Environmental Characterization and Biological Utilization of Peard Bay
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ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION AND BIOLOGICAL UTILIZATION OF PEARD BAY Edited by Patrick J. Kinney Kinnetic Laboratories, Inc. 403 West Eighth Avenue P. O. BOX 104239 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 Final Report Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program Research Unit 641 December 1985 97 PROJECT TEAM Project Management Donald E. Wilson, Ph.D. KLI Project Manager Samuel Stoker, Ph.D. KLI Assistant Project Manager Steve Pace, M.S. KL I Operations Manager Christine Brown, B.S. KL I Editorial Literature Review Jerome Cura, Ph.D. EG&G Task Leader Meteorology and Oceanoqraphy Donald E. Wilson, Ph.D. KLI Task Leader William Gahlen, M.S. EG&G Physical Synthesis Mark Savoie, M.S. KLI Physical Synthesis Walt Pharo, B.S. EG&G Field Studies Toby Goddard, B.S. KLI Field Studies Marine Mammals Samuel Stoker, Ph.D. KLI Task Leader/Field Studies Robert Gill, M.S. Biota Field Studies Colleen Handel, M.S. Bi ota Field Studies Peter Connors, Ph.D. Biota Field Studies Birds Robert Gill, M.S. Biota Task Leader Coleen Handel, M.S. Biota Field and Laboratory Studies Peter Connors. Ph.D. Biota Field Studies Fish John Hall, Ph.D. Sol ace Task Leader Scott Edson, M.S. Consultant Field Studies Marty Stevenson, M.A. KLI Synthesis 99 Invertebrates Steve Pace, M.S. KLI Task Leader Garry Gillingham, B.A. KLI Identifications Allen Fukuyama, M.A. MLML Identifications Kenneth Coyle, M.S. UAF Identifications Nutrients and Primary Productivity Osmund Helm-Hanson, Ph.D. S10 Task Leader Chris Hewes, M.S. S10 Field and Laboratory Studies Paul Mankiewitz, Ph.D. GG Carbon Isotopes Svnthesis. Characterization, Vulnerabilities Donald E. Wilson, Ph.D. KLI Task Leader Patrick J. Kinney, Ph.D. KLI Synthesis Jerome Cura, Ph.D. EG&G Synthesis Project Staff Synthesis KLI - Kinnetic Laboratories, Inc. EG&G - EG&G Washington Analytical Services UAF - University of Alaska, Fairbanks MLML - Moss Landing Marine Laboratory GG - Global Geochemistry S10 - Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego 100 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PROJECT TEAM. 99 CHAPTER 1. PEARD BAY ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES: CHARACTERIZATION, BIOLOGICAL UTILIZATION, AND COMPARISON OF VULNERABILITIES . ● . 107 1.1 SUMMARY. ● . ✎ , . 107 1.2 INTRODUCTION . ✎ . ● ? . 109 1.2.1 Scope of Study. ● . ✎ . ● , . 109 1.2.2 Approach and Limitations. ● ● . ✎ . ✎ . 110 1.2.3 Presentation of Results . ● ✎ ✎ ● . ✎ . ● ● ● , . 110 1.3 COASTAL REGION AND PEARD BAY . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ . 111 1.3.1 The Coastal Setting . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✌ . ✎ . ● ● ✎ . ● 111 1.3.2 Geomorphology of Peard Bay. ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ 111 1.4 PHYSICAL PROCESSES . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ 115 1.4.1 Offshore Water Structure and Currents ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ 115 1.4.2 Dynamics of Peard Bay Circulation . ● ✎ ☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 117 1.4.2.1 Open Water Season. ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ 117 1.4.2.2 Winter Season. ● ✎✎✎☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 122 1.4.2.3 Conclusions. ✎ ✎✎✎☛ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 123 1.5 OVERVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL UTILIZATION ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● 123 1.5.1 Mamma 1s ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ● ., . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 123 1.5.1.1 Introduction . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 123 1.5.1.2 Walrus . ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 123 1.5.1.3 Seals. ● ● o . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 124 1.5.1.4 Polar Bears. ✎ . ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 125 1.5.1.5 Whales . ● . ✎ . ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 126 1.5.1.6 Conclusions. ✎ . ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 127 1.5.2 Birds . ✎ ● . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 128 1.5.2.1 Introduction ✎ ✎ . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 128 1.5.2.2 Bird Utilization . ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ 129 1.5.2.3 Conclusions. ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 131 1.5.3 Invertebrates . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 131 1.5.3.1 Introduction . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 131 1.5.3.2 Invertebrate Distributions ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ 132 1.5.3.3 Conclusions . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● 138 1.5.4 Fish. ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✌ ✎ 139 1.5.4.1 Introduction . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ 139 1.5.4.2 Fish Utilization . ● ✌ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● 141 1.5.4.3 Conclusions. ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ 143 101 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 1.6 FOOD WEB DYNAMICS OF PEARD BAY . 143 1.6.1 Conceptual Microbial Food Web and Carbon Sources. 144 1.6.1.1 Marine Microbial Web . 144 1.6.2 Higher Trophic Food Web . ~~~ 1.6.3 Conclusions. ● ● G ● ● ● 1.7 PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF VULNERABILITIES TO OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT.. 157 1.7.1 Introduction . 157 1.7.2 Peard Bay and Beaufort Sea Lagoons. 157 1.8 LITERATURE CITED . ...160 CHAPTER 2. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY OF PEARD BAY. 165 2.1 INTRODUCTION.......... .*. ..** *””* ”165165 2.1.1 General . ● 165 2.1.2 Specific Objectives . 165 2.2 METHODS........................................167 2.2.1 Literature. ● ● ● ● 167 2.2.2 Peard Bay Processes Study . , . 167 2.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 167 2.3.1 Summary of Previous Knowledge, Eastern Chukchi Sea Coastal Area. ● 167 2.3.1.1 Introduction . 167 2.3.1.2 Southeastern Chukchi Sea . 170 2.3.1.3 Northeastern Chukchi Sea . ● ...** 173 2.3.2 Peard Bay Processes Study . ● 176 2.3.2.1 Tides. 176 2.3.2.2 Currents . 178 2.3.2.3 Temperature and Salinity . 178 2.3.3 Summary and Conclusions . ..$. 182 2.4 LITERATURE CITED. 192 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued Page CHAPTER 3. MARINE MAMMALS IN THE VICINITY OF PEARD BAY . 194 3.1 INTRODUCTION . ...194 3.1.1 General . 194 3.1.2 Specific Objectives . 194 3.2 METHODS . ...194 3.2.1 Literature. 194 3.2.2 Peard Bay Processes Study . , . 194 3.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.. 198 3.3.1 Literature Summary of Marine Mammal Use of the Eastern Chukchi Sea Coastal Region . 198 3.3.1.1 Introduction . 198 3.3.1.2 Pinnipeds. 199 3.3.1.3 Pacific Walrus . 222 3.3.1.4 Polar Bear . 224 3.3.1.5 Cetaceans. 225 3.3.2 Marine Mammal Use of Peard Bay and Adjacent Coast. 234 3.3.2.1 Ringed Seal . 23Ll 3.3.2.2 Bearded Seal.... ...236 3.3.2.3 Spotted Seal.... 237 3.3.2.4 Pacific Walrus . 237 3.3.2.5 Polar Bear..... ...238 3.3.2.6 Beluga Whale.... 238 3.3.2.7 Bowhead Whale. 238 3.3.2.8 Gray Whale . ...239 3.3.3 Summary and Conclusions . 239 3.4 LITERATURE CITED . ...241 CHAPTER 4. BIRD UTILIZATION OF PEARD BAY AND VICINITY. 244 4.1 INTRODUCTION . ...244 4.2 METHODS. 244 4.2.1 Review of the Literature. 244 4.2.2 Peard Bay Process Study . 244 4.2.2.1 Migration Watches. 244 4.2.2 .2 Habitat Use.... 246 4.2.2.3 Feeding Studies. 251 103 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 4.3 RESULTS. W* e. ““ ● ● ● 254 4.3.1 Review of the Literature. 254 4.3.1.1 Introduction . ...254 4.3.1.2 History of Ornithological Studies in Arctic Alaska . 255 4.3.1.3 Review of Most Recent Ornithological Research. 256 4.3.2 Bird Use of Peard Bay and Vicinity. 258 4.3.2.1 Migration Watches. 258 4.3.2.2 Habitat Use...... ..eoco< 265 4.3.3 Feeding Studies . 282 4.3.3.1 Oldsquaw. ● 282 4.3.3.2 Eiders. ● . ● ● 282 4.3.3.3 Arctic Tern..... ~~~ 4.3.3.4 Red Phalarope. 4.4 DISCUSSION.. 287 4.4.1 Migration. ● . ● 287 4.4.1.1 Loons. ● 289 4.4.1.2 Waterfowl. ~~~ 4.4.1.3 Shorebirds . ● 4.4.1.4 Gulls and Terns. 293 4.4.1.5 Jaegers. 293 4.4.1.6 Passerine . ~~~ 4.4.2 Habitat Use. ● . ● 4.4.2.1 Spring Staging . 295 4.4.2.2 Breeding Season. 295 4.4.2.3 Fall Staging . 297 4.4.3 Feeding Studies . ...303 4.5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. .**.* ..*** ● ☛✎☛☛ ● 305 4.6 LITERATURE CITED . .... ● ..... ● 310 CHAPTER 5. PEARD BAY INVERTEBRATES . ..**. ● ☛☛☛☛ ● 324 5.1 INTRODUCTION . .... .... ●✎✎✎✎ ● 324 5.1.1 General . ● . .*.*** ● ... 324 5.1.2 Specific Objectives . .... .***.* ● *** 324 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 5.2 METHODS . ...325 5.2.1 Literature . ...325 5.2.2 Peard Bay Process Study . 325 5.2.2.1 Field Sampling . 325 5.2.2.2 Laboratory Procedures. 326 5.2.2.3 Statistical Analysis . 326 5.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 327 5.3.1 Summary of Previous Knowledge . 327 5.3.1.1 Zooplankton Distribution . 327 5.3.1.2 Benthic Distribution . 332 5.3.2 Peard Bay Process Study . 338 5.3.2.1 Epibenthic Samples . 341 5.3.2.2 Infauna Samples. 353 5.3.3 Summary and Conclusions . 361 5.4 LITERATURE CITED. 366 CHAPTER 6. FISH UTILIZATION OF PEARD BAY . 369 6.1 INTRODUCTION. 369 6.1.1 General . 369 6.1.2 Specific Objectives . 369 6.2 METHODS. 369 6.2.1 Literature. 369 6.2.2 Peard Bay Fish Utilization Study. 369 6.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.. 370 6.3.1 Literature Summary, Eastern Chukchi Sea Coastal Area. 370 6.3.1.1 Introduction . 370 6.3.1.2 Southeastern Chukchi Sea . 373 6.3.1.3 Northeastern Chukchi Sea . 389 6.3.2 Peard Bay Fish Utilization. 391 6.3.2.1 Introduction . 391 6.3.2.2 Study Area. 391 6.3.2.3 Field Data. 391 6.3.2.4 Catch Rates . 392 6.3.2.5 Trophic Comparisons. 392 105 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 6.3.2.6 Fish Movements as Indicated by Fyke Catches . ...396 6.3.2.7 Species Accounts . 396 6.3.3 Summary and Conclusions . 402 6.4 LITERATURE CITED . ...403 CHAPTER 7. PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRIENTS. 406 7.1 INTRODUCTION . ...406 7.1.1 General . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 406 7.1.2 Specific Objectives . 407 7.2 METHODS . ..*. *O ................ 407 7.2.1 Literature. ● ● . c ● “ ● ● 407 7.2.2 Food Web Dynamics in Peard Bay. 407 7.2.2.1 Sample Processing. 407 7.3 RESULTS........**** .*** ”””” ””” ***412.