Benthic invertebrate community structure is influenced by forest succession after clearcut logging in southeastern Alaska
O. Hernandez, R.W. Merritt, M.S. Wipfli
2005, Hydrobiologia (533) 45-59
To assess the effects of timber harvesting on headwater streams in upland forests, benthic community structure was contrasted among four dominant forest management types (old growth, red alder-dominated young growth, conifer-dominated young growth, clearcut) and instream habitats (woody debris, cobble, gravel) in southeastern Alaska. Benthos in streams of previously harvested...
Distribution and density of moose in relation to landscape characteristics: Effects of scale
J.A.K. Maier, J. M. Ver Hoef, A. D. McGuire, R.T. Bowyer, L. Saperstein, H.A. Maier
2005, Conference Paper, Canadian Journal of Forest Research
We analyzed the relation between early winter distribution and density of female moose (Alces alces L.) and habitat heterogeneity in interior Alaska. We tested for effects of vegetation type, topography, distance to rivers and towns, occurrence and timing of fire, and landscape metrics. A spatial linear model was used to...
Fire effects on soil organic matter content, composition, and nutrients in boreal interior Alaska
J. C. Neff, J.W. Harden, G. Gleixner
2005, Conference Paper, Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Boreal ecosystems contain a substantial fraction of the earth's soil carbon stores and are prone to frequent and severe wildfires. In this study, we examine changes in element and organic matter stocks due to a 1999 wildfire in Alaska. One year after the wildfire, burned soils contained between 1071 and...
Chloroethene biodegradation in sediments at 4°C
P. M. Bradley, S. Richmond, F. H. Chapelle
2005, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (71) 6414-6417
Microbial reductive dechlorination of [1,2-14C]trichloroethene to [14C]cis-dichloroethene and [14C]vinyl chloride was observed at 4°C in anoxic microcosms prepared with cold temperature-adapted aquifer and river sediments from Alaska. Microbial anaerobic oxidation of [1,2-14C]cis-dichloroethene and [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride to 14CO2 also was observed under these conditions. ...
From the field: Brown bear habituation to people — Safety, risks, and benefits
Stephen Herrero, Tom Smith, Terry D. DeBruyn, Kerry Gunther, Colleen A. Matt
2005, Wildlife Society Bulletin (33) 362-373
Recently, brown bear (Ursus arctos) viewing has increased in coastal Alaska and British Columbia, as well as in interior areas such as Yellowstone National Park. Viewing is most often being done under conditions that offer acceptable safety to both people and bears. We analyze and comment on the underlying processes...
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar study of Okmok volcano, Alaska, 1992-2003: Magma supply dynamics and postemplacement lava flow deformation
Z. Lu, Timothy Masterlark, Daniel Dzurisin
2005, Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth (110) 1-18
Okmok volcano, located in the central Aleutian arc, Alaska, is a dominantly basaltic complex topped with a 10-km-wide caldera that formed circa 2.05 ka. Okmok erupted several times during the 20th century, most recently in 1997; eruptions in 1945, 1958, and 1997 produced lava flows within the caldera. We used...
The dynamic response of Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, USA, to the Hidden Creek Lake outburst flood
R. Scott Anderson, J. S. Walder, S.P. Anderson, D.C. Trabant, A. G. Fountain
2005, Annals of Glaciology (40) 237-242
Glacier sliding is commonly linked with elevated water pressure at the glacier bed. Ice surface motion during a 3 week period encompassing an outburst of ice-dammed Hidden Creek Lake (HCL) at Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, USA, showed enhanced sliding during the flood. Two stakes, 1.2 km from HCL, revealed increased speed...
Coastal iron fluxes to surface waters of the NE Pacific: A driver of the marine ecosystem and carbon cycle
John Crusius, J.L. Nielsen
2005, Report
Offshore marine observation of Willow Ptarmigan, including water landings, Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska
Christian E. Zimmerman, Nicola Hillgruber, Sean E. Burril, Michelle A. St. Peters, Jennifer D. Wetzel
2005, The Wilson Bulletin (117) 12-14
We report an observation of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) encountered 8 to 17 km from the nearest shoreline on Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska, on 30 August 2003. The ptarmigan were observed flying, landing on our research vessel, and landing and taking off from the water surface. We also report on one...
Survival of Western Sandpiper broods on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Brian J. McCaffery
2005, Condor (107) 597-604
The rate of chick growth in high-latitude breeding shorebirds is rapid, but little is known about the effect of chick mass, growth, and brood movements on subsequent brood survival. To address these topics, we monitored chick growth patterns, daily brood movements, and survival of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) on the...
Evidence and implications of recent climate change in Northern Alaska and other Arctic regions
L. D. Hinzman, N.D. Bettez, W.R. Bolton, F.S. Chapin, M.B. Dyurgerov, C.L. Fastie, B. Griffith, R.D. Hollister, Allen Hope, H.P. Huntington, A.M. Jensen, G.J. Jia, T. Jorgenson, D.L. Kane, D.R. Klein, G. Kofinas, A.H. Lynch, A.H. Lloyd, A. D. McGuire, Frederick E. Nelson, W.C. Oechel, T.E. Osterkamp, C.H. Racine, V.E. Romanovsky, R. S. Stone, D.A. Stow, M. Sturm, C.E. Tweedie, G.L. Vourlitis, M.D. Walker, D.A. Walker, P.J. Webber, J.M. Welker, K.S. Winker, K. Yoshikawa
2005, Climatic Change (72) 251-298
The Arctic climate is changing. Permafrost is warming, hydrological processes are changing and biological and social systems are also evolving in response to these changing conditions. Knowing how the structure and function of arctic terrestrial ecosystems are responding to recent and persistent climate change is paramount to understanding the future...
Ice elevations and surface change on the Malaspina Glacier, Alaska
J. Sauber, B. Molnia, C. Carabajal, S. Luthcke, R. Muskett
2005, Geophysical Research Letters (32) 1-4
Here we use Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)-derived elevations and surface characteristics to investigate the Malaspina Glacier of southern Alaska. Although there is significant elevation variability between ICESat tracks on this glacier, we were able to discern general patterns in surface elevation change by using a regional digital...
Linkages between climate, growth, competition at sea and production of sockeye salmon populations in Bristol Bay, 1955-2000
Jennifer L. Nielsen, Gregory T. Ruggerone
Sarah Behr, Helen Wiggins, Alison York, editor(s)
2005, Conference Paper, Proceedings of the open science meeting study of environmental Arctic change (SEARCH)
Bristol Bay, Alaska, supports one of the largest and most valuable salmon fisheries in the world. Salmon abundance in Bristol Bay and other northern areas more than doubled after the 1976–77 marine climate shift. However, in 1997–98, a major El Niño event led to unusual oceanographic conditions and Bristol Bay...
Prey consumption and energy transfer by marine birds in the Gulf of Alaska
G.L. Hunt Jr., G.S. Drew, J. Jahncke, John F. Piatt
2005, Conference Paper, Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
We investigated prey consumption by marine birds and their contribution to cross-shelf fluxes in the northern Gulf of Alaska. We utilized data from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database for modeling energy demand and prey consumption. We found that prey consumption by marine birds was much greater over the continental...
Parallel structure among environmental gradients and three trophic levels in a subarctic estuary
Suzann G. Speckman, John F. Piatt, C. V. Minte-Vera, Julia K. Parrish
2005, Progress in Oceanography (66) 25-65
We assessed spatial and temporal variability in the physical environment of a subarctic estuary, and examined concurrent patterns of chlorophyll α abundance (fluorescence), and zooplankton and forage fish community structure. Surveys were conducted in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, during late July and early August from 1997 through 1999. Principle components analysis...
The challenges associated with developing science-based landscape scale management plans
Robert C. Szaro, D.A. Boyce Jr., T. Puchlerz
2005, Landscape and Urban Planning (72) 3-12
Planning activities over large landscapes poses a complex of challenges when trying to balance the implementation of a conservation strategy while still allowing for a variety of consumptive and nonconsumptive uses. We examine a case in southeast Alaska to illustrate the breadth of these challenges and an approach to developing...
Succession on subalpine placer mine spoil: Effects of revegetation with Alnus viridis, Alaska, U.S.A.
Roseann V. Densmore
2005, Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research (37) 297-303
Alnus viridis seedlings were planted on placer mine spoil in an Alaskan subalpine watershed to bypass a seedling establishment bottleneck for A. viridis, and to evaluate the interaction between A. viridis and the dominant riparian woody plants, Salix alaxensis and Populus balsamifera. The study area was divided into 11 replicate...
Annual survival and site fidelity of northern pintails banded on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Christopher A. Nicolai, Paul L. Flint, Michael L. Wege
2005, Journal of Wildlife Management (69) 1202-1210
We banded northern pintails (Anas acuta; n = 13,645) at a single site on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, from 1990 to 2001. We used recaptures from our site in combination with hunter recoveries to model annual survival, recovery rates, and fidelity to our capture location. Most recoveries (>90%)...
Stratigraphic and geochemical evolution of an oceanic arc upper crustal section: The Jurassic Talkeetna Volcanic Formation, south-central Alaska
P.D. Clift, A.E. Draut, P.B. Kelemen, J. Blusztajn, A. Greene
2005, Geological Society of America Bulletin (117) 902-925
The Early Jurassic Talkeetna Volcanic Formation forms the upper stratigraphic level of an oceanic volcanic arc complex within the Peninsular Terrane of south-central Alaska. The section comprises a series of lavas, tuffs, and volcaniclastic debris-How and flow turbidite deposits, showing significant lateral facies variability. There is a general trend toward...
Effects of maternal characteristics and climatic variation on birth masses of Alaskan caribou
Layne G. Adams
2005, Journal of Mammalogy (86) 506-513
Understanding factors that influence birth mass of mammals provides insights to nutritional trade-offs made by females to optimize their reproduction, growth, and survival. I evaluated variation in birth mass of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in central Alaska relative to maternal characteristics (age, body mass, cohort, and nutritional condition as influenced by...
Comparing maps of mean monthly surface temperature and precipitation for Alaska and adjacent areas of Canada produced by two different methods
James J. Simpson, Gary L. Hufford, Christopher Daly, Jared S. Berg, Michael D. Fleming
2005, Arctic (58) 137-161
Maps of mean monthly surface temperature and precipitation for Alaska and adjacent areas of Canada, produced by Oregon State University's Spatial Climate Analysis Service (SCAS) and the Alaska Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (AGDC), were analyzed. Because both sets of maps are generally available and in use by the community, there is...
Central Arctic caribou and petroleum development: Distributional, nutritional, and reproductive implications
Raymond D. Cameron, Walter T. Smith, Robert G. White, Brad Griffith
2005, Arctic (58) 1-9
We synthesize findings from cooperative research on effects of petroleum development on caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) of the Central Arctic Herd (CAH). The CAH increased from about 6000 animals in 1978 to 23000 in 1992, declined to 18 000 by 1995, and again increased to 27 000 by 2000. Net...
Population genetic structure of annual and perennial populations of Zostera marina L. along the Pacific coast of Baja California and the Gulf of California
Raquel Muñiz-Salazar, Sandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, David H. Ward, Alejandro Cabello-Pasini
2005, Molecular Ecology (14) 711-722
The Baja California peninsula represents a biogeographical boundary contributing to regional differentiation among populations of marine animals. We investigated the genetic characteristics of perennial and annual populations of the marine angiosperm, Zostera marina, along the Pacific coast of Baja California and in the Gulf of California, respectively. Populations of Z....
Geographic variation in survival and migratory tendency among North American Common Mergansers
John M. Pearce, John A. Reed, Paul L. Flint
2005, Journal of Field Ornithology (76) 109-118
Movement ecology and demographic parameters for the Common Merganser (Mergus merganser americanus) in North America are poorly known. We used band-recovery data from five locations across North America spanning the years 1938–1998 to examine migratory patterns and estimate survival rates. We examined competing time-invariant, age-graduated models with program MARK...
Subduction-zone magnetic anomalies and implications for hydrated forearc mantle
R.J. Blakely, T.M. Brocher, R.E. Wells
2005, Geology (33) 445-448
Continental mantle in subduction zones is hydrated by release of water from the underlying oceanic plate. Magnetite is a significant byproduct of mantle hydration, and forearc mantle, cooled by subduction, should contribute to long-wavelength magnetic anomalies above subduction zones. We test this hypothesis with a quantitative model of the Cascadia...
