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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Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada
Yellow-billed Loons ( Gavia adamsii) breed in lakes in the treeless Arctic and are globally rare. Like their sister taxa, the well-documented Common Loon ( G. immer) of the boreal forest, Yellow-billed Loons exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season. Little is known about what size territories are required, however, or how readily territories are retained from year...
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz, Kenneth G. Wright, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, David C. Evers, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Daniel M. Mulcahy
Occupancy of yellow-billed and Pacific loons: evidence for interspecific competition and habitat mediated co-occurrence Occupancy of yellow-billed and Pacific loons: evidence for interspecific competition and habitat mediated co-occurrence
Interspecific competition is an important process structuring ecological communities, however, it is difficult to observe in nature. We used an occupancy modelling approach to evaluate evidence of competition between yellow-billed ( Gavia adamsii) and Pacific ( G. pacifica) loons for nesting lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. With multiple years of data and survey platforms, we...
Authors
Trevor B. Haynes, Joel A. Schmutz, Mark S. Lindberg, Kenneth G. Wright, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Amanda E. Rosenberger
Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada
The Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) is one of the rarest breeding birds in North America. Because of the small population size and patchy distribution, any stressor to its population is of concern. To determine risks posed by environmental mercury (Hg) loads, we captured 115 Yellow-billed Loons between 2002 and 2012 in the North American Arctic and sampled their blood and/or feather...
Authors
David C. Evers, Joel A. Schmutz, Niladri Basu, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, Carrie E. Gray, James D. Paruk, Marie Perkins, Kevin Regan, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright
Quantifying fall migration of Ross's gulls (Rhodostethia rosea) past Point Barrow, Alaska Quantifying fall migration of Ross's gulls (Rhodostethia rosea) past Point Barrow, Alaska
The Ross’s gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a poorly known seabird of the circumpolar Arctic. The only place in the world where Ross’s gulls are known to congregate is in the near-shore waters around Point Barrow, Alaska, where they undertake an annual passage in late fall. Ross’s gulls seen at Point Barrow are presumed to originate from nesting colonies in Siberia, but neither their origin...
Authors
Mark Maftei, Shanti E. Davis, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Callie Gesmundo, R.S. Suydam, Mark L. Mallory
Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative informs key resource management decisions for Arctic Alaska by providing scientific information on current and future ecosystem response to a changing climate. From 2010 to 2014, a key study area for the USGS CAE initiative has been the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. This region has experienced rapid...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz, Mary E. Whalen, John M. Pearce
Survival of surf scoters and white-winged scoters during remigial molt Survival of surf scoters and white-winged scoters during remigial molt
Quantifying sources and timing of variation in demographic rates is necessary to determine where and when constraints may exist within the annual cycle of organisms. Surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and white-winged scoters (M. fusca) undergo simultaneous remigial molt during which they are flightless for >1 month. Molt could result in reduced survival due to increased predation...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Daniel Esler, Rian D. Dickson, Jerry W. Hupp, Joseph R. Evenson, Eric M. Anderson, Jennifer Barrett, Joel A. Schmutz
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 23
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 25
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 31
Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada
Yellow-billed Loons ( Gavia adamsii) breed in lakes in the treeless Arctic and are globally rare. Like their sister taxa, the well-documented Common Loon ( G. immer) of the boreal forest, Yellow-billed Loons exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season. Little is known about what size territories are required, however, or how readily territories are retained from year...
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz, Kenneth G. Wright, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, David C. Evers, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Daniel M. Mulcahy
Occupancy of yellow-billed and Pacific loons: evidence for interspecific competition and habitat mediated co-occurrence Occupancy of yellow-billed and Pacific loons: evidence for interspecific competition and habitat mediated co-occurrence
Interspecific competition is an important process structuring ecological communities, however, it is difficult to observe in nature. We used an occupancy modelling approach to evaluate evidence of competition between yellow-billed ( Gavia adamsii) and Pacific ( G. pacifica) loons for nesting lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. With multiple years of data and survey platforms, we...
Authors
Trevor B. Haynes, Joel A. Schmutz, Mark S. Lindberg, Kenneth G. Wright, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Amanda E. Rosenberger
Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada
The Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) is one of the rarest breeding birds in North America. Because of the small population size and patchy distribution, any stressor to its population is of concern. To determine risks posed by environmental mercury (Hg) loads, we captured 115 Yellow-billed Loons between 2002 and 2012 in the North American Arctic and sampled their blood and/or feather...
Authors
David C. Evers, Joel A. Schmutz, Niladri Basu, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, Carrie E. Gray, James D. Paruk, Marie Perkins, Kevin Regan, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright
Quantifying fall migration of Ross's gulls (Rhodostethia rosea) past Point Barrow, Alaska Quantifying fall migration of Ross's gulls (Rhodostethia rosea) past Point Barrow, Alaska
The Ross’s gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a poorly known seabird of the circumpolar Arctic. The only place in the world where Ross’s gulls are known to congregate is in the near-shore waters around Point Barrow, Alaska, where they undertake an annual passage in late fall. Ross’s gulls seen at Point Barrow are presumed to originate from nesting colonies in Siberia, but neither their origin...
Authors
Mark Maftei, Shanti E. Davis, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Callie Gesmundo, R.S. Suydam, Mark L. Mallory
Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative informs key resource management decisions for Arctic Alaska by providing scientific information on current and future ecosystem response to a changing climate. From 2010 to 2014, a key study area for the USGS CAE initiative has been the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. This region has experienced rapid...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Joel A. Schmutz, Mary E. Whalen, John M. Pearce
Survival of surf scoters and white-winged scoters during remigial molt Survival of surf scoters and white-winged scoters during remigial molt
Quantifying sources and timing of variation in demographic rates is necessary to determine where and when constraints may exist within the annual cycle of organisms. Surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and white-winged scoters (M. fusca) undergo simultaneous remigial molt during which they are flightless for >1 month. Molt could result in reduced survival due to increased predation...
Authors
Brian D. Uher-Koch, Daniel Esler, Rian D. Dickson, Jerry W. Hupp, Joseph R. Evenson, Eric M. Anderson, Jennifer Barrett, Joel A. Schmutz