Your Captain - John M. Maniscalco

Dr. John Maniscalco first came to Alaska with the U.S. Coast Guard in 1985 and has operated a wide variety of vessels along Alaska's coast since then. After leaving the Coast Guard, he entered academia earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Science in Fisheries, and a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Alaska. John's research studies have focused on seabird and marine mammal ecology in Prince William Sound, southeastern Alaska, and along the northern Gulf of Alaska coast. He has authored more than 2 dozen articles in high profile scientific journals and has appeared on multiple episodes of Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin highlighting his research activities (Season 2; Episodes 3, 5, 8), and with Jeremy Wade’s Dark Waters (Season 1; Episode 2). John has been working as a research scientist at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska since the summer of 2000 where he continues studying the behavior and population dynamics of Steller sea lions and nesting seabirds. John has been a licensed captain in Alaska since 1992 and has been operating vessels in the Kenai Fjords region since 1999. He knows the birds inhabiting the Kenai coast and is the best person on the water to help you find the species you are looking for!

Dr. John M. Maniscalco, Selected Publications

Maniscalco, J.M., and W.D. Ostrand. 1997. Seabird Behaviors at Forage Fish Schools in Prince William Sound, Alaska. pp. 175-189 In: Forage Fishes in Marine Ecosystems, University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program Report No. 97-01, Fairbanks, Alaska, 816 pages.
Maniscalco, J.M., W. Ostrand, and K. Coyle. 1998. Selection of Fish Schools by Flocking Seabirds in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Colonial Waterbirds. 21(3):314-322. *link*
Maniscalco, J.M., W.D. Ostrand, R.M. Suryan, and D.B. Irons. 2001. Passive interference competition by glaucous-winged gulls on black-legged kittiwakes: a cost of feeding in flocks. Condor. 103(3):616-619. **pdf**
Tanedo, S.A., T.E. Hollmen, J.M. Maniscalco, S.G. Ulman. 2021. Using remote video technology to study environmental factors influencing productivity of black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla. Marine Ornithology 49:293-299.
Maniscalco, J.M., A.M. Springer, K.L. Counihan, T. Hollmen, H.M. Aderman, M. Toyukak, Sr. 2020. Contemporary diets of walruses in Bristol Bay, Alaska suggest temporal variability in benthic community structure. PeerJ 8:e8735.
Maniscalco, J.M., K. Wynne, K.W. Pitcher, M.B. Hanson, S.R. Melin, S. Atkinson. 2004. The occurrence of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in Alaska. Aquatic Mammals 30:427-433. **pdf**
Maniscalco, J.M., P. Parker, S. Atkinson. 2006. Interseasonal and interannual measures of maternal care among individual Steller sea lions. Journal of Mammalogy 87:304-311. **html**
Maniscalco, J.M., C. O. Matkin, D. Maldini, S. Atkinson, D.G. Calkins. 2007. Assessing killer whale predation on Steller sea lions from field observations in Kenai Fjords, Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 23:306-321. **link**
Maniscalco, J.M., D.G. Calkins, P. Parker, S. Atkinson. 2008. Causes and extent of natural mortality among Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups. Aquatic Mammals 34:277-287. *link*
Maniscalco, J.M., A. Hoover-Miller, D. Zatz. 2008. Remote monitoring of pinnipeds in Kenai Fjords National Park. Alaska Park Science 7:12-17.
Maniscalco, J.M., P. Parker. 2009. A case of twinning and the care of two offspring of different age in Steller sea lions. Marine Mammal Science 25:206-213. *link*
Maniscalco, J.M., A.M. Springer, P. Parker. 2010. High natality rates of endangered Steller sea lions in Kenai Fjords, Alaska and perceptions of population status in the Gulf of Alaska. PLoS ONE 5(4):e10076. **pdf**
Jemison, L.A., G.W. Pendleton, L.W. Fritz, K.K. Hastings, J.M. Maniscalco, A.W. Trites, T.S. Gelatt. 2013. Inter-population movements of Steller sea lions in Alaska with implications for population separation. PLoS ONE 8(8):e7016. **pdf**
Maniscalco, J.M. 2014. The effects of birth weight and maternal care on survival of juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumtopias jubatus). PLoS ONE 9(5):e96328. **pdf**
Maniscalco, J.M., A.M. Springer, P. Parker, M.D. Adkison. 2014. A longitudinal study of Steller sea lion natality rates in the Gulf of Alaska with comparisons to census data. PLoS ONE 9(11):e111523. **pdf**
Maniscalco, J.M., A.M. Springer, M.D. Adkison, P. Parker. 2015. Population trend and elasticities of vital rates for Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the eastern Gulf of Alaska: A new life history table analysis. PLoS ONE 10(10):e0140982. **pdf**
Parker, P., J.T. Harvey, J.M. Maniscalco, S. Atkinson. 2008. Pupping-site fidelity among individual Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) at Chiswell Island, Alaska. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86:826-833. **pdf**
Parker, P., J.M. Maniscalco. 2014. A long-term study reveals multiple reproductive behavior strategies among territorial adult male Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 92:405-415. **pdf**
Keogh, M.J., A. Atkinson, J.M. Maniscalco. 2013. Body condition and endocrine profiles of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups during the early postnatal period. General and Comparative Endocrinology 184:42-50. **pdf**
Castellini, J.M., L.D. Rea, C.L. Lieske, K.B. Beckman, B.S. Fadely, J.M. Maniscalco, T.M. O’Hara. 2012. Mercury concentrations in hair from neonatal and juvenile Steller sa lions (Eumetopias jubatus): Implications based on age and region in this northern Pacific marine sentinel piscovore. EcoHealth 9:267-277. **pdf**
Mathews, E. A., J. N. Womble, G. W. Pendleton, L. A. Jemison, J. M. Maniscalco, G. Streveler. 2011. Population growth and colonization of Steller sea lions in the Glacier Bay region of southeastern Alaska: 1970s-2009. Marine Mammal Science 27:852-880. **pdf**