Daniel H Monson, Ph.D.
Dan is a Research Wildlife Biologist with the Alaska Science Center and sea otter research lead within the Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research Program. His work focuses on sea otter ecology and conservation including developing metrics of sea otter population status and exploring drivers of variation in sea otter foraging and demographic patterns.
Professional Experience
1995 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 Biologist, University of Minnesota, Antarctic Research Program, McMurdo, Antarctica
1992 - 1995 Graduate Research Assistant, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
1992 - 1995 Statistical Assistant, NBS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1987 - 1992 Biological Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska
1985 - 1987 Research Assistant, University of Minnesota, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota
1983 - 1985 Biological Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kawishawi Field Station, Ely, Minnesota
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2009 University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
M.S. 1995 University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA Marine Science
B.S. 1983 Luther College, Decorah, IA Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
The Wildlife Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Ecological Society of America
Science and Products
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) perspective: Part B. Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) perspective: Part A. Sea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill
Sea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Sea otter population structure and ecology in Alaska
Chemical anesthesia of Northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris): Results of past field studies
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Aerial surveys, foraging observations, and intertidal clam sampling
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters, assessed through age-dependent mortality patterns
Changes in sea urchins and kelp following a reduction in sea otter density as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 66
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) perspective: Part B. Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
We examined the potential role of food limitation in constraining recovery of sea otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the <i>Exxon Valdez</i> oil spill. The spill resulted in the removal of a large number of sea otters in 1989, and as of 1998, the portion of the population in the heavily oiled northern Knight Island region had not fully recovered. Between 1996 and 1998, prey consumptAuthorsThomas A. Dean, James L. Bodkin, Allan K. Fukuyama, Stephen C. Jewett, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O'Clair, Glenn R. VanBlaricomMarine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Since 1999, vessel based surveys to estimate species composition, distribution and relative abundance of marine birds and mammals have been conducted along coastal and pelagic (offshore) transects in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Surveys have been conducted during winter (November-March) and summer (June). This annual report presents the results of those surveys conducted in March and June of 2001. FollowiAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Heather A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. BallacheySea otter (Enhydra lutris) perspective: Part A. Sea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) populations were severely affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in western Prince William Sound, AK, and had not fully recovered by 2000. Here we present results of population surveys and incorporate findings from related studies to identify current population status and factors affecting recovery. Between 1993 and 2000, the number of sea otters in the spill-area oAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Thomas A. Dean, Allan K. Fukuyama, Stephen C. Jewett, Lyman L. McDonald, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O'Clair, Glenn R. VanBlaricomFood limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill
We examined the potential role of food limitation in constraining the recovery of sea otters Enhydra lutris in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill. The spill resulted in the removal of a large number of sea otters in 1989, and as of 1998, the portion of the population in the heavily oiled northern Knight Island region had not fully recovered. Between 1996 and 1998,AuthorsThomas A. Dean, James L. Bodkin, Allan K. Fukuyama, Stephen C. Jewett, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O'Clair, Glenn R. VanBlaricomSea otter population status and the process of recovery from the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill
Sea otter Enhydra lutris populations were severely affected by the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill in western Prince William Sound, AK, and had not fully recovered by 2000. Here we present results of population surveys and incorporate findings from related studies to identify current population status and factors affecting recovery. Between 1993 and 2000, the number of sea otters in the spill-area oAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, T.A. Dean, Allan K. Fukuyama, S.C. Jewett, L. McDonald, Daniel H. Monson, Charles E. O'Clair, G.R. VanBlaricomSea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait, and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports (in 1993) of their presence in Glacier Bay. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from aroAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGroot, J. DohertySea otter population structure and ecology in Alaska
Sea otters are the only fully marine otter. They share a common ancestry with the Old World land otters, but their route of dispersal to the New World is uncertain. The historic range of the species is along the northern Pacific Ocean rim, between central Baja California and the islands of northern Japan. Because they forage almost exclusively on bottom-dwelling marine invertebrates such as clams,AuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Daniel H. MonsonChemical anesthesia of Northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris): Results of past field studies
Between 1987 and 1997, we chemically immobilized 597 wild sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in Alaska for the collection of biological samples or for surgical instrumentation. One drug-related sea otter fatality occurred during this time. Fentanyl in combination with diazepam produced consistent, smooth inductions with minimal need for supplemental anesthetics during procedures lasting 30-40 min. AntagoAuthorsDaniel H. Monson, C. McCormick, Brenda E. BallacheySea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Aerial surveys, foraging observations, and intertidal clam sampling
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports of their presence in Glacier Bay in 1993. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from aboutAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGrootMarine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.AuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, H.A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. BallacheyLong-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters, assessed through age-dependent mortality patterns
We use age distributions of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) found dead on beaches of western Prince William Sound, Alaska, between 1976 and 1998 in conjunction with time-varying demographic models to test for lingering effects from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Our results show that sea otters in this area had decreased survival rates in the years following the spill and that the effects of the spiAuthorsDaniel H. Monson, Daniel F. Doak, Brenda E. Ballachey, Aaron H. Johnson, James L. BodkinChanges in sea urchins and kelp following a reduction in sea otter density as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Interactions between sea otters Enhydra lutris, sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, and kelp were investigated following the reduction in sea otter density in Prince William Sound, Alaska, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. At northern Knight Island, a heavily oiled portion of the sound, sea otter abundance was reduced by a minimum of 50% by the oil spill, and from 1995 through 1AuthorsThomas A. Dean, James L. Bodkin, Stephen C. Jewett, Daniel H. Monson, D. Jung
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