Algeo, T. P., D. Slate, R. M. Caron, T. C. Atwood, S. Recuenco, M. Ducey, R. B. Chipman, and M. Palace. 2017. Modeling raccoon (Procyon lotor) habitat connectivity to identify potential corridors for rabies spread. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases 44. doi:10.3390/tropicalmed203044.
Todd Atwood, Ph.D.
Spatial ecology, population ecology, predator-prey dynamics, polar bear ecology
Biography
Education
Ph.D. 2006 Utah State University Wildlife Biology
M.S. 2002 Purdue University Wildlife Ecology
B.S. 1999 Purdue University Wildlife Ecology
Professional Experience
2012 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist and Project Leader, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2008 - 2012 Research Wildlife Biologist, USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO
2006 - 2008 Research Biologist, Research Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ
2006 Biological Technician, USDA/National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO
Professional Activities and/or Memberships
The Wildlife Society
International Association for Bear Research and Management
American Society of Mammalogists
Science and Products
Date published: December 18, 2017
Status: Active Polar Bear Maternal Denning
Pregnant polar bears enter maternity dens in October/November, give birth to cubs in December/January, and exit dens in March/April. Historically, most polar bears from the Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) population constructed maternity dens on the sea ice. Over the last three decades, as sea ice has become thinner and prone to fragmentation, there has been a landward shift in the distribution...
Contacts: Todd Atwood, Ph.D., George Durner, Ph.D.
Date published: December 18, 2017
Status: Active Methods Development
Studying polar bears is difficult: they range widely, the environmental conditions are challenging and rapidly changing, and the logistics of mounting field efforts are incredibly expensive. Despite all that, the information needs of managers continues to increase. To cope with these challenges and needs, we are devoting effort to improving the methods we use to collect and analyze data.
Date published: December 15, 2017
Status: Active 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...
Date published: December 15, 2017
Status: Active Polar Bear Population Dynamics
Information on the status and trends of polar bear populations are needed to inform management of polar bears under US laws and international agreements. The USGS maintains a long-term research program focused on the population dynamics of the southern Beaufort Sea polar bear population. In addition, the USGS collaborates with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in population studies in the...
Date published: December 15, 2017
Status: Active Health and Energetics of Polar Bears
Research in this focal area is centered on (i) collecting data on a variety of systems that help determine and mediate polar bear health and energetics, and (ii) developing monitoring and surveillance programs for detecting changes in population health over time. Additionally, this work will allow us to develop an understanding of how polar bear populations will respond to a variety of...
Date published: July 13, 2017
Status: Active 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...
Year Published: 2019
Are polar bear habitat resource selection functions developed from 1985-1996 data still useful?
1. Greenhouse gas-induced warming in the Arctic has caused declines in sea ice extent and changed its composition, raising concerns by all circumpolar nations for polar bear conservation. 2. Negative impacts have been observed in three well-studied polar bear subpopulations. Most subpopulations, however, receive little or no direct monitoring,...
Durner, George M.; Douglas, David C.; Atwood, Todd C.
Year Published: 2019
Development of on-shore behavior among polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea: Inherited or learned?
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing rapid and substantial changes to their environment due to global climate change. Polar bears of the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) have historically spent most of the year on the sea ice. However, recent reports from Alaska indicate that the proportion of the SB subpopulation observed on-shore during late...
Lillie, K. M.; Gese, E. M.; Atwood, Todd C.; Sonsthagen, Sarah A.
Year Published: 2018
Survey of Arctic Alaskan wildlife for influenza A antibodies: Limited evidence for exposure of mammals
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are maintained in wild waterbirds and have the potential to infect a broad range of species, including wild mammals. The Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska supports a diverse suite of species, including waterfowl that are common hosts of IAVs. Mammals co-occur with geese and other migratory waterbirds during the summer...
Van Hemert, Caroline R.; Spivey, Timothy J.; Uher-Koch, Brian D.; Atwood, Todd C.; Sinnett, David R.; Meixell, Brandt W.; Hupp, Jerry W.; Jiang, Kaijun; Adams, Layne G.; Gustine, David D.; Ramey, Andrew M.; Wan, Xiu-Feng
Year Published: 2018
Survey-based assessment of the frequency and potential impacts of recreation on polar bears
Conservation plans for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) typically cannot prescribe management actions to address their primary threat: sea ice loss associated with climate warming. However, there may be other stressors that compound the negative effects of sea ice loss which can be mitigated. For example, Arctic tourism has...
Rode, Karyn D.; Fortin, Jennifer K.; Garshelis, Dave; Dyck, Markus; Sahanatien, Vicki; Atwood, Todd C.; Belikov, Stanislav; Laidre, Kristin L.; Miller, Susanne; Obbard, Martyn E.; Vongraven, Dag; Ware, Jasmine V.; Wilder, JamesView Citation
Rode, K. D., J. K. Fortin-Noreus, D. L. Garshelis, M. Dyck, V. Sahanatien, T. C. Atwood, S. E. Belikov, K. L. Laidre, S. Miller, M. E. Obbard, D. Vongraven, J. V. Ware, and J. Wilder. 2018. Survey-based assessment of the frequency and potential impacts of recreation on polar bears. Biological Conservation 227:121-132. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.09.008
Year Published: 2018
A comparison of photograph-interpreted and IfSAR-derived maps of polar bear denning habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Alaska use the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for maternal denning. Pregnant bears den in snow banks for more than 3 months in winter during which they give birth to and nurture young. Denning is one of the most vulnerable times in polar bear life history as the family group cannot simply walk away from a...
Durner, George M.; Atwood, Todd C.Attribution: Alaska Science Center, Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Region 11: Alaska, United States of America
View Citation
Durner, G.M., and Atwood, T.C., 2018, A comparison of photograph-interpreted and IfSAR-derived maps of polar bear denning habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1083, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181083.
Year Published: 2018
High-energy, high-fat lifestyle challenges an Arctic apex predator, the polar bear
Regional declines in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations have been attributed to changing sea ice conditions, but with limited information on the causative mechanisms. By simultaneously measuring field metabolic rates, daily activity patterns, body condition, and foraging success of polar bears moving on the spring sea ice, we found that high...
Pagano, Anthony M.; Durner, George M.; Rode, Karyn D.; Atwood, Todd C.; Atkinson, Stephen N.; Peacock, Elizabeth; Costa, Daniel P.; Owen, Megan A.; Williams, Terrie M.View Citation
Pagano, A.M., G.M. Durner, K.D. Rode, T.C. Atwood, S.N. Atkinson, E. Peacock, D.P. Costa, M.A. Owen, and T.M. Williams. 2018. High-energy, high-fat lifestyle challenges an Arctic apex predator, the polar bear. Science 359:568-572.
Year Published: 2018
Den phenology and reproductive success of polar bears in a changing climate
Synchrony between reproduction and food availability is important in mammals due to the high energetic costs of gestation and lactation. Female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) must accumulate sufficient energy reserves during spring through autumn to produce and nurse cubs during the winter months in snow dens. Adequate time in a den is important to...
Rode, Karyn D.; Olson, Jay; Eggett, Dennis L.; Douglas, David C.; Durner, George M.; Atwood, Todd C.; Regehr, Eric V.; Wilson, Ryan R.; Smith, Tom; St. Martin, MichelleView Citation
Rode, K.D., J. Olson, D. Eggett, D.C. Douglas, G.M. Durner, T.C. Atwood, E.V. Regehr, R.R. Wilson, T. Smith, and M.St. Martin. 2018. Denning phenology and polar bear reproductive success in a changing climate. Journal of Mammalogy 99:16-26.
Year Published: 2018
Summary of wildlife-related research on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2002–17
We summarize recent (2002–17) publicly available information from studies within the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as well as terrestrial and coastal ecosystems elsewhere on the Arctic Coastal Plain that are relevant to the 1002 Area. This report provides an update on earlier research summaries on caribou (Rangifer tarandus),...
Pearce, John M.; Flint, Paul L.; Atwood, Todd C.; Douglas, David C.; Adams, Layne G.; Johnson, Heather E.; Arthur, Stephen M.; Latty, Christopher J.Attribution: Alaska Science Center, Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Region 11: Alaska, United States of America
View Citation
Pearce, J.M., Flint, P.L., Atwood, T.C., Douglas, D.C., Adams, L.G., Johnson, H.E., Arthur, S.M., and Latty, C.J., 2018, Summary of wildlife-related research on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2002–17: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1003, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181003.
Year Published: 2018
Spring fasting behavior in a marine apex predator provides an index of ecosystem productivity
The effects of declining Arctic sea ice on local ecosystem productivity are not well understood but have been shown to vary inter-specifically, spatially, and temporally. Because marine mammals occupy upper trophic levels in Arctic food webs, they may be useful indicators for understanding variation in ecosystem productivity. Polar bears (Ursus...
Rode, Karyn D.; Wilson, Ryan R.; Douglas, David C.; Muhlenbruch, Vanessa L; Atwood, Todd C.; Regehr, Eric V.; Richardson, Evan; Pilfold, Nicholas; Derocher, Andrew E.; Durner, George M.; Stirling, Ian; Amstrup, Steven C.; St Martin, Michelle; Pagano, Anthony M.; Simac, Kristin S.View Citation
Rode KD, Wilson RR, Douglas DC,
et al. Spring fasting behavior in a marine apex predator
provides an index of ecosystem productivity. Glob Change
Biol. 2017;00:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13933
Year Published: 2017
Human-polar bear interactions in a changing Arctic: Existing and emerging concerns
The behavior and sociality of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have been shaped by evolved preferences for sea ice habitat and preying on marine mammals. However, human behavior is causing changes to the Arctic marine ecosystem through the influence of greenhouse gas emissions that drive long-term change in ecosystem processes and via the presence of...
Atwood, Todd C.; Simac, Kristin S.; Breck, Stewart; York, Geoff; Wilder, JamesView Citation
Atwood, T.C., Simac, K., Breck, S.W., York, G., and Wilder, J., 2017, Human–polar bear interactions in a changing Arctic: Existing and emerging concerns: p. 397-418 in Marine Mammal Welfare: Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare, A. Butterworth (ed.), vol. 17, Springer, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46994-2
Year Published: 2017
Implications of rapid environmental change for polar bear behavior and sociality
Historically, the Arctic sea ice has functioned as a structural barrier that has limited the nature and extent of interactions between humans and polar bears (Ursus maritimus). However, declining sea ice extent, brought about by global climate change, is increasing the potential for human-polar bear interactions. Loss of sea ice habitat is driving...
Atwood, Todd C.View Citation
Atwood, T.C., 2017, Implications of rapid environmental change for polar bear behavior and sociality: p. 445-462 in Marine Mammal Welfare: Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare, A. Butterworth (ed.). Springer, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46994-2
Year Published: 2017
Monitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic
Most programs for monitoring the welfare of wildlife populations support efforts aimed at reaching discrete management objectives, like mitigating conflict with humans. While such programs can be effective, their limited scope may preclude systemic evaluations needed for large-scale conservation initiatives, like the recovery of at-risk species....
Atwood, Todd C.; Duncan, Colleen G.; Patyk, Kelly A.; Sonsthagen, Sarah A.View Citation
Atwood, T.C., Duncan, C., Patyk, K.A., and Sonsthagen, S.A. , 2017, Monitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic: Pages 503-529 in Marine Mammal Welfare: Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare, A. Butterworth (ed.), vol. 17, Springer, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46994-2
Pre-USGS Publications
Atwood, T. C., E. Peacock, K. M. Lillie, R. R. Wilson, and S. Miller. 2015. Demographic composition and behavior of polar bears summering on shore in Alaska. USGS Administrative Report, 26 p.
Beasley, J. C., T. C. Atwood, M. E. Byrne, K. C. VerCauteren, S. R. Johnson, and O. E. Rhodes, Jr. 2015. A behaviorally-explicit approach for evaluating vaccine baits to mesopredators to control epizootics in fragmented landscapes. PLoS One 10:e0113206. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113206.
Anderson, A., S. A. Shwiff, R. B. Chipman, T. C. Atwood, T. Cozzens, F. Fillo, R. Hale, B. Hatch, J. Maki, O. E. Rhodes, Jr, E. E. Rees, C. E. Rupprecht, R. Tinline, K. C. VerCauteren, and D. Slate. 2014. Forecasting the spread of raccoon rabies using a purpose-specific group decision-making process. Human-Wildlife Interactions 8(1):130-138.
Slate, D., R. B. Chipman, T. P. Algeo, S. A. Mills, K. M. Nelson, C. K. Croson, E. J. Dubovi, R. W. Renshaw, K. C. VerCauteren, T. C. Atwood, S. Johnson, and C. E. Rupprecht. 2014. Safety and immunogenicity in the first field trial with ONRAB in raccoons in the United States. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50(3):582-595. doi:10.7589/2013-08-207.
Kunkel, K. E., T. K. Ruth, T. C. Atwood, D. H. Pletscher, and M. G. Hornocker. 2013. Assessing the value of wolves and cougars as conservation surrogates by linking carnivore hunting success with landscape characteristics. Animal Conservation 16:32-40. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00568.x.
Beasley, J. D., W. S. Beatty, T. C. Atwood, S. Johnson, and O. E. Rhodes, Jr. 2012. A comparison of methods for estimating raccoon abundance: Implications for disease vaccination programs. Journal of Wildlife Management 76(6):1290-1297. doi:10.1002/jwmg.379.
Atwood, T. C. and S. W. Breck. 2012. Carnivores, Conflict, and Conservation: Defining the Landscape of Conflict. Pages 99-118 in F. I. Álvares and G. E. Mata, (eds.). Carnivores: Species, Conservation, and Management. Nova Publishers.
Partitioning of a limited resource by sympatric carnivores in the Chihuahuan Desert and the implications for disease transmission
Atwood, T. C., T. L. Fry, and B. R. Leland. 2011. Partitioning of a limited resource by sympatric carnivores in the Chihuahuan Desert and the implications for disease transmission. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1609-1615.
Atwood, T. C., J. K. Young, J. P. Beckmann, S. W. Breck, O. E. Rhodes, Jr, J. A. Fike, and K. D. Bristow. 2011. Modeling connectivity of black bears in a desert sky island archipelago. Biological Conservation 144(12):2851-2862. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.08.002.
Utility of rhodamine B as a biomarker in raccoons
Fry, T. L., T. C. Atwood, and M. R. Dunbar. 2010. Utility of rhodamine B as a biomarker in raccoons. Human-Wildlife Interactions 4:275-282.
Importance of resource selection and social behaviour to partitioning of hostile space by sympatric canids
Atwood, T. C. and E. M. Gese. 2010. Importance of resource selection and social behaviour to partitioning of hostile space by sympatric canids. Journal of Mammalogy 91:490-499.
Raccoon spatial ecology related to cattle and bovine tuberculosis
Atwood, T. C., T. J. DeLiberto, H. J. Smith, J. Stevenson, and K. C. VerCauteren. 2009. Raccoon spatial ecology related to cattle and bovine tuberculosis. Journal of Wildlife Management 73:647-654.
Spatial decomposition of predation risk in a multiple-predator multiple-prey system
Atwood, T. C., E. M. Gese, and K. E. Kunkel. 2009. Spatial decomposition of predation risk in a multiple-predator multiple-prey system. Journal of Wildlife Management 73:876-884.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) and recolonizing wolves (Canis lupus): Social rank mediates risk-conditional behaviour at ungulate carcasses
Atwood, T. C. and E. M. Gese. 2008. Coyotes (Canis latrans) and recolonizing wolves (Canis lupus): Social rank mediates risk-conditional behaviour at ungulate carcasses. Animal Behaviour 75:753-762.
Sentinel-based surveillance of coyotes to detect bovine tuberculosis in Michigan
VerCauteren, K. C., T. C. Atwood, T. J. DeLiberto, H. J. Smith, J. Stevenson, T. Gidlewski, and B. V. Thomsen. 2008. Sentinel-based surveillance of coyotes to detect bovine tuberculosis in Michigan. Emerging Infectious Diseases 14:1862-1869.
Coyotes as a potential sentinel species to detect bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) infection in white-tailed deer in Michigan
Atwood, T. C., K. C. VerCauteren, T. J. DeLiberto, H. J. Smith, and J. Stevenson. 2007. Coyotes as a potential sentinel species to detect bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) infection in white-tailed deer in Michigan. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:1545-1554.
Comparative patterns of predation by cougars and recolonizing wolves
Atwood, T. C., E. M. Gese, and K. E. Kunkel. 2007. Comparative patterns of predation by cougars and recolonizing wolves. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:1098-1106.
The influence of habitat patch attributes on coyote group size and interaction in a fragmented landscape
Atwood, T. C. 2006. The influence of habitat patch attributes on coyote group size and interaction in a fragmented landscape. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:80-87.
Behavioral interactions between wolves, Canis lupus, and coyotes, Canis latrans, at ungulate carcasses in southwest Montana
Atwood, T. C. 2006. Behavioral interactions between wolves, Canis lupus, and coyotes, Canis latrans, at ungulate carcasses in southwest Montana. Western North American Naturalist 66:390-394.
Spatial ecology of coyotes along a suburban-to-rural gradient
Atwood, T. C., H. P. Weeks, Jr., and T. M. Gehring. 2004. Spatial ecology of coyotes along a suburban-to-rural gradient. Journal of Wildlife Management 85:1000-1009.
Patch occupancy in North American mammals: Is patchiness in the eye of the beholder?
Swihart, R. K., T. C. Atwood, J. R. Goheen, D. A. Scheiman, K. E. Munroe, and T. M. Gehring. 2003. Patch occupancy in North American mammals: Is patchiness in the eye of the beholder? . Journal of Biogeography 30:1259-1279.
Sex-specific patterns of mineral lick preference in white-tailed deer
Atwood, T. C. and H. P. Weeks, Jr.. 2003. Sex-specific patterns of mineral lick preference in white-tailed deer. Northeastern Naturalist 10:409-414.
Sex-and age-specific patterns of mineral lick use by white-tailed deer
Atwood, T. C. and H. P. Weeks, Jr.. 2002. Sex- and age-specific patterns of mineral lick use by white-tailed deer. American Midland Naturalist 148:289-296.
Facultative dyad formation in adult male coyotes
Atwood, T. C. and H. P. Weeks, Jr.. 2002. Facultative dyad formation in adult male coyotes. Northeastern Naturalist 9:353-358.
Date published: June 29, 2016
Polar Bear Outlook Favorable Under Certain Scenarios
“The scenarios predicted by our models are encouraging in that there are clear actions that humans can take to improve the chances that healthy polar bear populations persist in the future.” - Todd Atwood, USGS
Date published: July 9, 2014
Observing Polar Bears from Space
Monitoring wildlife in the Arctic is difficult. Study areas are cold, barren and often inaccessible. For decades scientists have struggled to study animals, like polar bears, which live in these remote areas. Now researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey have begun testing a new, yet counterintuitive solution – rather then get close to the animals, monitor them from afar.
Attribution: Region 11: Alaska, States and Territories