RV Norseman II ship track for the Pacific walrus research cruise in 2023. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS conducted a research cruise to study Pacific walrus population dynamics. The ship departed Nome, AK on June 5, 2023, and returned to Nome on July 2, 2023.
William Beatty, PhD
William leads research on wildlife population modeling, movement ecology, and space use with an emphasis on migratory waterbirds
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...
Q&A: Vessel Cruise for Estimates of Pacific Walrus Demography
Adult female and juvenile Pacific walruses reside in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea in the late spring and summer. In June of 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USGS will again conduct a walrus research cruise on the Research Vessel Norseman II. The cruise will depart from Nome, Alaska on May 31, 2024, and return to Nome on June 28, 2024. The research cruise will be...
Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota
During the breeding season (late March to early September), common loons can be found in the northern United States, and portions of Alaska and Canada. Common loons nest in lakes that range in size from 12 acres to over 10,000 acres. Nests are generally found near shore in a protected bay or in the lee of islands. Common loons prefer to nest on clear lakes with abundant small fish and are...
Greater White-Fronted Goose Habitat Analysis
The greater white-fronted goose ( Anser albifrons ) is generally found in natural wetlands and agricultural lands but can also be found in grasslands, wet tundra, and coastal marshes, where they feed on seeds, grains, grasses, and berries. In recent years there has been a decline in greater white-fronted geese in Louisiana during the winter. Winter counts of greater white-fronted geese in Illinois...
Q&A: Estimates of Abundance for Pacific Walrus
The Pacific walrus ranges across the Bering and Chukchi seas during the year. This wide geographic distribution makes it difficult to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance. However, recent technological advances in genetics and drone imagery have generated precise regional and range-wide abundance estimates.
Pacific walrus research cruise 2023
RV Norseman II ship track for the Pacific walrus research cruise in 2023. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS conducted a research cruise to study Pacific walrus population dynamics. The ship departed Nome, AK on June 5, 2023, and returned to Nome on July 2, 2023.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria. USFWS Permit No. 33776D.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria. USFWS Permit No. 33776D.
Observers onboard the R/V Norseman II
Amanda Herbert (foreground) and Ami Everett onboard the R/V Norseman II. Amanda and Ami are on top of the wheelhouse of the ship to observe groups of Pacific walrus hauled-out on sea ice. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.
Amanda Herbert (foreground) and Ami Everett onboard the R/V Norseman II. Amanda and Ami are on top of the wheelhouse of the ship to observe groups of Pacific walrus hauled-out on sea ice. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.
Team members on the RV Norseman II
From left: Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), William Beatty (USGS research wildlife biologist), Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II. The team observed walruses hau
From left: Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), William Beatty (USGS research wildlife biologist), Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II. The team observed walruses hau
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...
Q&A: Vessel Cruise for Estimates of Pacific Walrus Demography
Adult female and juvenile Pacific walruses reside in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea in the late spring and summer. In June of 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USGS will again conduct a walrus research cruise on the Research Vessel Norseman II. The cruise will depart from Nome, Alaska on May 31, 2024, and return to Nome on June 28, 2024. The research cruise will be...
Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota
During the breeding season (late March to early September), common loons can be found in the northern United States, and portions of Alaska and Canada. Common loons nest in lakes that range in size from 12 acres to over 10,000 acres. Nests are generally found near shore in a protected bay or in the lee of islands. Common loons prefer to nest on clear lakes with abundant small fish and are...
Greater White-Fronted Goose Habitat Analysis
The greater white-fronted goose ( Anser albifrons ) is generally found in natural wetlands and agricultural lands but can also be found in grasslands, wet tundra, and coastal marshes, where they feed on seeds, grains, grasses, and berries. In recent years there has been a decline in greater white-fronted geese in Louisiana during the winter. Winter counts of greater white-fronted geese in Illinois...
Q&A: Estimates of Abundance for Pacific Walrus
The Pacific walrus ranges across the Bering and Chukchi seas during the year. This wide geographic distribution makes it difficult to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance. However, recent technological advances in genetics and drone imagery have generated precise regional and range-wide abundance estimates.
Pacific walrus research cruise 2023
RV Norseman II ship track for the Pacific walrus research cruise in 2023. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS conducted a research cruise to study Pacific walrus population dynamics. The ship departed Nome, AK on June 5, 2023, and returned to Nome on July 2, 2023.
RV Norseman II ship track for the Pacific walrus research cruise in 2023. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS conducted a research cruise to study Pacific walrus population dynamics. The ship departed Nome, AK on June 5, 2023, and returned to Nome on July 2, 2023.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria. USFWS Permit No. 33776D.
Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria. USFWS Permit No. 33776D.
Observers onboard the R/V Norseman II
Amanda Herbert (foreground) and Ami Everett onboard the R/V Norseman II. Amanda and Ami are on top of the wheelhouse of the ship to observe groups of Pacific walrus hauled-out on sea ice. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.
Amanda Herbert (foreground) and Ami Everett onboard the R/V Norseman II. Amanda and Ami are on top of the wheelhouse of the ship to observe groups of Pacific walrus hauled-out on sea ice. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.
Team members on the RV Norseman II
From left: Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), William Beatty (USGS research wildlife biologist), Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II. The team observed walruses hau
From left: Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), William Beatty (USGS research wildlife biologist), Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II. The team observed walruses hau
*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