George G Esslinger
Using new technologies to study ecosystems; sea otter ecology; geographic information systems; population estimation; predator/prey interactions.
Professional Experience
1998 - Present Zoologist, USGS, Alaska Biological Science Center Anchorage, Alaska
1995 - 1998 Fish and Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Biological Science Center Anchorage, Alaska
1993 - 1995 Biological Science Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Alaska Fish & Wildlife Research Center Anchorage, Alaska
1989 - 1993 Biological Science Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management Anchorage, Alaska
Education and Certifications
M.S. 2011 University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK Biological Sciences
B.S. 1993 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA Wildlife
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 35
Trends in sea otter population abundance in western Prince William Sound, Alaska: Progress toward recovery following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
Sea otters in western Prince William Sound (WPWS) and elsewhere in the Gulf of Alaska suffered widespread mortality as a result of oiling following the 1989 T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill. Following the spill, extensive efforts have been directed toward identifying and understanding long-term consequences of the spill and the process of recovery. We conducted annual aerial surveys of sea otter abundan
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, George G. Esslinger
The nearshore benthic community of Kasatochi Island, one year after the 2008 volcanic eruption
A description is presented of the nearshore benthic community of Kasatochi Island 10–12 months after a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 2008. The eruption extended the coastline of the island approximately 400 m offshore, mainly along the south, southeast, and southwest shores, to roughly the 20 m isobath. Existing canopy kelp of Eualaria (Alaria) fistulosa, as well as limited understory algal sp
Authors
S.C. Jewett, James L. Bodkin, H. Chenelot, George G. Esslinger, M.K. Hoberg
Status and Trends of Sea Otter Populations in Southeast Alaska, 1969-2003
Aerial surveys of all known sea otter (Enhydra lutris) habitat in Southeast Alaska (SE AK) in 2002-2003 indicated a population size of 8,949 otters [Standard Error (SE) = 899] at an average density of 0.92 otters per square kilometer. These findings on sea otter distribution and abundance were compared to results from several previous surveys. Sea otters have expanded their range beyond the outer
Authors
George G. Esslinger, James L. Bodkin
Activity budgets derived from time-depth recorders in a diving mammal
We describe a method to convert continuously collected time–depth data from archival time–depth recorders (TDRs) into activity budgets for a benthic-foraging marine mammal. We used data from 14 TDRs to estimate activity-specific time budgets in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) residing near Cross Sound, southeast Alaska, USA. From the TDRs we constructed a continuous record of behavior for each individ
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Daniel H. Monson, George G. Esslinger
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, H.A. Coletti, James A. Estes
Foraging depths of sea otters and implications to coastal marine communities
We visually observed 1,251 dives, of 14 sea otters instrumented with TDRs in southeast Alaska, and used attribute values from observed dives to classify 180,848 recorded dives as foraging (0.64), or traveling (0.36). Foraging dives were significantly deeper, with longer durations, bottom times, and postdive surface intervals, and greater descent and ascent rates, compared to traveling dives. Most
Authors
James L. Bodkin, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: annual report 2002
Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from around 5
to more than 1200. Sea otter distribution is mostly limited to the Lower Bay, south of
Sandy Cove, and is not continuous within that area. Concentrations occur in the vicinity
of Sita Reef and Boulder Island and between Pt. Carolus and Rush Pt. on the west side of
the Bay, although there have been occasional
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Heather A. Coletti, Janet Doherty
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Since 1999, vessel based surveys to estimate species composition, distribution and relative abundance of marine birds and mammals have been conducted along coastal and pelagic (offshore) transects in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Surveys have been conducted during winter (November-March) and summer (June). This annual report presents the results of those surveys conducted in March and June of 2001. Followi
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Heather A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. Ballachey
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait, and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports (in 1993) of their presence in Glacier Bay. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from aro
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGroot, J. Doherty
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, H.A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. Ballachey
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Aerial surveys, foraging observations, and intertidal clam sampling
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports of their presence in Glacier Bay in 1993. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from about
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGroot
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 35
Trends in sea otter population abundance in western Prince William Sound, Alaska: Progress toward recovery following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
Sea otters in western Prince William Sound (WPWS) and elsewhere in the Gulf of Alaska suffered widespread mortality as a result of oiling following the 1989 T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill. Following the spill, extensive efforts have been directed toward identifying and understanding long-term consequences of the spill and the process of recovery. We conducted annual aerial surveys of sea otter abundan
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, George G. Esslinger
The nearshore benthic community of Kasatochi Island, one year after the 2008 volcanic eruption
A description is presented of the nearshore benthic community of Kasatochi Island 10–12 months after a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 2008. The eruption extended the coastline of the island approximately 400 m offshore, mainly along the south, southeast, and southwest shores, to roughly the 20 m isobath. Existing canopy kelp of Eualaria (Alaria) fistulosa, as well as limited understory algal sp
Authors
S.C. Jewett, James L. Bodkin, H. Chenelot, George G. Esslinger, M.K. Hoberg
Status and Trends of Sea Otter Populations in Southeast Alaska, 1969-2003
Aerial surveys of all known sea otter (Enhydra lutris) habitat in Southeast Alaska (SE AK) in 2002-2003 indicated a population size of 8,949 otters [Standard Error (SE) = 899] at an average density of 0.92 otters per square kilometer. These findings on sea otter distribution and abundance were compared to results from several previous surveys. Sea otters have expanded their range beyond the outer
Authors
George G. Esslinger, James L. Bodkin
Activity budgets derived from time-depth recorders in a diving mammal
We describe a method to convert continuously collected time–depth data from archival time–depth recorders (TDRs) into activity budgets for a benthic-foraging marine mammal. We used data from 14 TDRs to estimate activity-specific time budgets in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) residing near Cross Sound, southeast Alaska, USA. From the TDRs we constructed a continuous record of behavior for each individ
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Daniel H. Monson, George G. Esslinger
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, H.A. Coletti, James A. Estes
Foraging depths of sea otters and implications to coastal marine communities
We visually observed 1,251 dives, of 14 sea otters instrumented with TDRs in southeast Alaska, and used attribute values from observed dives to classify 180,848 recorded dives as foraging (0.64), or traveling (0.36). Foraging dives were significantly deeper, with longer durations, bottom times, and postdive surface intervals, and greater descent and ascent rates, compared to traveling dives. Most
Authors
James L. Bodkin, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: annual report 2002
Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from around 5
to more than 1200. Sea otter distribution is mostly limited to the Lower Bay, south of
Sandy Cove, and is not continuous within that area. Concentrations occur in the vicinity
of Sita Reef and Boulder Island and between Pt. Carolus and Rush Pt. on the west side of
the Bay, although there have been occasional
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Heather A. Coletti, Janet Doherty
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Since 1999, vessel based surveys to estimate species composition, distribution and relative abundance of marine birds and mammals have been conducted along coastal and pelagic (offshore) transects in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Surveys have been conducted during winter (November-March) and summer (June). This annual report presents the results of those surveys conducted in March and June of 2001. Followi
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, Heather A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. Ballachey
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait, and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports (in 1993) of their presence in Glacier Bay. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from aro
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGroot, J. Doherty
Marine predator surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, H.A. Coletti, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, Brenda E. Ballachey
Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Aerial surveys, foraging observations, and intertidal clam sampling
Following translocations to the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in 1965, sea otters have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance. We began conducting surveys for sea otters in Cross Sound, Icy Strait and Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1994, following initial reports of their presence in Glacier Bay in 1993. Since 1995, the number of sea otters in Glacier Bay proper has increased from about
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, J.D. DeGroot