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Welcome

I am a Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Ecosystems Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML). That laboratory is part of NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) within the National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) in Seattle, but through a co-operative arrangement with the University of Alaska, I am located in the Department of Biological Sciences on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. In addition to my research duties for NMML, I am an affiliate faculty at UAA and teach a graduate course in Wildlife Population Dynamics. This site is intended to provide interested students and others an overview of my research and links to parent organizations and collaborators.
Background

Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Masters and Ph.D. in Ecology and Behavioral Biology from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St.Paul campus

1973-1975: Undergraduate research on insects in northern Alaska with Dr. Stephen MacLean, University of Alaska Fairbanks

1975-1980: Early career as a Fisheries Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Soldotna, Homer and Kodiak.

1980-1986: Graduate studies at the University of Minnesota working on the population dynamics and behavior of Weddell Seals at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

1986-1993: Research Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks continuing research on population dynamics and satellite telemetry of Weddell seals, and conducting new research on marine river otters in Prince William Sound after the ExxonValdez oil spill.

1994-2002: Research Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game working on ecology and population dynamics of moose in the Nelchina Basin of southcentral Alaska.

2002-present: Research Wildlife Biologist for the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle - posted in Anchorage, Alaska.

Projects

Ultrasonography of Northern Fur Seals for Reproductive Assessment (Adams et al 2007) is a collaborative project with Dr. Gregg Adams (University of Saskatchewan) and supported by NMML and the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Individual-Based Models of Killer Whale Predation on Marine Mammals (web swiki) is a collaborative project with Dr. Kenrick Mock (Departments of Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage) and supported by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.

Application of an Index of Patch Quality to Diving of Steller Sea Lions (poster) is a collaborative project with Dr. Jennifer Burns (Biological Sciences Department, University of Alaska Anchorage).

Demography of northern fur seals in the Pribilof Islands is a project currently being developed by staff of the Alaska Ecosystems Program at the NMML to identify the life history elements most likely to be causing the current decline in population size. The first tasks are methodological, with statistical assessment of sample size requirements, development of new analytical approaches to estimating tag loss, and selection of tag types and innovative new marking methods to be used. Pilot studies at St Paul Island begin in fall 2007, followed by a long-term effort likely to last a decade or more.

 

Publications
Von Biela, V.R., J.W. Testa, V.A. Gill and J.M. Burns. (In Press). Evaluating cementum to determine past reproduction in northern sea otters. Journal of Wildlife Management.
Testa, J.W. (editor). 2007. Fur Seal Investigations, 2004-2005. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-174. 76 pp.
Adams, G.P., J.W. Testa, C. Goertz, R.R.Ream, and J.T. Sterling. 2007. Ultrasonic detection of early embryonic development in the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) in the field. Marine Mammal Science 23: 445-452.
Proffitt, K.M., R.A. Garrott, J.J. Rotella, D.B. Siniff and J.W. Testa. 2007. Exploring linkages between abiotic oceanographic processes and a top-trophic level predator in an Antarctic ecosystem. Ecosystems 10: 119-126.
Testa, J.W. (editor). 2005. Fur Seal Investigations, 2002-2003. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-151. 72 pp.
Testa, J. W. 2004. Population dynamics and life history trade-offs of moose (Alces alces) in south­central Alaska. Ecology 85: 1439-1452.
Testa, J. W. 2004. Interactions of top­down and bottom-up life history trade-offs in moose (Alces alces). Ecology 85: 1453-1459.
Berger, J., P. Stacey, J. W. Testa, T. Roffe and S. Monfort. 2004. Through the eyes of moose: North American large carnivores and effects on biological diversity. In Animal Behavior and Wildlife Management. M. Festa­Bianchet and M. Appolino (eds.), Island Press.
Testa, J. W. 2002. Does predation on neonates inherently select for earlier births? Journal of Mammalogy 83(3):699-706.
White, K. S., J. Berger and J. W. Testa. 2001. Behavioral and ecological effects of differential predation pressure on moose in Alaska. Journal of Mammalogy 82(2): 422-429.
Testa, J.W. E. F. Becker and G.R. Lee. 2000. Movements of female moose in relation to birth and death of calves. Alces 36: 155-162.
Testa, J.W., E.F. Becker and G.R. Lee. 2000. Temporal patterns in the survival of twin and single moose calves (Alces alces) in southcentral Alaska. Journal of Mammalogy 81:162-168.
Hastings, K.K., J.W. Testa and E.A. Rexstad. 1999. Interannual variation in survival of juvenile Weddell seals from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: effects of cohort, sex and age. Journal of Zoology, London 248: 307­323.
Burns, J.M., M.A. Castellini, and J.W. Testa. 1999. Movements and diving behavior of weaned Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) pups. Polar Biology 21: 23­36.
Berger, J., J.W. Testa, T. Roffe, and S.L.Monfort. 1999. Conservation endocrinology: a non­invasive tool to understand relationships between carnivore colonization and ecological carrying capacity. Conservation Biology 13: 980­989.
Testa, J.W. and B.D. Scotton. 1999. Dynamics of an isolated population of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at White Island, Antarctica. Journal of Mammalogy 80: 82-90.
Hastings, K.K. and J. W. Testa. 1998. Maternal and birth colony effects on survival of Weddell seal offspring from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Journal of Animal Ecology 67: 722-740.
Testa, J.W. 1998. Compensatory response to changes in calf survivorship: management consequences of a reproductive cost in moose. Alces 34: 107-115.
Testa, J.W. and G.P. Adams. 1998. Body condition and adjustments to reproductive effort in female moose (Alces alces). Journal of Mammalogy 79:1345-1354.
Burns, J.M., S.J. Trumble, M.A. Castellini, and J.W. Testa. 1998. The diet of Weddell seals in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, as determined from scat collections and stable isotope analyses. Polar Biology 19: 272-282.
Testa, J. W. 1998. Population dynamics of moose and predators in Game Management Unit 13. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-5, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 24pp.
Testa, J. W., W. P. Taylor, S. D. Miller. 1998. Impacts of heavy hunting pressure on the density and demographics of brown bear populations in southcentral Alaska. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-3, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 9 pp.
Testa, J.W. 1997. Importation of polar bear trophies from Canada under the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Report for Marine Mammal Commission contract T53698443. NTIS PB97-167175. 13 pp. (A03)
Burns, J.M. and J.W. Testa. 1997. Developmental changes and diurnal and seasonal influences on the diving behavior of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) pups. Pp.328-334 in B. Battaglia, J. Valencia and D.W.H. Walton (eds.), Antarctic Communities: species, structure and survival. Proceedings of the SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology, Venice, Italy. May, 1994. Cambridge University Press.
Testa, J.W. 1997. A comment on the age at onset of breeding of male Weddell seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology 75: 156­157.
Testa, J. W. 1997. Population dynamics of moose and predators in Game Management Unit 13. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-5, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 24pp.
Schreer, J.F., K.K. Hastings and J.W. Testa. 1996. Preweaning mortality of Weddell seal pups. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1775-1778.
Testa, J.W. 1996. Using annual approximations of birth rate in models for species with multiannual reproductive cycles. Marine Mammal Science 12: 428-433.
Duffy, L.K., R.T. Bowyer, J.W. Testa and J.B. Faro. 1996. Acute phase proteins and cytokines in Alaskan mammals as markers of chronic exposure to environmental pollutants. Pp 809-813 In S.D. Rice, R.B. Spies, D.A. Wolfe and B.A. Wright, Eds. Proceedings of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Symposium. American Fisheries Society Symposium 18. Anchorage, AK, USA, 2-5 February 1993. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 931 pp.
Schreer, J.F. and J.W. Testa. 1996. Classification of Weddell seal diving behavior. Marine Mammal Science 12: 227­250.
Schreer, J.F. and J.W. Testa. 1995. Statistical classification of diving behavior. Marine Mammal Science 11: 85-93.
Testa, J. W. 1996. Population dynamics of moose and predators in Game Management Unit 13. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-5, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 23pp.
Stephenson, T.R., J.W. Testa, G.P. Adams, G. Sasser and C.C. Schwartz. 1995. Diagnosis of pregnancy and twinning in moose by ultrasonography and serum assay. Alces 31: 167-172.
Shaughnessy, P.D., J.W. Testa and R. Warneke. 1995 Abundance of Australian fur seal pups, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, at Seal Rocks, Victoria, in 1991-92 from Petersen and Bayesian estimators. Australian Journal of Wildlife Research 22: 625-632.
Bowyer,R.T., J.W.Testa and J.B.Faro. 1995. Habitat selection and home ranges of river otters in a marine environment: effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Journal of Mammalogy 76: 1­10.
Testa, J. W. 1995. Population dynamics of moose and predators in Game Management Unit 13. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-5, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 8pp.
Testa, J.W. 1994. Overwinter movements and diving behavior of adult female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in the NW Ross Sea, Antarctica. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 1700-1710.
Testa, J.W., D. Holleman, R.T. Bowyer and J.B. Faro. 1994. Estimating the size of river otter populations in a marine environment using radiotracer implants. Journal of Mammalogy 75: 1021-1032.
Bowyer, R.T., J.W.Testa, J.B.Faro, C.C.Schwartz and J.B.Browning. 1994. Changes in diets of river otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska: effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 970-976.
Duffy, L.K., R.T.Bowyer, J.W.Testa and J.B.Faro. 1994. Evidence for recovery of body mass and haptoglobin values of river otters following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 30: 421-425.
Duffy, L.K., R.T.Bowyer, J.W.Testa and J.B.Faro. 1994. Chronic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on blood and enzyme chemistry of river otters. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 13: 643-647.
Faro, J. B., R. T. Bowyer, J. W. Testa and L.K. Duffy. 1994. River otter component of the oiled mussel-bed study. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, State/Federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment Final Report. Restoration Study 103-3. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 34828 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Soldotna, Alaska 99669. 10pp.
Testa, J.W. 1994. Management strategies for increasing human harvest of moose populations in Game Management Unit 13. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Progress Report, Project W-24-5, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, 25pp.
Duffy, L.K., R.T. Bowyer, J.W. Testa and J.B. Faro. 1993. Differences in blood haptoglobin and length-mass relationships in river otters (Lutra canadensis) from oiled and nonoiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 29: 353-359.
Testa, J.W., K. Kovacs, J. Francis, A.E.York, M. Hindell, and B.P. Kelly. 1993. Analysis of Data from Time-Depth Recorders and Satellite-Linked Time-Depth Recorders: Report of a Technical Workshop. Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK. 99775-1080, 29pp.
Testa, J.W. and P. Rothery. 1992. Effectiveness of various cattle ear tags as markers for Weddell seals. Marine Mammal Science 8: 344-353.
Testa, J.W., G. Oehlert, D. Ainley, J.L. Bengtson, D.B. Siniff, R.M. Laws, and D.R. Rounsevell. 1991. Temporal variability in Antarctic marine ecosystems: periodic fluctuations in the phocid seals. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48: 631-639.
Testa, J.W., D.B. Siniff, J.P. Croxall and H. Burton. 1990. Comparison of reproductive parameters among three populations of Weddell seals. Journal of Animal Ecology 59: 1165­1175.
Testa, J.W. 1990. A simulation of the age structure of crabeater seals in a fluctuating environment. Pp. 246-252 In K.R. Kerry and M. Hempel (eds.), Ecological Change and the Conservation of Antarctic Ecosystems. (Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Antarctic Biology) Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.
Testa, J.W. 1990. Population size, composition and OSP. Pages 55-58 In F.H.Fay, B.P.Kelly and B.A.Fay (eds.) The ecology and management of walrus populations - report of an international workshop. Final Report MMC contract T 68108850. NTIS PB91-100479. 186pp.
Testa, J.W., S.E.B. Hill, and D.B. Siniff. 1989. Diving behavior and maternal investment in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). Marine Mammal Science 5: 399-405.
Lowry, L.F., J.W. Testa, and W. Calvert. 1988. Winter feeding of crabeater and leopard seals near the Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biology 8: 475-478.
Testa, J.W. 1987. Juvenile survival and recruitment in a population of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65: 2993-2997.
Testa, J.W. and D.B. Siniff. 1987. Population dynamics of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ecological Monographs 57(2): 149-165.
Testa, J.W. 1987. Long term reproductive patterns and sighting bias in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). Canadian Journal of Zoology 65: 1091-1099.
Testa, J.W. 1986.Electromorph variation in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). Journal of Mammalogy 67: 606-610.
Testa, J.W. 1986. Long term patterns in life history characteristics and population dynamics of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Testa, J.W., D.B. Siniff, M.J. Ross and J.D. Winter. 1985. Weddell seal-Antarctic Cod interactions in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Pp 561-565 In Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs. (W.R.Siegfried, P.R.Condy and R.M.Laws, eds.) Springer-Verlag.
Testa, J.W. and S.F. MacLean, Jr. 1984. Population density and habitat distribution of a predatory Hemipteran, Chiloxanthus stellatus (Curtis) (Saldidae) in Arctic Alaska. Arctic and Alpine Research 16: 25-29.

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Field work in the Aleutian Islands
 
Deploying multibeam sonar for sea lion work
 

Ultrasonic image of an embryonic vessicle
in the uterus of a northern fur seal proves
  she's pregnant in November, 2005
 
Reading tags on Weddell seals in Antarctica
 
Tagging a Weddell seal
 
Crossing a crack in Antarctic sea ice
 
Processing blood samples during research
cruise in the Gulf of Alaska (NMML staff)
 
Bull moose in Alaska
 
Newly deployed radio-collar on moose in
southcentral Alaska
   
Processing an immobilized moose
 
   
Keeping in touch with the pilot while Tom
Stephenson performs ultrasonography
on an adult female moose
 
Embryo of a moose in early Nov 1995