Download Amanda Millay Mallory Millay Scott Begins Thomas Osterman

Mallory Millay
Amanda Millay
Scott Begins
Thomas Osterman
Estuary Boundary
Shields, P at. 2005
Erikson, David, 2002.
Davis, Randall.2005. P ersonal
communication.
Hoffman, Christopher. 2005
Kenai River Watershed Forum 2003
Purple = Wetland
.
To develop a plan
for implementing an
ecosystem-based
approach to
management of a
local marine
resource.
Over 100 Bird
Species
Sedges and
Alkaligrass
Thousands of
Shore Bird and
Waterfowl in the
Spring.
Caribou and Moose
Mixed semi diurnal tides
31 aquatic taxonomic groups
Beluga whales and harbor seals
•Detritus is composed of decaying
seaweeds, castoff sea grass,discarded
exoskeletons, and dead decaying
organisms.
Human Impacts
Shields, P at. 2005
Erikson, David, 2002.
Davis, Randall.2005. P ersonal
communication.
Hoffman, Christopher. 2005
Kenai River Watershed Forum 2003
> 5,000
Herring gull abundance in the Kenai Estuary
Gull Colony
•2000 breeding
pairs present
Hoffman, Christopher. 2005
Davis, Randall.2005. P ersonal
communication.
•Salmon smolt predation
•Nutrient transferred
to adjacent wetlands
•Bald Eagle spring
abundance
•Ecosystem impacts
outside of area
•Displacement of other
birds
Life History
•Life Span- up to 30 years
•Age of Breeding- 4-5 years
•Omnivore/ Scavenger
•Clutch size- 1-6 eggs (ave. 3)
http://www.mbrpwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Lifehistory/lh0510.
html. Gregory Gough
USGS P atuxent Wildlife Research Center
Davis, Randall.2005. P ersonal
communication. Retired Alaska
Department of Fish and Game.
Soldotna Alaska.
http://wildspace.ec.gc.ca/life.cfm? I
D=HERG&P age=More&Lang=e
Pautzke, 2002
1. Ecosystems have thresh holds and
limits that affect ecosystem structure
2. Our ability to predict ecosystem
behavior is limited.
3. If limits are exceeded changes can
be irreversible.
4. Diversity is important in ecosystem
functioning
5. Multiple time scales interact in and
among ecosystems;
6. and components of ecosystems are
linked.
Current
Population
50% reduction in Gull population
62% of households in
Nanwalek harvest Gull eggs.
Our target harvest for Kenai
estuary 1,000-2,000 eggs.
Arctic Tern
nesting area.
Competition
with other birds
for feeding areas
should be
reduced.
•Salmon smolt predation
•Nutrient transferred
to adjacent wetlands
•Bald Eagle spring
abundance
•Ecosystem impacts
outside of area
Recommending that state and federal
wildlife agencies manage this harvest.
Recommending that a research program
be implemented to assess progress and
sustainability of this resource
Annual management cost is estimated to
be less than 1000 dollars per year.
Research costs are variable depending
on research question