Population Ecology of Waterfowl and Loons

A broad research program focused on abundance and distribution of waterbirds across Alaska and adjacent regions and mechanisms that may influence the abundance and distribution of these species.

Abstract

The Population Ecology of Waterfowl and Loons project at the Alaska Science Center includes a variety of research directions and methods that inform our partners. For 2020-2021, research objectives include: (1) shifts in the abundance and distribution of waterbird species in northern Alaska, (2) response of waterbird species to shifts in climate, such as warmer ocean water temperatures, declines in sea ice, and earlier spring phenology, (3) demographic analyses and trends for species of management concern, such as spectacled eiders, snow geese, black brant, and emperor geese, and (4) surveys and assessments of eelgrass and seaweeds of western Alaska that are important food and ecosystem components for migratory birds.

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Products

Title	Type
Data from Sampling for Small-Scale Geographic Variation in Salinity Along the Lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993	Data
Breeding Biology, Behavior, and Morphology of Emperor Geese and Other Waterfowl near Kokechik Bay, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska during 1982-1988	Data
Data from Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Overwintering in Three Lagoons Along the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico	Data
Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) Nest Survival Encounter History from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1994-2017	Data
Breeding Biology of Loon and Waterfowl Species on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska during 1973-1975	Data
Data Supporting Studies of Brant and Other Waterfowl Disturbance Behavior, Distribution, and Diet at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, 1985-1988	Data
Sampling Data for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Norma Bay, Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, 1987	Data
Mapping Data of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Distribution, Alaska and Baja California, Mexico	Data
Data Supporting Studies of Waterbird and Arctic Lake Ecosystems within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 1974-1992	Data
Point Sampling Data for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Widgeongrass (Ruppia marina) Abundance in Embayments of the North Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1998-2012	Data
Point Sampling for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Seaweeds in Duchikthluk and Shoal Bays of Nunivak Island, Alaska, 2010	Data
Point Sampling Data from Eelgrass (Zostera marina), Seaweeds and Selected Invertebrates at Six Embayments and Two Islands at the End of the Alaska Peninsula	Data
Point Sampling Data for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Seaweed Distribution and Abundance in Bays Adjacent to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska	Data
Data on Blood Analytes and Post-Release Survival in Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri), Northern Alaska, 2010-2011	Data
Point Sampling Data for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Seaweed Distribution and Abundance in Bays Adjacent to the Alaska Peninsula-Becharof National Wildlife Refuges, Alaska, 2010	Data
Point Sampling Data for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Seaweed Distribution and Abundance in Bays Adjacent to the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2008-2010	Data
Pacific Common Eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) Nest Records, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1991-2004	Data
Effects of fish populations on Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed Loon (G. adamsii) lake occupancy and chick production in northern Alaska	Publication
Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014	Data
Benthos Sample Data from Izembek and Nelson Lagoons, Alaska, 1998	Data
Counts and Abdominal Profile Indices of Wintering Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) at Three Islands in Alaska, 2003 and 2015-2017	Data
Exploring Overlap of Feather Molting and Migration in Tundra Swans Using H Analysis	Publication
Stable Isotope Data from Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) Feathers, Alaska, 2008 and 2010	Data
Data and Model-Based Estimates from Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Fall Age Ratio Surveys at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska	Data
Long-term trends in fall age ratios of black brant	Publication
Phenological mismatch in coastal western Alaska may increase summer season greenhouse gas uptake	Publication
Non-linear effect of sea ice: Spectacled Eider survival declines at both extremes of the ice spectrum	Publication
The structure of genetic diversity in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) along the North Pacific and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska.	Publication
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Microsatellite DNA Data; Pacific Coast of North America, 2000-2009	Data

Contacts

Flint, Paul L., 907-786-7183
Schmutz, Joel A., 907-786-7186
Ward, David H., 907.786.7097

Status: onGoing
Start Year: 2009
End Year: 2024

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Project Sites

Collaborators

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
FWS - Alaska Migratory Bird Management
FWS - Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Location

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Togiak

USGS Mission Area and Program

Ecosystems → Wildlife Program

Major Initiatives

FWS - Quick Response Program
FWS - Science Support Program

Keywords

Biological Classification > Plants