Two Common Murre chicks on rock ledge at Gull Island, Alaska.
Sarah K Schoen
Population and community ecology, foraging biology, conservation, biogeography, animal behavior, food webs, and experiential education.
Science and Products
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Ecology
Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The...
Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in Alaska Seabirds
Elevated ocean temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Toxins from these blooms may pose health threats to marine organisms, including seabirds. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems...
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) contains survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The NPPSD includes more than 486,000 transect segments and includes observations of over 20 million birds of 258 species collected over the span of 50 years (from 1973 to 2022).
Tracking Data for Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Available here are tracking data for the Marbled Murrelet, a seabird species that forages in coastal marine waters and nests in old-growth forests of Alaska, Canada, and the western United States.
Detecting Long-term Changes in Forage Fish Populations in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Forage fish are small pelagic schooling fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Many seabirds, marine mammals, and commercial fish species depend on forage fish to grow and survive.
Tidewater Glacier Influence on Marine Ecosystems
Where glaciers meet the sea in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), they create unique and productive marine habitats. Ringed by the continent’s tallest coastal mountains, 20% of the GOA coastal watershed is covered by glacial ice and the annual freshwater discharge into the GOA from glacial melt is comparable to that of the Mississippi river.
Seabird Die-offs in Alaska
Beginning in 2015, large numbers of dead seabirds have been appearing on beaches in most marine areas of Alaska. Although seabird die-offs are known to occur sporadically (e.g. 1970, 1989, 1993, 1997/1998, and 2004) in Alaska, these recent die-offs have been distinguished from past events by their increased frequency, duration, geographic extent, and number of different species involved.
Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
A massive die-off of Common Murres was documented in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the fall and winter of 2015-2016 in association with a record-breaking marine heat wave in the GOA.
Use and History of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD)
Data on the distribution and abundance of seabirds at sea have been used for many decades to assist in understanding the marine ecology of seabirds away from their breeding colonies, measure population status and trends, assess the impact of human activities on ocean habitats and fish stocks, and to identify critical marine habitats for seabirds.
Condition of Forage Fish in Prince William Sound During the Marine Heatwave
Changes in the body condition of a key forage fish species, Pacific sand lance ( Ammodytes personatus), are examined to understand how energy transfer to predators may have been disrupted during the recent marine heatwave in the North Pacific (late 2013 to mid 2016).
NPPSD Sampling Effort Maps
Maps showing the sampling extent in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD).
Below are the media items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 134
Two Common Murre chicks
Two Common Murre chicks on rock ledge at Gull Island, Alaska.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, AlaskaA Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, AlaskaA Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, AlaskaNorthern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, AlaskaNorthern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Melanistic Common Murre at its nesting site
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre at its nesting site on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2019. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre at its nesting site on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2019. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, AlaskaCommon Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, AlaskaCommon Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in AlaskaA Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. The harmful algal bloom toxin saxitoxin was found in Common Murres killed during the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave.
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in AlaskaA Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. The harmful algal bloom toxin saxitoxin was found in Common Murres killed during the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave.
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nests
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nestsBlack-legged Kittiwakes flush from their nests at Gull Island as Bald Eagle flies by. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nests
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nestsBlack-legged Kittiwakes flush from their nests at Gull Island as Bald Eagle flies by. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Science and Products
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Ecology
Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The...
Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in Alaska Seabirds
Elevated ocean temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Toxins from these blooms may pose health threats to marine organisms, including seabirds. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems...
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) contains survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The NPPSD includes more than 486,000 transect segments and includes observations of over 20 million birds of 258 species collected over the span of 50 years (from 1973 to 2022).
Tracking Data for Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Available here are tracking data for the Marbled Murrelet, a seabird species that forages in coastal marine waters and nests in old-growth forests of Alaska, Canada, and the western United States.
Detecting Long-term Changes in Forage Fish Populations in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Forage fish are small pelagic schooling fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Many seabirds, marine mammals, and commercial fish species depend on forage fish to grow and survive.
Tidewater Glacier Influence on Marine Ecosystems
Where glaciers meet the sea in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), they create unique and productive marine habitats. Ringed by the continent’s tallest coastal mountains, 20% of the GOA coastal watershed is covered by glacial ice and the annual freshwater discharge into the GOA from glacial melt is comparable to that of the Mississippi river.
Seabird Die-offs in Alaska
Beginning in 2015, large numbers of dead seabirds have been appearing on beaches in most marine areas of Alaska. Although seabird die-offs are known to occur sporadically (e.g. 1970, 1989, 1993, 1997/1998, and 2004) in Alaska, these recent die-offs have been distinguished from past events by their increased frequency, duration, geographic extent, and number of different species involved.
Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
A massive die-off of Common Murres was documented in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the fall and winter of 2015-2016 in association with a record-breaking marine heat wave in the GOA.
Use and History of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD)
Data on the distribution and abundance of seabirds at sea have been used for many decades to assist in understanding the marine ecology of seabirds away from their breeding colonies, measure population status and trends, assess the impact of human activities on ocean habitats and fish stocks, and to identify critical marine habitats for seabirds.
Condition of Forage Fish in Prince William Sound During the Marine Heatwave
Changes in the body condition of a key forage fish species, Pacific sand lance ( Ammodytes personatus), are examined to understand how energy transfer to predators may have been disrupted during the recent marine heatwave in the North Pacific (late 2013 to mid 2016).
NPPSD Sampling Effort Maps
Maps showing the sampling extent in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD).
Below are the media items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 134
Two Common Murre chicks
Two Common Murre chicks on rock ledge at Gull Island, Alaska.
Two Common Murre chicks on rock ledge at Gull Island, Alaska.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass and debris on beach, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass washed up in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Close up of Short-tailed Shearwater carcass in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses and debris on beach in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in Alaska
Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on beach in AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol Bay
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass near beach shoreline in Bristol BayShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Short-tailed Shearwater carcass on rocky beach in Bristol Bay, AlaskaShort-tailed Shearwater die-off in the Bering Sea. Emaciated Short-tailed Shearwater carcasses littered the beaches of Bristol Bay during the summer of 2019.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, AlaskaA Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, AlaskaA Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, AlaskaNorthern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, AlaskaNorthern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
An Arctic Tern with zooplankton in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Melanistic Common Murre at its nesting site
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre at its nesting site on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2019. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre at its nesting site on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2019. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, AlaskaCommon Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, AlaskaCommon Murres on the water near their colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in AlaskaA Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. The harmful algal bloom toxin saxitoxin was found in Common Murres killed during the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave.
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in AlaskaA Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. The harmful algal bloom toxin saxitoxin was found in Common Murres killed during the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave.
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nests
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nestsBlack-legged Kittiwakes flush from their nests at Gull Island as Bald Eagle flies by. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nests
Bald Eagle flush Black-legged Kittiwakes from their nestsBlack-legged Kittiwakes flush from their nests at Gull Island as Bald Eagle flies by. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
*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