher-Koch, Raymond M. Buccheit, Charles R. Eldermire, Heather M. Wilson, Joel A. Schmutz
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    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 terrestrial and mar
    Authors
    Sarah C Davidson, Gil Bohrer, Eliezer Gurarie, Scott LaPoint, Peter J Mahoney, Natalie Boelman, Jan UH Eitel, Laura R. Prugh, Lee A. Vierling, Jyoti Jennewein, Emma Grier, Ophélie Couriot, Allicia P Kelly, Arjan JH Meddens, Ruth Y Oliver, Roland Kays, Martin Wikelski, Tomas Aarvak, Josh T. Ackerman, Mónica Almeida e Silva, José A. Alves, Erin Bayne, Bryan Bedrosian, Jerrold L. Belant, Andrew M Berdahl, Alicia Berlin, Dominique Berteaux, Joël Bêty, Dmitrij Boiko, Travis L. Booms, Bridget L Borg, Stan Boutin, W. Sean Boyd, Kane Brides, Stephen C. Brown, Victor N. Bulyuk, Kurt K Burnham, David Cabot, Michael L. Casazza, Katherine S. Christie, Erica H. Craig, Shanti E. Davis, Tracy Davison, Dominic Demma, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Andrew E. Dixon, Robert Domenech, Götz Eichhorn, Kyle Elliott, Joseph R. Evenson, Klaus-Michael Exo, Steven Ferguson, Wolfgang Fiedler, Aaron T. Fisk, J. Fort, Alastair Franke, Mark R. Fuller, Stefan Garthe, Gilles Gauthier, Grant Gilchrist, Petr Glazov, Carrie E. Gray, David Grémillet, Larry Griffin, Mike Hallworth, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Holly Hennin, J Mark Hipfner, James Hodson, James A. Johnson, Kyle Joly, Kimberly Jones, Todd E. Katzner, Jeff W Kidd, Elly Knight, Michael N. Kochert, Andrea Kölzsch, Helmut Kruckenberg, Benjamin J Lagassé, Sandra Lai, Jean-François Lamarre, Richard B. Lanctot, Nicholas C Larter, A David Latham, Christopher J. Latty, James P. Lawler, Don-Jean Léandri-Breton, Hansoo Lee, Stephen B. Lewis, Oliver P. Love, Jesper Madsen, Mark Maftei, Mark L. Mallory, Buck Mangipane, Mikhail Y. Markovets, Peter P. Marra, Rebecca L McGuire, Carol McIntyre, Emily A McKinnon, Tricia A. Miller, Sander Moonen, Tong Mu, Gerhard JDM Müskens, Janet Ng, Kerry L Nicholson, Ingar Jostein Øien, Cory T. Overton, Patricia A Owen, Allison G. L. Patterson, Aevar Petersen, Ivan Pokrovsky, Luke L. Powell, Rui Prieto, Petra Quillfeldt, Jennie Rausch, Kelsey Russell, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Hans Schekkerman, Joel A. Schmutz, Philipp Schwemmer, Dale R. Seip, Adam Shreading, Mónica A. Silva, Brian W. Smith, Fletcher Smith, Jeff P. Smith, Katherine RS Snell, Aleksandr Sokolov, Vasiliy Sokolov, Diana V Solovyeva, Mathew S Sorum, Grigori Tertitski, J. F. Therrien, Kasper Thorup, Lee Tibbitts, Ingrid Tulp, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Rob SA van Bemmelen, Steve Van Wilgenburg, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Jesse Watson, Bryan D Watts, Judy A Williams, Matthew Wilson, Jay Wright, Michael A Yates, David Yurkowski, Ramūnas Žydelis, Mark Hebblewhite
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

    Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska

    Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, may pose threats to wildlife. Management guidelines within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska dictate buffer zones for coastal wildlife habitat and for breeding and foraging sites of yellow-billed loons (YBLOs; Gavia adamsii), a species of conservation concern. However, few data exist to assess the value of these buffer zones for YB
    Authors
    Sharon Poessel, Brian D. Uher-Koch, John M. Pearce, Joel A. Schmutz, Todd E. Katzner, David C. Douglas, Vanessa R. von Biela, Autumn-Lynne Harrison
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

    The Yellow-billed Loon

    The Yellow-billed Loon, known in Europe as the White-billed Diver, is a relatively rare bird nesting in arctic tundra regions of North America and Eurasia. This species was first described by G. R. Gray in 1859 (1), and named (Gavia adamsii) after the surgeon Dr. Edward Adams (who collected the first specimen) aboard the H.M.S. Enterprise on a voyage through Bering Strait. The Yellow-billed Loon i
    Authors
    Brian D. Uher-Koch, Mike North, Joel A. Schmutz
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Ecosystem scale loss of grazing habitat impacted by abundance of dominant herbivores

    Grazing lawns, patches of grazing tolerant plants with high nutrient value, provide important habitat for herbivores, and changes in abundance can impact herbivore populations. Grazing lawns are maintained in quality and quantity by repeated grazing and are a result of a positive feedback since the availability of grazing lawn can increase herbivore populations and increased herbivore populations
    Authors
    Brian D. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz, Heather M. Wilson, R Michael Anthony, Thomas L Day, Thomas F Fondell, Brian T. Person, James S. Sedinger
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Emperor geese (Anser canagicus) are exposed to a diversity of influenza A viruses, are infected during the non-breeding period and contribute to intercontinental viral dispersal

    Emperor geese (Anser canagicus) are endemic to coastal areas within Beringia and have previously been found to have antibodies to or to be infected with influenza A viruses (IAVs) in Alaska. In this study, we use virological, serological and tracking data to further elucidate the role of emperor geese in the ecology of IAVs in Beringia during the non‐breeding period. Specifically, we assess eviden
    Authors
    Andrew M. Ramey, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Andrew B. Reeves, Joel A. Schmutz, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
  • News
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    Movements and Habitat Use of Loons for Assessment of Conservation Buffer Zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska

    Few data exist to assess the value of National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska management buffer zones for conservation-reliant yellow-billed loons or...

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