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Caroline R Van Hemert, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 13
Small bird with crossed beak

Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides some of the first environmental contaminants data for a species of passerine bird (perching birds) in Alaska but leaves unanswered questions as to the cause of beak abnormalities found in this species.Beginning in the late 1990s, biologists and members of the public reported an unusual number of beak abnormalities among black-capped...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides some of the first environmental contaminants data for a species of passerine bird (perching birds) in Alaska but leaves unanswered questions as to the cause of beak abnormalities found in this species.Beginning in the late 1990s, biologists and members of the public reported an unusual number of beak abnormalities among black-capped...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 13

Genetic Data Associated with Avian Keratin Disorder and Poecivirus in Black-capped Chickadees, Alaska, 2001-2017 Genetic Data Associated with Avian Keratin Disorder and Poecivirus in Black-capped Chickadees, Alaska, 2001-2017

This dataset contains results of genetic screening for Poecivirus from samples of black-capped chickadees (BCCH; Poecile atricapillus) with and without clinical signs of avian keratin disorder (AKD). Data include information on detection/non-detection of the virus in tissue collected with buccal swabs, cloacal swabs, blood samples, and fecal samples from up to 124 individuals between...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 45

Poecivirus is present in individuals with beak deformities in seven species of North American birds Poecivirus is present in individuals with beak deformities in seven species of North American birds

Avian keratin disorder (AKD), a disease of unknown etiology characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth, has increasingly affected wild bird populations since the 1990s. A novel picornavirus, poecivirus, is closely correlated with disease status in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska. However, our knowledge of the relationship between poecivirus and beak...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel, Rachel Liu, Joseph L. DeRisi
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Cryptic and extensive hybridization between ancient lineages of American crows Cryptic and extensive hybridization between ancient lineages of American crows

Most species and therefore most hybrid zones have historically been defined using phenotypic characters. However, both speciation and hybridization can occur with negligible morphological differentiation. Recently developed genomic tools provide the means to better understand cryptic speciation and hybridization. The Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus) and American Crow (Corvus...
Authors
David Slager, Kevin Epperly, Renee Ha, Sievert Rohwer, Christopher W. Woodall, Caroline R. Van Hemert, John Klicka
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Algal toxins in Alaskan seabirds: Evaluating the role of saxitoxin and domoic acid in a large-scale die-off of Common Murres Algal toxins in Alaskan seabirds: Evaluating the role of saxitoxin and domoic acid in a large-scale die-off of Common Murres

Elevated seawater temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which pose a growing threat to marine birds and other wildlife. During late 2015 and early 2016, a massive die-off of Common Murres (Uria algae; hereafter, murres) was observed in the Gulf of Alaska coincident with a strong marine heat wave. Previous studies have documented illness and death...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Sarah K. Schoen, R. Wayne Litaker, Matthew M. Smith, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt, William C. Holland, Ransom Hardison, John M. Pearce
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region

The northwest boreal region (NWB) of North America is a land of extremes. Extending more than 1.3 million square kilometers (330 million acres), it encompasses the entire spectrum between inundated wetlands below sea level to the tallest peak in North America. Permafrost gradients span from nearly continuous to absent. Boreal ecosystems are inherently dynamic and continually change over...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wildland Fire Science

Prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites in a resident northern passerine Prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites in a resident northern passerine

Background: Climate-related changes are expected to influence the prevalence and distribution of vector-borne haemosporidian parasites at northern latitudes, although baseline information about resident birds is still lacking. In this study, we investigated prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon parasites infecting the Northwestern Crow (Corvus...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Brandt W. Meixell, Matthew M. Smith, Colleen M. Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Evidence of Culiseta mosquitoes as vectors for Plasmodium parasites in Alaska Evidence of Culiseta mosquitoes as vectors for Plasmodium parasites in Alaska

Mosquito vectors play a crucial role in the distribution of avian Plasmodium parasites worldwide. At northern latitudes, where climate warming is most pronounced, there are questions about possible changes in the abundance and distribution of Plasmodium parasites, their vectors, and their impacts to avian hosts. To better understand the transmission of Plasmodium among local birds and to...
Authors
Matthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 13
Small bird with crossed beak

Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides some of the first environmental contaminants data for a species of passerine bird (perching birds) in Alaska but leaves unanswered questions as to the cause of beak abnormalities found in this species.Beginning in the late 1990s, biologists and members of the public reported an unusual number of beak abnormalities among black-capped...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees

A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides some of the first environmental contaminants data for a species of passerine bird (perching birds) in Alaska but leaves unanswered questions as to the cause of beak abnormalities found in this species.Beginning in the late 1990s, biologists and members of the public reported an unusual number of beak abnormalities among black-capped...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 13

Genetic Data Associated with Avian Keratin Disorder and Poecivirus in Black-capped Chickadees, Alaska, 2001-2017 Genetic Data Associated with Avian Keratin Disorder and Poecivirus in Black-capped Chickadees, Alaska, 2001-2017

This dataset contains results of genetic screening for Poecivirus from samples of black-capped chickadees (BCCH; Poecile atricapillus) with and without clinical signs of avian keratin disorder (AKD). Data include information on detection/non-detection of the virus in tissue collected with buccal swabs, cloacal swabs, blood samples, and fecal samples from up to 124 individuals between...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 45

Poecivirus is present in individuals with beak deformities in seven species of North American birds Poecivirus is present in individuals with beak deformities in seven species of North American birds

Avian keratin disorder (AKD), a disease of unknown etiology characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth, has increasingly affected wild bird populations since the 1990s. A novel picornavirus, poecivirus, is closely correlated with disease status in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska. However, our knowledge of the relationship between poecivirus and beak...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel, Rachel Liu, Joseph L. DeRisi
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Cryptic and extensive hybridization between ancient lineages of American crows Cryptic and extensive hybridization between ancient lineages of American crows

Most species and therefore most hybrid zones have historically been defined using phenotypic characters. However, both speciation and hybridization can occur with negligible morphological differentiation. Recently developed genomic tools provide the means to better understand cryptic speciation and hybridization. The Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus) and American Crow (Corvus...
Authors
David Slager, Kevin Epperly, Renee Ha, Sievert Rohwer, Christopher W. Woodall, Caroline R. Van Hemert, John Klicka
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Algal toxins in Alaskan seabirds: Evaluating the role of saxitoxin and domoic acid in a large-scale die-off of Common Murres Algal toxins in Alaskan seabirds: Evaluating the role of saxitoxin and domoic acid in a large-scale die-off of Common Murres

Elevated seawater temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which pose a growing threat to marine birds and other wildlife. During late 2015 and early 2016, a massive die-off of Common Murres (Uria algae; hereafter, murres) was observed in the Gulf of Alaska coincident with a strong marine heat wave. Previous studies have documented illness and death...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Sarah K. Schoen, R. Wayne Litaker, Matthew M. Smith, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt, William C. Holland, Ransom Hardison, John M. Pearce
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region

The northwest boreal region (NWB) of North America is a land of extremes. Extending more than 1.3 million square kilometers (330 million acres), it encompasses the entire spectrum between inundated wetlands below sea level to the tallest peak in North America. Permafrost gradients span from nearly continuous to absent. Boreal ecosystems are inherently dynamic and continually change over...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wildland Fire Science

Prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites in a resident northern passerine Prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites in a resident northern passerine

Background: Climate-related changes are expected to influence the prevalence and distribution of vector-borne haemosporidian parasites at northern latitudes, although baseline information about resident birds is still lacking. In this study, we investigated prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon parasites infecting the Northwestern Crow (Corvus...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Brandt W. Meixell, Matthew M. Smith, Colleen M. Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Evidence of Culiseta mosquitoes as vectors for Plasmodium parasites in Alaska Evidence of Culiseta mosquitoes as vectors for Plasmodium parasites in Alaska

Mosquito vectors play a crucial role in the distribution of avian Plasmodium parasites worldwide. At northern latitudes, where climate warming is most pronounced, there are questions about possible changes in the abundance and distribution of Plasmodium parasites, their vectors, and their impacts to avian hosts. To better understand the transmission of Plasmodium among local birds and to...
Authors
Matthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

*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

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