The dominant plant in the photo is Arctic sweet coltsfoot (Petasides frigidus), a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou during the summer in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Heather Johnson, Ph.D.
Population ecology, resource selection, human-wildlife conflicts, predator-prey relationships, endangered species conservation, large mammal ecology and management, effects of land-use change on wildlife populations.
Professional Experience
2017 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2010 - 2017 Wildlife Researcher, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Durango, CO
2010 Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2005 - 2010 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2004 - 2005 Contract Wildlife Biologist, California Department of Fish and Game, Bishop, CA
2001 - 2003 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
1999 - 2001 Various field technician positions
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2010 University of Montana, Missoula, MT Wildlife Biology
M.S. 2003 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Wildlife Science
B.S. 1999 University of California, San Diego, CA Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
The Wildlife Society
Society for Conservation Biology
Honors and Awards
USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center - Outstanding Research Publication (2015)
Graduate Research Award, Wildlife Ecology Program, University of Montana (2010)
PEO Scholar, University of Montana (2009)
Canon National Parks Science Scholar (2007)
Best Thesis Award, School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona (2003)
Science and Products
A systematic review of the effects of climate variability and change on black and brown bear ecology and interactions with humans
Effects of vehicle traffic on space use and road crossings of caribou in the Arctic
Pleistocene–Holocene vicariance, not Anthropocene landscape change, explains the genetic structure of American black bear (Ursus americanus) populations in the American Southwest and northern Mexico
Wildlife population dynamics
Survival and reproduction in Arctic caribou are associated with summer forage and insect harassment
Why are human-black bear conflicts increasing? Assessing the mechanisms driving conflicts in Durango, Colorado
Dynamic selection for forage quality and quantity in response to phenology and insects in an Arctic ungulate
Spring phenology drives range shifts in a migratory Arctic ungulate with key implications for the future
Individual and population fitness consequences associated with large carnivore use of residential development
Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
A collaborative approach to bridging the gap between wildlife managers and researchers
NDVI exhibits mixed success in predicting spatiotemporal variation in caribou summer forage quality and quantity
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Terrestrial Mammal Ecology Research
The Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Human-Bear Interactions in North America
Hourly Vehicle Traffic Data Associated with Industrial Activity on the North Slope of Alaska During Summers 2019-2020
Genetic structure of American black bear populations in the American Southwest and northern Mexico, 1994-2014
Predicted Calving and Post-calving Season Resource Use of the Porcupine Caribou Herd During 2012-2018 With Future Projections for the 2030s, 2040s, and 2050s
The dominant plant in the photo is Arctic sweet coltsfoot (Petasides frigidus), a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou during the summer in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Summer photo of Salix reticulata in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. The bright red bulbs on the right leaf are not berries, but galls, likely caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.
Summer photo of Salix reticulata in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. The bright red bulbs on the right leaf are not berries, but galls, likely caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.
Summer photo of diamond-leaf willow (Salix pulchra) in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou.
Summer photo of diamond-leaf willow (Salix pulchra) in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou.
This is a graphical abstract for the publication by Severson et al. (2023) that investigated the influence of vehicle traffic in Northern Alaska oil fields on summer space use and road crossings of female caribou in the Central Arctic Herd.
This is a graphical abstract for the publication by Severson et al. (2023) that investigated the influence of vehicle traffic in Northern Alaska oil fields on summer space use and road crossings of female caribou in the Central Arctic Herd.
Staff from the USGS Alaska Science Center and Volcano Science Center met with a group of high school students on August 3, 2022, in Anchorage who are participating in the 2022 Brown Environmental Leadership Lab. The students traveled throughout southcentral Alaska with a team of instructors to learn ab
Staff from the USGS Alaska Science Center and Volcano Science Center met with a group of high school students on August 3, 2022, in Anchorage who are participating in the 2022 Brown Environmental Leadership Lab. The students traveled throughout southcentral Alaska with a team of instructors to learn ab
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view as she tries to avoid insect harassment by seeking non-vegetated, coastal habitat within the Yukon coastal plain. This video was collected in collaboration with the Yukon Government as part of a study on the influence of summer habit
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view as she tries to avoid insect harassment by seeking non-vegetated, coastal habitat within the Yukon coastal plain. This video was collected in collaboration with the Yukon Government as part of a study on the influence of summer habit
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view while consuming Eriophorum vaginatum (tussock cottongrass) heads within the coastal plain of the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view while consuming Eriophorum vaginatum (tussock cottongrass) heads within the coastal plain of the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Caribou in the Central Arctic Herd crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil field in northern Alaska.
Caribou in the Central Arctic Herd crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil field in northern Alaska.
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 16
A systematic review of the effects of climate variability and change on black and brown bear ecology and interactions with humans
Climate change poses a pervasive threat to humans and wildlife by altering resource availability, changing co-occurrences, and directly or indirectly influencing human-wildlife interactions. For many wildlife agencies in North America, managing bears (Ursus spp.) and human-bear interactions is a priority, yet the direct and indirect effects of climate change are exacerbating management challenges.AuthorsKatherine Anne Kurth, Kate Malpeli, Joseph D. Clark, Heather E. Johnson, Frank T. van ManenEffects of vehicle traffic on space use and road crossings of caribou in the Arctic
Assessing the effects of industrial development on wildlife is a key objective of managers and conservation practitioners. However, wildlife responses are often only investigated with respect to the footprint of infrastructure, even though human activity can strongly mediate development impacts. In Arctic Alaska, there is substantial interest in expanding energy development, raising concerns aboutAuthorsJohn P. Severson, Heather E. Johnson, Timothy C. VosburghPleistocene–Holocene vicariance, not Anthropocene landscape change, explains the genetic structure of American black bear (Ursus americanus) populations in the American Southwest and northern Mexico
The phylogeography of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) is characterized by isolation into glacial refugia, followed by population expansion and genetic admixture. Anthropogenic activities, including overharvest, habitat loss, and transportation infrastructure, have also influenced their landscape genetic structure. We describe the genetic structure of the American black bear in the AmeriAuthorsMatthew J. Gould, James W. Cain III, Todd C. Atwood, Larisa E. Harding, Heather E. Johnson, Dave P. Onorato, Frederic S. Winslow, Gary W. RoemerWildlife population dynamics
In this chapter we provide an overview of some core concepts, describe exponential growth as the basic foundation for understanding population dynamics, and discuss some of the factors that can affect wildlife population dynamics. We then show how management insights that can be gained from analyzing the dynamics of individual age or stage classes, examine dynamics of multiple populations across aAuthorsL. Scott Mills, Heather E. JohnsonSurvival and reproduction in Arctic caribou are associated with summer forage and insect harassment
Investigators have speculated that the climate-driven “greening of the Arctic” may benefit barren-ground caribou populations, but paradoxically many populations have declined in recent years. This pattern has raised concerns about the influence of summer habitat conditions on caribou demographic rates, and how populations may be impacted in the future. The short Arctic summer provides caribou withAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, Beth Lenart, Dave Gustine, Layne G. Adams, Perry BarbozaWhy are human-black bear conflicts increasing? Assessing the mechanisms driving conflicts in Durango, Colorado
No abstract available.AuthorsHeather E. JohnsonDynamic selection for forage quality and quantity in response to phenology and insects in an Arctic ungulate
Spatiotemporal variation in forage is a primary driver of ungulate behavior, yet little is known about the nutritional components they select, and how selection varies across the growing season with changes in forage quality and quantity. We addressed these uncertainties in barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus), which experience their most important foraging opportunities during the short ArctAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, Trevor Golden, Layne G. Adams, David Gustine, Elizabeth A. Lenart, Perry BarbozaSpring phenology drives range shifts in a migratory Arctic ungulate with key implications for the future
Annual variation in phenology can have profound effects on the behavior of animals. As climate change advances spring phenology in ecosystems around the globe, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how animals respond to variation in the timing of seasonal events and how their responses may shift in the future. We investigated the influence of spring phenology on the behavior of migrAuthorsJohn P. Severson, Heather E. Johnson, Stephen M. Arthur, William Leacock, Michael J. SuitorIndividual and population fitness consequences associated with large carnivore use of residential development
Large carnivores are negotiating increasingly developed landscapes, but little is known about how such behavioral plasticity influences their demographic rates and population trends. Some investigators have suggested that the ability of carnivores to behaviorally adapt to human development will enable their persistence, and yet, others have suggested that such landscapes are likely to serve as popAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, David Bruce Lewis, Stewart BreckCaribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
Increasing demands for energy have generated interest in expanding oil and gas production on the North Slope of Alaska, raising questions about the resilience of barren-ground caribou populations to new development. Although the amount of habitat lost directly to energy development in the Arctic will likely be relatively small, there are significant concerns about habitat that may be indirectly imAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, Trevor Golden, Layne G. Adams, David Gustine, Elizabeth A. LenartA collaborative approach to bridging the gap between wildlife managers and researchers
Although most wildlife professionals agree that science should inform wildlife management decisions, disconnect still exists between researchers and managers. If researchers are not striving to incorporate their findings into management decisions, support for research programs by managers can wane. If managers are not using research findings to inform management decisions, those decisions may be lAuthorsJerod Merkle, Neil J. Anderson, Danna L. Baxley, Matthew Chopp, Laura C. Gigliotti, Justin A. Gude, Tyler M. Harms, Heather E. Johnson, Evelyn H. Merrill, Michael S. Mitchell, Tony W. Mong, Jerry Nelson, Andrew S. Norton, Michael J. Sheriff, Eric Tomasik, Kelly R. VanBeekNDVI exhibits mixed success in predicting spatiotemporal variation in caribou summer forage quality and quantity
The satellite‐derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is commonly used by researchers and managers to represent ungulate forage conditions in landscapes across the globe, despite limited information about how it compares to empirical measurements of forage quality and quantity. The application of NDVI as a forage metric is particularly appealing for studying migratory caribou (RangifAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, David D. Gustine, Trevor S. Golden, Layne G. Adams, Lincoln S. Parrett, Elizabeth A. Lenart, Perry S. BarbozaNon-USGS Publications**
Kirby, R., H.E. Johnson, M.W. Alldredge, and J.N. Pauli. 2019. The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Scientific Reports 9:2197. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5.Lischka, S. A., T. L. Teel, H. E. Johnson, K. R. Crooks. 2019. Understanding and managing human tolerance for a large carnivore in a residential system. Biological Conservation 238. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.07.034.Wilbur, R. C., S. A. Lischka, J. R. Young, and H. E. Johnson. 2018. Experience, attitudes, and demographic factors influence the probability of reporting human-black bear interactions. Wildlife Society Bulletin 42(1):22-31. doi:10.1002/wsb.854.Lukacs, P. M., M. S. Mitchell, M. Hebblewhite, B. K. Johnson, H. E. Johnson, M. Kauffman, K. M. Proffitt, P. Zager, J. Brodie, K. Hersey, A. Holland, M. Hurley, S. McCorquodale, A. Middleton, J. Nowak, D. P. Walsh, and P. J. White. 2018. Factors influencing elk recruitment across ecotypes in the western United States. Journal of Wildlife Management 82(4):698-710. doi:10.1002/jwmg.21438 https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21438.
Johnson, H. E., D. L. Lewis, S. A. Lischka, and S. W. Breck. 2018. Assessing ecological and social outcomes of a bear-proofing experiment. Journal of Wildlife Management 82(6):1102-1114. doi:10.1002/jwmg.21472.Laufenburg, J. S., H. E. Johnson, P. F. Doherty, Jr, and S. W. Breck. 2018. Compounding effects of human development and a natural food shortage on a black bear population along a human development-wildland interface. Biological Conservation 224:188-198. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.05.004.Lischka, S. A., T. L. Teel, H. E. Johnson, S. E. Reed, S. W. Breck, A. W. Don Carlos, and K. R. Crooks. 2018. A conceptual model for the integration of social and ecological information to understand human-wildlife interactions. Biological Conservation 225:80-87. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.020.Johnson, H. E., D. L. Lewis, T. L. Verzuh, C. F. Wallace, R. M. Much, L. K. Willmarth, and S. W. Breck. 2017. Human development and climate affect hibernation in a large carnivore with implications for human-carnivore conflicts. Journal of Applied Ecology 55(2):663-672. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13021.Johnson, H. E., J. R. Sushinsky, A. Holland, E. J. Bergman, T. Balzer, J. Garner, and S. E. Reed. 2016. Increases in residential and energy development are associated with reductions in recruitment for a large ungulate. Global Change Biology 23(2):578-591. doi:10.1111/gcb.13385.Wolfe, L. L., H. E. Johnson, M. C. Fisher, W. R. Lance, D. K. Smith, and M. W. Miller. 2016. Chemical immobilization in American black bears using a combination of nalbuphine, medetomidine, and azaperone. Ursus 27(1):1-4. doi:10.2192/URSUS-D-15-00018.1.Johnson, H. E., S. W. Breck, S. Baruch-Mordo, D. L. Lewis, C. W. Lackey, K. R. Wilson, J. Broderick, J. S. Mao, and J. P. Beckmann. 2015. Shifting perceptions of risk and reward: dynamic selection for human development by black bears in the western United States. Biological Conservation 187:164-172. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.04.014.Wolfe, L. L., H. E. Johnson, M. C. Fisher, M. A. Sirochman, B. Kraft, and M. W. Miller. 2014. Evaluation of an acepromazine and medetomidine combination (AcMe) for immobilization of Rocky Mountain elk and black bears. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50(4):979-981. doi:10.7589/2014-02-052.Johnson, H. E., J. W. Fischer, M. Hammond, P. D. Dorsey, W. D. Walter, C. Anderson, and K. C. VerCauteren. 2014. Evaluation of techniques to reduce deer and elk damage to agricultural resources. Wildlife Society Bulletin 38(2):358-365. doi: 10.1002/wsb.408.Brodie, J., H. E. Johnson, M. Mitchell, P. Zager, K. M. Proffitt, M. Hebblewhite, M. Kauffman, B. A. Johnson, J. A. Bissonette, C. Bishop, J. Gude, K. Hersey, M. Hurley, P. M. Lukacs, S. McCorquodale, E. McIntire, J. Nowak, H. Sawyer, D. K. Smith, and P. J. White. 2013. Relative influence of human harvest, carnivores, and weather on adult female elk survival across western North America. Journal of Applied Ecology 50(2):295-305. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12044.Johnson, H. E., M. Hebblewhite, T. R. Stephenson, D. W. German, B. M. Pierce, and V. C. Bleich. 2013. Evaluating apparent competition in limiting the recovery of an endangered ungulate. Oecologia 171(1):295-307. doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2397-6.Johnson, H. E., L. S. Mills, J. D. Wehausen, T. R. Stephenson, and G. Luikart. 2011. Translating effects of inbreeding depression on component vital rates to overall population growth in endangered bighorn sheep. Conservation Biology 25(6):1240-1249. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01739.x.Cahn, M. L., M. M. Conner, O. J. Schmitz, T. R. Stephenson, J. D. Wehausen, and H. E. Johnson. 2011. Disease, population viability, and recovery of endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management 75(8):1753-1766. doi:10.1002/jwmg.232.Johnson, H. E., L. S. Mills, T. R. Stephenson, and J. D. Wehausen. 2010. Population-specific vital rate contributions influence management of an endangered ungulate. Ecological Applications 20(6):1753-765. doi:10.1890/09-1107.1.Johnson, H. E., L. S. Mills, J. D. Wehausen, and T. R. Stephenson. 2010. Combining ground count, telemetry, and mark–resight data to infer population dynamics in an endangered species. Journal of Applied Ecology 47(5):1083-1093. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01846.x.Bleich, V. C., H. E. Johnson, S. A. Holl, L. Konde, S. G. Torres, and P. R. Krausman. 2008. Fire history in a chaparral ecosystem: implications for conservation of a native ungulate. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61(6):571-579. doi:10.2111/07-016.1.Johnson, H. E., V. C. Bleich, P. R. Krausman, and J. L. Koprowski. 2007. Effects of antler breakage on mating behavior in male tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes). European Journal of Wildlife Research 53(1):9-15. doi:10.1007/s10344-006-0060-4.Johnson, H. E., V. C. Bleich, and P. R. Krausman. 2005. Antler breakage in tule elk, Owens Valley. Journal of Wildlife Management 69(4):1747-1752. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2005)69[1747:ABITEO]2.0.CO;2.Cain, J. W., III, H. E. Johnson, and P. R. Krausman. 2005. Wildfire and desert bighorn sheep habitat. Southwestern Naturalist 50(4):506-513. doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2005)050[0506:WADBSH]2.0.CO;2.Johnson, H. E., S. A. Lischka, J. Broderick, J. Apker, S. W. Breck, J. P. Beckmann, K. R. Wilson, and P. D. Dorsey. 2016. Black bear exploitation of urban environments: finding management solutions and assessing regional population effects. Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife Federal Aid Project No. W-204-R4, 21 p.Johnson, H. E., P. D. Dorsey, M. Hammond, C. M. Bishop, K. C. VerCauteren, and C. Anderson, and D. Walter. 2013. Evaluating solutions to reduce elk and deer damage on agricultural resources. Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Federal Aid Wildlife Research Report.Mills, L. S. and H. E. Johnson. 2013. Wildlife population dynamics. Pages 84-111 in P. R. Krausman, and J. W. Cain III, editors. Wildlife management and conservation: contemporary principles and practices. Johns Hopkins University Press.Johnson, H. E. 2010. Escaping the extinction vortex: identifying factors affecting population performance and recovery in endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Dissertation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 243 p.Johnson, H. E. 2006. Effects of translocations on Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep population viability. California Department of Fish and Game Technical Report, Bishop, CA.Johnson, H. E., V. C. Bleich, and T. R. Stephenson. 2005. Habitat selection by mountain sheep and mule deer: understanding ecosystem health from the desert to the alpine. California Dept. of Fish and Game, University of California Davis Wildlife Health Center Resource Assessment Program. Final Report.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- Science
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.Terrestrial Mammal Ecology Research
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.The Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Human-Bear Interactions in North America
Negative human-bear interactions are a common problem and management priority for many wildlife agencies in North America. Bears are adaptable to anthropogenic activity and food sources which creates opportunities for conflict with humans, including property damage, livestock depredation, and in severe cases, human injury. Acute climate events and long-term directional climate change can exacerbat - Data
Hourly Vehicle Traffic Data Associated with Industrial Activity on the North Slope of Alaska During Summers 2019-2020
This dataset contains hourly vehicle traffic counts in the Kuparuk and Milne Point oil fields on the North Slope of Alaska during summers 2019 and 2020. The oil field roads were generally closed to the public during the study period, so traffic was primarily associated with industrial activities. Data were collected using TRAFx vehicle traffic counters (TRAFx Research Ltd, Canmore, Alberta, CanadaGenetic structure of American black bear populations in the American Southwest and northern Mexico, 1994-2014
Microsatellite genotypes for American black bears collected by Gould et al. 2002 and used to assess the genetic structure of American black bear populations in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Genotypes are for Ursus americanus individuals.Predicted Calving and Post-calving Season Resource Use of the Porcupine Caribou Herd During 2012-2018 With Future Projections for the 2030s, 2040s, and 2050s
This dataset contains rasters and polygon shapefiles related to predicted resource use of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (PCH) during the calving (26 May-10 June) and post-calving (11-30 June) seasons in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Resource selection was analyzed for each season using random forest models, which compared female caribou GPS collar locations (2012-2018) to available locations within - Multimedia
Arctic sweet coltsfoot
The dominant plant in the photo is Arctic sweet coltsfoot (Petasides frigidus), a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou during the summer in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The dominant plant in the photo is Arctic sweet coltsfoot (Petasides frigidus), a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou during the summer in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Netleaf willowSummer photo of Salix reticulata in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. The bright red bulbs on the right leaf are not berries, but galls, likely caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.
Summer photo of Salix reticulata in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. The bright red bulbs on the right leaf are not berries, but galls, likely caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.
Diamond-leaf willowSummer photo of diamond-leaf willow (Salix pulchra) in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou.
Summer photo of diamond-leaf willow (Salix pulchra) in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou.
Influence of Road Traffic Volume on Central Arctic Caribou Herd, AlaskaInfluence of Road Traffic Volume on Central Arctic Caribou Herd, AlaskaThis is a graphical abstract for the publication by Severson et al. (2023) that investigated the influence of vehicle traffic in Northern Alaska oil fields on summer space use and road crossings of female caribou in the Central Arctic Herd.
This is a graphical abstract for the publication by Severson et al. (2023) that investigated the influence of vehicle traffic in Northern Alaska oil fields on summer space use and road crossings of female caribou in the Central Arctic Herd.
Heather Johnson speaks to Brown University Environmental Leadership Lab StudentsHeather Johnson speaks to Brown University Environmental Leadership Lab StudentsStaff from the USGS Alaska Science Center and Volcano Science Center met with a group of high school students on August 3, 2022, in Anchorage who are participating in the 2022 Brown Environmental Leadership Lab. The students traveled throughout southcentral Alaska with a team of instructors to learn ab
Staff from the USGS Alaska Science Center and Volcano Science Center met with a group of high school students on August 3, 2022, in Anchorage who are participating in the 2022 Brown Environmental Leadership Lab. The students traveled throughout southcentral Alaska with a team of instructors to learn ab
Caribou walking along coastal habitatAdult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view as she tries to avoid insect harassment by seeking non-vegetated, coastal habitat within the Yukon coastal plain. This video was collected in collaboration with the Yukon Government as part of a study on the influence of summer habit
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view as she tries to avoid insect harassment by seeking non-vegetated, coastal habitat within the Yukon coastal plain. This video was collected in collaboration with the Yukon Government as part of a study on the influence of summer habit
Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife BiologistClimate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife BiologistClimate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife BiologistUSGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife Biologist (AD)Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife Biologist (AD)Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Heather Johnson, Research Wildlife Biologist (AD)USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
USGS Wildlife Research Biologist Heather Johnson uses collar-mounted video cameras to peer into the lives of climate-threatened caribou.
Caribou eating tussock cottongrass headsAdult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view while consuming Eriophorum vaginatum (tussock cottongrass) heads within the coastal plain of the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Adult female caribou in the Porcupine herd equipped with a GPS-enabled video camera collar that shows the caribou’s point-of-view while consuming Eriophorum vaginatum (tussock cottongrass) heads within the coastal plain of the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Numerous caribou crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil fieldNumerous caribou crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil fieldCaribou in the Central Arctic Herd crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil field in northern Alaska.
Caribou in the Central Arctic Herd crossing a road in the Kuparuk oil field in northern Alaska.
*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