John Piatt, Ph.D.
Seabirds, marine food webs and impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
My research has been conducted mostly in the north Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with a focus on studies of seabird biology at colonies and ecological factors that influence seabird populations and distribution at sea. Research topics also include feeding ecology of seabirds (especially Auks), forage fish (such as capelin and sand lance), groundfish, marine mammals, food webs, oceanography, marine ecosystems; and threats to seabirds from climate change, heatwaves, overfishing, net bycatch, and oil spills.
Professional Experience
1987-Present Sr Scientist, USGS Alaska Science Center, AK
1982-1987 Res. Assoc., Nfld. Inst. for Cold Ocean Sci., MUN, NL
1978-1981 Fish. Obs./Wildl. Biol., DFO Canada/MacLaren Marex, NL
1974-1977 Res. Asst., Chemistry & Biochemistry Departments, MUN, NL
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1987 Marine Biology, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland (MUN), Canada
B.Sc. (Honours) 1977 Biochemistry, MUN, Canada
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member (2021): Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Am. Ornith. Soc., Pac. Seabird Grp., Am. Fish. Soc.
Editorial, Boards, Panels and Offices
Editor, Marine Ecology Progress Series (2007-2021)
Assoc. Editor, The Auk (2006-2013)
Chairman (1993-1994), Pacific Seabird Group (Research and Conservation)
Board or Science Panel service to North Pacific Research Board (2004-2011), Sound Experience (2014-2018), CA Fish & Game Commission (2003-2006), NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (2000-2002)
Board or Science Panel service to Steller Sea Lion Recovery Team Advisory Panel (1999-2001), Cook Inlet Keepers (1996-2003), Alaska Sea Life Center (1995-1999)
Affiliate Professor – U. Washington (UW, 2004-2020); Oregon State U. (OSU, 2011-2015), MUN (1992-1996)
Visiting Scholar – UW (1997-1998)
Invited Scholar - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Norway (1991)
Supervisor for 3 PhD, 13 MSc students at 9 univ. in the UK (Glasgow, Durham), Canada (MUN, U.Vic), & the U.S. (UW, U.Alaska, UCSC, OSU)
Ext. examiner for 6 PhD. & 2 MSc theses (CAN, US, AUS)
Honors and Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Pacific Seabird Group
US DOI, Secretary, Award for Exceptional Service (1990)
US DOI, Secretary, Award for Extraordinary Contributions (2011)
USGS, Director, Certificate of Appreciation (2011)
USGS, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions (2006)
USGS, Special Act Service Award (1997)
USFS, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service (1997)
USGS Quality (Step) Awards (2) for Exceptional Performance
USGS/NBS/FWS Performance/Star Awards (24 during 1987-2020) for Outstanding Achievement
USFWS, Regional Director, Special Action Award (1990)
Science and Products
At-sea observations of marine birds and their habitats before and after the 2008 eruption of Kasatochi volcano, Alaska
Unifying quantitative life-history theory and field endocrinology to assess prudent parenthood in a long-lived seabird
Timing of breeding and reproductive performance in murres and kittiwakes reflect mismatched seasonal prey dynamics
Murres, capelin and ocean climate: Inter-annual associations across a decadal shift
Distribution and spawning dynamics of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in Glacier Bay, Alaska: A cold water refugium
Population genetic structure in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean common murres (Uria aalge): Natural replicate tests of post-Pleistocene evolution
Seasonal and distributional patterns of seabirds along the Aleutian Archipelago
Proceedings of the Fourth Glacier Bay Science Symposium
Status review of the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in Alaska and British Columbia
Seabirds as indicators of marine food supplies: Cairns revisited
Seabird behavior as an indicator of food supplies: Sensitivity across the breeding season
Seabirds as indicators of marine ecosystems: Introduction: A modern role for seabirds as indicators
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 198
At-sea observations of marine birds and their habitats before and after the 2008 eruption of Kasatochi volcano, Alaska
Kasatochi volcano, an island volcano in the Aleutian chain, erupted on 7-8 August 2008. The resulting ash and pyroclastic flows blanketed the island, covering terrestrial habitats. We surveyed the marine environment surrounding Kasatochi Island in June and July of 2009 to document changes in abundance or distribution of nutrients, fish, and marine birds near the island when compared to patterns obAuthorsG.S. Drew, Donald E. Dragoo, M. Renner, John F. PiattUnifying quantitative life-history theory and field endocrinology to assess prudent parenthood in a long-lived seabird
Question: Can field measurements of stress hormones help us to assess the prudent parent hypothesis in a long-lived seabird?Organism: Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla.Location: Duck and Gull Islands, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA.Methods: We examined the statistical relationship between the stress hormone corticosterone and mortality in black-legged kittiwakes. We built a demographic model of thAuthorsW.H. Satterthwaite, A.S. Kitaysky, Scott A. Hatch, John F. Piatt, M. MangelTiming of breeding and reproductive performance in murres and kittiwakes reflect mismatched seasonal prey dynamics
Seabirds are thought to time breeding to match the seasonal peak of food availability with peak chick energetic demands, but warming ocean temperatures have altered the timing of spring events, creating the potential for mismatches. The resilience of seabird populations to climate change depends on their ability to anticipate changes in the timing and magnitude of peak food availability and 'fine-AuthorsM.T. Shultz, John F. Piatt, A.M.A. Harding, Arthur B. Kettle, Thomas I. van PeltMurres, capelin and ocean climate: Inter-annual associations across a decadal shift
To ensure energy demands for reproduction are met, it is essential that marine birds breed during periods of peak food availability. We examined associations of the breeding chronology of common murres (Uria aalge) with the timing of the inshore arrival of their primary prey, capelin (Mallotus villosus) from 1980 to 2006 across a period of pervasive change in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem. We aAuthorsP.M. Regular, F. Shuhood, T. Power, W.A. Montevecchi, G.J. Robertson, D. Ballam, John F. Piatt, B. NakashimaDistribution and spawning dynamics of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in Glacier Bay, Alaska: A cold water refugium
Pacific capelin (Mallotus villosus) populations declined dramatically in the Northeastern Pacific following ocean warming after the regime shift of 1977, but little is known about the cause of the decline or the functional relationships between capelin and their environment. We assessed the distribution and abundance of spawning, non-spawning adult and larval capelin in Glacier Bay, an estuarine fAuthorsMayumi L. Arimitsu, John F. Piatt, Michael A. Litzow, Alisa A. Abookire, Marc D. Romano, Martin D. RobardsPopulation genetic structure in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean common murres (Uria aalge): Natural replicate tests of post-Pleistocene evolution
Understanding the factors that influence population differentiation in temperate taxa can be difficult because the signatures of both historic and contemporary demographics are often reflected in population genetic patterns. Fortunately, analyses based on coalescent theory can help untangle the relative influence of these historic and contemporary factors. Common murres (Uria aalge) are vagile seaAuthorsJ. A. Morris-Pocock, S.A. Taylor, T.P. Birt, M. Damus, John F. Piatt, K.I. Warheit, Vicki L. FriesenSeasonal and distributional patterns of seabirds along the Aleutian Archipelago
The Aleutian Archipelago is of global importance to seabirds during the northern summer, but little is known about seabird use of these waters during winter. We compare summer and winter abundances of seabirds around 3 islands: Buldir in the western, Kasatochi in the central, and Aiktak in the eastern Aleutians. The density of combined seabird biomass in nearshore marine waters was higher in summeAuthorsM. Renner, G.L. Hunt, John F. Piatt, G.V. ByrdProceedings of the Fourth Glacier Bay Science Symposium
Foreword Glacier Bay was established as a National Monument in 1925, in part to protect its unique character and natural beauty, but also to create a natural laboratory to examine evolution of the glacial landscape. Today, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is still a place of profound natural beauty and dynamic landscapes. It also remains a focal point for scientific research and includes conAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, Scott M. GendeStatus review of the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in Alaska and British Columbia
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a small, diving seabird inhabiting inshore waters of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. This species feeds on small, schooling fishes and zooplankton, and nests primarily on the moss-covered branches of large, old-growth conifers, and also, in some parts of its range, on the ground. We reviewed existing information on this species to evaluate its curAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, K.J. Kuletz, A.E. Burger, Scott A. Hatch, Vicki L. Friesen, T.P. Birt, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, G.S. Drew, A.M.A. Harding, K.S. BixlerSeabirds as indicators of marine food supplies: Cairns revisited
In his seminal paper about using seabirds as indicators of marine food supplies, Cairns (1987, Biol Oceanogr 5:261–271) predicted that (1) parameters of seabird biology and behavior would vary in curvilinear fashion with changes in food supply, (2) the threshold of prey density over which birds responded would be different for each parameter, and (3) different seabird species would respond differeAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, Ann M.A. Harding, Michael T. Shultz, Suzann G. Speckman, Thomas I. van Pelt, Gary S. Drew, Arthur B. KettleSeabird behavior as an indicator of food supplies: Sensitivity across the breeding season
We used empirical data on the time allocation of common murres Uria aalge in relation to measures of local prey density to examine whether adults provisioning chicks are more sensitive to changes in prey density than birds that are incubating eggs. We hypothesized that seasonal differences in food requirements of incubating and chick-rearing parents would affect the form of the relationship betweeAuthorsA.M.A. Harding, John F. Piatt, Joel A. SchmutzSeabirds as indicators of marine ecosystems: Introduction: A modern role for seabirds as indicators
A key requirement for implementing ecosystem-based management is to obtain timely information on significant fluctuations in the ecosystem (Botsford et al. 1997). However, obtaining all necessary information about physical and biological changes at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is a daunting task. Intuitively, one might assume that physical data are more important for the interpretationAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, William J. Sydeman, Francis Wiese - 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