Coastal SEES Collaborative Research: Apex predators, ecosystems and community sustainability (APECS) in coastal Alaska

沿海 SEES 合作研究：阿拉斯加沿海的顶级捕食者、生态系统和社区可持续性 (APECS)

• 批准号: 1600230
• 负责人: Ginny Eckert
• 金额: $ 110.34万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-01 至 2022-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1600230&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Coastal; SEES; Collaborative; Research; Apex

Humans have a long history of controlling or hunting predators which has resulted in many of these animal populations being classified as threatened, endangered or extinct. Recent reintroduction of some species allows for an examination of their role in the ecosystem, potential for conflict with humans, and possible strategies for future coexistence of humans and predators. This project will use sea otters in Southeast Alaska as a model system, combining ecology, economics, and Alaskan Native traditional knowledge to learn more about the role of marine predators in coastal sustainability. Between the mid-1700s and 1900, sea otters were hunted to extinction in Southeast Alaska for their highly valuable fur. In the 1960s, these animals were reintroduced in the region, and their population has grown from roughly 400 to more than 25,000 individuals. The recovery of sea otters in Southeast Alaska provides an opportunity to understand their ecological role in coastal ecosystems, while simultaneously evaluating their interactions with people who depend on coastal resources for their livelihood. Because otters eat shellfish, fishermen and people who harvest shellfish have growing concerns that the increase in sea otters is affecting their livelihood and food resources. At the same time, hunting pressure on sea otters has intensified from coastal Alaskan Natives who can legally harvest sea otters for their fur. The project will involve collaboration with Alaska Native communities and elders. In addition, it will support a team of scientists that includes undergraduate researchers, graduate students, two postdoctoral scholars, and two junior faculty members. One of the graduate students is from a group underrepresented in science, and the investigators plan to build on their track record of recruiting and retaining students from programs for Alaskan Natives. The objective of this project is to document the role of apex predators and environmental drivers on changes in nearshore marine resources, ecosystems, and humans using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates ecological studies, traditional knowledge interviews, and ecosystem services quantification and valuation. This research examines changes in the marine environment over a period of time in which sea otters were extinct and then recolonized. The absence and then expansion of sea otters into different areas over time allows for a space-for-time substitution in which the longer-term effects of sea otters can be seen in areas occupied longer. Analyses of historical data provide an opportunity to describe changes in kelp distribution and abundance and subsistence harvests over the last 30-100 years. Quantification and valuation of ecosystem services from sea otters, including seagrass, kelp, and fish, will provide information on the potential benefits of sea otter recolonization. The integration of ecological, anthropological and economic approaches will lead to a better understanding of the reciprocal feedbacks between humans, apex predators and environmental drivers. Collaborations with Alaska Native communities throughout the project include consultation with community members and tribal elders about project goals and results, with the ultimate goal of informing resource management to improve the sustainability of rural coastal communities and nearshore ecosystems.

人类有着控制或猎杀食肉动物的悠久历史，这导致许多这些动物种群被归类为受威胁，濒危或灭绝。最近重新引入的一些物种允许检查它们在生态系统中的作用，与人类冲突的可能性，以及未来人类和捕食者共存的可能策略。该项目将以阿拉斯加东南部的海獭为模型系统，结合生态学、经济学和阿拉斯加土著传统知识，更多地了解海洋捕食者在沿海可持续发展中的作用。在18世纪中期到1900年之间，海獭在阿拉斯加东南部因其极有价值的皮毛而被猎杀至灭绝。在20世纪60年代，这些动物被重新引入该地区，它们的数量从大约400只增加到25，000多只。在阿拉斯加东南部海獭的恢复提供了一个机会，以了解他们在沿海生态系统中的生态作用，同时评估他们与依赖沿海资源为生计的人的相互作用。由于水獭吃贝类，渔民和收获贝类的人越来越担心海獭的增加会影响他们的生计和食物资源。与此同时，沿海的阿拉斯加原住民可以合法地收获海獭的皮毛，这加剧了海獭的狩猎压力。该项目将涉及与阿拉斯加土著社区和老年人的合作。此外，它将支持一个科学家团队，其中包括本科研究人员，研究生，两名博士后学者和两名初级教师。其中一名研究生来自一个在科学领域代表性不足的群体，调查人员计划建立在他们从阿拉斯加原住民项目中招募和留住学生的记录基础上。该项目的目标是记录顶级捕食者和环境驱动因素对近岸海洋资源，生态系统和人类的变化的作用，采用跨学科的方法，整合生态研究，传统知识的采访，生态系统服务的量化和估值。这项研究考察了海獭灭绝后一段时间内海洋环境的变化。海獭的消失，然后随着时间的推移扩展到不同的地区，这使得可以进行一种空间换时间的替代，在这种替代中，海獭的长期影响可以在占用时间较长的地区看到。对历史数据的分析提供了一个机会，可以描述过去30-100年来海带分布和丰度以及自给性收成的变化。对海獭（包括海草、海带和鱼类）生态系统服务的量化和估值将提供关于海獭繁殖的潜在惠益的信息。生态学、人类学和经济学方法的整合将有助于更好地理解人类、顶级捕食者和环境驱动因素之间的相互反馈。在整个项目中，与阿拉斯加土著社区的合作包括与社区成员和部落长老就项目目标和结果进行磋商，最终目标是为资源管理提供信息，以改善农村沿海社区和近岸生态系统的可持续性。

项目成果

Explaining variability in tourist preferences: A Bayesian model well suited to small samples

• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2019.104067
• 发表时间: 2020-06
• 期刊: Tourism Management
• 影响因子: 12.7
• 作者: Lendie Follett;Brian P. Vander Naald-

Public perception and valuation of long‐term ecological monitoring

公众对长期生态监测的认知和评价

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2875
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: Ecosphere
• 影响因子: 2.7
• 作者: Vander Naald, Brian P.;Sergeant, Christopher J.;Beaudreau, Anne H.
• 通讯作者: Beaudreau, Anne H.

Sea otter effects on trophic structure of seagrass communities in southeast Alaska

海獭对阿拉斯加东南部海草群落营养结构的影响

• DOI: 10.3354/meps13819
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Marine Ecology Progress Series
• 影响因子: 2.5
• 作者: Raymond, WW;Schram, JB;Eckert, GL;Galloway, AWE
• 通讯作者: Galloway, AWE

Unexpected circumstance and adventure in the Aleutians uncover trophic cascades

阿留申群岛的意外情况和冒险揭示了营养级联

• 发表时间: 2017
• 期刊: Ecology
• 影响因子: 4.8
• 作者: Eckert, G.L.

Between a rock and a soft place: surfgrass colonizes sediments without attachment to rock

在岩石和柔软的地方之间：海浪草在沉积物上定居，但不附着在岩石上

• DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2791
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: Ecology
• 影响因子: 4.8
• 作者: Stephens, Tiffany A.;Hughes, Brent B.;Kroeker, Kristy J.;Hessing‐Lewis, Margot;Monteith, Zachary;Morris, Mary;Raymond, Wendel W.
• 通讯作者: Raymond, Wendel W.