Contact Information
Fisheries Division313 Lena Point
Juneau Fisheries
17101 Pt. Lena Loop Rd.
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 796-5453
Fax: (907) 796-5447
atkinson@sfos.uaf.edu
Shannon Atkinson Professor
Affiliations
- Steller’s Eider Recovery Team - 2003 - present
- Society for Marine Mammalogy - Member 1991 to present
- Spectacled Eider Recovery Team - 2003 - present
- American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums-Affiliate Member - 1991 to present
- Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Society– Alaska Chapter – Member 2003 - present
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - 2001 - 2009
- North Pacific Research Board Science Panel - 2002 – 2008
- Western Association of Marine Laboratories - 2001 to 2007
Specialties
- Growth, nutrition, reproduction in marine animals
- Marine mammals’ failure to adapt to environmental change
- Climate change and effects on marine organism’s physiology
- Contaminants and the effects on marine mammals
Education
- Ph.D. Murdoch University (Animal Science)
- B.S. 1978 University of Hawaii (Animal Science)
- M.S. 1981 University of Hawaii (Marine Science)
Courses
Spring 2010
Research Overview
Dr Atkinson’s administrative and management skills are extensive having served as the Principal Investigator of over $46million in research programs that occurred in Alaskan and Russian waters and were largely funded by NOAA. Her personal research has focused on the physiology of a multitude of species developing knowledge on why species fail to adapt to environmental change. Her research has resulted in ~100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters and she has trained 26 Master’s and Ph.D. students.
Current Research Projects
- Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cook Inlet Belugas
- Impact of health and maternal investment on survival of endangered Steller sea lion pups
- Effects of the social context on stress responsiveness in pinnipeds
- Surviving the gauntlet: A comparative study of the pelagic and demersal and special linkages that determine groundfish recruitment and diversity in the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem
- Alliance for Coastal Technologies, NOAA funded national partnership to promote technology development
Links
Recent Publications
Bergfelt, D.R., Steinetz, B.G., Dunn, J.L., Atkinson, S., Testa, W.J., and Adams, G.P. (2009) Validation of a homologous canine relaxin radioimmunoassay and application with pregnant and non-pregnant northern fur seals (Collorhinus ursinus). In Press.
Myers, M., Litz, B. and Atkinson, S. (2009) The effects of age, season and geographic region on circulating serum cortisol concentrations in threatened and endangered Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Gen. Comp. Endo. In Press
Villegas-Amtmann, S., Atkinson, S. and Costa, D.P. (2009) Low synchrony in the breeding cycle in Galapagos sea lions revealed by seasonal progesterone concentrations. J. Mammal. 90 (5): In Press
Li, Q.X., Wang, D., Shelver, W., Atkinson, S., Mellish, J-A. (2008) Tissue distribution of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Alaskan northern fur seals: comparison of various congener classification schemes. Organhalogen Compounds. 80:1251-1254
Maniscalco, J.M., Calkins, D.G., Parker, P. and Atkinson, S. (2008) Causes and extent of natural mortality among Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups. Aquat. Mammal. 34(3): 277-287
Parker, P., Harvey, J.T., Maniscalco, J.M., and Atkinson, S. (2008) Pupping and site fidelity among individual Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) at Chiswell Island, Alaska. C. J. Zoolog. 86(8): 862-833
Nilsson, P., Hollmen, T., Atkinson, S., Mashburn, K., Tuomi, P., Esler, D., Mulcahy, D. and Rizzolo, D. (2008). Effects of ACTH, capture, and short term confinement on glucocorticoid concentrations in harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 149(1): 275-283
Wang, D., Atkinson, S., Hoover-Miller, A., Shelver, W.L. and Li, Q.X. (2008) Simultaneous use of gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry – electron capture detection to improve the analysis of bromodiphenyl ethers in biological and environmental samples. Rapid Commun. Mass. Spectrom. 22:647-656
Myers, M.J., Ylitalo, G.M., Krahn, M.M., Boyd, D., Calkins, D., Burkanov, V., Atkinson, S. (2008) Organochlorine contaminants in endangered Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus) from Western Alaska and the Russian far east. Sci. Tot. Env. 396: 60-69
Atkinson, S., DeMaster, D.P., Calkins, D.G. (2008) Anthropogenic causes of the Steller sea lion decline and their threat to recovery. Mammal Rev. 38(1): 1-18.
Atkinson, S., Calkins, D., Burkanov, V., Castellini, M., Hennen, D., Inglis, S. (2008) Impact of changing diet regimes on Steller sea lion body condition. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 24(2): 276-289
Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Goertz, C., Dunn, J.L., Gulland, F.M.D., Gelatt, T.S., Beckman, K.B., Burek, K.A., Atkinson, S., Bozza, M., Taylor, R., Zheng, T., Zhang, Y., Aboueissa, A-M. and Wise, Sr. J.P. (2008) Metal tissue levels in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups. Mar. Poll. Bull. 56: 1416-1421
Petrauskas, L., Atkinson, S., Gulland, F., Mellish, J.A. and Horning, M. (2008) Monitoring glucocorticoid response to rehabilitation and research procedures in California and Steller sea lions. J. Exper. Biol. 309A: 73-82
Ylitalo, G.M., Myers, M., Stewart, B.S., Yochem, P.K., Braun, R., Kashinsky, L., Boyd, D., Antonelis, G.A., Atkinson, S., Aguirre, A.A., Krahn, M.M. (2008) Organochlorine contaminants in endangered Hawaiian monk seals from four subpopulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Mar. Poll. Bull. 56: 231-244
Mashburn, K.L., and Atkinson, S. (2007). Variability in leptin and adrenal response in juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in different seasons. Gen. Comp. Endo. 155(2): 352-385
Mellish, J., Hennen, D., Thomton, J., Petrauskas, L., Atkinson, S. and Calkins, D. (2007) Permanent marking in an endangered species: Physiological response to hot-branding in juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Wildl. Res. 34:43-47
Wang, D., Atkinson, S., Hoover-Miller, A., Lee, SE. and Li, QX. (2007) Organochlorines in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) tissues from the northern Gulf of Alaska. J. Environ. Poll. 146:268-280
Maniscalco, JM., Matkin, CO., Maldini, D., Calkins, DG., Atkinson, S. (2007) Assessing killer whale predation on Steller sea lions from field observations in Kenai Fjords, Alaska. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 23 (2): 306-321
Mashburn, K., and Atkinson, S. (2007) Seasonal and predator influences on adrenal function in adult Steller sea lions: Gender matters. Gen.. Comp. Endoc.150:246-252.
Siebert, U., Driver, J., Rosenberger, T., Atkinson, S. (2007) Reversible reproductive control in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) with a gonadotriopin-releasing hormone agonist. Theriogenology. 67:605-608.
Wang, D., Atkinson, S., Hoover-Miller, A., Li, Q. X. (2007) Polychlorinated naphthalenes and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls in tissues of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the northern Gulf of Alaska. Chemosp. 67:2044-2057.
Greig, DJ., Mashburn, KL., Rutishauser, M., Gulland, FMD., Willliams, TM., and Atkinson, S. (2007) Seasonal changes in circulating progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) J. Mammal. 88(1):67-72.
Maniscalco, JM., Harris, KR., Atkinson, S., Parker, P. (2006) Alloparenting in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): Correlations with misdirected care and other observations. J. Ethol., 25:125-131
Myers, M.J., Rea, LD, and Atkinson, S (2006) The effects of age, season and geographic region on thyroid hormones in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A 145: 90-98.
Petrauskas, LR. and Atkinson, SK. (2006) Variation of fecal corticosterone concentrations in captive Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in relation to season and behavior. Aqua. Mamm. 32(2) 168-174
Blomquist, CH., Lima, PH., Tarrant, AM., Atkinson, MJ., Atkinson S (2006) 17B – Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17B-HSD) in scleractionian corals and zooxanthellae. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part B 143: 397-403.
Mellish, JE., Calkins, DG., Christen, DR., Horning, M., Rea, LD., and Atkinson, SK. (2006) Temporary captivity as a research tool: Comprehensive study of wild pinnipeds under controlled conditions. Aqua. Mamm. 32 (1): 58-65
Thomton, J., Tamone, S. L., Atkinson, S. (2006) Circulating ecdysteroid concentrations in Alaskan Dungeness crab (Cancer magister). J. Crust. Biol. 26(2): 176-181
Petrauskas, L., Tuomi, P., Atkinson, S (2006) Noninvasive monitoring of stress hormone levels in a female Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pup undergoing rehabilitation. J. Zoo and Wildl. Med. 37(1): 75-78
Maniscalco, J., Parker, P., Atkinson, S (2006) Interseasonal and interannual measures of maternal care among individual Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) J. Mammal. 87(2): 304-311
Wang, D., Huelck, K., Atkinson, S., Li, QX (2005) Polychlorinated biphenyls in eggs of spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxi. 75: 760-767
Wang, D., Atkinson, S., Hoover-Miller, A., Lee, A., Li, QX (2005) Analysis of organochlorines in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) tissue samples from Alaska using gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry by an isotopic dilution technique. Rapid Commun. Mass Spect. 19:1815-1821.
Maldini, D., Mazzuca, L., Atkinson S. (2005). Odontocete stranding patterns in the main Hawaiian Islands (1937-2002): how do they compare to live animal surveys? Pac. Sci. 59(1): 55-67.