Alaska Park Science National Park Service
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National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior Alaska Regional Office Alaska Park Science Anchorage, Alaska Connections to Natural and Cultural Resource Studies in Alaska’s National Parks In this issue: Science on the Slopes of Mount McKinley 6 Brown Bear Activity Patterns in Katmai 22 Attu, A Lost Village of the Aleutians 34 Using Scenarios to Prepare for Climate Change 44 ...and more. Volume 10, Issue 2 Table of Contents K A A S What’s up with Alaska Park Science? ____________ 4 L A Science on the Slopes of Mount McKinley ________ 6 Reclamation of Mined Lands in Kantishna, Denali National Park and Preserve ______________ 12 Climate Change Segmentation Groups at Denali National Park Kenai Fjords National Park: Insight Into and Preserve Visitors’ Perceptions ___________________________ 18 Wrangell St.-Elias Describing Brown Bear Activity Patterns Using National Park and Preserve Time-Lapse Photography in Katmai National Park and Preserve _____________________________ 22 Lake Clark National Park Martin Radovan: A Prospector’s Life ____________ 28 and Preserve Attu, A Lost Village of the Aleutians ____________ 34 Kenai Fjords National Park Behind the Scenes: Geospatial Technologies Used at Branch SAR ___________________________ 40 Katmai National Park and Preserve Using Scenarios to Prepare for Climate Change Attu in Alaska National Park System Areas ___________ 44 The Nature of Art _____________________________ 52 Gulf of Alaska Science News _________________________________ 64 Backcover Photo. Attu, A Lost Village of the Aleutians Exploring Makushin. Left to right: Brian Rankin, Billy Pepper, The Nature of Art Josephine Shangin, Irene McGlashin, Nick Lekanoff, Laresa Article on page 52. Cover Photo. Syverson (blue and white hat), Jane Mensoff (blue vest), and Detail from High Latitudes by Maria Coryell-Martin NPS photograph by Carissa Turner Patricia Gregory. Article on page 22. 2 Article on page 34. This project is made possible through funding from the National Park Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the National Park Service and other contributors. About the Authors Alaska Park Science is published twice a year. Recent issues of Alaska Park Science are available for sale by Guy Adema is a physical scientist, National Park Service. John Morris is an Educational Specialist, Alaska Regional Alaska Geographic (www.alaskageographic.org). Office, National Park Service. Charitable donations to help support this journal Tim Brabets is a hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey. may be sent to: Alaska Geographic Association, Jeff Mow is Superintendent of Kenai Fjords National Josh Brekken is an environmental scientist, Oasis Park. 810 East Ninth Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 Environmental. ATTN: Alaska Park Science. Frank Norris is a historian, National Park Service. Jane Bryant is a cultural resource specialist, Denali National Park and Preserve. Bob Ourso is an aquatic ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey. Matthew T.J. Brownlee is a Doctoral Candidate and Research Assistant in the Department of Parks, Whitney Rapp is a biologist, Katmai National Park and Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson Preserve. University. Bud Rice is an Environmental Protection Specialist, ISSN 1545-4967 December 2011 Don Callaway is an anthropologist, Alaska Regional Alaska Regional Office, National Park Service. Office, National Park Service. Katherine Ringsmuth is a historian, Alaska Regional Alaska Park Science Nancy Fresco is Network Coordinator, Scenarios Office, National Park Service. Project Lead: Robert Winfree, Regional Science Advisor, Network for Alaska Planning, University of Alaska email: [email protected] Fairbanks. Angie Southwould is a GIS database designer and Editor: Monica Shah programmer, Alaska Regional Office, National Park Alaska Park Science Journal Board: Jeffrey C. Hallo, is an Assistant Professor in the Service. Ted Birkedal, Team Leader for Cultural Resources Joy Geiselman, Deputy Chief, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Biological Science Office USGS Alaska Science Center Management, Clemson University. Joshua Scott is a Geographic Information Specialist, Rachel Mason, Cultural Anthropologist Wrangell -St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Lisa Oakley, Alaska Geographic Association John Quinley, Assistant Regional Director for Communications Troy Hamon is Chief of Natural Resources and Research, Rebecca Talbott, Chief of Interpretation and Education, Alaska Katmai National Park and Preserve. Daniel Trepal is an archeologist, Alaska Regional Office, Sara Wesser, Inventory and Monitoring Coordinator, Alaska Region National Park Service. Robert Winfree, Chair of Journal Board Logan Hovis is a historian, Alaska Regional Office, Printed on recycled paper with soy based ink Published twice a year in June and December by Alaska Geographic, National Park Service. Carissa Turner is a coastal area biologist, Katmai a nonprofit partner of the Alaska Region of the National Park Service, National Park and Preserve. supporting educational programs through publishing and operation of Ken Karle, P.E., is a hydraulic engineer, Hydraulic visitor center bookstores. Disclaimer: Information published in Alaska Park Science has been Mapping and Modeling. Don Weeks is a hydrologist and planner for the Water subjected to general review by the National Park Service Alaska Resources Division, National Park Service. Region. Publication in Alaska Park Science does not signify that Rachel Mason is a cultural anthropologist, Alaska the contents reflect the views of the National Park Service, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute Regional Office, National Park Service. Robert Winfree is the regional science advisor, National National Park Service endorsement or recommendation. Park Service. www.nps.gov/akso/AKParkScience/akparkarchives.html 3 4 Alaska Park Science, Volume 10, Issue 2 What’s Up With Alaska Park Science? By Robert Winfree and Kimberly Melendez themes. The vast majority of these readers preferred to Among those who mentioned favorite issues, most receive printed copies of Alaska Park Science, although readers simply said “All”, or listed several issues, usually Introduction nearly half also wanted access to digital editions, because including the recent Park Science in the Arctic symposium During the last few years, Alaska Park Science has they used the printed and digital editions in different proceedings in their list. These readers also suggested received several awards and praise for content and design, ways. topics of particular interest to them. Three-quarters of but good peer reviews don’t necessarily tell us whether Upon completing their review, the panel members the suggestions clustered into ten general categories, listed a publication really makes a difference for its readers. discussed their top ten recommendations with NPS here in approximate order of frequency, with the most So... how effective is Alaska Park Science at interpreting managers and with the journal board. The panel’s top frequently mentioned topics listed first: scientific and scholarly information for people who can recommendations were to ensure long-term funding use and benefit from it? The NPS Alaska Regional Office and staffing for the journal, and to continue to produce • Climate Change posed that question to a panel of seven professional the journal in both printed and digital editions at least • Wildlife science educators, journal editors, and members of the twice a year. Many of their suggestions have already been • Geology NPS Inventory and Monitoring science communicators implemented, such as the revamped web site, use of social • “All topics” group in 2010. media, minor design changes, email subscription options, • Oceans and fisheries The panelists employed a set of qualitative and rotating advisory board positions, and expanded • Cultural quantitative measures of effectiveness to get at the answer, approaches for seeking reader feedback. We’re still • Archaeology including interviews of a cross section of 65 Alaska Park working on other suggestions, some of which will take • Alaska history Science readers, contributors, sponsors and others. About time and resources to accomplish. A copy of the panel’s • Ecology and ecosystems, including fire 80% of the people they talked to were Alaska residents full report and recommendations is available at • Social Science, including economics and recreation and about two-thirds of them self-identified with the http://1.usa.gov/jIn03T career field of education (including teachers, Following receipt of the panel’s report, journal staff The journal’s advisory board and staff is pleased that interpreters, science writers and public information received feedback from another group of readers who the multidisciplinary approach to the physical, biological, specialists); with the others identifying themselves as contacted us to request copies of the journal. This second cultural, and social sciences, history and related humani- researchers, resource managers, or other. Overall, these group of 233 readers identified themselves as research- ties works for our readers. We plan to use these readers liked the journal’s style and format, with 90% ers (44%), educators (37%), and resource managers suggestions to identify new topics for articles and or more saying that Alaska Park Science was appropri- (22%); with librarians (10%) and other professions (11%) focused issues. We’d like to hear from our other ate, useful, effective and important to them and for the