Project Information

Title: Presence and Effects of Marine Derived Nutrients (MDN) in Stream, Riparian and Nearshore Ecosystems on Southern Kenai Peninsula, Alaska 040726

Project Year and Number: 2004: 040726

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: None

Principal Investigator (PI): Coowe Walker (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: Craig Stricker, Mark Wipfli

Research Location: Southern Kenai Peninsula

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Not Specified

Abstract: Marine derived nutrients and carbon (MDN) delivered by salmon and other anadromous fishes are considered important drivers in riverine ecosystems, providing nutrients and food to these land-based food webs. However, we know little about the relative value of MDN compared to other nutrient and carbon sources (e.g., watershed-derived) in the Gulf of Alaska region. The objectives of this study are to develop a water chemistry proxy for monitoring salmon returns, and to track and measure MDN effects in stream, riparian and nearshore environments, on the southern Kenai Peninsula. We will accomplish this by linking stream chemistry, marine isotope signatures, marine terrestrail fatty acid ratios, and key animal and plant community density, growth, and lipid measures along a gradient from river mouth to headwaters in key watersheds. This study will be integrated with related studies proposed in other areas of southcentral Alaska to develop a broader retinal understanding and widely-applicable long-term monitoring program for the GEM region.


Proposal: View (2,290 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY04: View (99 KB)
Annual Report FY05: View (140 KB)
Annual Report FY06: View (351 KB)
Final Report: Final Report Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available