A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is informing distribution and abundance of loons in northern Alaska and how they may respond to environmental and human changes to the northern landscape.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center loon research program are to:
- Provide ecological and demographic information on Alaska’s three loon species.
- Determine mechanisms for population trends, particularly for the Red-throated Loon (declines noted across much of Alaska) and the Yellow-billed Loon (a candidate species for listing as ‘threatened’ from 2009 to 2014).
- Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for their decision-making regarding loons.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon take off
A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.
A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is informing distribution and abundance of loons in northern Alaska and how they may respond to environmental and human changes to the northern landscape.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center loon research program are to:
- Provide ecological and demographic information on Alaska’s three loon species.
- Determine mechanisms for population trends, particularly for the Red-throated Loon (declines noted across much of Alaska) and the Yellow-billed Loon (a candidate species for listing as ‘threatened’ from 2009 to 2014).
- Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for their decision-making regarding loons.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon take off
A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.
A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.