Wet deposition of fission-product isotopes to North America from the Fukushima Dai-ichi incident, March 2011
Gregory A. Wetherbee, David A. Gay, Timothy M. Debey, Christopher M.B. Lehmann, Mark A. Nilles
2012, Environmental Science & Technology (46) 2574-2582
Using the infrastructure of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), numerous measurements of radionuclide wet deposition over North America were made for 167 NADP sites before and after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station incident of March 12, 2011. For the period from March 8 through April 5, 2011, wet-only...
Long-term effects of the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill: Sea otter foraging in the intertidal as a pathway of exposure to lingering oil
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Heather A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Stanley D. Rice, John A. Reed, Daniel H. Monson
2012, Marine Ecology Progress Series (447) 273-287
The protracted recovery of some bird and mammal populations in western Prince William Sound (WPWS), Alaska, and the persistence of spilled 'Exxon Valdez' oil in intertidal sediments, suggests a pathway of exposure to consumers that occupy nearshore habitats. To evaluate the hypothesis that sea otter (Enhydra lutris) foraging allows access...
Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers in the Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus, Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus and Snowy Owl B. scandiacus for use in population genetics, individual identification and parentage studies
Cody R. Dial, Sandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, Mathew T. Seidensticker, Denver W. Holt
2012, Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology (44) 1-12
Using DNA from blood and feathers, we screened twenty-four microsatellite primer pairs initially developed for six strigid owls, and four primer pairs shown to be polymorphic across avian taxa, for their utility in Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), and Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus). Eight of these...
Variations of transcript profiles between sea otters Enhydra lutris from Prince William Sound, Alaska, and clinically normal reference otters
A. Keith Miles, Lizabeth Bowen, Brenda E. Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, M. Murray, J.L. Estes, Robin A. Keister, J.L. Stott
2012, Marine Ecology Progress Series (451) 201-212
Development of blood leukocyte gene transcript profiles has the potential to expand condition assessments beyond those currently available to evaluate wildlife health, including sea otters Enhydra lutris, both individually and as populations. The 10 genes targeted in our study represent multiple physiological systems that play a role in immuno-modulation, inflammation,...
Range-wide patterns of migratory connectivity in the western sandpiper Calidris mauri
Samantha E. Franks, D. Ryan Norris, T. Kurt Kyser, Guillermo Fernández, Birgit Schwarz, Roberto Carmona, Mark A. Colwell, Jorge Correa Sandoval, Alexey Dondua, H. River Gates, Ben Haase, David J. Hodkinson, Ariam Jimenez, Richard B. Lanctot, Brent Ortego, Brett K. Sandercock, Felicia J. Sanders, John Y. Takekawa, Nils Warnock, Ron C. Ydenberg, David B. Lank
2012, Journal of Avian Biology (43) 155-167
Understanding the population dynamics of migratory animals and predicting the consequences of environmental change requires knowing how populations are spatially connected between different periods of the annual cycle. We used stable isotopes to examine patterns of migratory connectivity across the range of the western sandpiper Calidris mauri. First, we developed...
Well log characterization of natural gas-hydrates
Timothy S. Collett, Myung W. Lee
2012, Book
In the last 25 years there have been significant advancements in the use of well-logging tools to acquire detailed information on the occurrence of gas hydrates in nature: whereas wireline electrical resistivity and acoustic logs were formerly used to identify gas-hydrate occurrences in wells drilled in Arctic permafrost environments, more...
A circumpolar monitoring framework for polar bears
Dag Vongraven, Jon Aars, Steven C. Amstrup, Stephen N. Atkinson, Stanislav Belikov, Erik W. Born, T.D. DeBruyn, Andrew E. Derocher, George M. Durner, Michael J. Gill, Nicholas J. Lunn, Martyn E. Obbard, Jack Omelak, Nikita Ovsyanikov, Elizabeth L. Peacock, E.E. Richardson, Vicki Sahanatien, Ian Stirling, Øystein Wiig
2012, Ursus (23) 1-66
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) occupy remote regions that are characterized by harsh weather and limited access. Polar bear populations can only persist where temporal and spatial availability of sea ice provides adequate access to their marine mammal prey. Observed declines in sea ice availability will continue as long as greenhouse...
Spatiotemporal analysis of black spruce forest soils and implications for the fate of C
Jennifer W. Harden, Kristen L. Manies, Jonathan O'Donnell, Kristofer Johnson, Steve Frolking, Zhaosheng Fan
2012, Journal of Geophysical Research (117)
Post-fire storage of carbon (C) in organic-soil horizons was measured in one Canadian and three Alaskan chronosequences in black spruce forests, together spanning stand ages of nearly 200 yrs. We used a simple mass balance model to derive estimates of inputs, losses, and accumulation rates of C on timescales of...
The effects of permafrost thaw on soil hydrologic, thermal, and carbon dynamics in an Alaskan peatland
Jonathan A. O’Donnell, M. Torre Jorgenson, Jennifer W. Harden, A. David McGuire, Mikhail Z. Kanevskiy, Kimberly P. Wickland
2012, Ecosystems (15) 213-229
Recent warming at high-latitudes has accelerated permafrost thaw in northern peatlands, and thaw can have profound effects on local hydrology and ecosystem carbon balance. To assess the impact of permafrost thaw on soil organic carbon (OC) dynamics, we measured soil hydrologic and thermal dynamics and soil OC stocks across a...
Bacterial and enchytraeid abundance accelerate soil carbon turnover along a lowland vegetation gradient in interior Alaska
M. P. Waldrop, Jennifer W. Harden, M.R. Turetsky, D.G. Petersen, A. D. McGuire, M.J.I. Briones, A.C. Churchill, D.H. Doctor, L.E. Pruett
2012, Soil Biology and Biochemistry (50) 188-198
Boreal wetlands are characterized by a mosaic of plant communities, including forests, shrublands, grasslands, and fens, which are structured largely by changes in topography and water table position. The soil associated with these plant communities contain quantitatively and qualitatively different forms of soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient availability that...
Predation rates, timing, and predator composition for Scoters (Melanitta spp.) in marine habitats
Eric J. Anderson, Daniel Esler, Boyd W. Sean, Joseph Evenson, David R. Nysewander, David H. Ward, Rian D. Dickson, Brian D. Uher-Koch, C.S. Vanstratt, Jerry W. Hupp
2012, Canadian Journal of Zoology (90) 42-50
Studies of declining populations of sea ducks have focused mainly on bottom-up processes with little emphasis on the role of predation. We identified 11 potential predators of White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca (L., 1758)) and Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata (L., 1758)) in North American marine habitats. However, of 596 Scoters marked...
Range overlap and individual movements during breeding season influence genetic relationships of caribou herds in south-central Alaska
Gretchen H. Roffler, Layne G. Adams, Sandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, Bruce W. Dale
2012, Canadian Journal of Zoology (93) 1318-1330
North American caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herds commonly exhibit little nuclear genetic differentiation among adjacent herds, although available evidence supports strong demographic separation, even for herds with seasonal range overlap. During 1997–2003, we studied the Mentasta and Nelchina caribou herds in south-central Alaska using radiotelemetry to determine individual movements and range...
Diversity of nitrogen isotopes and protein status in caribou: implications for monitoring northern ungulates
David D. Gustine, Perry S. Barboza, James P. Lawler, Layne G. Adams, Kathy L. Parker, Steve M. Arthur, Brad S. Shults
2012, Journal of Mammalogy (93) 778-790
Nutritional condition is an important determinant of productivity and survival in caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We used samples of excreta (n = 1,150) to estimate diet composition from microhistology and 2 isotopic proxies of protein status for 2 ecotypes of caribou in 4 herds in late winter (2006–2008). Isotopes of nitrogen...
Small population size of Pribilof Rock Sandpipers confirmed through distance-sampling surveys in Alaska
Daniel R. Ruthrauff, T. Lee Tibbitts, Robert E. Gill Jr., Maksim N. Dementyev, Colleen M. Handel
2012, Condor (114) 544-551
The Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) is endemic to the Bering Sea region and unique among shorebirds in the North Pacific for wintering at high latitudes. The nominate subspecies, the Pribilof Rock Sandpiper (C. p. ptilocnemis), breeds on four isolated islands in the Bering Sea and appears to spend the winter...
Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) runs and consumer fitness: growth and energy storage in stream-dwelling salmonids increase with salmon spawner density
Daniel J. Rinella, Mark S. Wipfli, Craig A. Stricker, Ron A. Heintz, Matthew J. Rinella
2012, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (69) 73-84
We examined how marine-derived nutrients (MDN), in the form of spawning Pacific salmon, influenced the nutritional status and δ15N of stream-dwelling fishes. We sampled juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) during spring and fall from 11 south-central Alaskan streams that ranged widely in spawning salmon biomass...
SYBR green-based real-time reverse transcription-PCR for typing and subtyping of all hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of avian influenza viruses and comparison to standard serological subtyping tests
K. Tsukamoto, P.C. Javier, M. Shishido, D. Noguchi, John M. Pearce, H.-M. Kang, O.M. Jeong, Y.-J. Lee, K. Nakanishi, T. Ashizawa
2012, Journal of Clinical Microbiology (50) 37-45
Continuing outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza virus (AIV) infections of wild birds and poultry worldwide emphasize the need for global surveillance of wild birds. To support the future surveillance activities, we developed a SYBR green-based, real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) for detecting nucleoprotein (NP) genes and subtyping...
Functional ecology of saltglands in shorebirds: Flexible responses to variable environmental conditions
J.S. Gutierrez, M.W. Dietz, J.A. Masero, Robert E. Gill Jr., Anne Dekinga, Phil F. Battley, J. M. Sanchez-Guzman, Theunis Piersma
2012, Functional Ecology (26) 236-244
1. Birds of marine environments have specialized glands to excrete salt, the saltglands. Located on the skull between the eyes, the size of these organs is expected to reflect their demand, which will vary with water turnover rates as a function of environmental (heat load, salinity of prey and drinking...
Population fragmentation and inter-ecosystem movements of grizzly bears in Western Canada and the Northern United States
M.F. Proctor, David Paetkau, B. N. McLellan, G.B. Stenhouse, K.C. Kendall, R.D. Mace, W.F. Kasworm, C. Servheen, C.L. Lausen, M.L. Gibeau, W.L. Wakkinen, M.A. Haroldson, G. Mowat, C.D. Apps, L.M. Ciarniello, R.M.R. Barclay, M.S. Boyce, C.C. Schwartz, C. Strobeck
2012, Wildlife Monographs 1-46
Population fragmentation compromises population viability, reduces a species ability to respond to climate change, and ultimately may reduce biodiversity. We studied the current state and potential causes of fragmentation in grizzly bears over approximately 1,000,000 km 2 of western Canada, the northern United States (US), and southeast Alaska. We...
Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species
S. Leclaire, T. Merkling, C. Raynaud, Herve Mulard, J.-M. Bessiere, E.M. Lhuillier, Scott A. Hatch, E. Danchin
2012, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (279) 1185-1193
Several vertebrates choose their mate according to genetic heterozygosity and relatedness, and use odour cues to assess their conspecifics' genetic make-up. In birds, although several species (including the black-legged kittiwake) exhibit non-random mating according to genetic traits, the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. The importance of olfaction...
Migration of Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi): Evidence of freshwater resident life history types
Christian E. Zimmerman, P.S. Rand, M. Fukushima, S.F. Zolotukhin
2012, Environmental Biology of Fishes (93) 223-232
Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi) range from the Russian Far East mainland along the Sea of Japan coast, and Sakhalin, Kuril, and Hokkaido Islands and are considered to primarily be an anadromous species. We used otolith strontium-to-calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) to determine the chronology of migration between freshwater and saltwater and identify...
Assessment of pingo distribution and morphometry using an IfSAR derived digital surface model, western Arctic Coastal Plain, Northern Alaska
Benjamin M. Jones, G. Grosse, Kenneth M. Hinkel, C.D. Arp, S. Walker, R.A. Beck, J. P. Galloway
2012, Geomorphology (138) 1-14
Pingos are circular to elongate ice-cored mounds that form by injection and freezing of pressurized water in near-surface permafrost. Here we use a digital surface model (DSM) derived from an airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR) system to assess the distribution and morphometry of pingos within a 40,000 km2 area on the...
Shorebird surveys in western Alaska
Brian J. McCaffery, Jonathan Bart, Catherine Wightman, David J. Krueper
2012, Book chapter, Arctic shorebirds in North America: A decade of monitoring
Surveys for breeding shorebirds were conducted during 2001-2002 in four National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in western Alaska - Alaska Maritime, Alaska Peninsula, Yukon Delta and Selawik. The sizes of our study areas on and adjacent to these four refuges were 9,243 km2, 24,493 km2, 853 km2, and 15,170 km2, respectively....
Methods
Jonathan Bart, Victoria Johnston, Paul A. Smith, Ann Manning, Jennie Rausch, Stephen Brown
Jonathan Bart, Victoria Johnston, editor(s)
2012, Book chapter, Arctic shorebirds in North America: A decade of monitoring
Detecting declines in population size is one of the highest priorities of the shorebird initiatives in Canada and the United States. The quantitative goal is 80% power to detect a 50% decline, occurring during no more than 20 years, with a significance level of 0.15, using a two-tailed test, and...
Paired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds
John M. Pearce, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Jeffrey S. Hall
2012, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (48) 812-814
Surveillance has revealed low prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in shorebirds except Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) on the North American Atlantic coast. Similarly, of five species of shorebirds surveyed in Alaska in 2010, Ruddy Turnstones had the highest AIV antibody prevalence; prevalence of AIV RNA was low or zero....
Airborne electromagnetic imaging of discontinuous permafrost
B. J. Minsley, J.D. Abraham, B. D. Smith, J. C. Cannia, C.I. Voss, M.T. Jorgenson, Michelle Ann Walvoord, B.K. Wylie, L. Anderson, L.B. Ball, M. Deszcz-Pan, T.P. Wellman, T. A. Ager
2012, Geophysical Research Letters (39) 1-8
The evolution of permafrost in cold regions is inextricably connected to hydrogeologic processes, climate, and ecosystems. Permafrost thawing has been linked to changes in wetland and lake areas, alteration of the groundwater contribution to streamflow, carbon release, and increased fire frequency. But detailed knowledge about the dynamic state of permafrost...
