The Arctic LCC's "Species and Habitats" technical working group have identified eight issues related to understanding the effects of climate change on ecosystem processes considered important for informing policy and management. Based on our experience and expertise with fish and waterbirds, their habitats, and the physical processes that create and maintain these habitats in Arctic Alaska, we propose to develop an integrated study plan linking 1) aquatic habitat connectivity, 2) stream and lake water quality and temperature, 3) availability of freshwater habitat, and 4) trophic mismatches and productivity. Studies to understand these linkages in a context relevant to policy and management will primarily focus on the Fish Creek Watershed because this area represents a wide range of Arctic climatic and physiographic conditions, as well as management needs surrounding subsistence and petroleum development. Ongoing monitoring and research activities focused around both drivers (local resource use and climate change) provide the template to develop a robust and feasible interdisciplinary study plan to meet Arctic LCC objectives. Our approach will be to collaboratively develop a study plan with a team representing broad expertise in physical and biological sciences, including management and policy experience, through several of short meetings associated with two disciplinary conferences followed by a dedicated work session / retreat, synthesized as a written study plan by the principal investigator (View Full Proposal).
| Person (affiliation) | Title | Expertise / Experience | Role in Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Arp (UAF) |
Assistant Research Professor | Hydrology, geomorphology, ecology; integrated monitoring, mapping, and modeling | Principal investigator; coordination of meetings and workshop, synthesis of team plan into written study plan |
| Anna Liljedahl (UAF) |
Assistant Research Professor | Hydrology; field measurements and numerical modeling | Co-investigator; assist with synthesis of team plan into written study plan |
| Matthew Whitman (BLM) |
Fish Biologist | Arctic fish ecology, fish habitat monitoring, hydrology/biology linkages; sampling fish, aquatic monitoring network development and integration | Co-investigator / fisheries integration |
| Ben Jones (USGS) |
Research Geographer | Physical geography, landscape ecology, paleoecology; linking ground-based observations with remotely sensed observations | Co-investigator / landscape processes integration |
| Debora Nigro (BLM) |
Wildlife Biologist | Avian ecology (waterbirds, passerines, and raptors); resource management | Co-investigator / bird biology integration |
| Mark Wipfli (UAF) |
Professor of Aquatic Freshwater-Riparian Ecosystems | Fish ecology, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, food web dynamics; sampling methods, study design | Co-investigator / aquatic ecosystems integration |
| William Morris (ADF&G) |
Fish and Game Regional Supervisor | Behavioral and population studies of fish on North Slope; management and regulation of aquatic habitat | Integration of state management and policy of fish and aquatic habitat |
| Jeff Adams (USFWS) |
Branch Chief | Fish ecology in Northern Alaska; project development and administration | USFWS fisheries programs; regional integration |
| Ronald Daanen (UAF) |
Assistant Research Professor | Surface processes and permafrost; modeling, data acquisition, and monitoring systems | Permafrost and modeling integration |
| Terri Lomax (ADEC) |
Environmental Specialist | Inventory and monitoring of aquatic habitat; water quality | Integration with state / federal habitat I&M |
| Lincoln Parrett (ADF&G) |
Wildlife Biologist | Mammal population biology and habitat; population monitoring | Integration with state wildlife inventory and monitoring |
| Frank Urban (USGS) |
Geologist | Permafrost and climatology; monitoring networks | Climate and permafrost network design and analysis |
| Christopher Hiemstra (CRREL) |
Research Scientist | Land-surface hydrology; snow distribution and processes; modeling | Measurement and model integration; snow processes; spatial scaling |
| Ben Gaglioti (UAF / USGS) |
Research Assistant | Paleoecology, paleoclimatology; stable and radioactive isotope analysis; sediment coring and analysis | Paleo-perspective on North Slope; temporal scaling |
| Guido Grosse (UAF) |
Assistant Research Professor | Remotes sensing, permafrost landscapes | Remote sensing analysis, permafrost dynamics |
| Vladimir Alexeev (UAF) |
Associate Research Professor | Climatology | Arctic climatology, climate modeling |
For additional information regarding the Fish Creek Watershed project, please contact Chris Arp at cdarp@alaska.edu.
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