Caroline R Van Hemert, Ph.D.
Avian health and disease, ecology of landbirds, beak deformities in Alaska (“avian keratin disorder”), anatomy and structure of keratinized tissues, wildlife pathology.
Professional Experience
2012 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2005 - 2012 Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2003 - 2005 Teaching Assistant, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
2001 Volunteer Field Assistant, Wild Dog Research Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
2000 - 2002 Bioscience Technician, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
1999 Research Assistant, Wildlife Conservation Society, Haines, AK
1998 Field Research Assistant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK
1997 - 1998 Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2012 University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK Biology and Wildlife
M.A. 2005 Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA English/Creative Nonfiction
B.S. 2000 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Ecology and Evolution
B.A. 2000 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Gender Studies
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithological Society
Boreal Partners in Flight
The Wildlife Society
Wildlife Disease Association
Science and Products
Environmental Contaminants and Beak Deformities in Alaskan Chickadees
Drivers of landscape change in the northwest boreal region
Prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites in a resident northern passerine
Evidence of Culiseta mosquitoes as vectors for Plasmodium parasites in Alaska
Serologic evidence for influenza A virus exposure in three loon species (Gavia spp.) breeding in Alaska
Survey of Arctic Alaskan wildlife for influenza A antibodies: Limited evidence for exposure of mammals
Effect of climate change on disease spread in wildlife
Avian keratin disorder of Alaska black-capped chickadees is associated with Poecivirus infection
Morphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis arctica-like sarcocysts from the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) from Alaska, USA
Neisseria arctica sp. nov. isolated from nonviable eggs of greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) in Arctic Alaska
Haemosporidian parasite infections in grouse and ptarmigan: Prevalence and genetic diversity of blood parasites in resident Alaskan birds
Blood serum chemistry of wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with avian keratin disorder
Elements in whole blood of Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus) in Alaska: No evidence for an association with beak deformities
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 13
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... - Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 43
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 decades toPrevalence 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 caurinus), aAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, Brandt W. Meixell, Matthew M. Smith, Colleen M. HandelEvidence 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 gather baAuthorsMatthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. HandelSerologic evidence for influenza A virus exposure in three loon species (Gavia spp.) breeding in Alaska
Limited information exists about exposure to influenza A viruses (IAVs) in many wild waterbird species, including loons. We analyzed serum samples from breeding adult Pacific (Gavia pacifica), Red-throated (Gavia stellata), and Yellow-billed (Gavia adamsii) loons sampled at three locations along the coast of Alaska, US from 2008 to 2017 to gain a better understanding of the potential role loons plAuthorsBrian D. Uher-Koch, Timothy J. Spivey, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Joel A. Schmutz, Kaijun Jiang, Xiu-Feng Wan, Andrew M. RameySurvey of Arctic Alaskan wildlife for influenza A antibodies: Limited evidence for exposure of mammals
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are maintained in wild waterbirds and have the potential to infect a broad range of species, including wild mammals. The Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska supports a diverse suite of species, including waterfowl that are common hosts of IAVs. Mammals co-occur with geese and other migratory waterbirds during the summer breeding season, providing a plausible mechanism for intAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, Timothy J. Spivey, Brian D. Uher-Koch, Todd C. Atwood, David R. Sinnett, Brandt W. Meixell, Jerry W. Hupp, Kaijun Jiang, Layne G. Adams, David D. Gustine, Andrew M. Ramey, Xiu-Feng WanEffect of climate change on disease spread in wildlife
A growing body of evidence indicates that climate change alone, or acting synergistically with current anthropogenic threats, is affecting the health of wild populations of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Measurable by-products of climate change include elevated atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, higher average global temperatures; variations in global precipitation patterns, risingAuthorsErik K. Hofmeister, Caroline R. Van HemertAvian keratin disorder of Alaska black-capped chickadees is associated with Poecivirus infection
BackgroundAvian keratin disorder (AKD) is an epizootic of debilitating beak deformities, first documented in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska during the late 1990s. Similar deformities have now been recorded in dozens of species of birds across multiple continents. Despite this, the etiology of AKD has remained elusive, making it difficult to assess the impacts of this diseAuthorsMaxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel, Joseph L. DeRisiMorphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis arctica-like sarcocysts from the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) from Alaska, USA
The muscles of herbivores commonly harbor sarcocysts of parasites belonging to species in the genus Sarcocystis, but such muscle parasites are rare in carnivores. Here, we report Sarcocystis arctica-like sarcocysts in muscles of Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from Alaska, USA, for the first time. The tongues of 56 foxes were examined for Sarcocystis infection using several methods. Sarcocystis bradAuthorsCamila K. Cerqueira-Cézar, Peter C. Thompson, Shiv K. Verma, Joseph Mowery, Rafael Calero-Bernal, Fernando H. Antunes Murata, David R. Sinnett, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Benjamin M. Rosenthal, Jitender P. DubeyNeisseria arctica sp. nov. isolated from nonviable eggs of greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) in Arctic Alaska
During the summers of 2013 and 2014, isolates of a novel Gram-negative coccus in the Neisseria genus were obtained from the contents of nonviable greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) eggs on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. We used a polyphasic approach to determine whether these isolates represent a novel species. 16S rRNA gene sequences, 23S rRNA gene sequences, and chaperonin 60 genAuthorsCristina M. Hansen, Elizabeth Himschoot, Rebekah F. Hare, Brandt W. Meixell, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Karsten HuefferHaemosporidian parasite infections in grouse and ptarmigan: Prevalence and genetic diversity of blood parasites in resident Alaskan birds
Projections related to future climate warming indicate the potential for an increase in the distribution and prevalence of blood parasites in northern regions. However, baseline data are lacking for resident avian host species in Alaska. Grouse and ptarmigan occupy a diverse range of habitat types throughout the northern hemisphere and are among the most well-known and important native game birdsAuthorsMatthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Richard MerizonBlood serum chemistry of wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with avian keratin disorder
We measured serum chemistries in wild Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) from Alaska to test for potential differences associated with beak deformities characteristic of avian keratin disorder. Lower uric acid in affected birds was the only difference detected between groups, although sample sizes were small. This difference could be associated with fasting or malnutrition in birds witAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. HandelElements in whole blood of Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus) in Alaska: No evidence for an association with beak deformities
A recent outbreak of beak deformities among resident birds in Alaska has raised concern about environmental contamination as a possible underlying factor. We measured whole blood concentrations of 30 essential and nonessential elements to determine whether any were associated with beak deformities in Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus). We tested for differences between 1) adults with versus thosAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel - News
*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