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Tuula Hollmen, D.V.M, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist
Research Associate Professor, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks

RESEARCH INTEREST:

Physiological ecology, conservation biology, ecological modeling, decision analysis

I received my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1992 and PhD in physiological ecology in 2002, and the same year moved to Alaska to join the UAF and ASLC. I am currently a research associate professor of marine science at the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and served as the interim director of science for the ASLC during 2010-2015. My general fields of research interest are physiological ecology, marine conservation biology, conceptual ecological modeling, and decision analysis.  At the ASLC, I oversee the ASLC eider research program and a variety of research projects involving physiological ecology of marine birds, ecosystem processes and indicators, and decision analysis.  Our Eider Laboratory employs a variety of biochemical and molecular methods to study marine animal physiology and fitness, with focus on seabirds - but not excluding comparative studies with marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates.  I also serve as a member of Spectacled and Steller’s Eider Recovery Teams, and in the North Pacific Research Board Science Panel.

Marine Bird Sensitivity to Hydrocarbons
Tracking Eider Diets
Seabird Habitat Use and Productivity
SDM for Sustainable Arctic Communities
Conceptual Ecological Modeling
Bioindicators for Coastal Monitoring

*Graduate student or post-doctoral researcher

  1. Jaatinen, K., Seltmann, M.W., Hollmén, T.E., Atkinson, S., Mashburn, K., Ost, M. 2013. Context dependency of baseline glucocorticoids as indicators of individual quality in a capital breeder. General and Comparative Endocrinology 191:231-238.
  2. Frost, C.J.*, Hollmén, T.E., Reynolds, J.H. 2013. Trends in annual survival of Steller’s eiders molting at Izembek Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula, 1993-2006. Arctic 66:173-178.
  3.  Federer, R.N.*, Hollmén, T.E., Esler, D., Wooller, M.J. 2012. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope discrimination factors for quantifying spectacled eider nutrient allocation to egg productions. Condor 114(4):726-732.
  4. Seltmann, M.W., Ost, M., Jaatinen, K., Atkinson, S., Mashburn, K., Hollmén, T.E. 2012. Stress responsiveness, age and body condition interactively affect flight initiation distance in breeding female eiders. Animal Behaviour 84: 889-896.
  5. Budge, S.M., Wang, S.W. Hollmén, T.E., Wooller, M.J. 2011. Carbon isotopic fractionation in eider adipose tissue varies with fatty acid structure: implications for trophic studies. The Journal of Experimental Biology 214:3790-3800.
  6.  Hollmén, T.E., DebRoy, C., Flint, P.L., Safine, D.E., Schamber, J., Riddle, A., Trust, K. 2011. Molecular typing of Escherichia coli strains associated with threatened sea ducks and near-shore marine habitats of southwest Alaska. Environmental Microbiology Reports 3(2):262-269.
  7. Latty, C.J.*, Hollmén, T.E., Petersen, M.R., Powell, A.N., Andrews, R.A. 2010. Abdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the dive performance of common eiders. Condor 112:314-322.
  8. Federer, R.N.*, Hollmén, T.E., Esler, D., Wooller, M.J., Wang, S.W. 2010. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope discrimination factors from diet to blood plasma, cellular blood, feathers, and adipose tissue fatty acids in spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri). Canadian Journal of Zoology 88:866-874.
  9. Wang, S.W., Hollmén, T.E., Iverson, S.J. 2010. Validating quantitative fatty acid signature analysis to estimate diets of spectacled and Steller’s eiders (Somateria fischeri and Polysticta stelleri). Journal of Comparative Physiology B 180:125-139.
  10. Lehikoinen, A., Őst, M., Hollmén, T., and M. Kilpi. 2008. Does sex-specific duckling mortality contribute to male bias in adult common eiders? Condor 110:574-578.
  11. Nilsson, P.*, Hollmén, T., Atkinson, S., Mashburn, K., Tuomi, P., Esler, D., Mulcahy, D, and D. Rizzolo. 2008. Effects of ACTH, capture, and short term confinement on glucocorticoid concentrations in harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 149:275-283.
  12. Miles, K., Flint, P., Trust, K., Ricca, M., Spring, S., Arrieta, D., Hollmén, T., and B. Wilson. 2007. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Steller’s eiders and harlequin ducks in the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 26:2694-2703.
  13. Franson, J.C., Hoffman, D.J., Wells-Berlin, A.M., Perry, M.C., Shearn-Bochsler, V., Finley, D.L., Flint, P.L., and T. Hollmén. 2007. Effects of dietary Selenium on tissue concentrations, pathology, oxidative stress, and immune function in common eiders (Somateria mollissima). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 70:861-874.
  14. Őst, M., E. Vitikainen, P. Waldeck, L. Sundstrőm, K. Lindstrőm, T. Hollmén, J.C. Franson, and M. Kilpi. 2005. Eider females form non-kin brood-rearing coalitions. Molecular Ecology 14:3903-3908.
  15. Skerratt, L.F.*, J.C. Franson, C.U. Meteyer, and T.E. Hollmén. 2005. Causes of mortality in sea ducks (Mergini) necropsied at the USGS-National Wildlife Health Center. Waterbirds 28(2): 193-207.
  16. Matson, C.W., J.C. Franson, T. Hollmén, M. Kilpi, M. Hario, P.L. Flint, and J.W. Bickham. 2004. Evidence of chromosomal damage in Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 49:1066-1071.
  17. Franson, J.C., T. Hollmén, P.L. Flint, J.B. Grand, and R.B. Lanctot. 2004. Contaminants in molting long-tailed ducks and nesting common eiders in the Beaufort Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48:504-513.
  18. Hollmén, T., J.C. Franson, P.L. Flint, J.B. Grand, R.B. Lanctot, D.E. Docherty, and H.M. Wilson. 2003. An adenovirus linked to mortality and disease in long-tailed ducks in Alaska. Avian Diseases 47:173-179.
  19. Hollmén, T., J.C. Franson, M. Kilpi, D.E. Docherty, W.R. Hansen, and M. Hario. 2002. Isolation and characterization of a reovirus from common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from Finland. Avian Diseases 46:478-484.
  20. Hollmén, T., J.C. Franson, M. Hario, S. Sankari, M. Kilpi, and K. Lindström. 2001. Use of serum biochemistry to evaluate nutritional status and health of incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in Finland. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 74:333-342.
  21. Hollmén, T., J.C. Franson, D.E. Docherty, M. Kilpi, M. Hario, L.H. Creekmore, and M. Petersen. 2000. Infectious bursal disease virus antibodies in eider ducks and herring gulls. Condor 102:688-691.