Erin Kunisch
About
I am a marine ecologist with a broad interest in behavioral and trophic ecology. I aim to better understand the seasonal and spatial variability of resource use within food webs, and how this variability can further influence organism behavior and life history strategies. I am also quite interested in how the timing of primary productive events further supports food webs, and how organisms adapt within the confines of resource limitations.
To answer my research questions, I use tools such as lipid and fatty acid analysis. I also incorporate trophic biomarkers, compound specific stable isotopes, and modelling into my research. I have also worked in marine mammal population demography and behavior studies in various high-latitude and equatorial habitats.
Publications
2026
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Dierickx, Katrien Alfred C;
Kersten, Oliver Sven;
Falahati-Anbaran, Mohsen;
Sollid, Eirik;
Szpak, Paul;
Seiler, Martin Thomas;
Richard, Jean Simon;
Frasier, Brenna A.;
Royle, Thomas Coulton;
Buss, Danielle Lia.
(2026)
The morphology, isotopic ecology, and phylogeny of walrus, Odobenus rosmarus (Pinnipedia: Odobenidae) populations.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Academic article
2025
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Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo;
Daase, Malin;
Swadling, Kerrie M..
(2025)
Sea ice food webs in transition.
Textbook chapter
2023
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Kunisch, Erin;
Graeve, Martin;
Gradinger, Rolf Rudolf;
Flores, Hauke;
Varpe, Øystein;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2023)
What we do in the dark: Prevalence of omnivorous feeding activity in Arctic zooplankton during polar night.
Limnology and Oceanography
Academic article
2022
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Kunisch, Erin;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2022)
Sea ice dependence in Arctic marine organisms: life cycles, resource use, and trophic linkages.
UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Doctoral thesis
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Kuehne, Lauren M;
Rolls, Robert J;
Brandis, Kate J;
Chen, Kai;
Fraley, Kevin M;
Frost, Lindsey K;
Ho, Susie S;
Kunisch, Erin;
Langhans, Simone D.;
LeRoy, Carri J..
(2022)
Benefits of permanent adoption of virtual conferences for conservation science.
Conservation Biology
Commentary
2021
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Kunisch, Erin;
Graeve, Martin;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Haug, Tore;
Kovacs, Kit M.;
Lydersen, Christian;
Varpe, Øystein Heggernes;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2021)
Ice-algal carbon supports harp and ringed seal diets in the European Arctic: Evidence from fatty acid and stable isotope markers.
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Academic article
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Priou, Pierre;
Nikolopoulos, Anna;
Flores, Hauke;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Kunisch, Eirin;
Katlein, Christian;
Castellani, Giulia;
Linders, Torsten Theodor;
Berge, Jørgen;
Fisher, Jonathan A.D..
(2021)
Dense mesopelagic sound scattering layer and vertical segregation of pelagic organisms at the Arctic-Atlantic gateway during the midnight sun.
Progress in Oceanography
Academic article
-
Drivdal, Magnus;
Kunisch, Erin H.;
Bluhm, Bodil A.;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Falk-Petersen, Stig;
Berge, Jørgen.
(2021)
Connections to the Deep: Deep Vertical Migrations, an Important Part of the Life Cycle of Apherusa glacialis, an Arctic Ice-Associated Amphipod.
Frontiers in Marine Science
Academic article
2020
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Kunisch, Erin;
Bluhm, Bodil;
Daase, Malin;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Hop, Haakon;
Melnikov, Igor A.;
Varpe, Øystein;
Berge, Jørgen.
(2020)
Pelagic occurrences of the ice amphipod Apherusa glacialis throughout the Arctic.
Journal of Plankton Research
Academic article
2012
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Wilson, Kenady;
Fritz, Lowell;
Kunisch, Erin;
Chumbley, Kathryn;
Johnson, Devin.
(2012)
Effects of research disturbance on the behavior and abundance of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) at two rookeries in Alaska.
Marine mammal science
Academic article
2011
-
Kunisch, Erin.
(2011)
Northern fur seal reproductive rates and early maternal care.
Oregon State University
Master thesis
Journal publications
-
Dierickx, Katrien Alfred C;
Kersten, Oliver Sven;
Falahati-Anbaran, Mohsen;
Sollid, Eirik;
Szpak, Paul;
Seiler, Martin Thomas;
Richard, Jean Simon;
Frasier, Brenna A.;
Royle, Thomas Coulton;
Buss, Danielle Lia.
(2026)
The morphology, isotopic ecology, and phylogeny of walrus, Odobenus rosmarus (Pinnipedia: Odobenidae) populations.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Academic article
-
Kunisch, Erin;
Graeve, Martin;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Haug, Tore;
Kovacs, Kit M.;
Lydersen, Christian;
Varpe, Øystein Heggernes;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2021)
Ice-algal carbon supports harp and ringed seal diets in the European Arctic: Evidence from fatty acid and stable isotope markers.
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Academic article
-
Kuehne, Lauren M;
Rolls, Robert J;
Brandis, Kate J;
Chen, Kai;
Fraley, Kevin M;
Frost, Lindsey K;
Ho, Susie S;
Kunisch, Erin;
Langhans, Simone D.;
LeRoy, Carri J..
(2022)
Benefits of permanent adoption of virtual conferences for conservation science.
Conservation Biology
Commentary
-
Priou, Pierre;
Nikolopoulos, Anna;
Flores, Hauke;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Kunisch, Eirin;
Katlein, Christian;
Castellani, Giulia;
Linders, Torsten Theodor;
Berge, Jørgen;
Fisher, Jonathan A.D..
(2021)
Dense mesopelagic sound scattering layer and vertical segregation of pelagic organisms at the Arctic-Atlantic gateway during the midnight sun.
Progress in Oceanography
Academic article
-
Wilson, Kenady;
Fritz, Lowell;
Kunisch, Erin;
Chumbley, Kathryn;
Johnson, Devin.
(2012)
Effects of research disturbance on the behavior and abundance of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) at two rookeries in Alaska.
Marine mammal science
Academic article
-
Drivdal, Magnus;
Kunisch, Erin H.;
Bluhm, Bodil A.;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Falk-Petersen, Stig;
Berge, Jørgen.
(2021)
Connections to the Deep: Deep Vertical Migrations, an Important Part of the Life Cycle of Apherusa glacialis, an Arctic Ice-Associated Amphipod.
Frontiers in Marine Science
Academic article
-
Kunisch, Erin;
Graeve, Martin;
Gradinger, Rolf Rudolf;
Flores, Hauke;
Varpe, Øystein;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2023)
What we do in the dark: Prevalence of omnivorous feeding activity in Arctic zooplankton during polar night.
Limnology and Oceanography
Academic article
-
Kunisch, Erin;
Bluhm, Bodil;
Daase, Malin;
Gradinger, Rolf;
Hop, Haakon;
Melnikov, Igor A.;
Varpe, Øystein;
Berge, Jørgen.
(2020)
Pelagic occurrences of the ice amphipod Apherusa glacialis throughout the Arctic.
Journal of Plankton Research
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo;
Daase, Malin;
Swadling, Kerrie M..
(2025)
Sea ice food webs in transition.
Textbook chapter
Student thesis or dissertation
-
Kunisch, Erin;
Bluhm, Bodil.
(2022)
Sea ice dependence in Arctic marine organisms: life cycles, resource use, and trophic linkages.
UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Doctoral thesis
-
Kunisch, Erin.
(2011)
Northern fur seal reproductive rates and early maternal care.
Oregon State University
Master thesis
Outreach
2026
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Conference posterKohlbach, Doreen; Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Graeve, Martin; Fahl, Kirsten; Müller, Anja; Müller, Juliane; Lunden, Thomas; Woll, Matthias; Leu, Eva. (2026) Unveiling the trophic marker composition of Melosira arctica: Bridging field observations and cultured isolates. Ocean Science Meeting
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Conference lectureKunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Furness, Lydia Hildebrand; Buss, Danielle Lia; Sabin, Richard; Star, Bastiaan; Barrett, James Harold. (2026) A glimpse under the surface: untangling the historical food web of the Steller’s sea cow. Ocean Sciences 2026
2025
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Conference lectureBuss, Danielle Lia; van den Hurk, Youri; Sollid, Eirik; Falahati-Anbaran, Mohsen; Mohammadi-Bazargani, Mitra; Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Royle, Thomas Coulton; Ryan, Conor; Frasier, Brenna A.; Richard, Jean-Simon. (2025) Variation in foraging of North Atlantic right whales and fin whales over the Holocene. Back to the Future: Zooarchaeological Isotope Approaches to Modern Questions
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PodcastBazilchuk, Nancy Reney; Barrett, James Harold; Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Dierickx, Katrien Alfred C. (2025) Walrus tusks were Viking Age gold.
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Other presentationSeiler, Martin Thomas; Philippsen, Bente; Khumalo, Wendy Hlengiwe; Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Passerini, Anna-Paola. (2025) Atomer avslører kosthold i forhistorien - og kanskje også ditt?. Researchers' Night - Ungdommens Forskernatt
2024
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LectureSeiler, Martin Thomas; Philippsen, Bente; Svarva, Helene Løvstrand; Khumalo, Wendy Hlengiwe; Kunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Perez Ramallo, Patxi. (2024) Atomer avslører kosthold i forhistorien - og kanskje også din?. Researchers' Night 2024
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Conference lectureKunisch, Erin Hye Soo; Graeve, Martin; Flores, Hauke; Gradinger, Rolf Rudolf; Varpe, Øystein; Bluhm, Bodil Annikki Ulla Barbro. (2024) What we do in the dark: prevalence of omnivorous feeding activity in Arctic zooplankton during polar night. 7th ICES/PICES Zooplankton Production Symposium
2023
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Conference posterReigstad, Marit; Kunisch, Erin; Eldevik, Tor; Gerland, Sebastian. (2023) The Nansen Legacy - changing Arctic climate and ecosystem responses. Gordon Conference on Polar Marine Science
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Conference posterReigstad, Marit; Gerland, Sebastian; Eldevik, Tor; Kunisch, Erin; Wiedmann, Ingrid; Sundfjord, Arild; Bluhm, Bodil Annikki Ulla Barbro; Li, Camille; Nilsen, Frank; Johnsen, Geir. (2023) The Nansen Legacy project invites you to its upcoming international symposium in November 2023. Alaska Marine Science Symposium
2022
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Conference lectureKunisch, Erin; Graeve, Martin; Gradinger, Rolf; Varpe, Øystein; Bluhm, Bodil. (2022) Seasonal, spatial, and taxonomic variations in fatty acids and compound specific stable isotopes of Arctic fauna. Arctic Net Science conference
2018
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Conference lectureKunisch, Erin; Drivdal, Magnus; Berge, Jørgen; Bluhm, Bodil; Daase, Malin; Gradinger, Rolf; Melnikov, Igor A.; Varpe, Øystein; Vihtakari, Mikko. (2018) Exploring life-cycle adaptations in a declining sea-ice environment: are sympagic amphipods truly sympagic?. POLAR 2018
2017
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Conference posterKunisch, Erin; Bluhm, Bodil; Gradinger, Rolf; Hop, Haakon; Varpe, Øystein; Berge, Jørgen; Daase, Malin; Melnikov, Igor; Vihtakari, Mikko. (2017) Pan-Arctic distribution of the sympagic amphipod Apherusa glacialis elucidates life-cycle characteristics. ESSAS - Ecosystem Studies of Sub-Arctic and Arctic Seas Open Science Meeting
2006
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Conference lectureTarrou, Christian; Lysaker, Ola; Cai, Xing; Mardal, Kent-Andre; Ruud, Tomas; MacLachlan, Mary; Tveito, Aslak; Kunisch, K.; Hasanov, A.. (2006) Identifying Ischemic Heart Disease in Terms of ECG Recordings and an Inverse Problem for the Bidomain Equations; Modeling and Experiments. The Third International Conference "Inverse Problems: Modeling and Simulation"