Arctic Coast

Read the abstract and link to a peer-reviewed article on Arctic shorebird adaptations: Shaftel, R., D. J. Rinella, E. Kwon, S. C. Brown, H. R. Gates, S. Kendall, D. B. Lank, J. R. Liebezeit, D. C. Payer, J. Rausch, S. T. Saalfeld, B. K. Sandercock, P. A. Smith, D. H. Ward, and R. B. Lanctot. 2021. Predictors of invertebrate biomass and rate of advancement of invertebrate phenology across eight sites in the North American Arctic. Polar Biology 44: 237-257.

Over a decade of loon population survey data combined with satellite imagery of lakes in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve dating back to the mid-1980s indicate remarkable changes in the nesting lakes of loons are underway. Lake drying in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and consequences for loons. How will loons cope with the widespread draining of lakes?

Through collaborative research with our partners, we are addressing the data gaps outlined in the Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Yellow-billed Loon to inform prudent conservation efforts and science-based management of this rare and majestic species across Alaska.

Read the abstract and link to this published article about methods for mapping coastal vegetation in Alaska's Arctic parks: Hampton-Miller, C. J., P. N. Neitlich, and D. K. Swanson. 2022. A high-resolution map of coastal vegetation for two Arctic Alaskan parklands: An object-oriented approach with point training data. PLOS ONE 17(8): e0273893.

Read a summary and link to the published paper on the condition of commonly harvested fish from Arctic lagoons: Fraley, K. M., M. D. Robards, J. Vollenweider, A. Whiting, T. Jones, M. C. Rogers. 2021. Energy Condition of Subsistence-Harvested Fishes in Arctic Coastal Lagoons. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: 13, p712–719.

Read a summary and get the link to an article on the connectivity between marine environments and coastal lagoons for fisheries. Fraley, K. M., M. D. Robards, M. C. Rogers, J. Vollenweider, B. Smith, A. Whiting, T. Jones. 2021. Freshwater input and ocean connectivity affect habitats and trophic ecology of fishes in Arctic coastal lagoons. Polar Biology: 44, p1401–1414.

Zooplankton are the critical foundation to Arctic marine food webs. They are highly concentrated in nearshore environments such as coastal lagoons because shallow depths penetrated by sunlight, in combination with terrestrial-derived nutrients, promotes rapid zooplankton growth and reproduction.

Lagoons are important landscape features because their varied size, depth, connectivity to the ocean, and chemistry creates a mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats utilized by a diverse group of organisms. These locations are home to healthy populations of furbearers, waterbirds, and fish, resulting in a plethora of subsistence fishing and hunting or trapping opportunities for Iñupiat residents who rely on wild-harvested resources for food security.

Read the abstract and get the link to an article published in a peer-reviewed journal: Swanson, D. K. 2019. Thermokarst and precipitation drive changes in the area of lakes and ponds in the national parks of northwestern Alaska, 1984-2018. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 51(1): 265-279.

Read the abstract and link to the paper about shorebirds in the Arctic: Saalfeld, S.T., L. Phillips, S.C. Brown, J.C. Slaght, E.E. Syroechkovskiy, E.G. Lappo, M. Hake & R.B. Lanctot. 2020. In search of Spoon-billed Sandpipers Calidris pygmaea and other avian taxa in northwestern Alaska. Wader Study 127(3): 219–227.