Alaska Pacific University
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
Alaska Pacific University

Discover Active Learning

  • Academics
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362

Law seminar highlights Cornick’s research on Cook Inlet belugas

June 17, 2013

Associate Professor Leslie Cornick was among invited presenters at a continuing-education seminar for lawyers focusing on the Endangered Species Act in Alaska.

Cornick is a regionally ranked expert in Cook Inlet beluga whale ecology, listed since 2008 as an endangered species under federal regulation.

More than 3,000 square miles of Cook Inlet has been designated critical habitat essential to the whales’ survival. Once an Alaska Native subsistence food, belugas in Cook Inlet are no longer hunted because of their declining numbers.

Cornick focused her talk May 31 on the ecology of Cook Inlet belugas and the lack of data when it comes to understanding their health status and the effects of contaminants.

She also discussed the status of waste water treatment in Anchorage, which flows into the Inlet. Anchorage is exempt from secondary treatment because extreme tidal fluctuations are believed to flush contaminants quickly from the system.

“Many of those attending my talk were lawyers and others who work in development,” Cornick told the APU Blog. “It’s really important for non-science stakeholders to hear from scientists on these issues.”

Cornick oversees the University’s Scientific Marine Mammal Monitoring Program. Among other things, the program has worked on monitoring belugas for the Port of Anchorage expansion.

Her talk included lab results obtained by students in the University’s Master of Science in Environmental Science program.

“People need to know that at APU we do real, applied and cutting-edge research that benefits the community as well as our students,” Cornick said.

Cornick presented data describing cumulative effects of coastal zone development and ways that noise, contaminants and decreased prey – among other factors – could further depress beluga whale numbers.

She regularly talks to local groups about her findings and is among the few area beluga researchers who is unaffiliated with an agency.

“I can speak candidly,” she said.

 

Alaska Pacific University is an accredited, private liberal arts and sciences university committed to experiential learning with Alaska as our principal classroom.

Filed Under: Environmental Science, Marine Biology, MS Environmental Science

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Active Learning (168)
  • Admissions (16)
  • Advancement (11)
  • Alaskan Culture (9)
  • Alumni (12)
  • APU Spotlight (32)
  • Business Administration and Management (12)
  • Business Administration Department (23)
  • Commencement (5)
  • Community (46)
  • Consortium Library News (2)
  • Coronavirus Updates (35)
  • Counseling Psych & Human Services (6)
  • Counseling Psychology (6)
  • Early Honors (6)
  • Earth Science (12)
  • Education (6)
  • Environmental Public Health (2)
  • Environmental Science (34)
  • Expedition Alaska (4)
  • Faculty (4)
  • Farmers Market (4)
  • FAST Lab (7)
  • Featured Item (21)
  • Geology (2)
  • Graduation (4)
  • Kellogg Campus (20)
  • Liberal Studies (51)
  • Marine Biology (26)
  • Master of Arts (5)
  • Master of Business Administration (16)
  • MS Environmental Science (16)
  • MSOEE (7)
  • News Page (12)
  • Newsletter (4)
  • Nordic Skiing (21)
  • Nursing & Health (4)
  • Outdoor Studies (23)
  • President's Blog (34)
  • Press Releases (45)
  • Raven Reconnaissance (3)
  • Recently completed theses (7)
  • Research (19)
  • Scholarships (2)
  • Spring Creek Farm Journal (4)
  • Student Activities (15)
  • Student Stories (12)
  • Sustainability Studies (22)
  • We Are APU (39)
  • World Class (35)

Recent Blog Posts

Public Lecture Announced: Learning and Earnings With Institute of Business and Public Policy

February 17, 2023

APU’s Swirbul and Anchorage’s Jager add to their national cross-country ski championship totals

January 20, 2023

Governor appoints APU Alum as the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health

December 20, 2022

Alaska Pacific University Receives Grant Award from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity

December 8, 2022

APU publishes FY22 Annual Report

November 28, 2022

You Are Here: Home / Environmental Science / Law seminar highlights Cornick’s research on Cook Inlet belugas

Footer

Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Drive • Anchorage, Alaska 99508
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • Conferencing Services
  • Campus Store
  • Transcripts

© 2023 Alaska Pacific University · All Rights Reserved · Notice Regarding Web Accessibility · Privacy Policy · Website Credits