Craig Ely, Ph.D.
Evolutionary and behavioral ecology, waterfowl and wetlands, reproduction and energetics.
Professional Experience
1988 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1985 - 1988 Research Associate, Alaska Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska (stationed in Anchorage, AK)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1992 University of California Davis, Davis, CA Ecology
M.S. 1979 University of California Davis, Davis, CA Ecology
B.S. 1976 University of California Davis, Davis, CA Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Ornithologists Union
American Society of Naturalists
Animal Behavior Society
Cooper Ornithological Society
The Wildlife Society
The Wildfowl Trust
American Society of Field Ornithologists
International Society of Behavioral Ecology
Science and Products
Transmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian-North American interface
Seasonal survival of radiomarked emperor geese in western Alaska
Nesting biology of Lesser Canada Geese, Branta canadensis parvipes, along the Tanana River, Alaska
Body mass of prefledging Emperor Geese Chen canagica: Large-scale effects of interspecific densities and food availability
Prevalence of Influenza A viruses in wild migratory birds in Alaska: Patterns of variation in detection at a crossroads of intercontinental flyways
The annual migration cycle of emperor geese in western Alaska
Moult migration of emperor geese Chen canagica between Alaska and Russia
Reproductive strategies of northern geese: Why wait?
Traversing a boreal forest landscape: Summer movements of Tule Greater White-fronted Geese
The prelaying interval of emperor geese on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Nesting habitat of the Tule Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons elgasi
Circumpolar variation in morphological characteristics of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 63
Transmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian-North American interface
Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially dependent trans-hemispheric gene flow and frequent interspecies transmission at a location situated at the Asian–North American interface. Through the application oAuthorsAndrew M. Ramey, John M. Pearce, Craig R. Ely, Lisa M. Sheffield Guy, David B. Irons, Dirk V. Derksen, Hon S. IpSeasonal survival of radiomarked emperor geese in western Alaska
The population of emperor geese (Chen canagica) in western Alaska, USA, declined by >50% from the 1960s to the mid‐1980s and has increased only slightly since. Rates of population increase among arctic geese are especially sensitive to changes in adult survival. Improving adult survival in seasons or geographic areas where survival is low may be the best means of increasing the emperor goose populAuthorsJerry W. Hupp, Joel A. Schmutz, Craig R. ElyNesting biology of Lesser Canada Geese, Branta canadensis parvipes, along the Tanana River, Alaska
Lesser Canada Geese (Branta canadensis parvipes) are widespread throughout interior regions of Alaska and Canada, yet there have been no published studies documenting basic aspects of their nesting biology. We conducted a study to determine reproductive parameters of Lesser Canada Geese nesting along the Tanana River near the city of Fairbanks, in interior Alaska. Fieldwork was conducted in May ofAuthorsCraig R. Ely, John M. Pearce, Roger W. RuessBody mass of prefledging Emperor Geese Chen canagica: Large-scale effects of interspecific densities and food availability
We studied body mass of prefledging Emperor Geese Chen canagica at three locations across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, during 1990–2004 to investigate whether large‐scale variation in body mass was related to interspecific competition for food. From 1990 to 2004, densities of Cackling Geese Branta hutchinsii minima more than doubled and were c. 2–5× greater than densities of Emperor Geese, wAuthorsB.C. Lake, Joel A. Schmutz, M. S. Lindberg, Craig R. Ely, W.D. Eldridge, F.J. BroermanPrevalence of Influenza A viruses in wild migratory birds in Alaska: Patterns of variation in detection at a crossroads of intercontinental flyways
Background. The global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has stimulated interest in a better understanding of the mechanisms of H5N1 dispersal, including the potential role of migratory birds as carriers. Although wild birds have been found dead during H5N1 outbreaks, evidence suggests that others have survived natural infections, and recent studies have shown several specAuthorsHon S. Ip, Paul L. Flint, J. Christian Franson, Robert J. Dusek, Dirk V. Derksen, Robert E. Gill, Craig R. Ely, John M. Pearce, Richard B. Lanctot, Steven M. Matsuoka, D.B. Irons, J.B. Fischer, R.M. Oates, Margaret R. Petersen, T.F. Fondell, D.A. Rocque, J.C. Pedersen, T.C. RotheThe annual migration cycle of emperor geese in western Alaska
Most emperor geese (Chen canagica) nest in a narrow coastal region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) in western Alaska, but their winter distribution extends more than 3000 km from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to the Commander Islands, Russia. We marked 53 adult female emperor geese with satellite transmitters on the YKD in 1999, 2002, and 2003 to examine whether chronology of migration or use of seasoAuthorsJerry W. Hupp, Joel A. Schmutz, Craig R. ElyMoult migration of emperor geese Chen canagica between Alaska and Russia
We studied reproductive success and post-breeding movements of 32 adult female emperor geese Chen canagica that were marked with satellite radio transmitters on their nesting area on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska 2000–2004. All 16 females that failed to successfully reproduce departed the YKD and moulted remiges either on the north coast of the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia (n=15), or on StAuthorsJerry W. Hupp, Joel A. Schmutz, Craig R. Ely, E.E. Syroechkovskiy, Alexander V. Kondratyev, W.D. Eldridge, E. LappoReproductive strategies of northern geese: Why wait?
Migration and reproductive strategies in waterbirds are tightly linked, with timing of arrival and onset of nesting having important consequences for reproductive success. Whether migratory waterbirds are capital or income breeders is predicated by their spring migration schedule, how long they are on breeding areas before nesting, and how adapted they are to exploiting early spring foods at northAuthorsCraig R. Ely, K.S. Bollinger, R.V. Densmore, T.C. Rothe, M.J. Petrula, John Y. Takekawa, D.L. OrthmeyerTraversing a boreal forest landscape: Summer movements of Tule Greater White-fronted Geese
We monitored the movement, distribution and site affinities of radio-marked Tule Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons elgasi) during spring and summer in Alaska, 1994-1997 and 2004. Our assessment of summer movements was comprehensive, as locations were obtained during prenesting, nesting, and molt for over 90% of geese with active radios captured during winter or the previous summer in AlAuthorsCraig R. Ely, K.S. Bollinger, Jerry W. Hupp, D.V. Derksen, J. Terenzi, John Y. Takekawa, D.L. Orthmeyer, T.C. Rothe, M.J. Petrula, D.R. YparraguirreThe prelaying interval of emperor geese on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
We marked 136 female Emperor Geese (Chen canagica) in western Alaska with VHF or satellite (PTT) transmitters from 1999 to 2003 to monitor their spring arrival and nest initiation dates on the Yukon Delta, and to estimate prelaying interval lengths once at the nesting area. Ninety-two females with functional transmitters returned to the Yukon Delta in the spring after they were marked, and we locaAuthorsJerry W. Hupp, Joel A. Schmutz, Craig R. ElyNesting habitat of the Tule Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons elgasi
This paper presents the first information on the availability and use of nesting habitat by the rare Tule Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons elgasi. The breeding range was sampled by marking geese with radio transmitters on wintering and moulting areas, and tracking them to nest sites in Alaska. Nesting habitat was described at the scales of ecoregion, wetland ecosystem (National WetlandsAuthorsR.V. Densmore, Craig R. Ely, K.S. Bollinger, S. Kratzer, Mark S. Udevitz, D.J. Fehringer, T.C. RotheCircumpolar variation in morphological characteristics of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons
Capsule: Greater White-fronted Geese show significant variation in body size from sampling locations throughout their circumpolar breeding range. Aims: To determine the degree of geographical variation in body size of Greater White-fronted Geese and identify factors contributing to any apparent patterns in variation. Methods: Structural measures of >3000 geese from 16 breeding areas throughout theAuthorsCraig R. Ely, A.D. Fox, R.T. Alisauskas, A. Andreev, R.G. Bromley, Andrei G. Degtyarev, B. Ebbinge, E.N. Gurtovaya, R. Kerbes, Alexander V. Kondratyev, I. Kostin, A.V. Krechmar, K.E. Litvin, Y. Miyabayashi, J.H. Moou, R.M. Oates, D.L. Orthmeyer, Yutaka Sabano, S. G. Simpson, D.V. Solovieva, Michael A. Spindler, Y.V. Syroechkovsky, John Y. Takekawa, A. Walsh - News
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