Pinniped Program Manager

Email: research@alaskasealife.org

Why did I want to study Alaska's marine mammals? (coming soon)
 

How did I get into the Marine Biology field? (coming soon)

Donald Calkins  (Don) received his Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Biological Science from Western Washington State University and went on to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to complete his studies, taking a Master’s Degree in the field of Wildlife Management in 1972 with  a thesis on The Ecology of Sea Otters in Prince William Sound.  He began Working as a Wildlife Biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game in 1974, specializing in marine mammal research in 1975.  Until he retired from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in 1998, Don continued to work on marine mammals, conducting research on beluga whales, harbor seals, and sea otters, but with a primary interest in Steller sea lion research.  He also lead the State of Alaska’s efforts to determine damages to all wildlife resulting from the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill in 1989.  Following his retirement from The State of Alaska, Don became the Senior Marine Mammal Scientist and Steller Sea Lion and Sea Otter Program Manager for the Alaska SeaLife Center where he presently continues his research.

Andrews, R. D., D. G. Calkins, R. W. Davis, B. L. Norcross, et al. 2002. Foraging behavior and energetics of adult female Steller sea lions. Pages 19-23 in D. P. DeMaster and S. Atkinson, editors. Steller Sea Lion Decline: Is It Food II. Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Brandon, E. A. A., D. G. Calkins, T. R. Loughlin, and R. W. Davis. 2005. Neonatal growth of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups in Alaska. Fishery Bulletin 103:246-257.

Davis, R. W., T. C. Adams, E. A. A. Brandon, D. G. Calkins, et al. 2002. Female attendance, lactation, and pup growth in Steller sea lions. Pages 23-29 in D. P. DeMaster and S. Atkinson, editors. Steller Sea Lion Decline: Is It Food II. Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Davis, R. W., A. A. Brandon, D. G. Calkins, and T. R. Loughlin. 2006. Female attendance and neonatal pup growth in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Pages 13-31 in A. W. Trites, S. Atkinson, D. P. DeMaster, L. W. Fritz, T. S. Gelatt, L. D. Rea, and K. Wynne, editors. Sea Lions of the World. Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Loughlin, T. R., D. G. Calkins, and S. Atkinson. 2005. Synopsis of research on Steller sea lions: 2001-2005. Alaska SeaLife Center and Sea Script Company, Seattle, WA.

Maldini, D., D. G. Calkins, S. Atkinson, and R. Meehan. 2004. Alaska sea otter research workshop: addressing the decline of the southwestern Alaska sea otter population. Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Maniscalco, J. M., C. Matkin, D. Maldini, D. G. Calkins, et al. 2007. Assessing killer whale predation on Steller sea lions from field observations in Kenai Fjords, Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 23:306-321.

Pitcher, K. W., V. N. Burkanov, D. G. Calkins, B. J. Le Boeuf, et al. 2001. Spatial and temporal variation in the timing of births of Steller sea lions. Journal of Mammalogy 82:1047-1053.

Pitcher, K. W., D. G. Calkins, and G. W. Pendleton. 2000. Steller sea lion body condition indices. Marine Mammal Science 16:427-436.

Raum-Suryan, K. L., K. W. Pitcher, D. G. Calkins, J. L. Sease, et al. 2002. Dispersal, rookery fidelity, and metapopulation structure of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in an increasing and a decreasing population in Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 18:746-764.

Trites, A. W., D. G. Calkins, and A. J. Winship. 2007. Diets of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in southeast Alaska, 1993-1999. Fisheries Bulletin 105:234-248.

Pinniped Research at the Alaska SeaLife Center

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