This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS that evaluates satellite imagery for monitoring large Pacific walrus haulouts in northwestern Alaska.
This is a nation-wide collaborative program, supported by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, through which USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff address priority research needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. On this page, we highlight research taking place in Alaska as part of this program.
Return to Ecosystems >> Collaborative Science for Priority Information Needs
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service priorities change annually through this program. Results of past studies can be found under Data and Tools and Publications on this page.
For 2023-2025, the USGS Alaska Science Center is focusing on the following science studies and co-production projects with Alaska Native groups and communities:
- Assessing the demographic trend of the Pacific walrus in a changing Arctic ecosystem
- Pacific walrus close-kin mark-recapture preliminary model
- Continued population declines of a rare songbird endemic to the Bering Sea region of Alaska, the McKay's Bunting
- Developing partnerships to guide research, conservation, and co-stewardship of the tevatevaaq (bar-tailed godwit)
- Rusting river impacts to food security, drinking water, and ecological systems: co-designing a water quality monitoring program with Northwest Alaska communities to assess impacts from permafrost thaw on aquatic systems
- An integrated approach for co-design of sea otter population assessments
- Toward co-production of knowledge about Pacific salmon populations and habitats in the Koyukuk, Nowitna & Innoko National Wildlife Refuges and Gana-A’Yoo managed freshwaters
- Investigating opportunities for co-Production of research on the Porcupine Caribou Herd
- Pacific Walrus population dynamics: towards co-production of science to aid co-management decisions
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Q&A: Vessel Cruise for Estimates of Pacific Walrus Demography
Adult female and juvenile Pacific walruses reside in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea in the late spring and summer. In June of 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USGS will again conduct a walrus research cruise on the Research Vessel Norseman II. The cruise will depart from Nome, Alaska on May 31, 2024, and return to Nome on June 28, 2024. The research cruise will be...
Q&A: Improving Aerial Surveys of Geese in Alaska with Aerial Imagery
Thousands of geese gather at Izembek Lagoon in southwestern Alaska every fall where they “stage”, meaning that they rest and eat in preparation for migration to lower latitudes. Izembek Lagoon is especially important for Pacific brant geese, as the entire Pacific Flyway population is thought to use the lagoon in fall. This provides an opportunity to efficiently survey the population to track...
Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River
In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Evaluation of Satellite Imagery Monitoring Pacific Walruses haulouts
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS that evaluates satellite imagery for monitoring large Pacific walrus haulouts in northwestern Alaska.
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Example of a photo from the USFWS fall aerial survey for geese at Izembek Lagoon. Inset shows a closer view of four Black Brant (bottom) with a Cackling Goose (top) foraging on eelgrass. Scientists from the USGS Alaska Science Center and the U.S.
Example of a photo from the USFWS fall aerial survey for geese at Izembek Lagoon. Inset shows a closer view of four Black Brant (bottom) with a Cackling Goose (top) foraging on eelgrass. Scientists from the USGS Alaska Science Center and the U.S.
USGS Employee Loading Helicopter At Gage 15955000 Canning River, AK.
USGS gage 15955000 Canning River above Staines River near Deadhorse, AK. Derek Frohbelter loading helicopter for return to Kavik.
USGS gage 15955000 Canning River above Staines River near Deadhorse, AK. Derek Frohbelter loading helicopter for return to Kavik.
Caribou Tracks Along Alaska's Coast
This photograph shows caribou tracks on ice-wedge polygons near Garry Creek in Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
This photograph shows caribou tracks on ice-wedge polygons near Garry Creek in Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
Spectacled Female Eider on Nest
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Q&A: Vessel Cruise for Estimates of Pacific Walrus Demography
Adult female and juvenile Pacific walruses reside in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea in the late spring and summer. In June of 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USGS will again conduct a walrus research cruise on the Research Vessel Norseman II. The cruise will depart from Nome, Alaska on May 31, 2024, and return to Nome on June 28, 2024. The research cruise will be...
Q&A: Improving Aerial Surveys of Geese in Alaska with Aerial Imagery
Thousands of geese gather at Izembek Lagoon in southwestern Alaska every fall where they “stage”, meaning that they rest and eat in preparation for migration to lower latitudes. Izembek Lagoon is especially important for Pacific brant geese, as the entire Pacific Flyway population is thought to use the lagoon in fall. This provides an opportunity to efficiently survey the population to track...
Winter Habitat of Juvenile Dolly Varden in the Canning River
In the Arctic, rivers often freeze all the way to the bottom each winter leaving fish with limited habitat where they can survive.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Evaluation of Satellite Imagery Monitoring Pacific Walruses haulouts
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS that evaluates satellite imagery for monitoring large Pacific walrus haulouts in northwestern Alaska.
This is a graphical abstract for a publication by the USGS that evaluates satellite imagery for monitoring large Pacific walrus haulouts in northwestern Alaska.
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Example of a photo from the USFWS fall aerial survey for geese at Izembek Lagoon. Inset shows a closer view of four Black Brant (bottom) with a Cackling Goose (top) foraging on eelgrass. Scientists from the USGS Alaska Science Center and the U.S.
Example of a photo from the USFWS fall aerial survey for geese at Izembek Lagoon. Inset shows a closer view of four Black Brant (bottom) with a Cackling Goose (top) foraging on eelgrass. Scientists from the USGS Alaska Science Center and the U.S.
USGS Employee Loading Helicopter At Gage 15955000 Canning River, AK.
USGS gage 15955000 Canning River above Staines River near Deadhorse, AK. Derek Frohbelter loading helicopter for return to Kavik.
USGS gage 15955000 Canning River above Staines River near Deadhorse, AK. Derek Frohbelter loading helicopter for return to Kavik.
Caribou Tracks Along Alaska's Coast
This photograph shows caribou tracks on ice-wedge polygons near Garry Creek in Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
This photograph shows caribou tracks on ice-wedge polygons near Garry Creek in Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
Spectacled Female Eider on Nest
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.