James L Bodkin
Population biology and ecology of marine mammals, population estimation, predator/prey relations, carnivora, coastal marine ecology, marine conservation.
Professional Experience
2013 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist Emeritus, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1990 - 2013 Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1989 - 1990 Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Koyukuk Wildlife Refuge, Galena, AK
1986 - 1989 Fish and Wildlife Biologist, National Ecology Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Education and Certifications
M.S. 1986 California Polytechnical University, San Luis Obispo, CA Biology
B.S. 1975 California State University, Long Beach, CA Wildlife Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Conservation Biology
American Society of Mammalogy
Society for Marine Mammalogy
The Wildlife Society
Science and Products
Long-term monitoring program: Evaluating chronic exposure of harlequin ducks and sea otters to lingering Exxon Valdez Oil in Western Prince William Sound
Variability within nearshore ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska
Pacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) abundance in the Gulf of Alaska: Synthesis of Gulf Watch data (2006-2013) and a consideration of major recruitment events (1989-2013)
The interaction of intraspecific competition and habitat on individual diet specialization: a near range-wide examination of sea otters
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project final report: Monitoring for evaluation of recovery and restoration of injured nearshore resources
Timelines and mechanisms of wildlife population recovery following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Historic and Contemporary Status of Sea Otters in the North Pacific
The conservation of sea otters: a prelude
Challenges to sea otter recovery and conservation
Temporal patterns in the foraging behavior of sea otters in Alaska
The effects of spilled oil on coastal ecosystems: Lessons from the Exxon Valdez spill
Lessons from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: A biological perspective
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 136
Long-term monitoring program: Evaluating chronic exposure of harlequin ducks and sea otters to lingering Exxon Valdez Oil in Western Prince William Sound
We found that average cytochrome P4501A induction (as measured by EROD activity) during March 2014 was not elevated in wintering harlequin ducks captured in areas of Prince William Sound oiled by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, relative to those captured in unoiled areas. This result is consistent with findings from March 2013. We interpret these findings to indicate that exposure of harlequin duAuthorsDaniel Esler, Lizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Brenda E. Ballachey, James L. BodkinVariability within nearshore ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska
Nearshore marine habitats, which represent the interface among air, land and sea, form a critical component of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) ecosystem. As an interface, the nearshore facilitates transfer of water, nutrients and biota between terrestrial and oceanic systems, creating zones of high productivity. The nearshore provides a variety of ecosystem services, including (1) nursery grounds for a wAuthorsBrenda E. Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, Heather A. Coletti, Thomas A Dean, Daniel Esler, George G. Esslinger, Katrin Iken, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Brenda Konar, Mandy Lindeberg, Daniel Monson, Marnie Shepherd, Ben P. WeitzmanPacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) abundance in the Gulf of Alaska: Synthesis of Gulf Watch data (2006-2013) and a consideration of major recruitment events (1989-2013)
Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus) are abundant and wide-spread primary consumers in the intertidal zone throughout the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). As a component of the Gulf Watch Alaska monitoring program, they represent a key member of intertidal communities and an important prey resource to a number of nearshore vertebrate predators. Our goal is to understand variation in abundance of M. trossAuthorsDaniel H. Monson, Thomas Dean, M.R. Lindeberg, James L. Bodkin, Heather A. Coletti, Daniel Esler, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Ben P. Weitzman, Brenda E. BallacheyThe interaction of intraspecific competition and habitat on individual diet specialization: a near range-wide examination of sea otters
The quantification of individuality is a common research theme in the fields of population, community, and evolutionary ecology. The potential for individuality to arise is likely context-dependent, and the influence of habitat characteristics on its prevalence has received less attention than intraspecific competition. We examined individual diet specialization in 16 sea otter (Enhydra lutris) poAuthorsSeth D. Newsome, M. Tim Tinker, Verena A. Gill, Zachary N. Hoyt, Angela M. Doroff, Linda Nichol, James L. BodkinExxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project final report: Monitoring for evaluation of recovery and restoration of injured nearshore resources
In 2012, we completed three consecutive years of full field sampling in WPWS for EVOS Restoration Project 10100750. Nearshore monitoring was conducted in collaboration with the NPS SWAN I&M program and, beginning in 2012, as part of the EVOSTC GWA program. Data collection was done in accordance with standard operating procedures set forth to monitor marine water chemistry and quality, marine interAuthorsBrenda E. Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Tom Dean, Heather A CollettiTimelines and mechanisms of wildlife population recovery following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
In March 1989, the T/V Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska and spilled an estimated 42 million liters of crude oil (Wolfe et al. 1994). This oil subsequently spread over more than 26,000 km2 of water surface in PWS and the Gulf of Alaska and landed on more than 1000 km of shoreline (Spies et al. 1996, Short et al. 2004; see Fig. 1 in Esler et al., this report). Initial cAuthorsDaniel Esler, James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Daniel Monson, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. EsslingerHistoric and Contemporary Status of Sea Otters in the North Pacific
Similar to other species that in recent centuries experienced unregulated human exploitation, sea otters were extirpated throughout large portions of their historic range in the North Pacific. For most of the twentieth century, with cessation of the fur trade and because of concerted efforts at conservation, sea otters recovered much of their historic range and abundance. Late in the twentieth cenAuthorsJames L. BodkinThe conservation of sea otters: a prelude
The story of sea otters over the past 275 years chronicles their decline to near extinction and the roads to recovery that cross various conflicts, and in the end provides lessons that will aid the conservation of other threatened species and compromised ecosystems. Sea otters inspire strong human emotions ranging from adoration to disdain. They are protected internationally, federally, and at staAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Shawn E. LarsonChallenges to sea otter recovery and conservation
Similar to other species that in recent centuries experienced unregulated human exploitation, sea otters were extirpated throughout large portions of their historic range in the North Pacific. For most of the twentieth century, with cessation of the fur trade and because of concerted efforts at conservation, sea otters recovered much of their historic range and abundance. Late in the twentieth cenAuthorsBrenda E. Ballachey, James L. BodkinTemporal patterns in the foraging behavior of sea otters in Alaska
Activity time budgets in apex predators have been proposed as indicators of population status relative to resource limitation or carrying capacity. We used archival time-depth recorders implanted in 15 adult female and 4 male sea otters (Enhydra lutris) from the northernmost population of the species, Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA, to examine temporal patterns in their foraging behavior. Sea oAuthorsGeorge G. Esslinger, James L. Bodkin, André R. Breton, Jennifer M. Burns, Daniel H. MonsonThe effects of spilled oil on coastal ecosystems: Lessons from the Exxon Valdez spill
Oil spilled from ships or other sources into the marine environment often occurs in close proximity to coastlines, and oil frequently accumulates in coastal habitats. As a consequence, a rich, albeit occasionally controversial, body of literature describes a broad range of effects of spilled oil across several habitats, communities, and species in coastal environments. This statement is not to impAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Daniel Esler, Stanley D. Rice, Craig O. Matkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Brooke Maslo, Julie L. LockwoodLessons from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: A biological perspective
On March 24, 1989, the tanker vessel Exxon Valdez altered its course to avoid floating ice, and ran aground on Bligh Reef in northeastern Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska (Figure 1). The tanker was carrying about 53 million gallons of Prudhoe Bay crude, a heavy oil, and an estimated 11 million gallons spilled (264,000 barrels or about 42 million liters) in what was, prior to the Deepwater HorizoAuthorsBrenda E. Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, Daniel Esler, Stanley D. Rice - 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