Ecological Investigations of the Tundra Biome in the Prudhoe Bay Region, Alaska
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Ecological Investigations of the Tundra Biome in the Prudhoe Bay Region, Alaska Edited by Jerry Brown Biological Papers of the University of Alaska Special Report Number 2 October, 1975 Ecological Investigations of the Tundra Biome in the Prudhoe Bay Region, Alaska Edited by Jerry Brown, Director U.S. Tundra Biome U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Biological Papers of the University of Alaska Special Report Number 2 October, 1975 BIOLOGICAL PAPERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Editor JAMES E. MORROW Department of Biological Sciences University of Alaska Editorial Board GEORGE W. ARGUS National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa I. McT. COWAN University of British Columbia, Vancouver WILLIAM G. PEARCY Oregon State University, Corvallis Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 75-620095 /// Abstract During the period 1970-1974, the U.S. Tundra Biome Program, which was stationed primarily out of Barrow, performed a series of environmental and terrestrial ecological studies at Prudhoe Bay. This volume reports specifically on the Prudhoe results and is divided into three major subdivisions: (1) abiotic and soil investi- gations; (2) plant investigations, and (3) animal investigations. The abiotic section contains papers on the air and soil temperature regimes; the snow cover, particularly its properties adjacent to the roadnet; major soil and landform associations, and the chemical composition of soils, runoff, lakes, and rivers. The plant section contains reports on a general vegetation survey; a follow-up vegetation mapping project, and a study of the growth of arctic, boreal, and alpine biotypes in an experimental transplant garden. The animal section contains reports on the tundra invertebrates; the bird, lemming, and fox populations, and the behavioral and physiological investigations of caribou and several experimental reindeer. Appendices contain a checklist of the vascular, bryophyte, and lichen flora of the Prudhoe Bay area and selected data on vegetation. Several of the papers draw comparisons with the Barrow tundra. The volume includes a considerable number of tables in its attempt to document for the first time the abiotic, flora, and fauna of this relatively unknown arctic tundra landscape. In Memoriain This volume is dedicated to the memory of Scott Parrish, who died in a plane crash on 26 August 1974. During the period 1971-1974, Scott was involved directly in many aspects of the Biome's Prudhoe Bay research. This included arranging and expediting the program's logistic requirements, design of experi- ments, data reduction for several projects, and overall guidance to Biome personnel on research activities and opportunities at Prudhoe. We considered Scott both a friend and scientific colleague. His thoughts on and concerns for the environment were highly respected. The loss of his experience and personal knowledge of the Prudhoe area is irretrievable. We hope that this volume will record for the future both Scott's memory and his interests in the tundra. VII Table of Contents Abstract v Dedication vii Preface x Introduction xv Abiotic and Soil Investigations 1 "Selected Climatic and Soil Thermal Characteristics of the Prudhoe Bay Region." Jerry Brown, Richard K. Haugen, and Scott Parrish. 3 "Observations on the Seasonal Snow Cover and Radiation Climate at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska during 1972." Carl Benson, Robert Timmer, Bjorn Holmgren, Gunter Weller, and Scott Parrish. 13 "Soil and Landform Associations at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: A Soils Map of the Tundra Biome Area." Kaye R. Everett. 53 "Nutrient Regimes of Soils, Landscapes, Lakes and Streams, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Lowell A. Douglas and Aytekin Bilgin. 61 Plant Investigations 71 "Vegetation Survey of the Prudhoe Bay Region." Bonita J. Neiland and Jerome R. Hok. 73 "Vegetation and Landscape Analysis at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: A Vegetation Map of the Tundra Biome Study Area." Patrick J. Webber and Donald A. Walker. 81 "Responses of Arctic, Boreal, and Alpine Biotypes in Reciprocal Transplants." William W. Mitchell and Jay D. McKendrick. 93 Animal Investigations 113 "Ecology of Tundra Invertebrates at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Stephen F. MacLean,Jr. 115 "Ecological Relationships of the Inland Tundra Avifauna near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." David W. Norton, Irvin W. Ailes, and James A. Curatolo. 125 "Population Studies of Lemmings in the Coastal Tundra of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Dale D. Feist. 135 "Notes on the Arctic Fox (A/opex lagopus) in the Prudhoe Bay Area of Alaska." Larry S. Underwood. 145 "Ecology of Caribou at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Robert G. White, Brian R. Thomson, Terje Skogland, Steven J. Person, Donald E. Russell, Dan F. Holleman, and Jack R. Luick. 151 Appendix A "Provisional Checklist to the Vascular, Bryophyte, and Lichen Flora of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Barbara M. Murray and David F. Murray. 203 Appendix B "Selected Data on Lichens, Mosses, and Vascular Plants on the Prudhoe Bay Tundra." Michael E. Williams, Emanuel D. Rudolph, and Edmund A. Schofield. 213 Plate I "Vegetation and Soils Maps, Tundra Biome Study Area, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." Inside Back Cover IX Preface This volume contains project reports on (OPP) and the International Biological Program research sponsored and coordinated under the (Ecosystems Analysis Section). This NSF pro- U. S. Tundra Biome Program of the Internation- gram was largely funded for the Barrow inten- al Biological Program (IBP) at Prudhoe Bay, sive site which, in turn, provided personnel for Alaska. the Prudhoe research. The Barrow and, sub- Comprehensive Biome research was initiated sequently, the Prudhoe projects were supported at Barrow in 1970. The Prudhoe Bay area was in the field by and provided with laboratory selected as a second arctic coastal plain site in equipment from the Naval Arctic Research order to gather comparative and validation data Laboratory at Barrow. Partial funding for the for the more comprehensive Barrow investiga- Prudhoe research has been derived from the tions. In addition, the Prudhoe area was essen- State of Alaska and from nonrestrictive grants tially unknown ecologically, and the program's from individual oil companies to the University presence in northern Alaska, with its large eco- of Alaska's Tundra Biome Center (Dr. George C. logical research team, afforded an excellent op- West, Director). The following is a list of con- portunity to gather data of a basic bioenviron- tributing companies through 1974; mental nature at Prudhoe. To this end, a series Atlantic Richfield Company of studies ranging from one to three summers' Alyeska Pipeline Service Company duration and reconnaissance observations were BP Alaska, Inc. conducted in areas easily accessible from the Cities Service Company road network. Exxon Company, USA (Humble Oil & Funding of these Prudhoe research efforts Refining Company) has been largely shared amongst industry Gulf Oil Corporation sources, the State of Alaska, and the National Marathon Oil Company Science Foundation. Without exception, the Mobil Oil Corporation logistical at Prudhoe were paid from funds costs Prudhoe Bay Environmental Environmental provided by the Prudhoe Bay Subcommittee Subcommittee which, since 1970, have amount- Shell Oil Company ed to $282,000. Portions of these funds have Standard Oil Company of California been used to support direct research, and Standard Oil (Indiana) Foundation, Inc. individual reports in this volume acknowledge Sun Oil Company their use. However, the magnitude of the Biome's program at Prudhoe would not have We wish to acknowledge the many individu- been possible without the core-funded. National als and companies involved at Prudhoe who Science Foundation support of the 5-year made the conduct of this program possible. The Tundra Biome Program, a program jointly sup- operators, BP Alaska, Inc. (Western Section) and ported at NSF by the Office of Polar Programs Atlantic Richfield Company (Eastern Section), and their staff did everything possible to facili- Engineering Laboratory under an interagency tate the accomplishnnent of our projects. BP, agreement with NSF for Tundra Biome manage- and particularly Charlie Wark, lent considerable ment and publications. The CRREL editorial support in making lab and field space available staff, Mr. Stephen Bowen, editor, and Mr. and solving operational questions. Angus Gavin Harold Larsen, illustrator, is acknowledged for of Atlantic Richfield Company provided a con- its early assistance in volume preparation. The siderable amount of background information on final copy preparation, editing, and drafting was the birds and wildlife of the area as well as performed under the editorship of Ms. Laurie logistical assistance. The staff and facilities of McNicholas and the graphics supervision of Ms. Mukluk Freight Lines provided excellent work- Mary Aho of the University of Alaska's Arctic ing and living conditions. Nabors Alaska Drilling Environmental Information and Data Center Inc. provided additional field lab facilities. Both (Mr. David Hickok, Director). helicopter and fixed wing flights were provided Dr. Stephen F. MacLean, Jr. prepared the by the operating companies, Alyeska, and introduction and, along with Dr. West, provided others, and this assistance is gratefully acknowl- considerable assistance in critical review and edged by all projects. development of the volume. Barbara and David The initial volume preparation was perform- Murray provided verification of the usage of all ed at the U. S. Army Cold Regions Research and plant names in the