The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.
Vijay P Patil, Ph.D.
Population Ecology, Ecosystem Modeling, Arctic Climate Change, Ecohydrology, Trophic mismatch
I study Arctic wildlife and ecosystems with collaborators at the Alaska Science Center, Department of Interior agencies, and other state and local partners. My research focuses on four components: Vital rate estimation and demographic modeling, GIS spatial analyses to test hypotheses about wildlife movement patterns and habitat associations, ecosystems research, and analytical software development. I have used field and remote sensing data to model the distribution and abundance of polar bear dens, measure goose forage availability in Arctic wetlands, and design habitat protection scenarios to help mitigate potential impacts of oil and gas development on Alaskan waterfowl. I also recently developed an R package for working with phytoplankton taxonomic and functional trait data, as part of a collaborative effort to understand how climate change and extreme weather events affect lake ecosystems and phytoplankton communities. Current projects include development of a Bayesian hierarchical integrated population model (IPM) to evaluate the effects of phenology mismatch and density dependence on Arctic-breeding goose populations.
Professional Experience
December 2015 – Present Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2012 – 2015 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
2010 – 2012 Field Crew Leader, Lab Supervisor, USGS Yukon River Basin Project
2010 Research Technician, USFWS BSEIRP Project, St. George AK
2007 – 2010 Teaching Assistant, Biology Department, University of Alberta
2006 Research Technician, various projects, USFWS/USGS, AK and Greenland
2005 – 2006 Intern, PRBO Conservation Science, Cape Crozier, Antarctica
2005 Biological Science Technician, USNPS, King's Canyon Natl. Park, CA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2018 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK Biology and Wildlife
M.Sc. 2010 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta Biological Sciences
B.S. 2005 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Natural Resources
Affiliations and Memberships*
GLEON (Global Lake Ecology Observation Network)
Co-PI, GEISHA (Global Evaluation of the Impacts of Storms on Freshwater Habitat and Structure of Phytoplankton Assemblages), USGS Powell Center Working Group
Science and Products
Ecosystems Analytics
Annual Data and Model-based Estimates of Pacific Black Brant Age Ratios
Global Evaluation of the Impacts of Storms on freshwater Habitat and Structure of phytoplankton Assemblages (GEISHA)
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Maps from 2016 and 2020, Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Nesting Period Data for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) in Alaska
Tracking Data for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)
Timing of Occurrence of Waterfowl in U.S. Counties and Canadian Counties, Boroughs, Census Districts, and Other Populated Area Designations with Modeled Exposure Status to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in 2021-2022
Soil and Vegetation Data from Lake-Margin Wetlands in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge
Arthropod Abundance Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Environmental Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Avian Demographic Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Temporal Viral Viability Data from Avian Influenza A Viruses Maintained in Alaska Wetlands Under Experimental and Environmental Conditions
Data and Model-based Estimates from Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Fall Age Ratio Surveys at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Habitat Selection Scenarios for Molting Waterfowl in the Goose Molting Area of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, for NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (2020)
![USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Aerialgoosepic.png?itok=ownWyPr4)
The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.
![Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Vijay Patil, Wildlife Biologist Misty pine trees overlaid with a photo of a smiling man in warm clothes holding a sea bird.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Climate%20Champions_Vijay%20Patil.png?itok=xxcLFu6h)
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
![Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Vijay Patil, Wildlife Biologist (AD) Misty pine trees overlaid with a photo of a smiling man in warm clothes holding a sea bird. AD icon in corner.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Climate%20Champions_Vijay%20Patil%20AD.png?itok=UzJAvNaD)
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement
Disparate data streams together yield novel survival estimates of Alaska-breeding Whimbrels
Modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of land-based polar bear denning in Alaska
Prioritizing habitats based on abundance and distribution of molting waterfowl in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska
Arctic geese in North America
Life-history attributes of Arctic-breeding birds drive uneven responses to environmental variability across different phases of the reproductive cycle
Evidence for interannual persistence of infectious influenza A viruses in Alaska wetlands
The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
Prioritizing habitats based on abundance and distribution of molting waterfowl in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska
Storm impacts on phytoplankton community dynamics in lakes
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database Visualization Tool
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) is maintained by the USGS ASC and includes survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The USGS developed a R Shiny application to facilitate viewing and filtering the NPPSD using an interactive leaflet map.
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database Visualization Tool (NPPSD_viz)
Eelgrass Biomass Model
algaeClassify
Bayesian Hierarchical Model of Whimbrel Survival
Code for analysis of polar bear maternal den abundance and distribution in four regions of northern Alaska and Canada within the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation boundary (1982-2015)
Science and Products
Ecosystems Analytics
Annual Data and Model-based Estimates of Pacific Black Brant Age Ratios
Global Evaluation of the Impacts of Storms on freshwater Habitat and Structure of phytoplankton Assemblages (GEISHA)
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Maps from 2016 and 2020, Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Nesting Period Data for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) in Alaska
Tracking Data for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)
Timing of Occurrence of Waterfowl in U.S. Counties and Canadian Counties, Boroughs, Census Districts, and Other Populated Area Designations with Modeled Exposure Status to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in 2021-2022
Soil and Vegetation Data from Lake-Margin Wetlands in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge
Arthropod Abundance Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Environmental Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Avian Demographic Data from the Colville River Delta, Alaska
Temporal Viral Viability Data from Avian Influenza A Viruses Maintained in Alaska Wetlands Under Experimental and Environmental Conditions
Data and Model-based Estimates from Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Fall Age Ratio Surveys at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Habitat Selection Scenarios for Molting Waterfowl in the Goose Molting Area of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, for NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (2020)
![USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Aerialgoosepic.png?itok=ownWyPr4)
The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.
The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.
![Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Vijay Patil, Wildlife Biologist Misty pine trees overlaid with a photo of a smiling man in warm clothes holding a sea bird.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Climate%20Champions_Vijay%20Patil.png?itok=xxcLFu6h)
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
![Climate Science Champions, Season 1: Vijay Patil, Wildlife Biologist (AD) Misty pine trees overlaid with a photo of a smiling man in warm clothes holding a sea bird. AD icon in corner.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Climate%20Champions_Vijay%20Patil%20AD.png?itok=UzJAvNaD)
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Wildlife Biologist Vijay Patil explores the effects of climate change and shifting seasons on Arctic-nesting waterfowl.
Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement
Disparate data streams together yield novel survival estimates of Alaska-breeding Whimbrels
Modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of land-based polar bear denning in Alaska
Prioritizing habitats based on abundance and distribution of molting waterfowl in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska
Arctic geese in North America
Life-history attributes of Arctic-breeding birds drive uneven responses to environmental variability across different phases of the reproductive cycle
Evidence for interannual persistence of infectious influenza A viruses in Alaska wetlands
The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
Analyses on subpopulation abundance and annual number of maternal dens for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska
Prioritizing habitats based on abundance and distribution of molting waterfowl in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska
Storm impacts on phytoplankton community dynamics in lakes
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database Visualization Tool
The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) is maintained by the USGS ASC and includes survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The USGS developed a R Shiny application to facilitate viewing and filtering the NPPSD using an interactive leaflet map.
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database Visualization Tool (NPPSD_viz)
Eelgrass Biomass Model
algaeClassify
Bayesian Hierarchical Model of Whimbrel Survival
Code for analysis of polar bear maternal den abundance and distribution in four regions of northern Alaska and Canada within the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation boundary (1982-2015)
*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