John Piatt, Ph.D.
Seabirds, marine food webs and impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
My research has been conducted mostly in the north Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with a focus on studies of seabird biology at colonies and ecological factors that influence seabird populations and distribution at sea. Research topics also include feeding ecology of seabirds (especially Auks), forage fish (such as capelin and sand lance), groundfish, marine mammals, food webs, oceanography, marine ecosystems; and threats to seabirds from climate change, heatwaves, overfishing, net bycatch, and oil spills.
Professional Experience
1987-Present Sr Scientist, USGS Alaska Science Center, AK
1982-1987 Res. Assoc., Nfld. Inst. for Cold Ocean Sci., MUN, NL
1978-1981 Fish. Obs./Wildl. Biol., DFO Canada/MacLaren Marex, NL
1974-1977 Res. Asst., Chemistry & Biochemistry Departments, MUN, NL
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1987 Marine Biology, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland (MUN), Canada
B.Sc. (Honours) 1977 Biochemistry, MUN, Canada
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member (2021): Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Am. Ornith. Soc., Pac. Seabird Grp., Am. Fish. Soc.
Editorial, Boards, Panels and Offices
Editor, Marine Ecology Progress Series (2007-2021)
Assoc. Editor, The Auk (2006-2013)
Chairman (1993-1994), Pacific Seabird Group (Research and Conservation)
Board or Science Panel service to North Pacific Research Board (2004-2011), Sound Experience (2014-2018), CA Fish & Game Commission (2003-2006), NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (2000-2002)
Board or Science Panel service to Steller Sea Lion Recovery Team Advisory Panel (1999-2001), Cook Inlet Keepers (1996-2003), Alaska Sea Life Center (1995-1999)
Affiliate Professor – U. Washington (UW, 2004-2020); Oregon State U. (OSU, 2011-2015), MUN (1992-1996)
Visiting Scholar – UW (1997-1998)
Invited Scholar - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Norway (1991)
Supervisor for 3 PhD, 13 MSc students at 9 univ. in the UK (Glasgow, Durham), Canada (MUN, U.Vic), & the U.S. (UW, U.Alaska, UCSC, OSU)
Ext. examiner for 6 PhD. & 2 MSc theses (CAN, US, AUS)
Honors and Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Pacific Seabird Group
US DOI, Secretary, Award for Exceptional Service (1990)
US DOI, Secretary, Award for Extraordinary Contributions (2011)
USGS, Director, Certificate of Appreciation (2011)
USGS, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions (2006)
USGS, Special Act Service Award (1997)
USFS, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service (1997)
USGS Quality (Step) Awards (2) for Exceptional Performance
USGS/NBS/FWS Performance/Star Awards (24 during 1987-2020) for Outstanding Achievement
USFWS, Regional Director, Special Action Award (1990)
Science and Products
The adrenocorical stress-response of Black-legged Kittiwake chicks in relation to dietary restrictions
Time-budgets of Common Murres at a declining and increasing colony in Alaska
Marine birds and mammals of the Pacific Subarctic Gyres
Vocalizations of the Kittlitz's Murrelet
Dynamics of food availability, body condition and physiological stress response in breeding Black-legged Kittiwakes
Temporal and geographic variation in fish communities of lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift
Annotated bibliography
Foods of Spectacled Eiders Somateria fischeri in the Bering Sea, Alaska
Hermit crabs in the diet of Pigeon Guillemots at Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Marbled murrelets have declined in Alaska
Seabird, marine mammal, and oceanography coordinated investigations (SMMOCI) near Unimak Pass, Alaska
Science and Products
The adrenocorical stress-response of Black-legged Kittiwake chicks in relation to dietary restrictions
Time-budgets of Common Murres at a declining and increasing colony in Alaska
Marine birds and mammals of the Pacific Subarctic Gyres
Vocalizations of the Kittlitz's Murrelet
Dynamics of food availability, body condition and physiological stress response in breeding Black-legged Kittiwakes
Temporal and geographic variation in fish communities of lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift
Annotated bibliography
Foods of Spectacled Eiders Somateria fischeri in the Bering Sea, Alaska
Hermit crabs in the diet of Pigeon Guillemots at Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Marbled murrelets have declined in Alaska
Seabird, marine mammal, and oceanography coordinated investigations (SMMOCI) near Unimak Pass, 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