Daniel H Monson, Ph.D.
Dan is a Research Wildlife Biologist with the Alaska Science Center and sea otter research lead within the Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research Program. His work focuses on sea otter ecology and conservation including developing metrics of sea otter population status and exploring drivers of variation in sea otter foraging and demographic patterns.
Professional Experience
1995 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 Biologist, University of Minnesota, Antarctic Research Program, McMurdo, Antarctica
1992 - 1995 Graduate Research Assistant, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
1992 - 1995 Statistical Assistant, NBS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1987 - 1992 Biological Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska
1985 - 1987 Research Assistant, University of Minnesota, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota
1983 - 1985 Biological Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kawishawi Field Station, Ely, Minnesota
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2009 University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
M.S. 1995 University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA Marine Science
B.S. 1983 Luther College, Decorah, IA Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
The Wildlife Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Ecological Society of America
Science and Products
Life history plasticity and population regulation in sea otters
Comparative demography of sea otter populations
Reproduction, preweaning survival, and survival of adult sea otters at Kodiak Island, Alaska
Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Postrelease monitoring of radio-instrumented sea otters in Prince William Sound
Distribution and relative abundance of sea otters in south-central and south-western Alaska before or at the time of the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill
Science and Products
Life history plasticity and population regulation in sea otters
Comparative demography of sea otter populations
Reproduction, preweaning survival, and survival of adult sea otters at Kodiak Island, Alaska
Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Postrelease monitoring of radio-instrumented sea otters in Prince William Sound
Distribution and relative abundance of sea otters in south-central and south-western Alaska before or at the time of the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill
*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