Publications:
Tropic dynamics of the Copper River Delta: response of subarctic fish communities to environmental perturbation.

Deliverables:
Reports detailing the gut content analysis of collected fish, synthesis of fish collection data.

Project Summary

Vast expanses of Intertidal sand/mud flats serve as a critical link in the food web of nearshore communities along the Alaska coastline. The rich abundance of benthic invertebrates residing within the sediments of Intertidal flats and the large network of subtidal channels that intersect these flats provide a significant prey resource for numerous species. Changes in the abundance of invertebrate prey due to the effects of oiling have been shown to result in changes throughout the food chain. Due to its rich natural resources and ecological sensitivity, the Copper River Delta and Flats are in need of ecological assessment in case of catastrophic oiling.

The central component of this fellowship is to characterize the demersal (bottom-feeding) and salmonid fishes of the Delta and to quantify the linkage between benthic invertebrate pray and these fishes.