## Breadcrumb

-  Alaska Science Center 
-  Science 

#           Walrus Research      

  Active

      By Alaska Science Center      May 16, 2024    

            -              Overview           
            -              Science           
            -              Data           
            -              Multimedia           
            -              Publications           
            -              Software           
            -              News           

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co-management partners to deliver scientific products that advance knowledge of walrus ecology and the importance of walrus in northern ecosystems.  Because addressing population-level questions requires collaboration between U.S. and Russian scientists, many USGS studies have relied on Russian partnership.

**Return to****Ecosystems**** >>****Marine Ecosystems**

###  

### Population dynamics 

Department of Interior partner agencies require information on Pacific walrus survival, reproduction, population abundance, and population trend to inform management decisions and address statutory responsibilities.  US and Russian partners conducted aerial surveys in 1975, 1976, 1980, 1985, and 1990 to estimate population abundance.  In 2006, USGS collaborated with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Russian partners to estimate population abundance from an offshore aerial survey that accounted for the proportion of walruses that were in-water and therefore unavailable to be counted, and was the first to rigorously account for uncertainty in the population abundance estimate. Because these offshore survey efforts resulted in large uncertainty in the estimated population size, development began on alternative abundance estimation methods.  The USFWS has led an effort, with USGS support, to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance using genetic mark-recapture methods. USGS efforts developing methods to determine sex and age of walruses from remotely collected biopsies support this effort.  USGS developed methods to estimate regional population size at a large coastal haulout and has refined these methods through use of unoccupied aerial systems (UAS or survey drones) through support of the USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office to estimate the regional walrus abundance in the U.S. Chukchi Sea autumn waters during 2018 and 2019. 

View Media Details

Age structure surveys provide information on population demographics required by USFWS statutory responsibilities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  In the 1950’s, F.H. Fay pioneered methods for collecting walrus sex and age structure data by observing facial and tusk characteristics.  These methods were applied to collect age structure data on offshore surveys from 1981-1999 with Department of the Interior support.  The State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game evaluated these methods and found them to provide invaluable information on population demographics.   

USGS developed integrated population models that estimated Pacific walrus survival, reproduction, and population trend.  These models used all available age structure and population survey data to estimate population parameters required by the MMPA.  These models found the age structure data to strongly influence estimated population trends, prompting USGS and FWS with support from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to collect additional age structure data during 2013 - 2017.  USGS is pursuing further age structure data collection beginning in 2023.  Development of integrated population models has allowed USGS and collaborators to evaluate threats posed to the Pacific walrus population from climate related changes in the Arctic.  For example, an increase in deaths of young walruses resulting from disturbances at large coastal haulouts can affect population trend.   

 

### Seasonal distribution and habitat use 

Pacific walruses primarily consume invertebrates that live in bottom sediments of the shallow continental shelf waters that extend across the Bering and Chukchi seas. In response to the understanding that sea ice loss causes walruses to change their movement and foraging behavior in ways that may affect survival and reproduction, USGS has developed minimally invasive methods to track walruses with small satellite-linked tags and has collected behavior and movement data from walruses across the Bering and Chukchi seas in support of numerous studies.  These studies include correcting aerial survey estimates for walruses in-water and therefore unavailable to be counted; understanding how walruses move within their habitat relative to sea ice movement in the northern Bering Sea; identifying how they move relative to sea ice and benthic biomass distributions in the Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and understanding how their resting and foraging efforts change when summer sea ice disappears. The tracking data have also revealed walrus foraging areas within the Chukchi Sea and contributed to a broader understanding of marine mammal seasonal distributions in the Pacific Arctic.  The tracking data are currently being analyzed to better understand how Pacific walruses utilize the largest coastal haulout in northwestern Alaska.  

##### **Recorded Talk**: Pacific Walruses: Responding to Change? Strait Science, April 2023 

### Monitoring large coastal haulouts

Walruses haul out of the water and rest between foraging bouts.  They rest on sea ice when it is available but use land when waters are ice free.  The Chukchi Sea continental shelf has been ice-free during most summers since 2007, and the seasonal duration of ice-free conditions will increase in the decades ahead.  When walruses gather in large numbers to rest on shore at locations that are termed “haulouts”, they are at risk from large mortality events resulting from disturbances that cause stampedes. They are also at increased risk from any vessel spill events because walrus distributions are so densely concentrated at and around coastal haulouts.  To reduce these risks, managers require an understanding of the distribution and occurrence of large coastal haulouts.  USGS has partnered with the USFWS and a Russian collaborator to document the occurrence and distribution of Pacific walrus haulouts.  USGS is supporting a revision of the *Pacific Walrus Haulout Database* in collaboration with USFWS. 

View Media Details

publication

USGS has developed methods to monitor walruses resting on shore through use of Earth observing satellite imagery. USGS is supporting local management of haulouts by providing satellite imagery analysis to local managers during the haulout season. USGS has worked with Russian partners to extend these methods at haulout sites with complex substrates and terrain and plans to continue this work at Alaskan study sites with State of Alaska, FWS and academic partners.  To support that effort, the USGS Advanced Research Computing center is using trail camera ground-truth imagery collected by partner agencies to teach deep neural networks to recognize walruses so they can more rapidly detect walruses remotely. USGS is also collaborating to automate interpretation of the walrus haulouts apparent in optical Earth observing imagery so that information can be transferred to management partners in real-time, and USGS has supported harmonization of aerial survey imagery collection efforts conducted in the U.S. and Russia so that haulout monitoring studies and results may be unified range-wide.   

###  

### Consequences of shifting prey base and increased energetic demands 

The loss of sea ice has caused shifts in walrus space use, is forecasted to increase the energetic demands for lactating walruses and may cause changes to walrus prey.  By coupling walrus behavior models with an understanding of the energy demands throughout the reproductive life of female walruses, USGS evaluated the energetic consequences of forecasted sea ice loss over the next century.  This study found that continued sea ice loss will increase walrus energetic demands, but there was uncertainty about the impact increased energetic demands might have on body condition and how that may affect reproduction rates.  To understand how the walrus population may respond to the increased energetic demands, USGS is evaluating methods to monitor possible changes in walrus reproductive success over time as environmental conditions change.  Using information collected by Native Alaskan communities in the Bering Strait region, from captive walruses in zoos and aquaria, and from aerial imagery from drones at coastal haulouts, USGS is investigating different methods to monitor walrus body condition and how variation in body condition may affect female reproductive success.  

View Media Details

In support of this study USGS has (1) collaborated to determine how to reliably measure fat stores from harvested walruses; (2) evaluated the condition and composition of walrus fat stores; (3) collaborated to evaluate energetic costs for resting walruses across the range of reproductive conditions and across juvenile age-classes; (4) collaborated to evaluate energetic cost of swimming, diving, and resting in water; and (5) explored the development of diving capabilities in young walruses.  Finally, the loss of sea ice may cause changes to walrus prey and understanding the consequences of a shift in the prey base requires methods to understand walrus diet.  So, USGS developed non-invasive methods to monitor walrus diet. 

 

### Potential effects of increased vessel traffic 

Arctic marine mammals have historically had low exposure to vessel traffic and noise, but sea ice loss has increased accessibility of Arctic waters to vessels.  Thus, Arctic vessel traffic is expected to increase, yet its effect on walruses is unknown. Vessel exposure has the potential to change walrus population dynamics by altering how much time walruses use to rest, travel, and forage.  Such changes may require walruses to consume more calories or reduce their energy stores which are needed to support growth, reproduction, and maintenance.  The USGS conducted an initial study of effects of vessel exposure on Pacific walrus behavior in the Chukchi Sea using data from satellite-tagged walruses (collected by USGS, Russian collaborators, and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game) and vessel locations.  Foraging walruses were no more likely to stop foraging and start traveling when they were within 17 km of vessels than when they were greater than 17 km from vessels. Due to the small number of walruses exposed to vessels at close distances, this study did not determine at what distance vessel exposure affects walrus behaviors; however, it provided an upper bound on the distance at which the vessels encountered may disturb foraging walruses. Furthermore, USGS developed extensive analytical methods that will help detect the effect of vessel exposure on walrus behavior when sufficient walrus tracking data are available with improved resolution. USGS also supported a study to evaluate walrus in-air hearing range. 

 

### Stock Definition 

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires an understanding of whether there are distinct stocks within the Pacific walrus sub-species.  Pacific walruses range across the shallow waters of the continental shelf that extends between Alaska and the Russian Far East.  Three distinct breeding areas are known to develop during the sea ice maximum season each spring: in the eastern Bering Sea of the outer Bristol Bay region; south of Saint Lawrence Island in the central northern Bering Sea; and within the Gulf of Anadyr in the northwestern Bering Sea.  USGS investigated whether these distinct breeding regions may result in distinct stocks that may merit separate management efforts.  Investigations based on signatures from heavy metal isotopes characteristic of the two western breeding regions suggested that walruses in these regions had distinct isotopic signatures, suggesting that each region hosted walruses that habitually returned to that region.  However, genetic characterization of walruses from the three breeding regions determined that walruses freely moved amongst breeding regions, indicating that the Pacific walrus sub-species may be considered as a single stock. 

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Anthony Fischbach

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

afischbach@usgs.gov

907-786-7145

#### Karyn Rode, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

krode@usgs.gov

907-342-5790

#### Rebecca Taylor, Ph.D.

##### Research Statistician

Alaska Science Center

rebeccataylor@usgs.gov

907-786-7004

#### David Douglas

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

ddouglas@usgs.gov

907-364-1576

#### William Beatty, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

wbeatty@usgs.gov

608-781-6248

### Explore Search

                      - Arctic
                      - Walrus
                      - Fossil Fuels
                      - Marine Mammals
                      - Threatened and Endangered Species
                      - Ecosystems
                      - Energy and Wildlife
                      - Wildlife and Terrestrial Species
                      - Biology
                      - Climate
                      - Ecosystems
                      - fossil fuels
                      - Wildlife & Terrestrial Species
                      - Marine Mammals
                      - Threatened and Endangered
                      - Alaska Bioregions
                      - Arctic PES

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

April 10, 2024

####                 USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

April 10, 2024

####   USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Learn More

link

January 3, 2024

####                 Changing Arctic Ecosystems              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

January 3, 2024

####   Changing Arctic Ecosystems

Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

January 17, 2024

####                 Morphological Measures of Pacific Walruses Collected in the Chukchi and Bering Seas 1970-1991              

Alaska Science Center

September 14, 2023

####                 Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery, 2023              

Alaska Science Center

January 3, 2023

####                 Data Supporting Walrus Areas of Use in the Chukchi Sea During Sparse Sea Ice Cover              

Alaska Science Center

December 15, 2022

####                 Walrus Haulout and In-water Activity Levels Relative to Vessel Interactions in the Chukchi Sea, 2012-2015              

Alaska Science Center

September 7, 2022

####                 Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery              

Alaska Science Center

July 22, 2022

####                 Metabolic Rates Measured in Three Captive Adult Female Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) While Resting and Diving              

Alaska Science Center

July 8, 2022

####                 Tracking Data for Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)              

Alaska Science Center

May 5, 2022

####                 Walrus Haulout Aerial Survey Data Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019              

Alaska Science Center

January 13, 2022

####                 Behavior of Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Hauled Out on Sea Ice During UAS Overflights, Eastern Chukchi Sea, 2015              

Alaska Science Center

August 25, 2021

####                 Walrus Haulout Outlines Apparent from Satellite Imagery Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018-2020              

Alaska Science Center

August 23, 2021

####                 Walrus Haulout Outlines and Count Data Apparent from Aerial Survey Images Collected Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019              

Alaska Science Center

December 15, 2020

####                 Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015              

Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Walrus Plaque

May 1, 2023

#### Walrus Plaque

link

The USGS Alaska Science Center is working with healthy, captive walruses in the U.S.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

May 1, 2023

#### Walrus Plaque

link

#### Walrus Plaque

link

The USGS Alaska Science Center is working with healthy, captive walruses in the U.S.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

October 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

Figure showing two Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia during and after walrus occupancy. USGS has found that SAR imagery can detect walruses when they rest on shore in large numbers and is pursuing studies to understand how satellite imagery can support improved management of the Pacific walrus.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

October 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

Figure showing two Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia during and after walrus occupancy. USGS has found that SAR imagery can detect walruses when they rest on shore in large numbers and is pursuing studies to understand how satellite imagery can support improved management of the Pacific walrus.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

September 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

Figure comparing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses on a terrestrial haulout near Point Lay, Alaska, as collected by four different SAR instruments possessing different spatial resolution capabilities (Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2, TerraSAR-X, and Capella Space).

Alaska Science Center

September 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

Figure comparing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses on a terrestrial haulout near Point Lay, Alaska, as collected by four different SAR instruments possessing different spatial resolution capabilities (Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2, TerraSAR-X, and Capella Space).

Alaska Science Center

Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

April 12, 2022

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi

Alaska Science Center

April 12, 2022

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi

Alaska Science Center

Walruses resting on an ice floe

June 3, 2020

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

A group of Pacific walruses during summer in the Chukchi Sea

Alaska, Alaska Science Center

June 3, 2020

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

A group of Pacific walruses during summer in the Chukchi Sea

Alaska, Alaska Science Center

Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

September 3, 2019

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

August 30, 2019

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 30, 2019

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

 USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

August 30, 2019

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

USGS wildlife biologist, Anthony Fischbach, piloting an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for use in surveying walruses while they rest on shore.  The UAS is flown above 300 feet altitude such that it enables survey data collection with minimal risk to the walruses.

Alaska Science Center

August 30, 2019

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

USGS wildlife biologist, Anthony Fischbach, piloting an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for use in surveying walruses while they rest on shore.  The UAS is flown above 300 feet altitude such that it enables survey data collection with minimal risk to the walruses.

Alaska Science Center

Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

A young male Pacific walrus moving up the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

A young male Pacific walrus moving up the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

A young male Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

A young male Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

August 21, 2019

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

An adult female Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

An adult female Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

October 15, 2018

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

When sea ice is absent in the Chukchi Sea region, walruses gather in large numbers along the northwestern coast of Alaska to rest on shore.  USGS has worked with local communities and partners across the Bering Strait to develop methods to estimate regional abundance of walruses using these coastal haulouts and to understand the population consequences of resti

Alaska Science Center

October 15, 2018

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

When sea ice is absent in the Chukchi Sea region, walruses gather in large numbers along the northwestern coast of Alaska to rest on shore.  USGS has worked with local communities and partners across the Bering Strait to develop methods to estimate regional abundance of walruses using these coastal haulouts and to understand the population consequences of resti

Alaska Science Center

1,500 walruses resting on shore 

April 4, 2016

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

More than 1,500 walruses resting on shore at Cape Grieg in southeastern Bristol Bay.

Alaska Science Center

April 4, 2016

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

More than 1,500 walruses resting on shore at Cape Grieg in southeastern Bristol Bay.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

July 14, 2015

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.

Alaska Science Center

July 14, 2015

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.

Alaska Science Center

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

December 31, 2014

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

What do walrus sound like? Listen to audio clips of walrus bellowing as they are hauled out on the northwest coast of Alaska.

Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Alaska Science Center

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

December 31, 2014

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

What do walrus sound like? Listen to audio clips of walrus bellowing as they are hauled out on the northwest coast of Alaska.

Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are publications associated with this project.

August 31, 2023

####                 Effects of feeding and habitat on resting metabolic rates of the Pacific walrus              

Alaska Science Center

March 13, 2023

####                 Exploring effects of vessels on walrus behaviors using telemetry, automatic identification system data and matching              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

September 22, 2022

####                 Estimating Pacific walrus abundance and survival with multievent mark-recapture models              

Arctic marine ecosystems are undergoing rapid physical and biological change associated with climate warming and loss of sea ice. Sea ice loss will impact many species through altered spatial and temporal availability of resources. In the Bering and Chukchi Seas, the Pacific walrus *Odobenus rosmarus divergens* is one species that could be impacted by rapid environmental change, and thus, population

Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Alaska Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

June 6, 2022

####                 Regional walrus abundance estimate in the United States Chukchi Sea in autumn              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

December 9, 2021

####                 Subsurface swimming and stationary diving are metabolically cheap in adult Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

October 23, 2021

####                 Evaluation of satellite imagery for monitoring Pacific walruses at a large coastal haulout              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 27, 2021

####                 Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

July 24, 2020

####                 DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

June 1, 2018

####                 A multi-species synthesis of satellite telemetry data in the Pacific Arctic (1987–2015): Overlap of marine mammal distributions and core use areas              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2018

####                 Demography of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) in a changing Arctic              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, Advanced Research Computing (ARC)

December 1, 2017

####                 Forecasting consequences of changing sea ice availability for Pacific walruses              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

March 14, 2017

####                 Evaluation of a method using survey counts and tag data to estimate the number of Pacific walruses (*Odobenus rosmarus divergens*) using a coastal haulout in northwestern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-                Page            3 
-                Page            4 
-                Page            5 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

May 14, 2024

####                 Automated Walrus Haulout Cartography              

Alaska Science Center

April 26, 2024

####                 Sentinel Satellite Imagery Download Scripts              

Alaska Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Walrus Sea-Ice Habitats Melting Away

November 2, 2016

####   Walrus Sea-Ice Habitats Melting Away

Habitat for the Pacific walrus in the Chukchi Sea is disappearing from beneath them as the warming climate melts away Arctic sea ice in the spring...

Read Article

More than 160 years of Walrus Haulout Observations Reported by Russians and Americans Published as Database

July 18, 2016

####   More than 160 years of Walrus Haulout Observations Reported by Russians and Americans Published as Database

Information will aid marine and conservation planning

Read Article

Research Shows Historic Decline in Pacific Walrus Population

September 8, 2014

####   Research Shows Historic Decline in Pacific Walrus Population

The Pacific walrus population roughly halved between 1981 and 1999, the last year for which demographic data are available. A recent study by...

Read Article

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co-management partners to deliver scientific products that advance knowledge of walrus ecology and the importance of walrus in northern ecosystems.  Because addressing population-level questions requires collaboration between U.S. and Russian scientists, many USGS studies have relied on Russian partnership.

**Return to****Ecosystems**** >>****Marine Ecosystems**

###  

### Population dynamics 

Department of Interior partner agencies require information on Pacific walrus survival, reproduction, population abundance, and population trend to inform management decisions and address statutory responsibilities.  US and Russian partners conducted aerial surveys in 1975, 1976, 1980, 1985, and 1990 to estimate population abundance.  In 2006, USGS collaborated with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Russian partners to estimate population abundance from an offshore aerial survey that accounted for the proportion of walruses that were in-water and therefore unavailable to be counted, and was the first to rigorously account for uncertainty in the population abundance estimate. Because these offshore survey efforts resulted in large uncertainty in the estimated population size, development began on alternative abundance estimation methods.  The USFWS has led an effort, with USGS support, to estimate Pacific walrus population abundance using genetic mark-recapture methods. USGS efforts developing methods to determine sex and age of walruses from remotely collected biopsies support this effort.  USGS developed methods to estimate regional population size at a large coastal haulout and has refined these methods through use of unoccupied aerial systems (UAS or survey drones) through support of the USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office to estimate the regional walrus abundance in the U.S. Chukchi Sea autumn waters during 2018 and 2019. 

View Media Details

Age structure surveys provide information on population demographics required by USFWS statutory responsibilities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  In the 1950’s, F.H. Fay pioneered methods for collecting walrus sex and age structure data by observing facial and tusk characteristics.  These methods were applied to collect age structure data on offshore surveys from 1981-1999 with Department of the Interior support.  The State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game evaluated these methods and found them to provide invaluable information on population demographics.   

USGS developed integrated population models that estimated Pacific walrus survival, reproduction, and population trend.  These models used all available age structure and population survey data to estimate population parameters required by the MMPA.  These models found the age structure data to strongly influence estimated population trends, prompting USGS and FWS with support from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to collect additional age structure data during 2013 - 2017.  USGS is pursuing further age structure data collection beginning in 2023.  Development of integrated population models has allowed USGS and collaborators to evaluate threats posed to the Pacific walrus population from climate related changes in the Arctic.  For example, an increase in deaths of young walruses resulting from disturbances at large coastal haulouts can affect population trend.   

 

### Seasonal distribution and habitat use 

Pacific walruses primarily consume invertebrates that live in bottom sediments of the shallow continental shelf waters that extend across the Bering and Chukchi seas. In response to the understanding that sea ice loss causes walruses to change their movement and foraging behavior in ways that may affect survival and reproduction, USGS has developed minimally invasive methods to track walruses with small satellite-linked tags and has collected behavior and movement data from walruses across the Bering and Chukchi seas in support of numerous studies.  These studies include correcting aerial survey estimates for walruses in-water and therefore unavailable to be counted; understanding how walruses move within their habitat relative to sea ice movement in the northern Bering Sea; identifying how they move relative to sea ice and benthic biomass distributions in the Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and understanding how their resting and foraging efforts change when summer sea ice disappears. The tracking data have also revealed walrus foraging areas within the Chukchi Sea and contributed to a broader understanding of marine mammal seasonal distributions in the Pacific Arctic.  The tracking data are currently being analyzed to better understand how Pacific walruses utilize the largest coastal haulout in northwestern Alaska.  

##### **Recorded Talk**: Pacific Walruses: Responding to Change? Strait Science, April 2023 

### Monitoring large coastal haulouts

Walruses haul out of the water and rest between foraging bouts.  They rest on sea ice when it is available but use land when waters are ice free.  The Chukchi Sea continental shelf has been ice-free during most summers since 2007, and the seasonal duration of ice-free conditions will increase in the decades ahead.  When walruses gather in large numbers to rest on shore at locations that are termed “haulouts”, they are at risk from large mortality events resulting from disturbances that cause stampedes. They are also at increased risk from any vessel spill events because walrus distributions are so densely concentrated at and around coastal haulouts.  To reduce these risks, managers require an understanding of the distribution and occurrence of large coastal haulouts.  USGS has partnered with the USFWS and a Russian collaborator to document the occurrence and distribution of Pacific walrus haulouts.  USGS is supporting a revision of the *Pacific Walrus Haulout Database* in collaboration with USFWS. 

View Media Details

publication

USGS has developed methods to monitor walruses resting on shore through use of Earth observing satellite imagery. USGS is supporting local management of haulouts by providing satellite imagery analysis to local managers during the haulout season. USGS has worked with Russian partners to extend these methods at haulout sites with complex substrates and terrain and plans to continue this work at Alaskan study sites with State of Alaska, FWS and academic partners.  To support that effort, the USGS Advanced Research Computing center is using trail camera ground-truth imagery collected by partner agencies to teach deep neural networks to recognize walruses so they can more rapidly detect walruses remotely. USGS is also collaborating to automate interpretation of the walrus haulouts apparent in optical Earth observing imagery so that information can be transferred to management partners in real-time, and USGS has supported harmonization of aerial survey imagery collection efforts conducted in the U.S. and Russia so that haulout monitoring studies and results may be unified range-wide.   

###  

### Consequences of shifting prey base and increased energetic demands 

The loss of sea ice has caused shifts in walrus space use, is forecasted to increase the energetic demands for lactating walruses and may cause changes to walrus prey.  By coupling walrus behavior models with an understanding of the energy demands throughout the reproductive life of female walruses, USGS evaluated the energetic consequences of forecasted sea ice loss over the next century.  This study found that continued sea ice loss will increase walrus energetic demands, but there was uncertainty about the impact increased energetic demands might have on body condition and how that may affect reproduction rates.  To understand how the walrus population may respond to the increased energetic demands, USGS is evaluating methods to monitor possible changes in walrus reproductive success over time as environmental conditions change.  Using information collected by Native Alaskan communities in the Bering Strait region, from captive walruses in zoos and aquaria, and from aerial imagery from drones at coastal haulouts, USGS is investigating different methods to monitor walrus body condition and how variation in body condition may affect female reproductive success.  

View Media Details

In support of this study USGS has (1) collaborated to determine how to reliably measure fat stores from harvested walruses; (2) evaluated the condition and composition of walrus fat stores; (3) collaborated to evaluate energetic costs for resting walruses across the range of reproductive conditions and across juvenile age-classes; (4) collaborated to evaluate energetic cost of swimming, diving, and resting in water; and (5) explored the development of diving capabilities in young walruses.  Finally, the loss of sea ice may cause changes to walrus prey and understanding the consequences of a shift in the prey base requires methods to understand walrus diet.  So, USGS developed non-invasive methods to monitor walrus diet. 

 

### Potential effects of increased vessel traffic 

Arctic marine mammals have historically had low exposure to vessel traffic and noise, but sea ice loss has increased accessibility of Arctic waters to vessels.  Thus, Arctic vessel traffic is expected to increase, yet its effect on walruses is unknown. Vessel exposure has the potential to change walrus population dynamics by altering how much time walruses use to rest, travel, and forage.  Such changes may require walruses to consume more calories or reduce their energy stores which are needed to support growth, reproduction, and maintenance.  The USGS conducted an initial study of effects of vessel exposure on Pacific walrus behavior in the Chukchi Sea using data from satellite-tagged walruses (collected by USGS, Russian collaborators, and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game) and vessel locations.  Foraging walruses were no more likely to stop foraging and start traveling when they were within 17 km of vessels than when they were greater than 17 km from vessels. Due to the small number of walruses exposed to vessels at close distances, this study did not determine at what distance vessel exposure affects walrus behaviors; however, it provided an upper bound on the distance at which the vessels encountered may disturb foraging walruses. Furthermore, USGS developed extensive analytical methods that will help detect the effect of vessel exposure on walrus behavior when sufficient walrus tracking data are available with improved resolution. USGS also supported a study to evaluate walrus in-air hearing range. 

 

### Stock Definition 

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires an understanding of whether there are distinct stocks within the Pacific walrus sub-species.  Pacific walruses range across the shallow waters of the continental shelf that extends between Alaska and the Russian Far East.  Three distinct breeding areas are known to develop during the sea ice maximum season each spring: in the eastern Bering Sea of the outer Bristol Bay region; south of Saint Lawrence Island in the central northern Bering Sea; and within the Gulf of Anadyr in the northwestern Bering Sea.  USGS investigated whether these distinct breeding regions may result in distinct stocks that may merit separate management efforts.  Investigations based on signatures from heavy metal isotopes characteristic of the two western breeding regions suggested that walruses in these regions had distinct isotopic signatures, suggesting that each region hosted walruses that habitually returned to that region.  However, genetic characterization of walruses from the three breeding regions determined that walruses freely moved amongst breeding regions, indicating that the Pacific walrus sub-species may be considered as a single stock. 

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Anthony Fischbach

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

afischbach@usgs.gov

907-786-7145

#### Karyn Rode, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

krode@usgs.gov

907-342-5790

#### Rebecca Taylor, Ph.D.

##### Research Statistician

Alaska Science Center

rebeccataylor@usgs.gov

907-786-7004

#### David Douglas

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

ddouglas@usgs.gov

907-364-1576

#### William Beatty, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

wbeatty@usgs.gov

608-781-6248

### Explore Search

                      - Arctic
                      - Walrus
                      - Fossil Fuels
                      - Marine Mammals
                      - Threatened and Endangered Species
                      - Ecosystems
                      - Energy and Wildlife
                      - Wildlife and Terrestrial Species
                      - Biology
                      - Climate
                      - Ecosystems
                      - fossil fuels
                      - Wildlife & Terrestrial Species
                      - Marine Mammals
                      - Threatened and Endangered
                      - Alaska Bioregions
                      - Arctic PES

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

April 10, 2024

####                 USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

April 10, 2024

####   USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Learn More

link

January 3, 2024

####                 Changing Arctic Ecosystems              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

January 3, 2024

####   Changing Arctic Ecosystems

Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

January 17, 2024

####                 Morphological Measures of Pacific Walruses Collected in the Chukchi and Bering Seas 1970-1991              

Alaska Science Center

September 14, 2023

####                 Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery, 2023              

Alaska Science Center

January 3, 2023

####                 Data Supporting Walrus Areas of Use in the Chukchi Sea During Sparse Sea Ice Cover              

Alaska Science Center

December 15, 2022

####                 Walrus Haulout and In-water Activity Levels Relative to Vessel Interactions in the Chukchi Sea, 2012-2015              

Alaska Science Center

September 7, 2022

####                 Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Occurrences Interpreted from Satellite Imagery              

Alaska Science Center

July 22, 2022

####                 Metabolic Rates Measured in Three Captive Adult Female Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) While Resting and Diving              

Alaska Science Center

July 8, 2022

####                 Tracking Data for Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)              

Alaska Science Center

May 5, 2022

####                 Walrus Haulout Aerial Survey Data Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019              

Alaska Science Center

January 13, 2022

####                 Behavior of Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Hauled Out on Sea Ice During UAS Overflights, Eastern Chukchi Sea, 2015              

Alaska Science Center

August 25, 2021

####                 Walrus Haulout Outlines Apparent from Satellite Imagery Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018-2020              

Alaska Science Center

August 23, 2021

####                 Walrus Haulout Outlines and Count Data Apparent from Aerial Survey Images Collected Near Point Lay Alaska, Autumn 2018 and 2019              

Alaska Science Center

December 15, 2020

####                 Sex and Age Composition of Walrus Groups Hauled Out on Ice Floes in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2013-2015              

Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Walrus Plaque

May 1, 2023

#### Walrus Plaque

link

The USGS Alaska Science Center is working with healthy, captive walruses in the U.S.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

May 1, 2023

#### Walrus Plaque

link

#### Walrus Plaque

link

The USGS Alaska Science Center is working with healthy, captive walruses in the U.S.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

October 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

Figure showing two Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia during and after walrus occupancy. USGS has found that SAR imagery can detect walruses when they rest on shore in large numbers and is pursuing studies to understand how satellite imagery can support improved management of the Pacific walrus.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

October 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia

link

Figure showing two Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of a walrus haulout in Russia during and after walrus occupancy. USGS has found that SAR imagery can detect walruses when they rest on shore in large numbers and is pursuing studies to understand how satellite imagery can support improved management of the Pacific walrus.

Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

September 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

Figure comparing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses on a terrestrial haulout near Point Lay, Alaska, as collected by four different SAR instruments possessing different spatial resolution capabilities (Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2, TerraSAR-X, and Capella Space).

Alaska Science Center

September 1, 2022

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

#### Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses

link

Figure comparing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of Pacific walruses on a terrestrial haulout near Point Lay, Alaska, as collected by four different SAR instruments possessing different spatial resolution capabilities (Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2, TerraSAR-X, and Capella Space).

Alaska Science Center

Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

April 12, 2022

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi

Alaska Science Center

April 12, 2022

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

#### Marine mammal trainers measure a healthy female walrus

link

Indianapolis Zoo marine mammal trainers, Erika Allen and Sydney Pitts, measure a healthy female walrus in support of a USGS study that seeks to develop methods to monitor walrus body condition from survey drones flown high above walruses where they rest on shore. With this new tool, USGS intends to examine the environmental factors that affect walrus body condi

Alaska Science Center

Walruses resting on an ice floe

June 3, 2020

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

A group of Pacific walruses during summer in the Chukchi Sea

Alaska, Alaska Science Center

June 3, 2020

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

#### Walruses resting on an ice floe

link

A group of Pacific walruses during summer in the Chukchi Sea

Alaska, Alaska Science Center

Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

September 3, 2019

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

#### Close up of Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 3, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

September 2, 2019

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

August 30, 2019

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 30, 2019

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Pacific walruses on beach and in water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

 USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

August 30, 2019

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

USGS wildlife biologist, Anthony Fischbach, piloting an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for use in surveying walruses while they rest on shore.  The UAS is flown above 300 feet altitude such that it enables survey data collection with minimal risk to the walruses.

Alaska Science Center

August 30, 2019

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

####  USGS wildlife biologist piloting an UAS for use in walrus survey

link

USGS wildlife biologist, Anthony Fischbach, piloting an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for use in surveying walruses while they rest on shore.  The UAS is flown above 300 feet altitude such that it enables survey data collection with minimal risk to the walruses.

Alaska Science Center

Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

A young male Pacific walrus moving up the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

#### Young male Pacific walrus on beach of eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea

link

A young male Pacific walrus moving up the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

A young male Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

#### Young male Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

link

A young male Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

August 21, 2019

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

An adult female Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2019

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

#### Adult female Pacific walrus resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

link

An adult female Pacific walrus resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Alaska Science Center

Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

October 15, 2018

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

When sea ice is absent in the Chukchi Sea region, walruses gather in large numbers along the northwestern coast of Alaska to rest on shore.  USGS has worked with local communities and partners across the Bering Strait to develop methods to estimate regional abundance of walruses using these coastal haulouts and to understand the population consequences of resti

Alaska Science Center

October 15, 2018

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

#### Walrus Coastal Haulout Video B-roll (combined)

link

When sea ice is absent in the Chukchi Sea region, walruses gather in large numbers along the northwestern coast of Alaska to rest on shore.  USGS has worked with local communities and partners across the Bering Strait to develop methods to estimate regional abundance of walruses using these coastal haulouts and to understand the population consequences of resti

Alaska Science Center

1,500 walruses resting on shore 

April 4, 2016

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

More than 1,500 walruses resting on shore at Cape Grieg in southeastern Bristol Bay.

Alaska Science Center

April 4, 2016

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

#### 1,500 walruses resting on shore 

link

More than 1,500 walruses resting on shore at Cape Grieg in southeastern Bristol Bay.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

July 14, 2015

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.

Alaska Science Center

July 14, 2015

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

#### Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea

link

Pacific walrus hauled out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea.

Alaska Science Center

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

December 31, 2014

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

What do walrus sound like? Listen to audio clips of walrus bellowing as they are hauled out on the northwest coast of Alaska.

Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Alaska Science Center

USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)USGS Visual Identity (USGS logo) - Black (TM)

December 31, 2014

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

#### Walruses Hauled Out on the Northwest Coast of Alaska

link

What do walrus sound like? Listen to audio clips of walrus bellowing as they are hauled out on the northwest coast of Alaska.

Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are publications associated with this project.

August 31, 2023

####                 Effects of feeding and habitat on resting metabolic rates of the Pacific walrus              

Alaska Science Center

March 13, 2023

####                 Exploring effects of vessels on walrus behaviors using telemetry, automatic identification system data and matching              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

September 22, 2022

####                 Estimating Pacific walrus abundance and survival with multievent mark-recapture models              

Arctic marine ecosystems are undergoing rapid physical and biological change associated with climate warming and loss of sea ice. Sea ice loss will impact many species through altered spatial and temporal availability of resources. In the Bering and Chukchi Seas, the Pacific walrus *Odobenus rosmarus divergens* is one species that could be impacted by rapid environmental change, and thus, population

Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Alaska Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

June 6, 2022

####                 Regional walrus abundance estimate in the United States Chukchi Sea in autumn              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

December 9, 2021

####                 Subsurface swimming and stationary diving are metabolically cheap in adult Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

October 23, 2021

####                 Evaluation of satellite imagery for monitoring Pacific walruses at a large coastal haulout              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 27, 2021

####                 Variability of lipids and fatty acids in Pacific walrus blubber              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

July 24, 2020

####                 DNA metabarcoding of feces to infer summer diet of Pacific walruses              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

June 1, 2018

####                 A multi-species synthesis of satellite telemetry data in the Pacific Arctic (1987–2015): Overlap of marine mammal distributions and core use areas              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2018

####                 Demography of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) in a changing Arctic              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, Advanced Research Computing (ARC)

December 1, 2017

####                 Forecasting consequences of changing sea ice availability for Pacific walruses              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

March 14, 2017

####                 Evaluation of a method using survey counts and tag data to estimate the number of Pacific walruses (*Odobenus rosmarus divergens*) using a coastal haulout in northwestern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-                Page            3 
-                Page            4 
-                Page            5 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

May 14, 2024

####                 Automated Walrus Haulout Cartography              

Alaska Science Center

April 26, 2024

####                 Sentinel Satellite Imagery Download Scripts              

Alaska Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Walrus Sea-Ice Habitats Melting Away

November 2, 2016

####   Walrus Sea-Ice Habitats Melting Away

Habitat for the Pacific walrus in the Chukchi Sea is disappearing from beneath them as the warming climate melts away Arctic sea ice in the spring...

Read Article

More than 160 years of Walrus Haulout Observations Reported by Russians and Americans Published as Database

July 18, 2016

####   More than 160 years of Walrus Haulout Observations Reported by Russians and Americans Published as Database

Information will aid marine and conservation planning

Read Article

Research Shows Historic Decline in Pacific Walrus Population

September 8, 2014

####   Research Shows Historic Decline in Pacific Walrus Population

The Pacific walrus population roughly halved between 1981 and 1999, the last year for which demographic data are available. A recent study by...

Read Article