Tania Lewis - Wildlife Biologist

Tania Lewis, Wildlife Biologist at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, checks out the camera trap.

Tania M. Lewis
Wildlife Biologist
P.O. Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99826
907-697-2668
[e-mail]

ResearchGate profile

Education
2012 University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Master of Science Degree, Wildlife Biology, Thesis: Shoreline Distribution and Landscape Genetics of Bears in a Recently Deglaciated Fjord

1999 University of Alaska, Southeast, Bachelor of Science Degree, Marine Biology, Thesis: Pupping Phenology and Effects of Humans on the Behavior of Harbor Seals in Glacier Bay

Interests
Black and brown bear landscape genetics, ground-nesting seabird monitoring, mountain goat distribution and genetics, mammal distributions and biogeography, managing human use to minimize disturbance to wildlife, and implementing the Bear Management Plan to minimize human-wildlife conflicts.

Check out this presentation on glacier bears and this Frontier Scientists video on how to identify bear tracks.

Projects
Successional Patterns of Terrestrial Wildlife Following Deglaciation
Wolf Diet and Distribution in Glacier Bay, 2022-2024
Identifying Vulnerable Mountain Goat Populations
Responses of Wildlife to Low Levels of Tourism
Resuming Tlingit Harvest of Gull Eggs in Glacier Bay
Bears at Glacier Bay

Professional Experience
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gustavus AK, Wildlife Biologist and Terrestrial Wildlife Research, Bear Management and Backcountry Visitor Use Programs (2006 – Present)

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gustavus AK, Wildlife Biological Technician, Bear Program (2001 – 2005)

Professional Memberships
International Bear Association, since 2001
The Wildlife Society, since 2006
Pacific Seabird Group, since 2012

Publications
Sytsma, M. L., T. Lewis, J. D. Bakker, and L. R. Prugh. 2023. Successional patterns of terrestrial wildlife following deglaciation. Journal of Animal Ecology

Puckett, E. E. ... T. M. Lewis, ... et al. 2022. Genetic architecture and evolution of color variation in American black bears. Current Biology 33(1): 86-97.

Young, K. B., T. L. Lewis, and L. R. Prugh. 2022. The Composition and interactions of scavengers on a humpback whale carcass in Alaska. Northwestern Naturalist 103(1): 51-62.

Young, K. B., T. M. Lewis, K. S. White, and A. B. A. Shafer. 2022. Quantifying the effects of recent glacial history and future climate change on a unique population of mountain goats. Biological Conservation 272(109631): 1-8.

Sytsma, M. L. T., T. Lewis, B. Gardner, and L. R. Prugh. 2022. Low levels of outdoor recreation alter wildlife behaviour. People and Nature 00: 1-13.

Lewis, T., G. Roffler, A. Crupi, R. Maraj, and N. Barten. 2020. Unraveling the mystery of the glacier bear: Genetic population structure of black bears (Ursus americanus) within the range of a rare pelage type. Ecology and Evolution 10:7654-7668.

Whitlock, S. L. T. M. Lewis, and J. T. Peterson. 2020. Using a Bayesian multistate occupancy model to assess seabird and shorebird status in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Wildlife Society Bulletin 44(3): 451-467.

Lewis, T. M., A. E. Stanek, and K. B. Young. 2020. Bears in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Sightings, human interactions, and research 2010–2017. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLBA/NRR—2020/2134. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Lewis, T. M., C. Behnke, and M. B. Moss. 2017. Glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) monitoring in preparation for resuming native gull egg harvest in Glacier Bay National Park. Marine Ornithology 45:165-174.

Lewis, T. M. and K. S. White. 2016. Distribution and Abundance of Moose in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLBA/NRR—2015/1122. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Lewis, T. M. and K. S. White. 2015. Distribution and Abundance of Mountain Goats in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLBA/NRR—2015/1094. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Lewis, T. M., S. Pyare, and K. J. Hundertmark. 2015. Contemporary genetic structure of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in a recently deglaciated landscape. Journal of Biogeography 42: 1707-1713.

Lewis, T. M. and D. J. R. Lafferty. 2014. Brown bears scavenge humpback whale carcass in Alaska. Ursus 25(1): 8-13.

Partridge, S. T., T. S. Smith, and T. M. Lewis. 2009. Black and brown bear activity at selected coastal sites in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska: Preliminary assessment using noninvasive procedures. USGS Administrative Report to Glacier Bay National Park, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826.