Title: Bristol Bay Walrus Haul-out Monitoring Project
Station: Marine Mammals Management, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge
Investigators/Cooperators: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Eskimo
Walrus Commission, Bristol Bay Native Association
Management implications/justification: Factors affecting walrus haul-out
behavior are poorly understood. This project will enhance our understanding
of species requirements and allow us to develop biologically sound
management protocols.
Objectives: The objectives of the Bristol Bay Walrus Haul-out Monitoring
Project are to: 1) Track trends in the number of walrus utilizing
Bristol Bay haul-outs; 2) Monitor and mitigate incidences of human
disturbance to walruses resting at the haul-outs; 3) Administer public
visitation programs at the haul-outs; 4) Provide educational opportunities
for Alaska native students interested in careers in biological studies
through a student internship program; and, 5) Provide logistical and
technical support to walrus research projects.
Project timeframe: Annually, summer months
Brief project description: Bristol Bay provides feeding and resting
habitat for large numbers of male Pacific walrus. From May through
October walrus congregate in the bay and rest at terrestrial haul-out
sites at Round Island, Cape Peirce, Cape Newenham, and Cape Seniavin.
While Round Island is located within the Walrus Islands State Game
Sanctuary and Cape Peirce and Cape Newenham are located within Togiak
National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Seniavin currently receives no special
protection. Each summer, we monitor the number of walrus using the
haul-outs as well as both human and non-human caused disturbances
to the walrus.
Title: Airborne Thermal Imagery as a Tool for Population Surveys
of Pacific Walrus
Station: Marine Mammals Management
Investigators/Cooperators: U.S. Geological Survey, National Aeronautic
and Space Administration
Management implications/justification: Accurate species population
estimates are the cornerstone of sound wildlife management practices.
Walrus haul-out behavior is typified by large disparate aggregations
of animals that make accurate surveying problematic. Current investigations
indicate thermal imagery may provide the Service with more accurate
estimates of walrus populations.
Objectives: To enhance the Service’s ability to estimate and
monitor walrus populations over time.
Project timeframe: On going
Brief project description: In 2001, the Service initiated a study
to evaluate the potential application of airborne thermal scanners
as a survey tool for walrus. Preliminary results indicate that the
thermal scanner has sufficient resolution to detect and measure the
aerial footprint of walrus groups both on ice and land. The advantages
of this capability are that a high altitude scanner-based survey could
cover more than four times the area per survey hour flown compared
to traditional visual based observer methods. Also, a high altitude
scanner based survey could produce a permanent data record that could
be reexamined, eliminating observer bias in estimating number of animals
in groups, and increase safety for staff by flying at 10,500 feet
as opposed to the low altitudes (500 feet) flown on visual surveys.
Title: Polar Bear Feeding Ecology Study
Station: Marine Mammals Management
Investigators/Cooperators: The North Slope Borough, The Alaska Nanuuq
Commission and the Native villages of Kaktovik and Nuiqsut
Management implications/justification: Enhanced Service understanding
of the importance of the near shore environment to polar bears will
enable wildlife biologists and managers to better identify and protect
important habitat areas and minimize human disturbance to polar bears.
Objectives: The objectives of the study are to determine polar bear
numbers, sex and age composition, habitat use, and use of whale carcasses
at Cross Island and Barter Island, Alaska during the fall.
Project timeframe: On going.
Brief project description: In the southern Beaufort Sea, polar bears
tend to migrate to the near shore coastal areas during the fall to
look for dens and feed on seals and whale carcasses. In recent years
the number of bears using the coastal habitat in the fall has increased.
Polar bear counts and behavioral observations have been conducted
at Cross Island and Barter Island. This study will provide a framework
for future research related to habitat use, climate change, and population
dynamics.
Title: Polar Bear Bio-Monitoring Program
Station: Marine Mammals Management
Investigators/Cooperators: Nanuuq Commission, Alaskan Native hunters
Management implications/justification: As the apex predator in the
Arctic, polar bears are potentially susceptible to toxic compounds
in the environment. This study will provide managers with both base
line information and the ability to monitor polar bear health status
over time.
Objectives: The focus of the Bio-Monitoring Program is to monitor
the concentrations of toxic compounds found in polar bears such as
perfluoro-compounds and brominated flame retardants (PBDEs), and PCB
metabolites.
Project timeframe: On going
Brief project description: Service biologists visit Native villages
in northern and western Alaska to review the biological sampling protocol
with polar bear hunters, encourage participation in the sampling program
and collect samples. Biological samples are collected from harvested
animals for chemical analysis. The Service provided a summary of the
organochlorine data for inclusion in the Arctic Monitoring Assessment
Program Phase II report and works with managers in Canada, Norway,
Greenland, and Russia to assess and monitor polar bear health throughout
the Arctic.
Title: Prevalence of infectious disease as a cause of mortality in
northern sea otters.
Station: Marine Mammals Management
Investigators/Cooperators: Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC), U.S. Geological
Survey, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, University of California
– Davis Campus.
Management implications/justification: Disease is an important cause
of mortality for threatened southern sea otters in California; however,
there are limited comparative studies for the northern subspecies
of sea otters. Comparative investigations of natural mortality factors,
including disease, will be an important factor in assessing the decline
and eventual recovery of the northern sea otter populations stock
in southwest Alaska. Further, by establishing a baseline on the prevalence
of disease and causes of mortality, this study will help guide treatment
and care of northern sea otters in a rehabilitation setting following
exposure to petroleum products in the event of an oil spill.
Objectives: 1) To obtain sea otter carcasses from a variety of sources
including the ASLC Stranding Network, National Wildlife Refuges, and
villages throughout coastal Alaska; 2) perform complete necropsies
on these animals to assess prevalence of bacterial, viral and parasitic
infectious diseases, and determine cause of death; 3) archive tissues
for future genetic and contaminant analyses; 4) radiograph all carcasses
to assess skeletal injuries; and 5) compare the causes of mortality
and prevalence of infectious disease agents in northern sea otters
with those in southern sea otters.
Project timeframe: On going
Brief project description: Fresh-dead northern sea otter carcasses
will be necropsied and systematically surveyed for infectious diseases.
Samples will be collected from sea otter carcasses obtained through
an actively growing community-based stranding network. Infectious
disease prevalence will be assessed in the fresh carcasses using a
variety of methods using published protocols. Gross necropsy and histopathology
on northern sea otters will utilize the same protocols as southern
sea otter necropsies. Infectious disease diagnostics will include
screens for pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and viruses that are of
concern to marine mammals and humans, and specifically identified
in southern sea otters. Results from the northern sea otter disease
investigations will be compared with similar investigations in southern
sea otters.
