Exploratory Research and Biological Inventory of St. MatthewIsland, Bering Sea

本研究拟对位于白令海中心的偏远群岛圣马太群岛的生物多样性进行研究。 这个群岛是以前更广泛的白令生态系统的一个孤立的遗迹。 它们提供了直接对一个对两个大陆的动物群产生重要影响的地区的遗迹进行采样的机会。 今天的白令海代表了北极科学相当感兴趣的地区，这个群岛是几个特有物种和种群的宿主。 研究所计划收集植物、哺乳动物、鸟类和无脊椎动物的组织和标本，作进一步的系统和生态研究。 这些调查将是对生物群的首次全面研究，研究所将把调查结果与历史收集的数据进行比较，并将为研究全球变化对北极的影响提供基线数据。 前往圣马太是极其困难和昂贵的，因为孤立和后勤要求。 PI计划利用USFWS提供的独特机会，USFWS正在为PI提供空间，让他们乘坐研究船R/V Tiglax前往附近的霍尔岛。 由于后勤需求是极端的，机会窗口是时间敏感的，PI选择提交一个有限范围的建议，根据探索性研究（SGER）计划的小额赠款的指导方针。

This study proposes to study the biological diversity of St. Matthew Islands, a remote archipelago located in the center of the Bering Sea. This archipelago is an isolated remnant of a formerly more extensive Beringian ecosystem. They offer the chance to sample directly the remnants of a region that has had important effects on the fauna of two continents. Beringia today represents an area of considerable interest to arctic science, and this archipelago is host to several endemic species and populations. The PIs plan to collect tissue and specimens of plants, mammals, birds, and invertebrates for further systematic and ecological study. These surveys will be the first comprehensive study of the biota, and the PIs will compare their findings with historical collections and will provide baseline data for studies of the effects of global change in the Arctic. Travel to St. Matthew is extremely difficult and expensive because of the isolation and logistical requirements. The PIs plan to take advantage of unique opportunity afforded by USFWS, which is providing space for the PIs aboard their research vessel R/V Tiglax on a cruise to nearby Hall Island. Because the logistical demands are extreme and the window for opportunity is time-sensitive, the PIs have chosen to submit a proposal of limited scope under the guidelines of the Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER) program.