Identifying Ecological Hotspots in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas Esri User Conference July 2018 image: Milo Burcham Erika Knight, Melanie Smith, Max Goldman, & Ben Sullender Audubon Alaska
Audubon Alaska is a science-based conservation organization that works to protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats across the Great Land of Alaska. We use science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters, and through education we seek to raise public awareness about the natural ecosystems of Alaska.
Why map the Arctic seas? Increasing interest in the Arctic, intensifying development pressures, changing climate, and a need to make informed decisions
Physical Setting
Biological Setting
Fishes
Birds
Mammals
Human Uses
Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers
Composite Data Layers Multiple Studies 1 4 2
Composite Data Layers Intensity Extent of range Regular use Concentration High concentration
Atlas Published August 2017 http://bit.ly/eco-atlas
Data to Design Data Gathering Identify available data Acquire and organize Design Annual cycle maps Identify patterns Assessment & planning Data Synthesis Spatial analysis Composite data layers
Identify Patterns Bird Concentration Areas
Identify Patterns Important Ecological Areas (IEAs) are geographically delineated areas which, by themselves or in a network: have distinguishing characteristics; are important for maintaining habitat heterogeneity or the viability of a species; or otherwise contribute disproportionately to an ecosystem s health, including its biodiversity, function, structure, or resilience.
Identify Patterns IEA Method For each layer: For each grid cell: Standard deviate of cell j = (Value of cell j) (Mean of values in layer) Standard deviation of values in layer Sum the positive standard deviates
Inputs Multi-Species Hotspots Ecosystem Ecological Hotspots Bird Density Marine Bird Colonies Global IBAs King Eider Spectacled Eider Common Eider Steller s Eider Long-tailed Duck Yellow-billed Loon Red-throated Loon Red-faced Cormorant Red-necked Phalarope Red Phalarope Aleutian Tern Red-legged Kittiwake Black-legged Kittiwake Ivory Gull Murres Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Parakeet Auklet Crested Auklet Whiskered Auklet Least Auklet Short-tailed Albatross Shearwaters maximum Polar Bear Walrus Bearded Seal Ribbon Seal Ringed Seal Spotted Seal Steller Sea Lion Northern Fur Seal Beluga Whale Bowhead Whale Gray Whale Humpback Whale Osmerids Pacific Herring Walleye Pollock North Pacific Cods Atka Mackerel Yellowfin Sole Pacific Halibut Pacific Salmon Primary Productivity Zooplankton Benthic Biomass Snow Crab King Crab Coral/Sponge Gardens MARINE MAMMAL HOTSPOTS BIRD HOTSPOTS FISH HOTSPOTS LOWER TROPHIC HOTSPOTS ECOSYSTEM HOTSPOTS
Inputs Multi-Species Hotspots Ecosystem Ecological Hotspots Bird Density Marine Bird Colonies Global IBAs King Eider Spectacled Eider Common Eider Steller s Eider Long-tailed Duck Yellow-billed Loon Red-throated Loon Red-faced Cormorant Red-necked Phalarope Red Phalarope Aleutian Tern Red-legged Kittiwake Black-legged Kittiwake Ivory Gull Murres Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Parakeet Auklet Crested Auklet Whiskered Auklet Least Auklet Short-tailed Albatross Shearwaters maximum Polar Bear Walrus Bearded Seal Ribbon Seal Ringed Seal Spotted Seal Steller Sea Lion Northern Fur Seal Beluga Whale Bowhead Whale Gray Whale Humpback Whale Osmerids Pacific Herring Walleye Pollock North Pacific Cods Atka Mackerel Yellowfin Sole Pacific Halibut Pacific Salmon Primary Productivity Zooplankton Benthic Biomass Snow Crab King Crab Coral/Sponge Gardens MARINE MAMMAL HOTSPOTS BIRD HOTSPOTS FISH HOTSPOTS LOWER TROPHIC HOTSPOTS ECOSYSTEM HOTSPOTS
Identify Patterns Mammals D R A F T D R A F T
Identify Patterns Birds Hotspots D R A F T D R A F T
Identify Patterns Fishes Hotspots D R A F T D R A F T
Identify Patterns Lower Trophic Hotspots D R A F T D R A F T
Identify Patterns Ecosystem Hotspots D R A F T D R A F T
Identify Patterns For each layer: For each grid cell: Standard deviate of cell j = (Value of cell j) (Mean of values in layer) Standard deviation of values in layer Sum the positive standard deviates
Identify Patterns D R A F T D R A F T Not moving window Moving window
Assessment & Planning Next steps Assess vulnerability of hotspots to: Vessel traffic Offshore energy Commercial fisheries Climate change image: Tim Sullivan/USCG
Assessment & Planning
Assessment & Planning Shipping Vulnerability D R A F T D R A F T More vulnerable Less vulnerable
Thank you! Questions?