Scientists Study Spring Transition in Bering Strait Waters

The Bering Sea is getting warmer, and sea ice coverage is more unreliable. A team of scientists is trying to understand the details of how that affects the diverse marine life in these waters.

Seabirds Washing Up Dead; Scientists Investigating

For the second year in a row, dead seabirds are washing up on beaches throughout the region by the hundreds. The birds appear to be starving, but scientists say the story is more complicated and could be connected to warming seas.

High Levels of Biotoxin Found in Dead Walrus; Experts Unsure of Regional Impact

According to Gay Sheffield, wildlife biologist, three of the walruses had low to moderate levels of saxitoxin, while the fourth one had high levels. Saxitoxin is a biotoxin produced by algae and is potentially a poisonous substance. Louisa Castrodale with DHSS says even though this walrus tested positive for saxitoxin levels above the federal regulatory limit, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a human health issue.

Ecological Atlas of Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas Conveys Years’ Worth of Data

Audubon Alaska has released a new, free and publicly-accessible ecological atlas of the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas. It’s driven by years of careful measurements: “we… let the data do the talking,” says an Audubon representative who visited Nome last week.