Analysis of a 60 km segment the Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast using time‐series aerial photography revealed that mean annual erosion rates increased from 6.8 m −1 (1955 to 1979), 8.7 (1979 2002), 13.6 (2002 2007). We also observed spatial patterns have become more uniform across shoreline types with different degrees ice‐richness. Further, during remainder 2007 ice‐free season 25 occurred locally, in absence westerly storm event. Concurrent arctic changes potentially responsible for this shift...

Flexible time budgets allow individual animals to buffer the effects of variable food availability by allocating more foraging when density decreases. This trait should be especially important for marine predators that forage on patchy and ephemeral resources. We examined flexible allocation a long-lived predator, Common Murre (Uria aalge), using data collected in five-year study at three colonies Alaska (USA) with contrasting environmental conditions. Annual hydroacoustic surveys revealed...

Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) life-history characteristics make their populations particularly vulnerable to perturbations during nonbreeding periods. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill was a major perturbation habitats of harlequin ducks in Prince William Sound, Alaska, which resulted population injury. To assess the status recovery from and evaluate factors potentially constraining full recovery, we used radiotelemetry examine survival adult female winters 1995-96, 1996-97,...

We used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the effects of animal movement on error estimated locations derived from radio-telemetry triangulation sequentially obtained bearings. Simulated movements 0-534 m resulted in up 10-fold increases average location but <10% decreases precision when observer-to-animal distances were <1,000 m. Location and minimally affected by censorship poor with Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests. caused can only be eliminated taking simultaneous J. WILDL. MANAGE....

Populations of emperor geese (Chen canagica) in Alaska declined sometime between the mid1960s and mid-1980s have increased little since. To promote recovery this species to former levels, managers need know how much their perturbations survival and/or reproduction would affect population growth rate (X). We constructed an individual-based model evaluate relative effect altering mean values various reproductive parameters on X fall age structure (AS, defined as proportion juv), assuming...

We studied reproductive costs of Black‐legged Kittiwakes ( Rissa tridactyla ) in Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA) by removing entire clutches from randomly selected nests over four successive years, and then contrasting survival fecundity adults manipulated unmanipulated each subsequent year. To elucidate mechanisms that lead to the expression costs, we simultaneously characterized several behavioral physiological parameters among two treatment groups. also examined naturally nonbreeding...

Journal Article Survival and Pre-Fledging Body Mass in Juvenile Emperor Geese Get access Joel A. Schmutz Alaska Fish Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Condor, Volume 95, Issue 1, 1 February 1993, Pages 222–225, https://doi.org/10.2307/1369404 Published: 01 1993 history Received: 23 June 1992 Accepted: 12 October

Abstract: Unintended effects of recreational activities in protected areas are growing concern. We used an adaptive-management framework to develop guidelines for optimally managing hiking maintain desired levels territory occupancy and reproductive success Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Denali National Park (Alaska, U.S.A.). The management decision was restrict human access (hikers) particular nesting territories reduce disturbance. objective minimize restrictions on hikers while...

A predictive, coastal erosion/shoreline change model has been developed for a small segment near Drew Point, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. This setting experienced dramatic increase in erosion since the early 2000’s. The bluffs at this site are 3–4 m tall and consist of ice-wedge bounded blocks fine-grained sediments cemented by ice-rich permafrost capped with thin organic layer. typically fronted narrow (∼5 wide) beach or none all. During storm surge, sea contacts base bluff niche is formed through...

We examined seroprevalence (presence of detectable antibodies in serum) for avian influenza viruses (AIV) among 4,485 birds, from 11 species wild waterfowl Alaska (1998–2010), sampled during breeding/molting periods. Seroprevalence varied (highest eiders (Somateria and Polysticta species), emperor geese (Chen canagica)), ages (adults higher than juveniles), across geographic locations the Arctic Peninsula) years tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus). All rates excess 60% were found...

Interspecific competition is an important process structuring ecological communities, however, it difficult to observe in nature. We used occupancy modelling approach evaluate evidence of between yellow‐billed ( Gavia adamsii ) and Pacific G. pacifica loons for nesting lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain Alaska. With multiple years data survey platforms, we estimated dynamic states (e.g. rates colonization or extinction from individual lakes) controlled detection differences among aircraft...

Abstract High‐latitude ecosystems are experiencing the most rapid climate changes globally, and in many areas these concurrent with shifts patterns of herbivory. Individually, herbivory known to influence biosphere‐atmosphere greenhouse gas (GHG) exchange; however, interactive effects driving GHG fluxes have been poorly quantified, especially coastal systems that support large populations migratory waterfowl. We investigated magnitude climatic physical controls exchange within...

High latitude ecosystems are prone to phenological mismatches due climate change- driven advances in the growing season and changing arrival times of migratory herbivores. These changes have potential alter biogeochemical cycling contribute feedbacks on change by altering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) through large regions Arctic. Yet effects fluxes currently unexplored. We used a three-year field experiment that altered start timing...

Information regarding the magnitude and variation in survival rates is necessary for understanding causes of large changes population size. We examined greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) Pacific Flyway during 1979-82. The declined by 75% decade preceding our study but was stable investigation. Annual adults (0.749, SE = 0.045) 7% higher than an earlier study. developed a simple model which suggests that recent (1985-96) may be as much 10% 1979-82 rate, corresponds to...

Neck collars have been used widely for studies of goose population biology. Despite concerus abon their negative impacts, few employed designs capable clearly demonstraling these effects. During a 1993-98 study emperor geese (Cheu canagica), we contrasted survival and reproduction gees clarked with tarsal bands to those marked either small neck collars, large or attached radiotransmitters. Ammal adult females varied among years averaged 0.807 ± 0.140 (x SE. Survival other types markers also...

We collected boluses and food remains of adult Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) at or near nests chicks, digestive tracts from adults three sites on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska that differed in proximity to marine terrestrial foods. observed both geographic temporal variation diet; gulls consumed proportionately more prey after peak hatch late June, coast than two inland areas. Goslings occurred > 60% all samples these compared data those a previous study western found no marked...

Arctic habitats at the interface between land and sea are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The northern Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (N-TLSA), a coastal plain ecosystem along Beaufort Sea in Alaska, provides habitat for migratory waterbirds, caribou, potentially, denning polar bears. 60-km coastline of N-TLSA is experiencing increasing rates erosion storm surge flooding far inland resulting lake drainage conversion freshwater lakes estuaries. These physical mechanisms affecting...

Studies examining species occurrence often fail to account for false absences in field sampling. We investigate detection probabilities of five gear types six fish a sample lakes on the North Slope, Alaska. used an occupancy modeling approach provide estimates each method. Variation gear- and species-specific probability was considerable. For example, fyke net ranged from 0.82 (SE = 0.05) least cisco (Coregonus sardinella) 0.04 0.01) slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Detection were also...

Summary For six fish species sampled from 86 lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, we examined whether lake occupancy was related to variables representing size, colonisation potential and/or presence of overwintering habitat. We found relative importance each factor for a given could be its ecology and adult size. The three large‐bodied migratory species, least cisco ( Coregonus sardinella ), broad whitefish nasus ) arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus were influenced by factors...