Brenda Ballachey, Ph.D.
Population status and indices of population condition; population, physiological and ecological effects of oil exposure on marine mammals and coastal ecosystems; environmental toxicology, physiology and genetics of marine mammals.
Professional Experience
2016 - Present Research Physiologist Emeritus, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1990 - 2016 Research Physiologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1989 - 1990 Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1987 - 1989 Staff Officer, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
1986 - 1987 Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
1985 - 1985 Instructor, Department of Animal Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
1981 - 1985 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
1977 - 1980 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1985 Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR Animal Breeding and Genetics
M.S. 1980 Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO Animal Sciences
B.S. 1974 Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO Animal Science
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Marine Mammalogy
The Wildlife Society
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Science and Products
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters, assessed through age-dependent mortality patterns
Population demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters
Response of Pacific walruses to disturbances from capture and handling activities at a haul-out in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Integrating ecosystem studies: A Bayesian comparison of hypotheses
Estimating survival rates with age-structure data
Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters
Population genetic studies of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris): A review and interpretation of available data
Sea Otter Enhydra lutris
Hydrocarbons in hair, livers, and intestines of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) found dead along the path of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected from southeast Alaska
Science and Products
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Long-term impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters, assessed through age-dependent mortality patterns
Population demographics and genetic diversity in remnant and translocated populations of sea otters
Response of Pacific walruses to disturbances from capture and handling activities at a haul-out in Bristol Bay, Alaska
Integrating ecosystem studies: A Bayesian comparison of hypotheses
Estimating survival rates with age-structure data
Flow-cytometric determination of genotoxic effects of exposure to petroleum in mink and sea otters
Population genetic studies of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris): A review and interpretation of available data
Sea Otter Enhydra lutris
Hydrocarbons in hair, livers, and intestines of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) found dead along the path of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Hydrocarbon residues in tissues of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) collected from southeast Alaska
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government