Alaska Science Center

Current Highlights

USGS Scientist Participates in Jr. Naturalist Program

USGS Genomics Group Meets for Training 

USGS Scientist Participates in 2013 Skagit Valley Hawk Census and Edison Bird Festival

New Publication Advances Modeling Approaches for Estimating Vital Rates and Abundance from Mark-recapture Studies

New Publication on Detection and Characterization of Japanese Encephalitis Virus from South Korea

In the Spotlight

USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative

New Fact Sheet Provides Update on Polar Bear and Walrus Response to the Rapid Decline in Arctic Sea Ice

Fact Sheet is online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3131/

New Fact Sheet Provides Update on Measuring and Forecasting the Response of Alaska's Terrestrial Ecosystem to a Warming Climate

Fact Sheet is online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3144/

Through the Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative, the USGS strives to inform key resource management decisions by better understanding how wildlife populations of special interest to the Department of the Interior are responding to rapid physical changes in the Arctic. The CAE initiative includes several research themes, including one focused on the marine ecosystem and effects of recent declines in sea ice on the polar bear and walrus and another focused on Arctic terrestrial systems and a range of focal wildlife species dependent on that environment. USGS has published two new Fact Sheets to highlight the integrative modeling framework, new technologies being developed and early findings of these research themes.

Report Discusses Climate Change in Alaska

This report, The United States National Climate Assessment—Alaska Technical Regional Report, is one of eight regional reports that will provide input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment. The report covers a wide range of observed environmental trends and potential effects of a changing climate in Alaska including changes on the ocean environment, the land environment, the human environment and hydrological linkages. The report also describes new science leadership activities that have been initiated to address and provide guidance toward conducting research aimed at making available information for policy makers and land management agencies to better understand, address, and plan for changes to the local and regional environment. The report can be viewed at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1379/.

Markon, C.J., Trainor, S.F., and Chapin, F.S., III, eds., 2012, The United States National Climate Assessment—Alaska Technical Regional Report: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1379, 148p, also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1379/.

Alaska Science Center Press Conference Presents Updates on Pacific Walrus Research

The loss of sea ice habitat in the Chukchi Sea is believed to be one of the greatest influences on future Pacific walrus population dynamics. Through the Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative, the U.S. Geological Survey has lead research on polar bears and walruses for the Department of Interior for many years and is continuing to support new integrated studies that target critical data gaps. Chad Jay, lead scientist for the USGS Pacific Walrus program, provided a short briefing on findings from USGS's Changing Arctic Ecosystem Initiative related to observations on the effects of sea ice loss in the Chukchi Sea. A new 12 minute film about the research, "Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice," was premiered at the event in addition to new maps, statistics, and other information. A new study just published in the November issue of Marine Ecology Progress discusses how USGS and ChukotTINRO radio-tracked walruses to investigate the distribution of walrus foraging in the Chukchi Sea during sparse sea ice cover in recent years. A USGS news release about the study was also issued.

Prior In the Spotlight Articles