Vanessa von Biela, Ph.D.
I am an aquatic ecologist focused on filling key information gaps about the structure, function, and drivers of aquatic ecosystems in the subarctic and Arctic to better inform management of public lands and resources.
My research program seeks to understand current limitations on the production of fishes and aquatic ecosystems to inform Federal and State agencies, Tribal entities, non-profits organizations, and the public given the importance of fish and aquatic species to economies, wellbeing, and culture. For example, the annual subsistence harvest per rural resident is 295 pounds of wild food of which 56% is fish. Access to my study areas is difficult because most of Alaska is not connected by road and requires complex logistics with boats and aircraft. I make research progress by leading teams that use a diverse set of tools that allow us to gain as much information as possible from each field trip and each fish: otolith growth, calorimetry, stable isotopes, heat shock proteins, and gene expression/mRNA.
Professional Experience
2011- Present Research Fishery Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
2007 - 2010 Fishery Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
2005 - 2007 Research Assistant, University of Alaska Anchorage
2007 Marine Mammal and Bird Observer, USFWS
2006 Marine Mammal Observer, LGL Alaska Research
2004 - 2005 Teaching Assistant, University of Alaska Anchorage
2003 - 2004 Rehabilitation Supervisor, Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center
2003 - 2004 Hearst Scholar, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2015 University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK Fisheries
M.S. 2007 University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK Biological Sciences
B.S. 2004 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA Zoology
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
American Fisheries Society
Society of Marine Mammalogy
The Wildlife Society
2005-2006 Student Representative, UAA Graduate Academic Board
2005-2007 Chair, UAA Graduate Student Association
Honors and Awards
2009 Star (Special Thanks for Achievement) Award from USGS Biology Chief
2008 USGS Performance Award
2007 Graduate Hooding Ceremony invited speaker
2006 NSF EPSCoR Student Travel Award
2006 Kodiak Whalefest invited speaker
2005 NSF EPSCoR Student Travel Award
Science and Products
Influence of basin- and local-scale environmental conditions on nearshore production in the northeast Pacific Ocean
Evidence of bottom-up limitations in nearshore marine systems based on otolith proxies of fish growth
Examining the utility of bulk otolith δ13C to describe diet in wild-caught black rockfish Sebastes melanops
Lake trout otolith chronologies as multidecadal indicators of high-latitude freshwater ecosystems
Terrestrial and marine trophic pathways support young-of-year growth in a nearshore Arctic fish
Long-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences
Long-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences
Phenotypic plasticity in age at first reproduction of female northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)
Determining the pattern of cementum annuli and relationship to reproduction in male sea otters
Analysis of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) reproductive tract: A methods manual
Science and Products
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Influence of basin- and local-scale environmental conditions on nearshore production in the northeast Pacific Ocean
Nearshore marine habitats are productive and vulnerable owing to their connections to pelagic and terrestrial landscapes. To understand how ocean basin- and local-scale conditions may influence nearshore species, we developed an annual index of nearshore production (spanning the period 1972–2010) from growth increments recorded in otoliths of representative pelagic-feeding (Black Rockfish SebastesAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Christian E. Zimmerman, Gordon H. Kruse, Franz J. Mueter, Bryan A. Black, David C. Douglas, James L. BodkinEvidence of bottom-up limitations in nearshore marine systems based on otolith proxies of fish growth
Fish otolith growth increments were used as indices of annual production at nine nearshore sites within the Alaska Coastal Current (downwelling region) and California Current (upwelling region) systems (~36–60°N). Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) and kelp greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) were identified as useful indicators in pelagic and benthic nearshore food webs, respectively. To examineAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Gordon H. Kruse, Franz J. Mueter, Bryan A. Black, David C. Douglas, Thomas E. Helser, Christian E. ZimmermanExamining the utility of bulk otolith δ13C to describe diet in wild-caught black rockfish Sebastes melanops
Otolith carbon isotope δ13C values may provide temporally resolved diet proxies in fish. If otolith δ13C values reflect diet, isotope values from recent otolith and muscle tissue should correlate and known ontogenetic diet shifts should be reflected in comparisons between otolith material deposited during different life history stages. We analyzed paired otolith and muscle samples for δ13C from blAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Seth D. Newsome, Christian E. ZimmermanLake trout otolith chronologies as multidecadal indicators of high-latitude freshwater ecosystems
High-latitude ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to long-term climate change, yet continuous, multidecadal indicators by which to gauge effects on biology are scarce, especially in freshwater environments. To address this issue, dendrochronology (tree-ring analysis) techniques were applied to growth-increment widths in otoliths from lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from the Chandler Lake syAuthorsB.A. Black, Vanessa R. von Biela, Christian E. Zimmerman, Randy J. BrownTerrestrial and marine trophic pathways support young-of-year growth in a nearshore Arctic fish
River discharge supplies nearshore communities with a terrestrial carbon source that is often reflected in invertebrate and fish consumers. Recent studies in the Beaufort Sea have documented widespread terrestrial carbon use among invertebrates, but only limited use among nearshore fish consumers. Here, we examine the carbon source and diet of rapidly growing young-of-year Arctic cisco (CoregonusAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Christian E. Zimmerman, Brian R. Cohn, Jeffrey M. WelkerLong-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences
Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis young-of-year (YOY) growth was used as a proxy to examine the long-term response of a high-latitude fish population to changing climate from 1978 to 2004. YOY growth increased over time (r2 = 0·29) and was correlated with monthly averages of the Arctic oscillation index, air temperature, east wind speed, sea-ice concentration and river discharge with and without tAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Christian E. Zimmerman, L. L. MoultonLong-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences
Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis young‐of‐year (YOY) growth was used as a proxy to examine the long‐term response of a high‐latitude fish population to changing climate from 1978 to 2004. YOY growth increased over time (r2 = 0·29) and was correlated with monthly averages of the Arctic oscillation index, air temperature, east wind speed, sea‐ice concentration and river discharge with and without tAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Christian E. Zimmerman, L.L. MoultonPhenotypic plasticity in age at first reproduction of female northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)
Life-history theory predicts that within a species, reproduction and survival rates will differ among populations that differ in resource availability or predation rates through phenotypic plasticity. When populations are near carrying capacity (K) or when they are declining due to reduced prey resources, the average age at 1st reproduction (average AFR) is predicted to be older than in populationAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, V.A. Gill, James L. Bodkin, Jennifer M. BurnsDetermining the pattern of cementum annuli and relationship to reproduction in male sea otters
Since the early 1990s, the southwestern Alaskan sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population has declined dramatically and the cause has yet to be determined. Population trajectories of large mammals are determined by three factors: survival rate, reproduction rate, and age of first reproduction (AFR). Of these three, AFR should respond first to environmental change. Life history theory predicts that AFRAuthorsJosh Proper, Vanessa R. von Biela, Jennifer M. BurnsAnalysis of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) reproductive tract: A methods manual
Reproduction in the female sea otter, Enhydra lutris, was relatively unstudied until Sinha et al. (1966) examined 140 reproductive tracts collected 1955-62 and used their findings to describe sea otter reproductive anatomy and biology. Two years later Sinha and Conaway (1968) published a more detailed paper on the ovary of the sea otter. These descriptive papers have been used as the basis for allAuthorsVanessa R. von Biela, Verena A. Gill - 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