ASC Data Repository
This data package presents raw legacy data collected during 1974-1992 on the Arctic Coastal Plain (primarily in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska; NPR-A). The data were collected in support of a long-term multi-species wetland ecosystem study that aimed to provide an understanding of occurrence and densities of bird, mammal, fish, invertebrate, and plant species. The study included the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (TLSA), as well as focused studies on individual lakes or regions within the special area, including: East Long Lake, West Long Lake, Goose Lake, Island Lake, Square Lake, Meade River (Singiluk), Point Storkersen, and Icy Cape. The study included 10 primary objectives: 1) complete daily weather records, 2) chart avian phenology, 3) census large and small bird species, 4) map bird nests and record success, 5) record caribou movements, 6) sample wetlands for aquatic macroinvertebrates, 7) establish a small mammal trapline, 8) observe activity and feeding habits of molting geese, 9) map vegetation trend plots for ground truth, and 10) record fox observations and den sites. Not all objectives were completed in all years and at all locations.
The data are provided as digital scans (PDF format for documents and JPG format for photographs) of original field data sheets, notebooks, tables, figures, maps, and photographs (scanned film and slides). All data are organized in folders by topic and study site location.
Since the data are in original form and were not digitized at the time of data collection, the data have not undergone formal Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC). Additional documentation of project field methods are limited for most years and locations of study, however, reports summarizing data collected at several locations are listed in the Cross Reference section. These are scanned originals and replications and some text may be illegible.
The Teshekpuk Lake region was designated as a Special Area in 1977 by the Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrus. The map shows the approximate boundary of the Special Area in 2008, 2013, and 2020. Due to differences in reporting procedures prior to 2000, the boundaries of Teshekpuk Lake Special Area were not well defined and therefore, are not shown on this map.
Between 1974-1992, biologists with the USFWS Special Studies Program (precursor to USFWS Alaska Region departments and ultimately the Ecosystems Office at the USGS) collected biological and phenological information on waterbirds, mammals, and plants on the North Slope of Alaska within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).
This U.S. Geological Survey Data Release is a collection of original and scanned field data, field notes, maps, figures, tables, and photographs. All documents and photos have been digitally scanned in PDF or JPG format and are archived along with original physical copies at the USGS Alaska Science Center.
Field data, figures, tables, maps, notes, and photographs are available for download upon request by contacting ascweb@usgs.gov. Not all research objectives were accomplished in all years and locations of these studies and therefore, some data may be missing and/or unavailable. Also, not all years of the research were conducted at a single location and data may have been combined into a single document (e.g., raw data for Large Species Surveys). Therefore, it is suggested that related documents from all locations be requested. All available data, figures, tables, maps, and field notes are in PDF document format and have not been checked for accuracy or completeness. Several documents are poor quality scans and may contain sections that are illegible. Further, all PDF documents are provided “as is” and do not follow 508 compliance standards. All photographs are archived in PDF or JPG files and include information such as the photographer’s name, location of photo and date taken, when available. Lastly, documents and photographs included in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area section of the inventory lists (see below), includes data for all lakes within the designated area boundary. East Long Lake, West Long Lake, Goose Lake, Island Lake and Square Lake are located within the special area boundary and data related to these lakes may be contained within the overarching Teshekpuk Lake Special Area section.
Please note: All bird species checklists have been submitted to the eBird database hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (eBird.org). Checklists are also available as a data download from USGS Alaska Science Center under the “Northern” region (Bird Species Checklists from USGS Alaska Science Center Field Camps)
Collection Metadata (Zip)
Suggested Citation: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 2022, Data supporting studies of waterbird and Arctic lake ecosystems within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 1974-1992: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P99Z0F3M.
Teshekpuk Lake Special Area
East Long Lake
West Long Lake
Goose Lake
Island Lake
Square Lake
Meade River (Singiluk)
Point Storkersen
Icy Cape
The following is a list of documents (government reports, graduate dissertations, and peer reviewed scientific articles) that have presented or analyzed portions of the data provided in this data release. It is possible that other documents supported by these data exist but are not included in this list. Documents are available for download through ServCat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; DOI agencies only) or ARLIS (Alaska Resources Library & Information Services; https://www.arlis.org/).
Bergman, R.D. 1974. Use of lakes by waterbirds in the Prudhoe Bay oilfields, 12-13 August 1974: first annual report, 1974. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Energy Delivery Systems, Anchorage, Alaska.
Bergman, R.D. 1974. Wetlands and waterbirds at Point Storkersen, Alaska. Ph.D. Dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-4752
Derksen, D.V., Jensen, M.S., and Weller, M.W. 1976. Evaluation of techniques used to study vegetation and avifauna in National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska: 1976 NPRA final report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Derksen, D.V., Eldridge, W.D., Rothe, T.C. 1977. Waterbird populations and habitat analysis of selected sites in NPRA. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Heinz, F.A., Koob, M.D. 1977. Investigations of Arctic coastal plain avifauna: 1977 Storkersen Point final report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
King, R.J. 1977. Migratory bird populations of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) 1977. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska
Metzner, K.A., Todd, C.T. 1977. Investigations of interior Arctic coastal plain avifauna in National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska: 1977 Singiluk final report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Eldridge, W.D., Rothe, T.C. 1977.Waterbirds and wetland resources at the Meade River Delta, 1977. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Bergman, R.D., Howard, R.L., Abraham, K.F., Weller, M.W. 1977. Waterbirds and their wetland resources in relation to oil development at Storkersen Point, Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Publication 129. Washington, D. C. 38 pp.
King, R.J. 1978. Results of aerial surveys of migratory birds on NPR-A in 1977 and 1978. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program, Anchorage, Alaska.
Markon, C.J. 1978. Final report on the 1977 35mm aerial photography program in National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Rothe, T.C., Ryan, M.R., Taylor, T.S. 1978. Waterbird populations and wetland habitats at Teshekpuk Lake study site: 1978 final report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Derksen, D.V. 1979. Summary of Teshekpuk Lake aerial goose surveys (1976-1978). Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Markon, C.J. 1979. The 1978 35mm aerial photography program in National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Markon, C.J., Heinz, F.A. 1979. Waterbirds and their Wetland Resources at Island Lake, NPR-A, 1978. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
McDonald, D., Kenyon, R.C. 1979. Waterbirds and their Wetland Resources in Relation to Oil Development at Storkersen Point, Alaska - 1978 Final Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Weller, M.W., Derksen, D.V. 1979. The geomorphology of Teshekpuk Lake in relation to coastline configuration of Alaska’s coastal plain. Arctic 32:152-160
Simpson, S.G. 1980. East Long Lake study site, 1980. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Taylor, E.J., Simpson, S.G., Bromley, M.S. 1980. Waterbird populations and wetland habitats at Goose Lake study site 1979. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Derksen, D.V., Rothe, T.C., Eldridge, W.D. 1981. Use of wetland habitats by birds in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Publication 141, Washington, D.C. 31 pp.
Lehnhausen, W.A., Quinlan, S.E. 1981. Bird migration and habitat use at Icy Cape, Alaska. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Simpson, S.G. 1981. Microhistological analysis of fecal materials collected from geese near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Office of Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.
Derksen, D.V., Eldridge, W.D., Weller, M.W. 1982. Habitat ecology of Pacific Black Brant and other geese moulting near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Wildfowl 33:39-57.
Taylor, R.J. 1986. Foods and foraging ecology of Oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis L.) on the Arctic coastal plain of Alaska. M.S. Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska.
King, R.J. 1987. Aerial waterbird surveys of the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, with emphasis on waterfowl-1986. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Potential impacts of human activities on feeding behavior, energetics, and habitats of molting Pacific Black Brant in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska.
Jensen, K.C. 1990. Responses of molting Pacific Black Brant to experimental aircraft disturbance in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Alaska. Ph.D. Dissertation, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas.
Derksen, D.V., Bollinger, K.S., Esler, D., Jensen, K.C., Taylor, E.J., Miller, M.W., Weller, M.W. 1992. Effects of aircraft on behavior and ecology of molting brant near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska: final report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska.
Taylor, E.J. 1993. Molt and bioenergetics of Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicula nigricans) on the Arctic coastal plain, Alaska. Ph.D. Dissertation, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas.
Weller, M.W., Jensen, K.C., Taylor, E.J., Miller, M.W., Bollinger, K.S., Derksen, D.V., Esler, D., Markon, C. 1994. Assessment of shoreline vegetation in relation to use by molting Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Alaska coastal plain. Biological Conservation 70(3):219-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(94)90166-X.
Miller, M.W. 1991. A simulation model of helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific Black Brant. M.S. Thesis, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas.
Miller, M.W., Jensen, K.C., Grant, W.E., Weller, M.W. 1994. A simulation model of helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific black brant. Ecological Modelling 73(3-4):293-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3800(94)90067-1.
Miller, M.W. 1994. Route selection to minimize helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific Black Brant: A simulation. Arctic 47(4):341-349.
Markon, C.J., Derksen D.V. 1994. Identification of tundra land cover near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska using SPOT satellite data. Arctic 47(3):222-231.
Taylor, E.J. 1995. Molt of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Arctic coastal plain, Alaska. The Auk 112(4):904-919. https://doi.org/10.2307/4089022.
Bollinger, K.S., Derksen, D.V. 1996. Demographic characteristics of molting Black Brant near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Journal of Field Ornithology 67(1):141-15.
Version History:First release: April 2022Revised: December 2022 (ver. 2.0)
Lehnhausen, W. A. and S. E. Quinlan. 1981. Bird migration and habitat use at Icy Cape, Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 298 p.
Sexson, M. G. 2009. Report of 2008 U.S. Geological Survey research activities at Big Slough, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Derksen, D. V., W. D. Eldridge, and T. C. Rothe. 1977. Waterbird populations and habitat analysis of selected sites in NPRA. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 77 p.
King, R. J. 1977. Migratory bird population of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), 1977. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 45 p.
Bergman, R. D., R. L. Howard, and M. W. Weller. 1977. Waterbirds and their wetland resources in relation to oil development at Storkersen Point, Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 44 p.
Markon, C. J. 1978. Final report on the 1977 35mm aerial photography program in National Petoleum Reserve of Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 21 p.
Derksen, D. V. 1979. Summary of Teshekpuk Lake aerial goose surveys (1976-1978). US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 20 p.
Markon, C. J. 1979. The 1978 35mm aerial photography program in National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 43 p.
Markon, C. J. and F. A. Heinz. 1979. Waterbird and their wetland resources at Island Lake, NPR-A, 1978. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program.
Weller, M. W. and D. V. Derksen. 1979. The geomorphology of Teshekpuk Lake in relation to coastline configuration of Alaska's coastal plain. Arctic 32(2):152-160.
Derksen, D. V., T. C. Rothe, and W. D. Eldridge. 1981. Use of wetland habitats by birds in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 27 p.
Simpson, S. G. 1981. Microhistological analysis of fecal materials collected from geese near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Studies Program, 40 p.
Derksen, D. V., W. D. Eldridge, and M. W. Weller. 1982. Habitat ecology of Pacific Black Brant and other geese moulting near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Wildfowl 33:39-57.
Taylor, E. J. 1986. Foods and foraging ecology of Oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis L.) on the Arctic coastal Plain of Alaska. Dissertation, , 130 p.
King, R. J. 1987. Aerial waterbird surveys of the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, with emphasis on waterfowl-1986. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Special Studies, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center.
U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, . 1987. Potential impacts of human activities on feeding behavior, energetics, and habitats of molting Pacific Black Brant in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Alaska. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 19 p.
Taylor, E. J. 1993. Molt and bioenergetics of Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicula nigricans) on the Arctic coastal plain, Alaska. Dissertation, .
Miller, M. W., K. C. Jensen, W. E. Grant, and M. W. Weller. 1994. A simulation model of helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific Black Brant. Ecological Modeling 73:293-309. doi:10.1016/0304-3800(94)90067-1
Miller, M. W. 1994. Route selection to minimize helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific Black Brant: a simulation. Arctic 47(4):341-349.
Taylor, E. J. 1995. Molt of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Arctic coastal plain, Alaska. The Auk 112(4):904-919. doi:10.2307/4089022
DataID: 474 | doi:10.5066/P99Z0F3M | Date Posted Online: 2022-04-26 | Last Updated: 2022-04-29 10:20:43
