Monitoring Beaufort Sea waterfowl and marine birds. Final report
The purpose of the project was to design and implement a monitoring protocol for marine waterbirds in the Jones-Return Islands area of the central Alaska Beaufort Sea. Because of its overwhelming and widespread abundance, relatively sedentary behavior, ease in counting, and the extensive historical database, the oldsquaw duck (Clangula hyemalis) was selected as the focal species for the study. Two null hypotheses were formulated concerning potential changes in the numbers and distribution of oldsquaws in relation to OCS development in the industrial area, compared to a control area (Stockton-Maguire-Flaxman Islands area) located about 50 km to the east. A 9-year historical database (1977 through 1984, and 1989) was analyzed using multivariate techniques to determine which of several predictor variables recorded during past aerial surveys significantly influenced oldsquaw density in the central Alaska Beaufort Sea. Separate analyses were conducted for the complete open-water period, and for the molt period of oldsquaws, when they are flightless and relatively sedentary in the study areas. The results of the two multiple regression analyses indicated that only about 57% and 68%, respectively, of the total amount of variation in oldsquaw density during the two periods could be explained by predictor variables recorded during aerial surveys. Candidate predictor variables were year of study, day of year, time of day, wind speed and direction, habitat, east-west position (study area) of the transect, distance of the transect from a barrier island, water depth beneath the transect, wave height and amount of ice recorded on the transect. Predictor variables associated with habitat, day of the year, time of day of the survey, amount of ice, and wave height recorded on transect during the survey had the most significant effect on oldsquaw density.
- Research Organization:
- LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., Anchorage, AK (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5201283
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-235242/XAB; LGL-TA-863-1; CNN: DI-14-35-0001-30491
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Sponsored by Minerals Management Service, Anchorage, AK. Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Office
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BEAUFORT SEA
WATER POLLUTION
BIRDS
POPULATION DENSITY
PETROLEUM
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ALASKA
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
FORECASTING
HABITAT
IMPLEMENTATION
MONITORING
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
ANIMALS
ARCTIC OCEAN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRILLING
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION X
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATHEMATICS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SEAS
STATISTICS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)