Comparison of the body area of walruses in human care in two positions (head up and flat) used for estimating body mass.
Karyn Rode, Ph.D.
As a Research Wildlife Biologist, I conduct studies focused on the ecology, physiology, and behavior of large mammals to understand their response to environmental change, identify what environmental or ecological factors (e.g., prey availability, winter temperature, ice availability, etc.) most influence whether a population increases, decreases, or is stable, and to maintain positive wildlife-hu
I work with international and bilateral groups, such as the Polar Bear Range States and US-Russia Polar Bear Commission, DOI partners, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. National Park Service, Alaska Native co-management groups, and local and state governments to identify and address research needs for polar bears and walruses. My research focuses primarily on identifying biological and ecological indicators for monitoring large mammal populations and ecosystem change and determining mechanisms of population regulation in response to environmental change. I also study wildlife interactions with humans in areas of industry, via tourism and recreation, and in local communities to help minimize or avoid negative effects on wildlife and ensure human safety. Much of my work is centered on nutritional and physiological ecology and its effects on wildlife body condition, reproduction, and survival. Often, I work to develop new methods needed to address information needs. Although all research questions pertain to wild populations, I also regularly conduct studies with animals in zoos and other captive settings where more detailed study of animal physiology and development of new research techniques are possible.
Science and Products
Walrus Research
The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
Polar Bear Research
Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Distribution and Movements of Polar Bears
Polar bears are tied to the sea ice for nearly all of their life cycle functions. Most important of these is foraging, or access to food. Polar bears almost exclusively eat seals, and they are equally as dependent upon the sea for their nutrition as are seals, whales, and other aquatic mammals. Polar bears are not aquatic, however, and their only access to the seals is from the surface of the sea...
Health and Energetics of Polar Bears
The warming climate has the potential to drive significant changes in the health and energetics of Arctic fauna, particularly those dependent on sea ice habitats like polar bears. An animal’s health and energetic state reflects the interaction between its behavioral choices and the environment. Because of this, measuring changes in health and energetics has potential for revealing important...
Q&A: Environmental Indicators to Determine Polar Bear Population Status
Declines in sea ice extent in the Arctic are impacting multiple facets of northern ecosystems. Loss of sea ice has significantly changed the way wildlife and people can access those ecosystems. Here, we talk with federal and state biologists about how declines in sea ice in the Chukchi Sea region are changing the way they must study the health and status of polar bear populations.
Q&A: Polar Bears and Zoos
Polar bears are found throughout the circumpolar Arctic and roam across miles of sea ice and land. They prefer to eat blubber, especially from seals that are also found on the sea ice. However, the sea ice habitat of polar bears is changing rapidly with substantial recent declines in the extent of sea ice in the Arctic. These changes are leading polar bears to spend more time on land in some areas...
Images of walruses used to measure body area
Comparison of the body area of walruses in human care in two positions (head up and flat) used for estimating body mass.
Role of Diet and Food Intake Affecting Polar Bear Population Dynamics in Southern Beaufort Sea
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS and collaborators that examines the role of diet and food intake affecting polar bear population dynamics. Polar bears consume diets consisting of high proportions of marine mammal blubber that they access from the sea ice.
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS and collaborators that examines the role of diet and food intake affecting polar bear population dynamics. Polar bears consume diets consisting of high proportions of marine mammal blubber that they access from the sea ice.
Three marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Sea World Orlando marine mammal trainers, Kelly Trotto, Josh Boepple and Matt Oddi, measure a healthy mature female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affe
Sea World Orlando marine mammal trainers, Kelly Trotto, Josh Boepple and Matt Oddi, measure a healthy mature female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affe
Walrus at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida as part of USGS research
An adult female walrus being positioned by marine mammal trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida for measurement using aerial photographs (see camera at the top of the image). These images were taken as part of a USGS study in collaboration with zoos and aquaria in the United States and western Europe for validating aerial imagery as a method for monitoring the b
An adult female walrus being positioned by marine mammal trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida for measurement using aerial photographs (see camera at the top of the image). These images were taken as part of a USGS study in collaboration with zoos and aquaria in the United States and western Europe for validating aerial imagery as a method for monitoring the b
Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi
Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi
Pacific walruses examined for body mass measurements with drone imagery
Walruses identified as being in an appropriate position for measurement from an image collected by a USGS survey drone on September 6, 2018, at a haulout near Point Lay, Alaska.
Walruses identified as being in an appropriate position for measurement from an image collected by a USGS survey drone on September 6, 2018, at a haulout near Point Lay, Alaska.
Karyn Rode checking vitals of polar bear on the Chukchi Sea
Karyn Rode taking vitals on a polar bear in the Chukchi Sea April 2016. On sea ice off the northwest coast of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea.
Karyn Rode taking vitals on a polar bear in the Chukchi Sea April 2016. On sea ice off the northwest coast of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea.
Adult male polar bear walking
Photo of adult male polar bear walking towards seal (upper right) Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Photo of adult male polar bear walking towards seal (upper right) Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Taking Polar Bear Blood Samples
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
Taking Polar Bear Blood Samples
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
Science and Products
Walrus Research
The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
Polar Bear Research
Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Distribution and Movements of Polar Bears
Polar bears are tied to the sea ice for nearly all of their life cycle functions. Most important of these is foraging, or access to food. Polar bears almost exclusively eat seals, and they are equally as dependent upon the sea for their nutrition as are seals, whales, and other aquatic mammals. Polar bears are not aquatic, however, and their only access to the seals is from the surface of the sea...
Health and Energetics of Polar Bears
The warming climate has the potential to drive significant changes in the health and energetics of Arctic fauna, particularly those dependent on sea ice habitats like polar bears. An animal’s health and energetic state reflects the interaction between its behavioral choices and the environment. Because of this, measuring changes in health and energetics has potential for revealing important...
Q&A: Environmental Indicators to Determine Polar Bear Population Status
Declines in sea ice extent in the Arctic are impacting multiple facets of northern ecosystems. Loss of sea ice has significantly changed the way wildlife and people can access those ecosystems. Here, we talk with federal and state biologists about how declines in sea ice in the Chukchi Sea region are changing the way they must study the health and status of polar bear populations.
Q&A: Polar Bears and Zoos
Polar bears are found throughout the circumpolar Arctic and roam across miles of sea ice and land. They prefer to eat blubber, especially from seals that are also found on the sea ice. However, the sea ice habitat of polar bears is changing rapidly with substantial recent declines in the extent of sea ice in the Arctic. These changes are leading polar bears to spend more time on land in some areas...
Images of walruses used to measure body area
Comparison of the body area of walruses in human care in two positions (head up and flat) used for estimating body mass.
Comparison of the body area of walruses in human care in two positions (head up and flat) used for estimating body mass.
Role of Diet and Food Intake Affecting Polar Bear Population Dynamics in Southern Beaufort Sea
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS and collaborators that examines the role of diet and food intake affecting polar bear population dynamics. Polar bears consume diets consisting of high proportions of marine mammal blubber that they access from the sea ice.
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS and collaborators that examines the role of diet and food intake affecting polar bear population dynamics. Polar bears consume diets consisting of high proportions of marine mammal blubber that they access from the sea ice.
Three marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Sea World Orlando marine mammal trainers, Kelly Trotto, Josh Boepple and Matt Oddi, measure a healthy mature female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affe
Sea World Orlando marine mammal trainers, Kelly Trotto, Josh Boepple and Matt Oddi, measure a healthy mature female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affe
Walrus at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida as part of USGS research
An adult female walrus being positioned by marine mammal trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida for measurement using aerial photographs (see camera at the top of the image). These images were taken as part of a USGS study in collaboration with zoos and aquaria in the United States and western Europe for validating aerial imagery as a method for monitoring the b
An adult female walrus being positioned by marine mammal trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida for measurement using aerial photographs (see camera at the top of the image). These images were taken as part of a USGS study in collaboration with zoos and aquaria in the United States and western Europe for validating aerial imagery as a method for monitoring the b
Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus
Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi
Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi
Pacific walruses examined for body mass measurements with drone imagery
Walruses identified as being in an appropriate position for measurement from an image collected by a USGS survey drone on September 6, 2018, at a haulout near Point Lay, Alaska.
Walruses identified as being in an appropriate position for measurement from an image collected by a USGS survey drone on September 6, 2018, at a haulout near Point Lay, Alaska.
Karyn Rode checking vitals of polar bear on the Chukchi Sea
Karyn Rode taking vitals on a polar bear in the Chukchi Sea April 2016. On sea ice off the northwest coast of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea.
Karyn Rode taking vitals on a polar bear in the Chukchi Sea April 2016. On sea ice off the northwest coast of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea.
Adult male polar bear walking
Photo of adult male polar bear walking towards seal (upper right) Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Photo of adult male polar bear walking towards seal (upper right) Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Taking Polar Bear Blood Samples
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
Taking Polar Bear Blood Samples
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
*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