The Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office and Glacier Bay
Field Station
History
The Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office is one of 15 research centers in
the nation that conducts and coordinates research for the Biological
Resources Division of the U.S.
Geological Survey. The Center was established in 1986 after staff
previously with the Alaska Office of Fish and Wildlife Research in the U.
S. Fish and Wildlife Service united with Service employees from two
other research centers who were stationed in Alaska. When the National
Biological Service was formed in November, 1993, the Center ,along with
scientists from the National Park Service,
was moved to this newly created agency. In January, 1996, Congress
passed legislation to merge the National Biological Service with the U.S.
Geological Survey, thereby consolidating biological and physical
scientific research in the Department of the Interior. On October 1,
1996 the merger was completed with the former National Biological
Service becoming the Biological Resources Division within the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Research Program
Research in Alaska addresses important resource issues identified by
Department of the Interior bureaus. Field--rather than
laboratory--projects dominate Center activities; however, ongoing
laboratory studies use DNA analysis for genetic stock identification of
Pacific salmon, migratory bird, and marine mammal populations. These
genetic analyses are useful to biologists seeking to understand the
population structure of native species. Fieldwork in Alaska often takes
biologists to remote areas for prolonged periods. These biologists use
floatplanes and helicopters for access to tent camps, and use radios to
communicate with the Center and their families. Harsh environmental
conditions and the extreme seasons of the Arctic often restrict the
methods and timing of research projects. Different languages and customs
of Native groups throughout the state also influence when, where, and
how research is conducted. Projects often involve cooperative efforts
with Native peoples to study fish and wildlife resources.
Research programs investigate:
- the role of arctic and subarctic environments in maintaining wild
stocks of nationally important marine and anadromous fish species
- the ecology of marine mammals and their role and effect as top end
consumers in arctic and subarctic marine environments
- the role of arctic and subarctic environments in maintaining
nationally important migratory bird populations
- the ecology of terrestrial mammals and the role of top herbivores
and carnivores in impacting the dynamics of arctic and subarctic
terrestrial systems
Current Issues & Problems
- Impacts of petroleum exploration, development, and pollution on
terrestrial and marine mammals, migratory birds, anadromous fishes,
and marine invertebrates
- Sport and subsistence harvests of declining populations of arctic
nesting waterfowl
- Subsistence harvest of polar bear, Pacific walrus, and sea otters
- Declining populations of marine mammals and migratory birds and
unknown trends of prey species in the Bering-Chukchi Sea Ecosystem
- Management of wolves and brown bears and their prey in and around
Denali National Park and Preserve
- Declining populations of caribou in Wrangell/St. Elias National
Park related to subsistence and sport harvest
- Impacts of hatchery enhancement on wild stocks of Pacific salmon
and their exploitation by commercial, subsistence, and sport fishing
interests
- Effects of commercial Dungeness crab and Pacific halibut fishing
on Glacier Bay National Park marine ecosystem
Emerging Issues and Problems
- Increased impacts of recreational activities on DOI trust species
in National Wildlife Refuges and National Parks
- Anticipated natural resource management problems associated with
change in land status resulting from the mandates of the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act and negotiated exchanges
between the DOI and Regional Native Corporations
- Potential impacts on industrial pollutants in the Beaufort,
Bering, and Chukchi seas on DOI trust species
- Increased responsibility of Federal Subsistence management in
Alaska
- Anticipated amendment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to allow
for a regulated spring subsistence harvest of migratory birds in
Alaska and Canada
- Renewed government interest in petroleum exploration and
development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- International conflicts in management of Pacific salmon stocks
- Illegal harvest of shared marine mammal resources in Russia and
sport harvest of polar bear populations shared with Canada
- Tour boat and visitation impacts on coastal waters of Alaska
national parks and preserves
Research Program Capabilities
The staff of the Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office includes research
wildlife biologists, research fishery biologists, a research geneticist,
a zoologist, a marine ecologist, a research statistician, a
veterinarian, a research ecologist, biologists, and a support staff of
biological technicians, statistical assistants, and laboratory
technicians. Annually, the Center receives hundreds of hours of support
from volunteers. A small administrative staff supports the research
program. The Center has expertise in the following areas:
- Ecosystem interactions in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial
arctic and subarctic environments on DOI lands (National Wildlife
Refuges, National Parks, BLM); the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort
seas; and the northern Gulf of Alaska
- Global climate change in arctic and subarctic ecosystems
- Impacts of oil and gas development on arctic and subarctic systems
and key DOI trust species
- Assessment of human related (e.g., subsistence, recreation,
logging, military activities, mining) impacts on DOI trust species
in arctic and subarctic ecosystems
- Research on internationally shared DOI trust species and DOI
programs
- Use of fish and wildlife remote sensing and GIS technology
development and application to understand ecosystem functions
- Inventory and monitoring protocol development for DOI trust
species in arctic and subarctic ecosystems
- Population dynamics, modeling, and ecology of Pacific salmonids,
marine mammals, terrestrial mammals, and migratory birds
- Use of molecular genetic techniques to assess the systematics and
population structure of arctic and subarctic DOI trust species in
arctic and subarctic ecosystems
Partners in the Center's Research Program
Department of the Interior
Other Federal Agencies
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Defense
- Department of the State (Pacific Salmon Treaty)
- U.S. Forest Service
Other Government Agencies and Conservation Organizations
- Ecosystem
Initiative Partners (Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay)
- Pacific Flyway Council
- Alaska Native Organizations
- State of Alaska (Fish and Game, Environmental Conservation,
Natural Resources)
- Canadian Wildlife Service
- SEDESOL (Mexico)
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- Native Walrus Commission
- Marine Mammals Commission
- Oil and Gas Industry Organizations
- State of California (Fish and Game)
- Nongovernmental Conservation Organizations
- Partners-in-Flight
- Pacific Seabird Group The Nature Conservancy
- Exxon Valdez Trustees
Council
- IUCN Polar Bear Group
- Pacific Northwest States (salmon issues)
- Alaska Sea Otter Commission
- University of Alaska and other Universities
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