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
Stock structure of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska
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
Age- and sex-specific mortality and population structure in sea otters
Sea otters past and present perspectives
Life history plasticity and population regulation in sea otters
An aerial survey method to estimate sea otter abundance
Fluctuating asymmetry and genetic diversity in sea otters (Enhydra lutris)
Intertidal clam diversity, size, abundance, and biomass in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, 1999 Annual Report
Population demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 136
Stock structure of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska
Sea otters in Alaska are recognized as a single subspecies (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and currently managed as a single, interbreeding population. However, geographic and behavioral mechanisms undoubrably constrain sea otter movements on much smaller scales. This paper applies the phylogeographic method (Dizon et al. 1992) and considers distribution, population response, phenotype and genotype dataAuthorsC.S. Gorbics, James L. BodkinMarine 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. JungAge- and sex-specific mortality and population structure in sea otters
We used 742 beach-cast carcasses to characterize age- and sex-specific sea otter mortality during the winter of 1990-1991 at Bering Island, Russia. We also examined 363 carcasses recovered after the 1989 grounding of the T/V Exxon Valdez, to characterize age and sex composition in the living western Prince William Sound (WPWS) sea otter population. At Bering Island, mortality was male-biased (81%)AuthorsJames L. Bodkin, A.M. Burdin, D.A. RyazanovSea otters past and present perspectives
Sea otters have been an important resource for people living along the North Pacific coast for thousands of years. At least two aspects of the sea otters' natural history have linked them with humans: their pelt and their food habits. Sea otter pelts, arguably the finest in the animal kingdom, were fashioned into garments, particularly in northern latitudes, while the presence of sea otters influeAuthorsJames L. BodkinLife history plasticity and population regulation in sea otters
We contrasted body condition, and age-specific reproduction and mortality between a growing population of sea otters (Enhydralutris) at Kodiak Island and a high-density near-equilibrium population at Amchitka Island, Alaska. We obtained data from marked individuals, population surveys, and collections of beach-cast carcasses. Mass:length ratios indicated that females (but not males) captured in 19AuthorsDaniel H. Monson, James A. Estes, James L. Bodkin, Donald B. SiniffAn aerial survey method to estimate sea otter abundance
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) occur in shallow coastal habitats and can be highly visible on the sea surface. They generally rest in groups and their detection depends on factors that include sea conditions, viewing platform, observer technique and skill, distance, habitat and group size. While visible on the surface, they are difficult to see while diving and may dive in response to an approachingAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Mark S. UdevitzFluctuating asymmetry and genetic diversity in sea otters (Enhydra lutris)
No abstract available.AuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, A. BurdinIntertidal clam diversity, size, abundance, and biomass in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, 1999 Annual Report
No abstract available.AuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. KloeckerPopulation demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters
The effects of small population size on genetic diversity and subsequent population recovery are theoretically predicted, but few empirical data are available to describe those relations. We use data from four remnant and three translocated sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) populations to examine relations among magnitude and duration of minimum population size, population growth rates, and genetic variAuthorsJames L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, M. A. Cronin, K.T. Scribner - 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