Tuula Hollmen

Tuula Hollmen is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Alaska, based at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, AK. Her research focuses on physiological ecology and seabird studies in high-latitude environments, with an emphasis on understanding adaptations to environmental change and addressing conservation challenges for marine species.

Education:

• Ph.D. in 2002 from the University of Helsinki
• D.V.M. in 1992 from the University of Helsinki

Research Interests: Dr. Hollmen's work centers on physiological ecology, exploring the links between physiological processes and ecological dynamics. She employs interdisciplinary and integrative approaches, combining experimental and observational methods, to study individual and population-level responses to environmental change. Her specialties include seabird ecology, high-latitude (Arctic) ecology, disease ecology and epidemiology, and decision analysis. She is particularly interested in applied ecology for conservation and management, and the One Health approach that connects environmental, animal, and human health.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2013-2020) cover a range of topics in marine ornithology, wildlife disease, and Arctic ecology. Key themes include the impacts of sea ice variability on bird survival, remote monitoring techniques for seabird populations, the role of traditional ecological knowledge in conservation decision-making, and the effects of environmental change on Arctic species. Her work often involves collaborative field studies in Alaska and the broader Arctic region.

Advising and Research Projects: Dr. Hollmen mentors graduate students, including Brendan Higgins and Brian Uher-Koch. Her current research projects investigate seabird population trends along the Kenai Peninsula coast, the impact of lagoon habitat change on Steller's eiders, the ecology of birds breeding along the Beaufort Sea coast, citizen science initiatives (SeeBird) for high school students, the effects of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on seabirds, and coastal ecology at the intersection of intertidal invertebrates, bears, and human activities.

Labs and Affiliations: She is affiliated with the Alaska SeaLife Center and the Center for One Health Research. Her work involves collaborations with various institutions and agencies, focusing on interdisciplinary research to address conservation challenges in marine and Arctic ecosystems.