David Douglas
Satellite remote sensing of landscape features that possess high-frequency dynamics, such as sea ice distribution and vegetation phenology, and spatial analyses of how wildlife migrations are influenced by habitat and weather dynamics.
My projects aim to pioneer new analytical avenues in applied wildlife research by combining remote sensing with traditional wildlife studies to answer questions about habitat use and animal movements at landscape scales. The studies I engage align with Department of Interior priorities in the Arctic by addressing a growing need to understand how changes in climate or land use practices affect wildlife migrations, habitat availability, habitat quality, and population dynamics. Climate is the overarching force that controls wildlife habitat resources in the Arctic, so understanding linkages between the physical and biological environment is critical for making informed management decisions in the face of accelerating warming and expanding human activities. My expertise includes tracking wildlife by satellite, monitoring sea ice and vegetation changes by satellite, and the implications of future climate change on Arctic wildlife in general.
Professional Experience
1986 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1985 - 1986 Biological Technician Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, Alaska
1980 - 1984 Biological Technician US Forest Service, Region 4, Ogden, Utah
Education and Certifications
M.S. 1986 Washington State University, Pullman, WA Wildlife Biology
B.A. 1982 Utah State University, Logan, UT Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Science and Products
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Arctic sea ice decline: Projected changes in timing and extent of sea ice in the Bering and Chukchi Seas Arctic sea ice decline: Projected changes in timing and extent of sea ice in the Bering and Chukchi Seas
The Arctic region is warming faster than most regions of the world due in part to increasing greenhouse gases and positive feedbacks associated with the loss of snow and ice cover. One consequence has been a rapid decline in Arctic sea ice over the past 3 decades?a decline that is projected to continue by state-of-the-art models. Many stakeholders are therefore interested in how global...
Authors
David C. Douglas
Divergent movements of walrus and sea ice in the northern Bering Sea Divergent movements of walrus and sea ice in the northern Bering Sea
The Pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens is a large Arctic pinniped of the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Reductions of sea ice projected to occur in the Arctic by mid-century raise concerns for conservation of the Pacific walrus. To understand the significance of sea ice loss to the viability of walruses, it would be useful to better understand the spatial associations between the...
Authors
Chadwick Jay, Mark Udevitz, Ron Kwok, Anthony Fischbach, David Douglas
Catalogue of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den locations in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions, Alaska, 1910–2010 Catalogue of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den locations in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions, Alaska, 1910–2010
This report presents data on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 392 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens found in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions between 1910 and 2010 that are archived by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. A description of data collection methods, biases associated with collection method, primary time...
Authors
George Durner, Anthony Fischbach, Steven Amstrup, David Douglas
Migration of waterfowl in the east asian flyway and spatial relationship to HPAI H5N1 outbreaks Migration of waterfowl in the east asian flyway and spatial relationship to HPAI H5N1 outbreaks
Poyang Lake is situated within the East Asian Flyway, a migratory corridor for waterfowl that also encompasses Guangdong Province, China, the epicenter of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. The lake is the largest freshwater body in China and a significant congregation site for waterfowl; however, surrounding rice fields and poultry grazing have created an overlap with wild...
Authors
John Takekawa, S. Newman, X. Xiao, D.J. Prosser, K.A. Spragens, E.C. Palm, B. Yan, T. Li, F. Lei, D. Zhao, David C. Douglas, S.B. Muzaffar, W. Ji
Potential spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wildfowl: dispersal ranges and rates determined from large-scale satellite telemetry Potential spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wildfowl: dispersal ranges and rates determined from large-scale satellite telemetry
1. Migratory birds are major candidates for long-distance dispersal of zoonotic pathogens. In recent years, wildfowl have been suspected of contributing to the rapid geographic spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. Experimental infection studies reveal that some wild ducks, geese and swans shed this virus asymptomatically and hence have the potential to...
Authors
Nicolas Gaidet, Julien Cappelle, John Takekawa, Diann Prosser, Samuel Iverson, David Douglas, William Perry, Taej Mundkur, Scott Newman
Understanding the potential dispersal of HPAI H5N1 virus by migratory wildfowl Understanding the potential dispersal of HPAI H5N1 virus by migratory wildfowl
We analysed wildfowl movements between 2006-2009, including 228 birds from 19 species, part of a larger international programme (see Figure 1) coordinated by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations aimed at understanding if there are temporal or spatial relationships between HPAI H5N1 outbreaks and movements of migratory wildfowl, the first large scale data set...
Authors
Nicolas Gaidet, Julien Cappelle, John Takekawa, Diann Prosser, Samuel Iverson, David Douglas, William Perry, Taej Mundkur, Scott Newman
Greenhouse gas mitigation can reduce sea-ice loss and increase polar bear persistence Greenhouse gas mitigation can reduce sea-ice loss and increase polar bear persistence
On the basis of projected losses of their essential sea-ice habitats, a United States Geological Survey research team concluded in 2007 that two-thirds of the worlds polar bears (Ursus maritimus) could disappear by mid-century if business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue. That projection, however, did not consider the possible benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation. A key...
Authors
Steven Amstrup, E.T. Deweaver, David C. Douglas, B.G. Marcot, George Durner, C.M. Bitz, D.A. Bailey
No evidence of trophic mismatch for caribou in Greenland No evidence of trophic mismatch for caribou in Greenland
No abstract available.
Authors
Dennis Griffith, Layne G. Adams, David C. Douglas, Christine Cuyler, Robert White, Anne Gunn, Donald Russell, Raymond Cameron
Predicting 21st-century polar bear habitat distribution from global climate models Predicting 21st-century polar bear habitat distribution from global climate models
Projections of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) sea ice habitat distribution in the polar basin during the 21st century were developed to understand the consequences of anticipated sea ice reductions on polar bear populations. We used location data from satellitecollared polar bears and environmental data (e.g., bathymetry, distance to coastlines, and sea ice) collected from 1985 to 1995 to...
Authors
George Durner, David C. Douglas, R. Nielson, Steven Amstrup, T. McDonald, I. Stirling, Mette Mauritzen, E.W. Born, O. Wiig, E. Deweaver, Mark Serreze, Stanislav Belikov, M.M. Holland, J. Maslanik, Jon Aars, D.A. Bailey, A.E. Derocher
Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier? Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier?
Mountain ranges, deserts, ice fields and oceans generally act as barriers to the movement of land-dependent animals, often profoundly shaping migration routes. We used satellite telemetry to track the southward flights of bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri), shorebirds whose breeding and non-breeding areas are separated by the vast central Pacific Ocean. Seven females with...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, T. Tibbitts, David C. Douglas, Colleen Handel, Daniel Mulcahy, Jon Gottschalck, Nils Warnock, Brian McCaffery, Phil Battley, Theunis Piersma
Satellite-marked waterfowl reveal migratory connection between H5N1 outbreak areas in China and Mongolia Satellite-marked waterfowl reveal migratory connection between H5N1 outbreak areas in China and Mongolia
The role of wild birds in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been greatly debated and remains an unresolved question. However, analyses to determine involvement of wild birds have been hindered by the lack of basic information on their movements in central Asia. Thus, we initiated a programme to document migrations of waterfowl in Asian flyways to inform hypotheses...
Authors
D.J. Prosser, John Takekawa, S. Newman, B. Yan, David C. Douglas, Y. Hou, Z. Xing, Dongxiao Zhang, T. Li, Y. Li, D. Zhao, W.M. Perry, E.C. Palm
Movements of juvenile Gyrfalcons from western and interior Alaska following departure from their natal areas Movements of juvenile Gyrfalcons from western and interior Alaska following departure from their natal areas
Juvenile raptors often travel thousands of kilometers from the time they leave their natal areas to the time they enter a breeding population. Documenting movements and identifying areas used by raptors before they enter a breeding population is important for understanding the factors that influence their survival. In North America, juvenile Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) are routinely...
Authors
Carol McIntyre, David Douglas, Layne G. Adams
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 39
Filter Total Items: 46
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 155
Arctic sea ice decline: Projected changes in timing and extent of sea ice in the Bering and Chukchi Seas Arctic sea ice decline: Projected changes in timing and extent of sea ice in the Bering and Chukchi Seas
The Arctic region is warming faster than most regions of the world due in part to increasing greenhouse gases and positive feedbacks associated with the loss of snow and ice cover. One consequence has been a rapid decline in Arctic sea ice over the past 3 decades?a decline that is projected to continue by state-of-the-art models. Many stakeholders are therefore interested in how global...
Authors
David C. Douglas
Divergent movements of walrus and sea ice in the northern Bering Sea Divergent movements of walrus and sea ice in the northern Bering Sea
The Pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens is a large Arctic pinniped of the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Reductions of sea ice projected to occur in the Arctic by mid-century raise concerns for conservation of the Pacific walrus. To understand the significance of sea ice loss to the viability of walruses, it would be useful to better understand the spatial associations between the...
Authors
Chadwick Jay, Mark Udevitz, Ron Kwok, Anthony Fischbach, David Douglas
Catalogue of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den locations in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions, Alaska, 1910–2010 Catalogue of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den locations in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions, Alaska, 1910–2010
This report presents data on the approximate locations and methods of discovery of 392 polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal dens found in the Beaufort Sea and neighboring regions between 1910 and 2010 that are archived by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. A description of data collection methods, biases associated with collection method, primary time...
Authors
George Durner, Anthony Fischbach, Steven Amstrup, David Douglas
Migration of waterfowl in the east asian flyway and spatial relationship to HPAI H5N1 outbreaks Migration of waterfowl in the east asian flyway and spatial relationship to HPAI H5N1 outbreaks
Poyang Lake is situated within the East Asian Flyway, a migratory corridor for waterfowl that also encompasses Guangdong Province, China, the epicenter of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. The lake is the largest freshwater body in China and a significant congregation site for waterfowl; however, surrounding rice fields and poultry grazing have created an overlap with wild...
Authors
John Takekawa, S. Newman, X. Xiao, D.J. Prosser, K.A. Spragens, E.C. Palm, B. Yan, T. Li, F. Lei, D. Zhao, David C. Douglas, S.B. Muzaffar, W. Ji
Potential spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wildfowl: dispersal ranges and rates determined from large-scale satellite telemetry Potential spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wildfowl: dispersal ranges and rates determined from large-scale satellite telemetry
1. Migratory birds are major candidates for long-distance dispersal of zoonotic pathogens. In recent years, wildfowl have been suspected of contributing to the rapid geographic spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. Experimental infection studies reveal that some wild ducks, geese and swans shed this virus asymptomatically and hence have the potential to...
Authors
Nicolas Gaidet, Julien Cappelle, John Takekawa, Diann Prosser, Samuel Iverson, David Douglas, William Perry, Taej Mundkur, Scott Newman
Understanding the potential dispersal of HPAI H5N1 virus by migratory wildfowl Understanding the potential dispersal of HPAI H5N1 virus by migratory wildfowl
We analysed wildfowl movements between 2006-2009, including 228 birds from 19 species, part of a larger international programme (see Figure 1) coordinated by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations aimed at understanding if there are temporal or spatial relationships between HPAI H5N1 outbreaks and movements of migratory wildfowl, the first large scale data set...
Authors
Nicolas Gaidet, Julien Cappelle, John Takekawa, Diann Prosser, Samuel Iverson, David Douglas, William Perry, Taej Mundkur, Scott Newman
Greenhouse gas mitigation can reduce sea-ice loss and increase polar bear persistence Greenhouse gas mitigation can reduce sea-ice loss and increase polar bear persistence
On the basis of projected losses of their essential sea-ice habitats, a United States Geological Survey research team concluded in 2007 that two-thirds of the worlds polar bears (Ursus maritimus) could disappear by mid-century if business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue. That projection, however, did not consider the possible benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation. A key...
Authors
Steven Amstrup, E.T. Deweaver, David C. Douglas, B.G. Marcot, George Durner, C.M. Bitz, D.A. Bailey
No evidence of trophic mismatch for caribou in Greenland No evidence of trophic mismatch for caribou in Greenland
No abstract available.
Authors
Dennis Griffith, Layne G. Adams, David C. Douglas, Christine Cuyler, Robert White, Anne Gunn, Donald Russell, Raymond Cameron
Predicting 21st-century polar bear habitat distribution from global climate models Predicting 21st-century polar bear habitat distribution from global climate models
Projections of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) sea ice habitat distribution in the polar basin during the 21st century were developed to understand the consequences of anticipated sea ice reductions on polar bear populations. We used location data from satellitecollared polar bears and environmental data (e.g., bathymetry, distance to coastlines, and sea ice) collected from 1985 to 1995 to...
Authors
George Durner, David C. Douglas, R. Nielson, Steven Amstrup, T. McDonald, I. Stirling, Mette Mauritzen, E.W. Born, O. Wiig, E. Deweaver, Mark Serreze, Stanislav Belikov, M.M. Holland, J. Maslanik, Jon Aars, D.A. Bailey, A.E. Derocher
Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier? Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier?
Mountain ranges, deserts, ice fields and oceans generally act as barriers to the movement of land-dependent animals, often profoundly shaping migration routes. We used satellite telemetry to track the southward flights of bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri), shorebirds whose breeding and non-breeding areas are separated by the vast central Pacific Ocean. Seven females with...
Authors
Robert E. Gill, T. Tibbitts, David C. Douglas, Colleen Handel, Daniel Mulcahy, Jon Gottschalck, Nils Warnock, Brian McCaffery, Phil Battley, Theunis Piersma
Satellite-marked waterfowl reveal migratory connection between H5N1 outbreak areas in China and Mongolia Satellite-marked waterfowl reveal migratory connection between H5N1 outbreak areas in China and Mongolia
The role of wild birds in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been greatly debated and remains an unresolved question. However, analyses to determine involvement of wild birds have been hindered by the lack of basic information on their movements in central Asia. Thus, we initiated a programme to document migrations of waterfowl in Asian flyways to inform hypotheses...
Authors
D.J. Prosser, John Takekawa, S. Newman, B. Yan, David C. Douglas, Y. Hou, Z. Xing, Dongxiao Zhang, T. Li, Y. Li, D. Zhao, W.M. Perry, E.C. Palm
Movements of juvenile Gyrfalcons from western and interior Alaska following departure from their natal areas Movements of juvenile Gyrfalcons from western and interior Alaska following departure from their natal areas
Juvenile raptors often travel thousands of kilometers from the time they leave their natal areas to the time they enter a breeding population. Documenting movements and identifying areas used by raptors before they enter a breeding population is important for understanding the factors that influence their survival. In North America, juvenile Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) are routinely...
Authors
Carol McIntyre, David Douglas, Layne G. Adams
*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