Faculty Research
Ginny Eckert, Ph.D.
My research addresses the role of reproduction and larval development on population dynamics in benthic marine invertebrates. I am specifically interested in the role of larval dispersal. Many marine organisms have a complex life cycle in which the larval stage disperses in the plankton, and the adult stage is benthic and relatively sedentary. I am interested in the coupling between these two stages. I have studied these questions using different methods, including field research (intertidal and subtidal), laboratory experiments with larvae and adults, and syntheses of published data. I am also interested in applied ecological questions and have studied the sea cucumber, Parastichopus parvimensis, in southern California and I am studying the sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, in Alaska to provide basic biological information for fishery management.
I am currently working on several projects that assess the effectiveness of marine reserves by considering the larval dispersal of species within the reserve. One project is studying the dispersal and recruitment of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, within Glacier Bay National Park, a recently designated marine reserve.
Publications
Brendan P. Kelly, Ph.D.
My research focuses on the behavioral ecology of marine mammals, especially ice-associated pinnipeds. I am interested in the adaptations of marine mammals to marine foraging, especially in seasonally ice-covered seas. My research is facilitated by research associates, graduate (Juneau Center School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, JCSFOS) and undergraduate students, and Labrador retrievers.
Currently, we are focused on five major projects: a long-term study of the behavior of ringed seals in their sub-ice habitat; population biology of Pacific walruses; systematics of the world's walrus populations; population biology of harbor seals in Alaska; and the diving and foraging behavior of sea otters in southeastern Alaska.
Publications
Elizabeth Mathews, M.S.
I have been involved in population assessment and behavioral studies of harbor seals, Steller sea lions, baleen whales, killer whales, and harbor porpoise. Much of my recent work is in Glacier Bay National Park where I am the project leader for research on pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). To accomplish this research, I work closely with NPS staff and undergraduate students.
Since 1992 we have conducted aerial and shore-based surveys of harbor seals at glacial ice and terrestrial haulouts (resting areas), and we use these data to measure long-term population trends. Steep declines in harbor seals in the Gulf of Alaska and to the west have been documented, whereas seal numbers in southeastern Alaska had been considered stable.
Our data indicate that seal numbers in Glacier Bay (located at the northern end of southeastern Alaska) declined by 35-50% between 1992 and 1999. In contrast with harbor seals, Steller sea lion numbers at a haulout in Glacier Bay have increased steeply since 1994. We plan to expand our research to address possible factors involved in the decline in seals, such as changes in prey availability.
We have also conducted several studies in Glacier Bay designed to measure the effects of vessel traffic and distance on the behavior of pinnipeds and to determine public and commercial vessel operators' compliance with NPS wildlife regulations. I am interested in the behavioral ecology of harbor seals, particularly the influences of haulout substrate (ice vs. land) on mating behavior.
Publications
Michael S. Stekoll, Ph.D.
The biological communities along most of the rocky shores of Alaska are defined by the marine plant associations. A major portion of the primary production throughout the year is provided by the benthic plants in the nearshore. These communities are often disturbed not only by natural phenomena, such as winter storms and ice, but also by anthropogenic disturbances such as harvesting and pollution.
My research has concentrated in both basic and applied aspects of the biology and ecology of marine benthic plants and on the effects of disturbances on this community. My associates and I have investigated the effects of harvest and pollution on the intertidal and subtidal seaweeds. A large part of our work in recent years has investigated the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on the benthic plants (especially the rockweed Fucus) in areas of the spill. We have determined the limiting factors in the recovery of the intertidal plants from the effects of the spill and cleanup and have investigated methods of restoring Fucus populations.
We have also conducted applied research on the commercial exploitation of seaweeds. In addition to performing seaweed resource assessments for potential commercial harvest, we have been investigating the potential of mariculture as a means to enhance exploited algal resources. There are many organisms that can be cultured which have potential to be developed as a high value product. Among these are seaweeds such as Macrocystis (giant kelp), Nereocystis (bull kelp) and Porphyra (nori).
My lab has worked out the procedures for the successful mariculture of Macrocystis which has economic implications for the Alaska roe-on-kelp fishery. We have also researched the methodology for the successful mariculture of Porphyra. This plant can be marketed both as nori for the sushi and health food market and as black seaweed for the Native community. Currently we are working on a project to use remote sensing techniques to map floating kelp beds in SE Alaska.
Other "non seaweed" projects have involved the effects of pollution on salmon and herring. We have recently completed research on the potential impacts of mining activities on the nearshore benthos, and are currently investigating the effects of common ions (hard water) from mine wastewater on the growth and development of coho salmon. A new project was initiated this year to develop a model for investigating generational effects of pollutants on aquatic organisms.
Publications
David A. Tallmon, Ph.D.
My general research focus is on understanding the dynamics of natural populations and communities using demographic and genetic models, molecular genetic data, and field data. More specifically, I am interested in combining population genomics and demographic information to infer important parameters for wild populations and assessing the impacts of these parameters on ecological communities.
Recently, I have used models based on likelihood and approximate Bayesian computation to infer demographic vital rates or effective population size with the goal of providing useful results and tools for conservation and evolutionary biology. As an example, some collaborators and I have recently developed an approach to infer effective size of a population using a single sample of microsatellite data and approximate Bayesian computation. To use this application, visit http://genomics.jun.alaska.edu
Although most of my past empirical research has focused on mammals, I am interested in research on many different taxa and currently work on a handful of terrestrial and marine vertebrates and invertebrates. I enjoy working with undergraduate and graduate students who are highly-motivated, broadly interested in evolution and conservation, and focused on understanding population-level process using descriptive and manipulative approaches.
Publications
Sherry Tamone, Ph.D.
My studies are concerned with the role of hormones in regulating physiological processes in decapod Crustacea (crabs and lobsters). Hormones are chemical mediators that regulate physiological processes such as growth, reproduction, and osmoregulation. I am interested in the mechanism by which hormones such as ecdysteroids, methyl farrnesoate, and molt-inhibiting hormone regulate growth and reproduction in decapod crustaceans. The majority of crustaceans that I study are commercially important crabs. These include Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, and king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus.
Ecdysteroids are crustacean hormones that function to regulate the molt cycle and therefore the growth of these animals. Methyl farnesoate is a sesquiterpenoid hormone derived from the mandibular organ that functions in both reproduction and growth. Methyl farnesoate also may be critical during crustacean larval development and morphogenesis. Methyl farnesoate is structurally similar to the insect juvenile hormones, which regulate insect development.
Other studies related to crustacean physiology involve the effect of endogenous crustacean hormones on ectoparasites. Specifically, I have an interest in how hormones (ecdysteroids, methyl farnesoate) can be exploited by certain parasites. The model for these studies is the infection of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister by the nemertean worm, Carcinonemertes errans.
Publications
