Mapping the Arctic. ERMA Training University of New Hampshire April 16-19, Erika Knight Audubon Alaska. image: Milo Burcham

Transcription

1 Mapping the Arctic ERMA Training University of New Hampshire April 16-19, 2018 image: Milo Burcham Erika Knight Audubon Alaska

2 Audubon Alaska is a science-based conservation organization that works to protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats across the Great Land of Alaska. We use science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters, and through education we seek to raise public awareness about the natural ecosystems of Alaska.

3 The Ecological Atlas of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas M. Smith, M. Goldman, E. Knight, J. Warrenchuk, M. Zaleski, B. Mecum, B. Sullender, D. Huffman, and N. Warnock

4 Collaborators LONG LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (D. Kelso and M. Turnipseed) National Audubon Society (S. Senner) Kawerak (J. Raymond- Yakoubian, tribal representatives) AOOS (M. McCammon), Axiom Data Science (M. Herstand) Contractors (D. Huffman, E. Cline, B. Raymond-Yakoubian, S.R. Braund & Associates) Researchers, traditional knowledge-holders, reviewers Funding agencies

5 Why map the Arctic seas? Increasing interest in the Arctic, intensifying development pressures, changing climate, and a need to make informed decisions

6 Benefits of an Ecological Atlas Make data useable and accessible to a wide range of users Develop a holistic picture for species and ecosystems Inform planning and decisions No recent equivalent product available image: Moore and Stabeno 2015

7 Physical Setting

8 Biological Setting

9 Fishes

10 Birds

11 Mammals

12 Human Uses

13 Other Features A Closer Look sections In-depth analysis Photos & natural history Conservation Summary PEER REVIEW

14 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

15 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

16 Identify Available Data :) Census Seabird colony Pinniped haulout Survey Transects At-sea Aerial Telemetry GPS Geolocator Expert Indigenous/ traditional knowledge Citizen science images: Milo Burcham, Laura Morse, USFWS, Martha de Jong Lantik

17 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

18 Acquire and Organize Survey Transect Telemetry Census :) Expert

19 Acquire and Organize How species is distributed throughout the study area Life history use or purpose for occupying the area Label for feature Count, group size, sample value, etc. Adults, juveniles, males, females, mixed, etc. Season of use How the original study characterized the feature Short-form citation Polygon based on multiple sources? Additional info How data were acquired, created, and/or processed Permission to share? Shown on maps?

20 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

21 Spatial Analysis Image: Milo Burcham Avian Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea (May - Sept) King Eider in orange. (Excludes telemetry data)

22 Spatial Analysis Image: Milo Burcham KING EIDER DISTRIBUTION 10 x 10 km bins with KIEI present Density: < <

23 Spatial Analysis Image: Milo Burcham ANALYZE DENSITY DATA Results of kernel density and isopleth analyses

24 Spatial Analysis Image: Milo Burcham DELINEATE CONCENTRATION AREAS 90% Isopleth = Regular Use 50% Isopleth = Concentration

25 Spatial Analysis

26 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

27 Composite Data Layers Multiple Studies 4 2 1

28 Composite Data Layers Intensity Extent of range Regular use Concentration High concentration

29 Composite Data Layers 1.7 million square miles of ocean 50 Arctic species highlighted 131 maps references 50+ data providers 350+ map data sources 185 composite GIS layers in the final maps

30 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

31 Annual Cycle Maps Activity Non-Colonial Regular use Concentration Colonial Regular use Concentration Breeding Breeding Molting Foraging Staging Wintering Migrating

32 Annual Cycle Maps Walrus

33 Annual Cycle Maps Ice Seals

34 Atlas Published August 2017

35 Data available in AOOS Arctic Portal (in progress)

36 Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers

37 Identify Patterns Bird Concentration Areas

38 Inputs Multi-Species Hotspots Ecosystem Ecological Hotspots Bird Density Marine Bird Colonies Global IBAs King Eider Spectacled Eider Common Eider Steller s Eider Long-tailed Duck Yellow-billed Loon Red-throated Loon Red-faced Cormorant* Red-necked Phalarope Red Phalarope Aleutian Tern* Red-legged Kittiwake* Black-legged Kittiwake Ivory Gull Murres Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin* Parakeet Auklet Crested Auklet* Whiskered Auklet* Least Auklet* Short-tailed Albatross* Shearwaters maximum Polar Bear Walrus Bearded Seal Ribbon Seal* Ringed Seal Spotted Seal Steller Sea Lion* Northern Fur Seal* Beluga Whale Bowhead Whale Gray Whale Humpback Whale* Osmerids Pacific Herring Walleye Pollock* North Pacific Cods Atka Mackeral* Yellowfin Sole* Pacific Halibut* Pacific Salmon Primary Productivity Zooplankton* Benthic Biomass Snow Crab* King Crab* Coral/Sponge Gardens* MARINE MAMMAL HOTSPOTS BIRD HOTSPOTS FISH HOTSPOTS LOWER TROPHIC HOTSPOTS * ECOSYSTEM HOTSPOTS Not included in Beaufort LME analysis Not included in Chukchi LME analysis Not included in East Bering / Aleutians LME analysis

39 Identify Patterns D R A F T Ecological Hotspots

40 Identify Patterns Ecological Hotspots D R A F T Fewer input data sources

41 Identify Patterns Mammal Hotspots D R A F T Fewer input data sources

42 Identify Patterns Bird Hotspots D R A F T Fewer input data sources

43 Identify Patterns Fish Hotspots D R A F T Fewer input data sources

44 Identify Patterns Lower Trophic Hotspots D R A F T Fewer input data sources

45 Assessment & Planning Assess Stressors Assess vulnerability of hotspots to: Vessel traffic Offshore energy Commercial fisheries Climate change Published later in 2018 image: Tim Sullivan/USCG

46 Assessment & Planning Vessel Traffic vs Mammal Hotspots Assess Stressors D R A F T Assess vulnerability of hotspots to: Vessel traffic Offshore energy Commercial fisheries Climate change Published later in 2018 image: Tim Sullivan/USCG

47 Available at: Data on AOOS Arctic Portal (coming soon) M. Smith, M. Goldman, E. Knight, J. Warrenchuk, M. Zaleski, B. Mecum, B. Sullender, D. Huffman, and N. Warnock