USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Measuring and forecasting the response of wildlife populations to changes in ecosystem processes on the Arctic Coastal Plain (Distributional Shifts of Molting Black Brant)
A project to understand temporal changes in foraging habitats of geese to forecast the response of wildlife populations to changes in ecosystem processes on the Arctic Coastal Plain.Abstract
Large temperature changes have occurred in Alaska in recent decades. These changes are already affecting terrestrial vegetation types and wetlands. These physical processes of ecological change directly affect attributes of habitats that are vital to Department of the Interior (DOI) trust species such as migratory birds and large terrestrial mammals. These herbivores may be affected by significant changes in plant community structure that occur in response to physical changes and nutrient availability. Herbivores must selectively forage on plant species that are high in nutrients and abundance. Thus, certain migratory birds, such as geese, and caribou on the North Slope of Alaska represent sensitive indicators of changes in vegetation quality and quantity. Accordingly, these species can be used to index subtle, bottom-up changes in arctic and sub-arctic terrestrial and wetland habitats. Large numbers of Black Brant congregate near Teshekpuk Lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain to molt their wing feathers. Over the past several decades, molting brant have shifted their molting distributions from inland freshwater lakes to coastal estuaries. Recent data also indicate that significant numbers of molting brant may have shifted out of the traditional Teshekpuk Lake molting area. From 2010-2014 we examined the forage plant nutrient composition and abundance in the recently colonized habitats and compare these data with historic values from inland molting lakes. We also examined the body mass dynamics of birds molting in coastal estuaries for comparison with historic data from inland lakes.
Products
| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| Arctic Coastal Plain Seasonal Lake Drainage, Water Temperature, and Solute and Nutrient Concentrations, 2011 - 2014 | Data |
| Changing Arctic Ecosystems project site and factsheet | Project Website |
Contacts
Flint, Paul L., 907-786-7183Meixell, Brandt W., 907-786-7157
Status: completed
Start Year: 2010
End Year: 2015
Project Sites
Location
North Slope BoroughUSGS Mission Area and Program
Ecosystems → Cooperative Research UnitsEcosystems → Wildlife Program
Major Initiatives
USGS - Changing Arctic Ecosystems InitiativeKeywords
Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Alpine/TundraBiosphere > Vegetation
Climate Indicators