WALRUS - Walrus Adaptability and Long-term Responses; Using multi-proxy data to project Sustainability

海象 - 海象的适应性和长期反应；

• 批准号: 1263848
• 负责人: Nicole Misarti
• 金额: $ 170.73万
• 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: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-15 至 2022-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1263848&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: WALRUS; Walrus; Adaptability; Long; term

The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is one of many species affected by recent environmental change in the Arctic. Much attention has focused on the loss of sea ice recorded from 2007-2012, the concomitant appearance of thousands of walruses on Alaska's and Russia's beaches, and the unfortunate consequence of large numbers of trampling mortalities. In addition, an unusual number of walruses in poor body condition were reported on Wrangel Island in 2007, many of which subsequently died. While walrus haul-out and mortality events are not historically isolated occurrences, these past haul-outs on Alaska's coasts, associated with reduced sea ice abundance, signify a change to this population. These occurrences are disquieting taken together with a decrease in estimated walrus based on surveys from 2006 versus 1990, (129,000 in 2006 compared to 200,000 in 1990), and current data on reduced fertility. The Pacific walrus is of critical importance to subsistence consumers in Alaska (and other areas of the Arctic). Despite impressive data from in-depth studies of Pacific walruses over the last 40-50 years, it is difficult to implement proposed co-management and conservation plans based on data from such a relatively short time span, much less project the impact of additional changes to the Arctic ecosystem on both walruses and humans subsisting on them.This project aims to integrate several disciplines including archaeology, ethnology, biology, and ecology using diverse sources of data including DNA, stable isotope, steroid, and trace element analysis as well as to ascertain long-term trends of walrus feeding ecology, foraging location, and stock genetics over the last two millenia. This time frame includes large climatic anomalies such as the Medieval Warm and the Little Ice Age, thereby presenting scientists with the possibility of understanding how walruses adapt during times of stress and change. Present-day samples will be obtained from Alaskan subsistence hunters, historic samples will be acquired from museums, and prehistoric samples from archaeological collections. Each type of data will act as a building block to better understand walruses and how they adapt to change in Arctic ecosystems. DNA analysis will provide insights into population bottlenecks and potentially adaptive differentiation between stocks. Stable isotope analysis of bone collagen and growth ring layers of teeth will define overall feeding ecologies of individuals through time. Trace element analysis will reveal foraging locations, potential population structure, and changes of essential and non-essential elements over time. Bone steroid hormones (i.e., stress hormones) can delineate population structure and health over time, and translation of historic taped interviews and use of previously archived studies will reveal traditional knowledge of walrus habitats and feeding habits over the last 100 years.

太平洋海象（odobenus rosmarus divergens）是受北极最近环境变化影响的许多物种之一。非常关注的集中在2007 - 2012年从2007年至2012年记录的海冰上，这是阿拉斯加和俄罗斯海滩上数千个海象的出现，以及大量践踏死亡率的不幸后果。 此外，据报道，2007年，弗拉格岛（Wrangel Island）据报道，人体状况不佳的海象数量不寻常，其中许多随后死亡。 尽管海象拖曳和死亡率事件并不是历史上孤立的事件，但这些过去在阿拉斯加海岸上的拖船与减少的海冰丰度有关，这表明对这一人群的变化表示了变化。 这些发生的情况是令人不安的，以及根据2006年对1990年的调查（2006年为129,000，而1990年为200,000）的估计海象减少，以及当前关于降低生育能力的数据。 太平洋海象对于阿拉斯加（以及北极的其他地区）的生存消费者至关重要。 Despite impressive data from in-depth studies of Pacific walruses over the last 40-50 years, it is difficult to implement proposed co-management and conservation plans based on data from such a relatively short time span, much less project the impact of additional changes to the Arctic ecosystem on both walruses and humans subsisting on them.This project aims to integrate several disciplines including archaeology, ethnology, biology, and ecology using diverse sources of data including DNA，稳定的同位素，类固醇和痕量元素分析以及在过去两千年中确定海象进食生态学，觅食位置和库存遗传学的长期趋势。这个时间范围包括大量气候异常，例如中世纪温暖和小冰河时代，从而使科学家有可能在压力和变化时期了解海象如何适应。 当今的样本将从阿拉斯加生计猎人那里获得，将从博物馆获得历史样本，并从考古收藏中获得史前样本。 每种类型的数据都将充当更好地了解海象以及它们如何适应北极生态系统变化的基础。 DNA分析将为人口瓶颈提供见解，并可能在股票之间进行适应性差异。 牙齿骨胶原蛋白和生长环的稳定同位素分析将随着时间的推移定义个体的整体喂养生态。 痕量元素分析将揭示觅食位置，潜在的人群结构以及随着时间的推移的基本和非必需要素的变化。 骨骼类固醇激素（即应激激素）可以随着时间的流逝描述种群结构和健康，并翻译历史性的胶带访谈，并使用先前存档的研究将揭示过去100年中海象栖息地和喂养习惯的传统知识。