Arctic Gas
6
12
Norch
9
1
West
20
Southwest
Southeast
Semipalmated Sandpiper
1976
1975
1973
1972
Lapland Longspur
1975
1973
Jeane
10
1o
5
8
5
1
4
5
5
2
25
3
5
:\
1
15
3
5
2
3
2
comparison with current research regults;
not only extend the data base but
/
this will
pill also facil-
itate predictions about long-term/effects and
recovery of tundra ecosystem components from petroleum resource developments.
The 1976 nesting season tgr tundra birds was
considerably lest successful
than during 1975 be-
cause of inclement weather thAc taintained a lingering snow cover ang large expanses of standing water
in low-center polygon and Cgrex meadow habitats
grids of 0.IN6 ha each, situated in such a manner Co
and a high degree of predayion.
measure changes in/animal populations that would be
Numbers of nests
of semipalmated sandpipers and Lapland longspurs
found on the 82-ha study
rea at Prudhoe Bay are
affeceed by pipeldne and road acrivicies,
occur.
if such
The inclement weather conditions that pre-
shown in Table I to illugcrate che shifring of
vailed over
f the North Slope were apparently
these species in occupatfion of available nesting
responsible f£
habitat and increased nBsting during the 1973 opti-
the bird spedies (1Xnests/100 ha) compared to those
mum conditions.
at Prudhoe fay (60 nelgts/100 ha), although the
<A tot H of 92 nesting birds of 4
species were banded “ee the 1976 season, and
tha
very low nesting densities of
Franklin Bluffs site cyntained a greater diversity
12 birds banded in previpus years were recaptured,
of species.
providing new data o nest site and pairing fidel-
cies were banded and coldr~marked for continuing
ity.
studies of population dynamics of those species.
|
7
Small-mammal population studies were again con-
Forty-thred
birds representing 6 spe~
Live-trapping revealed
that the collared
(or
ducted by live-trapping within 17 grids of 0.116 ha
varying) lemming, DicrostonWx groenlandicus, was
each within the Alaskan arctic gas Study area and
the most abundant small mamma|
ics periphery.
Bluffs habitats, and a populathon density of about
<A population ‘density of 7.1 col-
lared (or varying) lemmings per ha was estimated
from 8200 trap-nights of affor
August;
this Was-a decrease fr
per ha estimated last year.
the lemmings,
during July and
the 19.2 lemmings
Greater mobilicy of
particularly adult, males, was noced
in the Franklin
4.3 animals/ha was estimated fr
i
.
capturing the animals.
Next
tagging and re-
.
.
in
portance was che
tundra‘vole, Microtus oeconomus,
singing vole, Microtus miurus,
followed by the
and the brown lem-
ming, Lemmus trimucronatus.
o
from observations of tagged individuals that re-
Oe OFF O00 a Oe NO Oh rer SEE HOE CHEE SHOTS EOEE ENTS HO Fs Pa ee ee ee eee ee eee ee SP eee ee oe
1972
A Survey of Plutonium Concentration Variabilicv in
of 300 cto 500 m straight-line between points of
Soil Samples from Various Locations
capture,
(T. £. Hakonson]
Study areas were established during early May
near Franklin Bluffs,
50 km south of Prudhoe Bay,
and near Happy Valley, 100 ka south of Prudhoe Bay,
60
_ The iLarge variability associated with environmental plutonium data is currently recognized as a
major problem in designing field studies of chis
‘
/
peatedly crossed pipeline berms and made journeys
wi
Area (ha)
ted htt tO
Sector
+
NESTING BIRDS IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE PRUDHOE BAY STUDY AREA
iMew:
TABLE IT