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: 1600053
• 负责人: Stephen Langdon
• 金额: $ 9.52万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Anchorage 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=1600053&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掠食者的悠久历史，这导致许多动物种群被列为受威胁、濒危或灭绝。最近重新引入的一些物种可以检查它们在生态系统中的作用、与人类发生冲突的可能性，以及未来人类与捕食者共存的可能策略。该项目将使用阿拉斯加东南部的海獭作为模型系统，结合生态学、经济学和阿拉斯加原住民传统知识，以更多地了解海洋捕食者在沿海可持续发展中的作用。 1700 年代中期至 1900 年间，阿拉斯加东南部的海獭因其价值不菲的皮毛而被猎杀至灭绝。 20 世纪 60 年代，这些动物被重新引入该地区，其数量从大约 400 只增加到超过 25,000 只。阿拉斯加东南部海獭的恢复提供了了解它们在沿海生态系统中的生态作用的机会，同时评估它们与依赖沿海资源为生的人们的相互作用。由于海獭吃贝类，渔民和捕捞贝类的人们越来越担心海獭的增加正在影响他们的生计和食物资源。与此同时，阿拉斯加沿海原住民可以合法捕捞海獭以获取皮毛，这加大了对​​海獭的狩猎压力。该项目将涉及与阿拉斯加原住民社区和长者的合作。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员。其中一名研究生来自科学领域代表性不足的群体，调查人员计划在他们为阿拉斯加原住民项目招募和留住学生的记录基础上继续努力。该项目的目标是采用整合生态研究、传统知识访谈以及生态系统服务量化和评估的跨学科方法，记录顶级捕食者和环境驱动因素对近岸海洋资源、生态系统和人类变化的作用。这项研究调查了海獭灭绝和重新殖民时期海洋环境的变化。随着时间的推移，海獭的消失然后扩展到不同的区域，可以实现空间与时间的替代，在这种情况下，海獭的长期影响可以在占据时间较长的区域中看到。对历史数据的分析提供了描述过去 30-100 年海带分布、丰度和自给收成变化的机会。对海獭生态系统服务（包括海草、海带和鱼类）的量化和评估，将提供有关海獭重新殖民的潜在好处的信息。生态学、人类学和经济方法的整合将有助于更好地理解人类、顶级掠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原住民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协商，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。