BEST-BSIERP Scientists: K

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Alexander (Sasha) Kitaysky

University of Alaska Fairbanks

ffask@uaf. edu | I am an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Biology and Wildlife and the Institute of Arctic Biology, where I have been working on the trophic interactions, population endocrinology, and conservation of seabirds and marine mammals since 2003. I received my doctorate degree in 1996 from the UC Irvine Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology for conducting a study of seabird responses to climate change under the mentorship of Professor George Hunt. Then I was a post-doctoral fellow (1997-2000) with Professor John Wingfield and a research faculty member (2001-2003) at the University of Washington, Department of Zoology.

Stan Kotwicki

NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center

stan. kotwicki@noaa. gov | I am a Research Fishery Biologist in Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division in Alaska Fisheries Science Center. My work encompasses planning for and conducting groundfish surveys in the eastern Bering Sea, taking part in the walleye pollock stock assessment process by providing data and survey population estimates for stock assessment models, and performing research relevant to Alaska fisheries.

My recent research activities focus on two major themes: improving bottom trawl survey methodology and studying the effects of environmental variables on fish distribution. My completed research on bottom survey methodology includes assessing trawl selectivity, evaluating the effect of autotrawl systems on trawl performance, identifying factors influencing trawl geometry and improving methods for area swept estimates. The second theme of my recent studies involves looking at the distribution of fish in relation to environmental factors, such as temperature and light levels. To date I have completed projects describing variation of walleye pollock spatial distribution with temperature and effects of daytime light conditions on walleye pollock vertical distribution. In the near future I plan to extend these studies by looking at the effect of other environmental variables on walleye pollock distribution.

Gordon Kruse

University of Alaska Fairbanks

gordon. kruse@uaf. edu | My interest in fisheries began while growing up while catching winter flounder and blue crabs along the Jersey shore. After a BS in Biomathematics from Rutgers, a MS and PhD in Fisheries from Oregon State University, and a post-doc with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in St. John’s, Newfoundland, I began a rewarding 16-year career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. I started as the statewide shellfish biometrician and later became a marine fisheries scientist, heading their marine fisheries research program. Since 2001, I have been honored to be the President’s Professor of Fisheries at the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (Juneau Center).

Since starting my career in Alaska in 1985, I have focused on very applied research driven by three fundamental questions: how many fish (or shellfish) are there in the sea? Why do their populations vary? How should they be managed? These questions have led to many collaborative projects in the areas of stock assessment, population dynamics, fisheries oceanography, and fisheries management. Much of my work has focused on crabs, but other research involves groundfish, sharks, herring, other shellfish, and broader ecosystem considerations, such as being fostered by BEST-BSIERP.

Particularly rewarding aspects of my work include interactions with fishermen, conservationists, and other members of the public who share a great interest in the marine ecosystems of Alaska. At UAF, I am most fortunate to work with a very talented group of graduate students, who provide a continuing source of enthusiasm and new ideas.

Sarah Kruse

Ecotrust

skruse@ecotrust. org | Dr. Sarah Kruse is a Staff Economist in Ecotrust's Knowledge Systems program. Kruse conducts quantitative and qualitative research that integrates economic, ecological and social considerations into each analysis.

Since joining Ecotrust in 2005, Kruse has worked on a variety of projects including an economic assessment of dam removal on the Klamath River, an evaluation of the Abernethy Scratch Kitchen, a review of the economic value of the Bering River coalfield, a socioeconomic baseline assessment of the Pribilof Islands and a case study of the Yukon River commercial salmon fishery.

Prior to coming to Ecotrust, Kruse worked as a research associate for the Great Lakes Protection Fund at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2005. In this role, she researched the economics of dam removal and river restoration. She also guest lectured for graduate-level classes on cost-benefit analysis, contingent valuation, survey design and the integration of psychology into economic valuation. From 2001 to 2002, Kruse served as a Peace Corps agro-forestry volunteer in Calle San Jose, Paraguay.

Kruse received her B. A. in Economics from The College of Wooster. She received her M. A. in Economics and her Ph. D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from The Ohio State University (Columbus). Kruse is a member of the International Economics Honor Society.

Kathy Kuletz

US Fish and Wildlife Service

kathy_kuletz@fws. gov | Dr. Kathy Kuletz will oversee the at-sea seabird component of the BSIERP and Patch Dynamics Study. Dr. Kuletz received her BS in 1974 from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, her MSc in 1983 from University of California, Irvine, and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.

Dr. Kuletz has spent 30 years studying seabird ecology in Alaska, most often focusing on seabird distribution and abundance. She has served as a PI for studies on seabird diet, productivity, habitat use, and population trends, as well as damage assessment from oil spills. Her first work in the Bering Sea was in 1980 as a seabird observer while a graduate student with Dr. George Hunt, Jr. Dr. Kuletz served on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council Plan Team from 2000 to 2007, and is currently a member of the Science and Statistical Committee of the NPFMC.

Since 2006, Dr. Kuletz has led the North Pacific At-Sea Seabird Program, which places observers on research vessels to collect data on seabird distribution relative to oceanographic and biological variables. The ultimate goal is to determine how present conditions and future changes in Alaska's oceans will affect seabird life.