U.S. Department of Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain
Terrestrial Wildlife Research Summaries
Edited by:
D. C. Douglas, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage,
Alaska
P. E. Reynolds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, Fairbanks, Alaska
E. B. Rhode, Expression, Anchorage, Alaska
Biological Science Report
USGS/BRD/BSR-2002-0001
Contents
U.S. Department of the Interior
Gale A. Norton, Secretary
U.S. Geological Survey
Charles G. Groat, Director
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2002
Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for
descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Copies of this publication are available from the National
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(1-800-553-6847 or 703-487-4650). Copies also are available to registered users
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Road, Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-6218 (1-800-225-3842 or
703-767-9050). Digital copies of this publication can be obtained on the
Internet at http://alaska.usgs.gov.
Citation example:
Griffith, B., D. C. Douglas, N. E. Walsh, D. D. Young, T. R. McCabe, D. E.
Russell, R. G. White, R. D. Cameron, and K. R. Whitten. 2002. The Porcupine
caribou herd. Pages 8-37 in D. C. Douglas, P. E. Reynolds, and E. B.
Rhode, editors. Arctic Refuge coastal plain terrestrial wildlife research
summaries. U. S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Biological
Science Report USGS/BRD/BSR-2002-0001.
Preface
In 1980, when the U.S. Congress enacted the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), it also mandated a study of the
coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Section 1002 of ANILCA
stated that a comprehensive inventory of fish and wildlife resources would be
conducted on 1.5 million acres of the Arctic Refuge coastal plain (1002 Area).
Potential petroleum reserves in the 1002 Area were also to be evaluated from
surface geological studies and seismic exploration surveys. Results of these
studies and recommendations for future management of the Arctic Refuge coastal
plain were to be prepared in a report to Congress.
In 1987, the Department of Interior published the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, Alaska, Coastal Plain Resource Assessment - Report and Recommendation to
the Congress of the United States and Final Environmental Impact Statement.
This report to Congress identified the potential for oil and gas production
(updated* most recently by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2001), described the
biological resources, and evaluated the potential adverse effects to fish and
wildlife resources. The 1987 report analyzed the potential environmental
consequences of five management alternatives for the coastal plain, ranging from
wilderness designation to opening the entire area to lease for oil and gas
development. The report’s summary recommended opening the 1002 Area to an
orderly oil and gas leasing program, but cautioned that adverse effects to some
wildlife populations were possible.
Congress did not act on this recommendation nor any other alternative for the
1002 Area, and scientists continued studies of key wildlife species and habitats
on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge and surrounding areas. This report
contains updated summaries of those scientific investigations of caribou,
muskoxen, predators (grizzly bears, wolves, golden eagles), polar bears, snow
geese, and their wildlife habitats.
Contributions to this report were made by scientists affiliated with the U.S.
Geological Survey; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Alaska Department of Fish and
Game; University of Alaska-Fairbanks; Canadian Wildlife Service; Yukon
Department of Renewable Resources; and the Northwest Territories Department of
Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development.
Sections of the report presenting new information on caribou and forage
plants were peer-reviewed by three independent, non-affiliated scientists. The
remaining sections summarize previously published peer-reviewed scientific
papers and were reviewed by a single independent scientist. The U.S. Geological
Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborated in the publication of
this report.
* U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-028-01
http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/pub/fact-sheets/fs-0028-01/
Contents
Preface
List of Figures
List of Tables
Authors’ Addresses
Section 1. Introduction
Background
Study Area
References
Section 2. Land Cover
Vegetation Mapping of the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain
References
Section 3. The Porcupine Caribou Herd
Data, Methods and Assumptions
Nutritional Importance of the Calving Ground
Habitat Trends During the Study Period
Herd Dynamics and Demography
Seasonal Distribution and Movements
Foraging on the Calving Ground
Habitat Selection
Effects of Insect Harassment on Habitat Use
Calf Performance in Relation to Habitat Use
Factors Associated with Calf Survival on the Calving Ground
Potential Effects of Development on June Calf Survival
Conclusions
References
Section 4. The Central Arctic Caribou Herd
Status of the Central Arctic Herd
Development-related Changes in Distribution
Body Condition and Reproductive Performance
Overview
References
Section 5. Forage Quantity and Quality
Forage Comparisons Within and Outside the 1002 Area
References
Section 6. Predators
Predator Distributions
Factors Associated with Predator Distributions
Rates of Predation
References
Section 7. Muskoxen
Dynamics and Range Expansion of a Re-established Muskox
Population
Seasonal Strategies of Muskoxen: Distribution, Habitats, and Activity
Patterns
Winter Habitat Use of Muskoxen: Spatial Scales of Resource
Selection
Summary
References
Section 8. Polar Bears
Movements and Population Dynamics of Polar Bears
Reproductive Significance of Maternity Denning on Land
References
Section 9. Snow Geese
Size and Distribution of Snow Geese Populations
Snow Goose Habitat, Food, and Energy Requirements
Effect of Mitigation of Human Activities on Snow Geese
References
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
1.1. Geographic map of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA, and
surrounding areas
1.2. Geographic map of the 1002 Area of the coastal plain of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
2.1. Land-cover map of the 1002 Area with corresponding vegetation class
names, descriptions, and class codes, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
3.1. Land-cover classes on the Arctic Refuge coastal plain
and eastward as generalized for caribou studies
3.2. For the Porcupine caribou herd: annual range, calving sites, and
aggregate extent of calving, 1983-2001. For the Central Arctic caribou herd: calving sites and extent of
calving, 1980-1995
3.3. Mean temperatures for 2 stations within the Porcupine caribou herd’s
aggregate extent of calving and 1 station within its winter range for a) June and b)
winter, 1950-1995
3.4. Median Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
(NDVI) on 21 June within
the aggregate extent of calving for the Porcupine caribou herd, 1983-2001
3.5. Standardized values of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) for winter and
standardized population size of the Porcupine caribou herd, 1958-2001
3.6. Median NDVI at calving within the aggregate extent of calving of the
Porcupine caribou herd for the current year, and winter Arctic Oscillation index for the previous calendar
year, 1985-2001
3.7. Frequency of days with daytime temperatures above freezing in a)
spring and b) fall, on transitional ranges of the Porcupine caribou herd during the increase and decrease phases
of the herd
3.8. Size of the Porcupine caribou herd, 1972-2001, estimated from aerial
photo-censuses by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
3.9. Relative post-calving herd sizes of the 4 Alaska barren-ground caribou
herds, 1976-2001
3.10. Reproductive estimates for the Porcupine caribou herd, 1983-2001; a)
parturition rate of adult females, b) calf survival from birth through the last week of June,
and c) net calf production
3.11. Distribution of satellite-collared Porcupine caribou herd females
during 7 time periods, 1985-1995
3.12. Minimum median daily movement rate of parturient satellite-collared
females of the Porcupine caribou herd, 1985-1995
3.13. Calving distributions of the Porcupine caribou herd, 1983-2001
3.14. Percent of radio-collared Porcupine caribou herd females that calved in
the 1002 Area, 1983-2001
3.15. Percent of radio-collared Porcupine caribou herd females that calved
within the 1002 Area in relation to the median NDVI at calving within the aggregate extent of calving,
1985-2001
3.16. Porcupine caribou herd a) diet composition and b) median
phenology of major forage items, 1993
3.17. Porcupine caribou herd a) diet composition and b) median
phenology of major forage items, 1994.
3.18. Annual conditions of snowcover and vegetation phenology derived from
satellite imagery during the calving period, 1985-2001, for the Porcupine caribou herd
3.19. Average percent of area in low (< median) or high (>
median) classes of a) daily rate of increase in the NDVI, b) NDVI at calving, and c) NDVI on 21 June for the
aggregate extent of calving, annual calving grounds, and concentrated calving areas of the Porcupine
caribou herd, 1985-2001
3.20. Average percent of area in 4 exclusive snowcover classes for the
aggregate extent of calving, annual calving grounds, and concentrated calving areas of the Porcupine
caribou herd, 1985-2001
3.21. Average percent of area in 6 vegetation types for the aggregate extent
of calving, annual calving grounds, and concentrated calving areas of the Porcupine caribou herd,
1985-2001
3.22. Estimated total intake of dietary nitrogen from the calving ground for
4 North American caribou herds
3.23. Daily weight gain of caribou calves of the Porcupine herd, 1992-1994,
during 2 time periods
3.24. Availability of 6 vegetation types in the aggregate extent of calving
for the Porcupine caribou herd and use by radio-collared calves during 2 time periods for a) 1992, b)
1993, and c) 1994
3.25. Median NDVI on 21 June within the annual calving grounds of the
Porcupine caribou herd and weights of parturient female caribou when captured within the annual calving ground
on 21 June, 1992-1994
3.26. Calf survival through June for the Porcupine caribou herd, 1985-2001,
in relation to median NDVI on 21 June within the aggregate extent of calving
3.27. Predicted calf survival through June for the Porcupine caribou herd,
1985-2001, in relation to median NDVI on 21 June within the annual calving ground and to the proportion of
calves born on the coastal plain physiographic zone where predator density was lower than in the
foothill-mountain zone
3.28. Estimated change in calf survival during June for the Porcupine caribou
herd, 1985-2001, as a function of the distance of displacement of the annual calving ground and associated
concentrated calving area and calving sites
3.29. Aggregate extent of annual calving and aggregate extent of concentrated
calving for the Porcupine caribou herd, 1983-2001
4.1. Oil field infrastructure in the Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk petroleum
development areas, Alaska, 1994
4.2. Photocensus estimates of the Central Arctic caribou herd, 1978-2000, and
net calf production based on observations of radio-collared adult females from 10 June through 15
August
4.3. Fractional changes in mean density of caribou from the Central Arctic
herd between pre-construction (1978-1981) and post-construction (1982-1987) periods for 1-km-distance
intervals from the Milne Point road system in the Kuparuk petroleum development area, Alaska
4.4. Changes in mean relative distribution of caribou from the Central Arctic
herd in the Kuparuk petroleum development area, Alaska, during calving: 1979-1981, 1982-1986, and
1987-1990
4.5. Decline in percent abundance of caribou from the Central Arctic herd
west of the Milne Point Road and changes in total numbers of caribou observed north of the Spine Road,
1979-87
4.6. Relationship between mean density of caribou from the Central Arctic
herd and road density within preferred rugged terrain, Kuparuk petroleum development area, Alaska,
1987-1992
4.7. Shifts in concentrated calving areas, Central Arctic caribou herd,
Alaska, 1980-1995
4.8. Logistic regressions of parturition rate, incidence of early calving,
and perinatal calf survival on autumn
and summer body weights of female caribou, Central Arctic herd, 1987-1991
4.9. Changes in median NDVI on 21 June for concentrated calving areas of the
Central Arctic caribou herd
in the reference zone(relatively undisturbed) and treatment zone (active oil
fields), 1985-1995
4.10. Mean body weights of lactating and nonlactating female caribou from the
Central Arctic herd in summer
and autumn
4.11. Distributions of observed autumn body weights for lactating and
nonlactating female caribou from the
Central Arctic herd
5.1. Map of caribou forage study area, Porcupine caribou herd, on the coastal
plain of the Arctic Refuge
6.1. Distribution of a) golden eagle nest structures, b)
wolf dens, and c) grizzly bears near the calving
grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd
7.1. Number of muskoxen observed in the1002 Area of the Arctic Refuge,
1982-2001
7.2. Changes in rates of successful production of muskox calves in the1002
Area, Arctic Refuge, 1983-2001
7.3. Number of muskoxen killed or scavenged by grizzly bears from April
1982 through June 2001 in northeastern Alaska
7.4. Range expansion of muskoxen in mixed-sex groups in and near the Arctic
Refuge, 1969-1993
7.5. Seasonal changes in rates of movement and activity counts of
satellite-collared female muskoxen in and near the Arctic Refuge, 1986-1992
7.6. Locations of mixed-sex groups of muskoxen seen during winter and summer
surveys in the Arctic Refuge, 1982-1999
7.7. Snow depth in muskox feeding zones, adjacent zones, and nonadjacent
zones in late winter, 1989 and 1990 on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge
8.1. Numbers and relocation positions of satellite radio-collared polar bears
captured in each of 6 longitudinal zones within the Beaufort Sea
8.2. Number of polar bear dens located by radio-telemetry in each of 3
substrates, 1981-1990
8.3. Maternal den locations for 5 polar bears followed to dens for more than
one year
8.4. Distribution of maternal dens of radio-collared polar bears along the
northern coast of Alaska and Canada, 1981-2001
9.1. Numbers of lesser snow geese observed on the coastal plain of the Arctic
Refuge, 1982-1993
9.2. Frequency of use of 25-km2
cells by lesser snow goose flocks on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, 1982-1993
9.3. Rates of lipid deposition by lesser snow geese during fall staging on
the Arctic Refuge
List of
Tables
2.1. Contingency table used to assess the accuracy of the land-cover map of
the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
2.2. Percent of each land-cover class in the land-cover map of the coastal
plain of the Arctic Refuge, and the percent partitioned among various terrain
types
3.1. Number of calving sites, number of calving sites in the concentrated
calving area (CCA), area of CCA, area of annual calving ground (ACG), ratio of sizes of CCA to
ACG, and
population size of the Porcupine caribou herd, 1983-2001
4.1. Parturition status of 43 radio-collared female caribou, Central Arctic
herd, west and east of the Sagavanirktok River, 1988-1994
5.1. Median phenological stages of major forage species in the Porcupine
caribou herd’s traditional calving area and potential displacement area
5.2. Median biomass and percent cover of 4 major caribou forage species in
the 5 most common vegetation types on the coastal plain during the Porcupine caribou herd’s
calving period, 1990
5.3. Median density, biomass, and percent cover of major forage species in
the Porcupine caribou herd’s traditional calving area and potential displacement area,
1990-1991
5.4. Median nutrient and fiber concentrations of 2 major forage species in
different phonological stages in the Porcupine caribou herd’s traditional caribou calving area and potential
displacement area
5.5. Distribution of vegetation types in the caribou forage study area based
on an independent sample of 756 systematically-located vegetation plots
5.6. Median nutrient and fiber concentrations of tussock cottongrass
inflorescences in different phenological stages compared between tussock tundra and other vegetation
types
7.1. Number of muskoxen seen in different regions in northeastern Alaska,
USA, and northwestern Canada in 1982-2000 during pre-calving surveys
Authors'
Addresses
|
Robert
(Skip) Ambrose*
USFWS Endangered Species
Ecological Services Field Office-Fairbanks
101-12th Ave,
Box 19
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
Alan W. Brackney
USFWS Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
101
12th Avenue Room 236
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
Raymond
D. Cameron*
Alaska
Department of
Fish and Game
1300
College Road
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
USGS
Alaska Science Center
P.O.
Box 240009
Douglas,
Alaska 99824
Nancy
A. Felix
USFWS
Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
101
12th Avenue Room 236
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
Gerald
W. Garner*
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
Brad
Griffith
USGS
Alaska Cooperative
Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit
209
Irving I Building,
P.O. Box 757020
University
of Alaska, Fairbanks
Fairbanks,
AK 99775
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
|
Janet
C. Jorgenson
USFWS
Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
101-12th
Ave, Room 236
Fairbanks,
AK 99701
Peter
C. Joria*
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
David
R. Klein*
Alaska Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit
209 Irving Building
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775
Thomas
R. McCabe*
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
Dan
J. Reed
Alaska
Department of
Fish and Game
1300
College Road
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
Harry
V. Reynolds
Alaska
Department of
Fish and Game
1300
College Road
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
Patricia E. Reynolds
USFWS
Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
101-12th
Ave, Room 236
Fairbanks,
AK 99701
Donna
G. Robertson*
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
Donald E. Russell
Northern
Conservation
Canadian
Wildlife Service
91782
Alaska Highway
Whitehorse,
Yukon Territories
Y1A587
Canada
|
Walter
T. Smith
Alaska Department of
Fish and Game
1300 College Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Mark S. Udevitz
USGS Alaska Science Center
1011 E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
Noreen
E. Walsh*
USGS Alaska Science Center
1011 E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
Greg
J. Weiler*
USFWS Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
101 12th Avenue Room 236
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Robert
G. White
Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
902 Koyukuk Dr.
Irving I Bldg, Room 311
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Kenneth
R. Whitten*
Alaska
Department of
Fish and Game
1300
College Road
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99701
Kenneth
J. Wilson*
Alaska
Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife
Research Unit
University
of Alaska-Fairbanks
P.O.
Box 757020
Fairbanks,
Alaska 99775
Donald
D. Young*
USGS
Alaska Science Center
1011
E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage,
AK 99503
|
|
* Current addresses:
Robert Ambrose,
National Park Service, WASO, NRPC, Ft. Collins, CO
Raymond D.
Cameron, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
902 Koyukuk Dr., Irving I Bldg, Room 311, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Gerald W.
Garner, deceased
Peter C. Joria,
USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road,
La Crosse, WI 54603
David R. Klein,
Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 902 Koyukuk
Dr., Irving I Bldg, Room 311, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Thomas R.
McCabe, USFWS Ecological Services, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, 177
Admiral Cochran Dr., Annapolis, MD 21401
Donna G.
Robertson, Harding-Lawson and Associates, 601 E. 57th Place,
Anchorage, AK 99518
Noreen E. Walsh,
USFWS Ecological Services, Atlanta Field Office, 1875 Century Blvd. Room
200, Atlanta, GA 30345
Greg J. Weiler,
USFWS Potomac NWR, 14344 Jefferson Davis Highway, Woodbridge, VA 22181
Kenneth R.
Whitten, P.O. Box 81743, Fairbanks, AK 99708
Kenneth J.
Wilson, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, P.O. Box 60469, Fairbanks, AK
99701
Donald D. Young,
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK
99701
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| Home | Section
1 - Introduction | Section 2 - Land Cover | Section
3 - Porcupine Caribou Herd |
| Section 4 - Central Arctic Caribou Herd | Section
5 - Forage Quantity and Quality | Section 6 -
Predators |
| Section 7 - Muskoxen | Section
8 - Polar Bears | Section 9 - Snow Geese | Acknowledgements
|