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
Benefits and costs of increased levels of corticosterone in seabird chicks
Seabird, fisheries, marine mammal, and oceanographic investigations around Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak Islands, August 1996 (SMMOCI 96-3)
Ecology of selected marine communities in Glacier Bay: Zooplankton, forage fish, seabirds and marine mammals
Protocols for long-term monitoring of seabird ecology in the Gulf of Alaska
Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)
Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata)
Response of seabirds to fluctuations in forage fish density
A near-surface, daytime occurrence of two mesopelagic fish species (Stenobrachius leucopsarus and Leuroglossus schmidti) in a glacial fjord
Response of pigeon guillemots to variable abundance of high-lipid and low-lipid prey
Reduction of provisioning effort in response to experimental manipulation of chick nutritional status in the Horned Puffin
Growth and abundance of Pacific Sand Lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes
Effects of food stress on survival and reproductive performance of seabirds
Science and Products
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Benefits and costs of increased levels of corticosterone in seabird chicks
Seabird chicks respond to food shortages by increasing corticosterone (cort) secretion, which is probably associated with fitness benefits and costs. To examine this, we experimentally increased levels of circulating cort in captive black-legged kittiwake chicks fed ad libitum. We found that cort-implanted chicks begged more frequently and were more aggressive compared to controls. These behavioraAuthorsA.S. Kitaysky, E.V. Kitaiskaia, John F. Piatt, J.C. WingfieldSeabird, fisheries, marine mammal, and oceanographic investigations around Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak Islands, August 1996 (SMMOCI 96-3)
Although islands in the Aleutians are known to support some of the highest densities of seabirds in the world, their remoteness has limited systematic research on the at-sea distribution of seabirds near these colonies. Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak islands, in the central Aleutian Islands, together comprise one of nine ecological sites monitored once every 5 years on an annual rotation since 1996AuthorsGary S. Drew, John F. Piatt, G. Vernon Byrd, Donald E. DragooEcology of selected marine communities in Glacier Bay: Zooplankton, forage fish, seabirds and marine mammals
We studied oceanography (including primary production), secondary production, small schooling fish (SSF), and marine bird and mammal predators in Glacier Bay during 1999 and 2000. Results from these field efforts were combined with a review of current literature relating to the Glacier Bay environment. Since the conceptual model developed by Hale and Wright (1979) ‘changes and cycles’ continue toAuthorsMartin D. Robards, Gary S. Drew, John F. Piatt, Jennifer Marie Anson, Alisa A. Abookire, James L. Bodkin, Philip N. Hooge, Suzann G. SpeckmanProtocols for long-term monitoring of seabird ecology in the Gulf of Alaska
Seabird populations will need to be monitored for many years to assess both recovery and ecological conditions affecting recovery. Detailed studies of individual seabird colonies and marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Alaska have been conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the auspices of damage assessment and restoration programs of the Trustee Council. MuAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, G. Vernon Byrd, Ann M.A. Harding, Arthur B. Kettle, Sasha Kitaysky, Michael A. Litzow, David G. Roseneau, Michael T. Shultz, Thomas I. van PeltTufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)
No abstract availableAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, Alexander S. KitayskyHorned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata)
No abstract availableAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, Alexander S. KitayskyResponse of seabirds to fluctuations in forage fish density
Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS), one concern was that prevailing ecological conditions in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) would not favor recovery of damaged seabird populations. To address this issue, we examined relationships between oceanography, forage fish and seabirds near three seabird colonies in lower Cook Inlet (LCI) in 1995-1999 (some colony work continued until 2001). Upwelling ofA near-surface, daytime occurrence of two mesopelagic fish species (Stenobrachius leucopsarus and Leuroglossus schmidti) in a glacial fjord
The northern lampfish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus, family Myctophidae) and northern smoothtongue (Leuroglossus schmidti, family Bathylagidae) are mesopelagic fishes, defined by their vertical distribution in the mesopelagic zone (200–1000 m) during daylight hours. Northern lampfish range from the Bering Sea to southern California (Shimada, 1948), where their abundance is highest along the continentAuthorsAlisa A. Abookire, John F. Piatt, Suzann G. SpeckmanResponse of pigeon guillemots to variable abundance of high-lipid and low-lipid prey
Populations of the pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) and other piscivores have been in decline for several decades in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, and a decline in abundance of lipid-rich schooling fishes is hypothesized as the major cause. We tested this hypothesis by studying the breeding biology of pigeon guillemots during 1995-1999 while simultaneously measuring prey abundance with beacAuthorsMichael A. Litzow, John F. Piatt, A.K. Prichard, D.D. RobyReduction of provisioning effort in response to experimental manipulation of chick nutritional status in the Horned Puffin
Using a supplemental feeding experiment, we investigated the ability of adult Horned Puffins to decrease provisioning effort in response to reduced nutritional requirements of chicks. We found no difference between experimental and control groups in parental provisioning before supplementary feeding was initiated. After receiving supplemental food for seven days, experimental chicks grew faster, gAuthorsA.M.A. Harding, Thomas I. van Pelt, John F. Piatt, A.S. KitayskyGrowth and abundance of Pacific Sand Lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes
Dramatic changes in seabird and marine mammal stocks in the Gulf of Alaska have been linked to shifts in abundance and composition of forage fish stocks over the past 20 years. The relative value (e.g., size and condition of individual fish, abundance) of specific forage fish stocks to predators under temporally changing oceanographic regimes is also expected to vary. We inferred potential temporaAuthorsMartin D. Robards, Floyd Gray, John F. PiattEffects of food stress on survival and reproductive performance of seabirds
Traditional field methods of assessing effects of fluctuations in food supply on the survival and reproductive performance of seabirds may give equivocal results. In this project we applied an additional tool: The measure of stress hormones in free-ranging seabirds. Food stress can be quantified by measuring base levels of stress hormones such as corticosterone in the blood of seabirds, or the risAuthorsJohn F. Piatt, Sasha Kitaysky - News
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