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Slide 1
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Chukchi Sea Environmental Studies Program Overview
Robert H. Day, ABR, Inc.—Environmental Research & ServicesCaryn L. Rea, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.
March 24, 2010
Slide 2
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Acknowledgments
• Michael Macrander (SEPCO)
• Olgoonik/Fairweather
• Jeff Hastings
• Sheyna Wisdom
• Dave Aldrich
• Cindy Eick
• Max Akpik and Herbert Tagarook
• Captains/crews of Bluefin and Westward Wind
Slide 3
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Chukchi Environmental Studies Program
• Building on the historical scientific data collected in the Chukchi Sea
• Ecosystem approach to baseline data acquisition
• Data can be used to assess potential adverse impacts from oil and gas activities
OBJECTIVE: Collect Information to Understand the Chukchi Environment to Support Exploration Permitting
Slide 4
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
• Marine Mammals
• Seabirds
• Fisheries
• Biological Oceanography Benthic invertebrates Plankton ecology
• Physical Oceanography Currents, sea temperature, conductivity
• Hydroacoustics: Acoustic Recordings of Vocalizing Marine Mammals Prospect Specific & Regional Scale
• Two sets of Upward Looking Sonar Buoys/ADCP
• Metocean Buoys
• Metals & Hydrocarbons in Sediment & Biota
• Ambient Air Monitoring
Ecosystem Approach to Data Acquisition
Slide 5
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
This Talk
• Observations on ecosystem and potential prey
Physical OceanographyZooplankton EcologyBenthic Ecology
• Marine Mammals
Slide 6
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Study Areas
BURGER
KLONDIKEWAINWRIGHT
PT. LAY
BARROW
Slide 7
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
2008 2009
Discipline C1 C2 C3 C1 C2 C3
Physical Oceanography X X X X X X
Nutrients/PP/Zooplankton X X X X X X
Benthic Ecology X X
Baseline Chemistry X X* X
Fisheries X X
Seabirds X X X X X X
Marine Mammals X X X X X X
Cruise Schedule (2008–2009)
• Three main cruises/year (~20–30 days each)
• Acoustic mooring deployment/retrieval – Late July–August– Mid-October
* Around historic well locations; conducted by COMIDA CAB Scientists
Slide 8
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Klondike Study AreattJ Klondike Study Area (onocoPhillips
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Slide 9
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Burger Study AreattJ Burger Study Area (onocoPhillips
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Slide 10
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Oceanographic Stations (Fixed)ttJ Oceanographic Stations (Fixed) (onocoPhillips
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Slide 11
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Oceanographic Stations (Random)ttJ Oceanographic Stations (Random) (onocoPhillips
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Slide 12
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Bird/Mammal Survey LinesttJ Bird/Mammal Survey Lines (onocoPhillips
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Slide 13
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Transit Survey LinesttJ Transit Survey Lines (onocoPhillips
Slide 14
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Acoustic MooringsttJ Acoustic Moorings (onocoPhillips
I ,
r-I
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Slide 15
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW
Results
Slide 16
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Thomas Weingartner, Seth DanielsonInstitute of Marine Sciences
University of Alaska—Fairbanks
Physical Oceanography
Slide 17
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
BACKGROUND: Physics Rule! (the system)
• Primarily northward-flowing currents
• Transport heat, carbon, nutrients from Bering Sea—strongly affect production in the Chukchi and Arctic Ocean
• Create water-masses with different characteristics (physics, productivity, species-composition)
Slide 18
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Main Currents
Central
Ht{raJd Chilli. slrotll
-165° -160° -155°
Belln/ort Gyre Atlantic 'Yater (subsurface) Alaska Coastal '-Vater Beri"g Sea Shelf 'Yarer Alladyr Water Siberian Coastal Curreltl
o 9
P t h 1000
45 0
km ............ o 100 200
Slide 19
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Surface vs. Subsurface
• Mooring datacollected from1990 to 1995
• Subsurface currentsoppose mean winds
• Swiftest incanyons/channelsand weakest inshallow regions
Wind
Slide 20
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
• Currents transport heat, advect water
• Ice retreats earliest in channels and latest over shoals—implications formarine mammals
• Much variability among years
Currents Affect Ice Retreat
Slide 21
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Wind Direction & Magnitude Affects Ice
• Wind direction in July2008 different from that in 2007 and 2009
• July 2008 winds blowing southward (againstcurrent direction)
• July 2007 and 2009winds blowing westward
Slide 22
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Burger
Klondike
Transect Of 2008 CTD Stations
• July 25 toAugust 12
• August 18 to September 20
• September 20 toOctober 9
Slide 23
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
• Water is gettingwarmer through time
• WW is graduallydisplacednortheastwardthrough time
• MW is always at thesurface
• BSW penetratesnortheastward withtime (flow increases)
Vertical Sections (2008)
WW
WW
WW
MW
MW
MWBSW
BSW
BSW
Aug 3To
Aug 12
Aug 18To
Sep 20
Sep 20To
Oct 9
Slide 24
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Interannual Variability
MODIS SST 22 AUG 2008 MODIS SST 24 AUG 2007
Slide 25
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
• Dramatic difference between years
• WW and MW barelyoccur in NE corner Burger
• Area flooded by BSW
Vertical Sections (2009; Preliminary)
WW
WW
WW
MW
MW
MW
BSW
BSW
BSW
Slide 26
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Russ Hopcroft, Jennifer Questel, Cheryl ClarkeInstitute of Marine Sciences
University of Alaska—Fairbanks
Zooplankton Ecology
Slide 27
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Planktonic Communities
• Nutrients (N, P, Si)
• Chlorophyll (phytoplankton)
• Zooplankton (meso- and macro-)
Slide 28
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Copepod nauplii
Larvaceans
Chaetognaths
Jellies
Meroplankton
Euphausiids
Copepods
.001%31%
2%
3%
5%
23%
36%
Zoops (2008)
Slide 29
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Area Differences (2008)
APPENDICULARIANS
LARGE COPEPODS
MEDUSAE
SMALL COPEPODS
Slide 30
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Temporal Variation (2008)
• Medusae (jellies)
• In primarily oceanic water
• Communities changing constantly—seasonal succession
• Makes characterizing plankton communitiesdifficult
Slide 31
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
How Are Stations & Cruises Related?
- Bray-Curtis Similarity Index
- Look for patterns among samples/seasons
40
5
52
1
52
3
52
5
51
7
51
3
51
9
50
5
51
5
50
3
50
9
50
1
50
7
51
1
21
3
21
7
21
1
20
5
20
3
22
1
20
1
20
7
10
3
10
1
10
5
30
9
11
5
11
1
10
9
10
7
11
7
31
1
30
1
30
5
42
1
31
3
32
5
31
5
30
7
32
3
40
3
40
1
11
3
32
1
12
1
31
7
30
3
31
9
20
9
11
9
12
3
12
5
60
9
61
5
62
3
60
5
62
5
41
3
41
9
40
7
40
9
41
1
60
3
60
7
41
7
42
3
41
5
42
5
61
7
61
1
62
1
61
3
60
1
61
9
Samples
100
80
60
40
20
Bray
-Cur
tis S
imila
rity
(%)
Cruise GridKlondikeBurgerKlondikeBurgerKlondikeBurger Sept/Oct
Aug/Sept
July/AugCruise Grid
KlondikeBurgerKlondikeBurgerKlondikeBurger Sept/Oct
Aug/Sept
July/Aug
(100% = the same species-composition)
Slide 32
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
2008: Late ice retreat and low SST
Interannual Variability
2009: Early ice retreat and high SST
Abundant food for higher pelagic trophic levels
Little food for higherpelagic trophic levels
Hunt’s BEST program
Slide 33
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Arny Blanchard, Hilary Nichols, Carrie ParrisInstitute of Marine Sciences
University of Alaska—Fairbanks
Benthic Ecology
Slide 34
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
BACKGROUND: Plants On The Ground!
• Advection of nutrient-rich water from the Bering Sea is critical to the ecology of the Chukchi Sea
• The tight coupling of pelagic production and the benthos results in rich benthic communities
• Benthic communities are rich, directly supporting upper trophic levels
Slide 35
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
• Klondike was warmer and less saline than Burger in 2008; these differences probably resulted from differences in circulation
• More mud at Burger
Data from Tom Weingartner and Seth Danielson, IMS, UAF
Bottom Temperature
-1.6
-1.3
-1
-0.7
-0.4
-0.1
0.2
0.5
BurgerKlondike
Tem
pera
ture
(C)
Bottom Salinity
32.3
32.6
32.9
33.2
BurgerKlondikeSa
linity
Bottom-water Characteristics
Slide 36
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Infauna (2008)
Infaunal communities differed between areas in composition of major groups
Burger
P46%
O3%
M17%
C34%
Klondike
M26%
C14%
O6%
P54%
Others
Mollusks
Polychaeteworms
Crustaceans
Percent abundance (individuals/m2)
Slide 37
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Infaunal Comparison (2008)
Burger
Klondike
Same species found in both areas
Across all taxa, infauna were more abundant at Burger
Diversity was similar between areas
The differences reflected environmental gradients (depth and sediment grain-size)
Slide 38
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Infaunal Differences (2008)
INFAUNAL ABUNDANCE
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
KLONDIKE BURGER
SITE
DEN
SITY
(IN
DIV
IDU
ALS
/M2)
INFAUNAL BIOMASS
0
100
200
300
400
KLONDIKE BURGER
SITE
BIO
MA
SS (G
/M2)
MEAN ABUNDANCE IN BURGER 4X THAT IN KLONDIKE
MEAN BIOMASS IN BURGER 2X THAT IN KLONDIKE
Slide 39
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Epibenthos (2009; Preliminary)
The brittle star Ophiura sarsi is the dominant epifaunal species
642 kg 184.1 (1 SE)
208 kg 113.1 (1 SE) Composition of major taxon categories similar between sites but Burger has greater biomass.
Klondike % Biomass
73.96
6.79 3.93 2.17 2.09
11.05
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Ophiura sarsi(Brittle star)
Pandalidae(Shrimp)
Chionoecetesopilio (Crab)
Psolus sp. (Seacucumber)
Neptunia spp.(Gastropod)
Other taxa (73species)
% B
iom
ass
Burger % Biomass
62.38
13.14
5.30 4.26 2.84
12.07
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Ophiura sarsi(Brittle star)
Amphipoda Gorgonocephalussp. (Basket star)
Chionoecetesopilio (Crab)
Balanus sp.(Barnacle)
Other taxa (73species)
% B
iom
ass
Slide 40
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Epifaunal Differences (2009; Preliminary)
EPIFAUNAL BIOMASS
0
25
50
75
100
125
KLONDIKE BURGER
SITE
BIO
MA
SS (K
G/K
M2)
MEAN BIOMASS IN BURGER 3X THAT IN KLONDIKE
Slide 41
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Howard Feder’s “Benthic Hot Spot”
In contrast to Feder’s 1986 study, fauna from Burger and Klondike were of similar composition
The geostatistical model updated with the 2008 data highlights his benthic (infaunal) “hot spot” in the NE Chukchi Sea
Abundance (ind. m-2) 1986 Only Abundance 1986, 2008 Combined
Slide 42
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Jay BrueggemanCanyon Creek Consulting
Seattle
Marine-Mammal Ecology
Slide 43
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Data-collection Procedures
• Two marine mammalogists alternating 4-hr watches all daylight hours
• Observe from bridge with binoculars
• Line-transect sampling
Slide 44
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Species List
• PINNIPEDS– Ringed Seal– Spotted Seal– Ribbon Seal– Bearded Seal– Walrus
• CETACEANS– Bowhead Whale– Minke Whale– Gray Whale– Killer Whale– Harbor Porpoise
– Polar Bear
Slide 45
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Marine Mammals Sighted (2008–2009)
TOTAL MARINE MAMMALS
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
KLONDIKE BURGER OTHER
AREA
NU
MB
ER
2008 2009
Slide 46
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Pinnipeds Sighted (2008–2009)
PINNIPEDS
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
KLONDIKE BURGER OTHER
AREA
NU
MB
ER
2008 2009
Slide 47
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Pinnipeds (2008)
Species/Group Klondike Burger Other
Seals 549 173 368
Walrus 24 940 1
Unidentified pinnipeds 7 19 6
Slide 48
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Pinnipeds (2009)
Species/Group Klondike Burger Other
Seals 78 90 11
Walrus 8 62 239
Unidentified pinnipeds 5 5 0
Slide 49
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Seals (2008)
Species Klondike Burger Other
Ringed/Spotted 112 31 38
Ringed Seal 67 13 37
Spotted Seal 20 16 24
Bearded Seal 37 62 20
Ribbon Seal 4 2 0
Unidentified seal 309 49 249
Slide 50
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Seals (2009)
Species Klondike Burger Other
Ringed/Spotted 36 31 2
Ringed Seal 6 11 1
Spotted Seal 7 5 3
Bearded Seal 7 22 1
Unidentified seal 22 21 1
Slide 51
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Cetaceans (2008)
Species Klondike Burger Other
Gray Whale 3 1 18
Bowhead Whale 0 2 0
Minke Whale 0 1 0
Killer Whale 9 0 0
Harbor Porpoise 7 0 0
Unidentified whale 1 2 8
Slide 52
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Cetaceans (2009)
Species Klondike Burger Other
Gray Whale 1 1 75
Bowhead Whale 0 3 0
Minke Whale 1 0 1
Harbor Porpoise 0 0 3
Unidentified whale 0 1 0
Slide 53
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Polar Bears (2008–2009)
Year Klondike Burger Other
2008 0 9 0
2009 0 0 4
Slide 54
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Seal Distribution (2008)ttJ Seal Distribution (2008) (onocoPhillips
Il- ConocoPhillips Lease
~ I .. :c 11..1 Shell Lease
I U others. Le!lSe
• Cruise 1 - Seal
• Cruise 2 . Sui z
• Cruise 3 - Seal
I
~ I 4: rr +-----+------ -•
IU"O'i/ ~5 O'-'W
Seal Locations
6Y30W
Slide 55
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Walrus Distribution (2008)ttJ Walrus Distribution (2008) (onocoPhillips
WI a rus & Ud nl f d P entl Ie Innlpe d L ocatlons
U ConocoPhillips Lease I + ~ • Shell Lease
• others L.ease 35
• Cruise 1 - Walrus :r-*. '\ • Cruise 2 • Walrus !- ;;l • • • Cruise 3 • Walnls .. * Cruise 1 • Unid. Pinniped * ! r9 * Cruise 2 - Unid. Pinniped * * Cruise J - Unid. Pinniped I ~
4 m
• * BUR ER 1 " *
m 20 m
e .. {:.;, * •
• e *
* e. * • • *
* *
KLONDIKE 1
~ X 3:; m
*' " • \
20n , % , " " ~
~"-tic,1 ~ i c,
HomotH" C 5 m ~ ~ • ,
165' OW 16-nCf\,Y 162'3CT¥Y 162' OW
Slide 56
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Cetacean Distribution (2008)
BHW
BHW
GW, UW
KW
HP
GW
GW
UW
Slide 57
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
HYPOTHESES ABOUT MARINE MAMMALS AND OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE
NORTHEASTERN CHUKCHI SEA DURING THE OPEN-WATER SEASON
Slide 58
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Pelagic Comparison (2008–2009)
• In 2008, Klondike was pelagic-dominated system and Burger was benthic-dominated system
• In 2009, both areas were pelagic-dominated system
• Prediction: Pelagically-feeding seals will differ in relative abundance between study areas in 2008 but not 2009
Slide 59
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Benthic Comparison (2008/2009)
EPIFAUNAL BIOMASS
0
25
50
75
100
125
KLONDIKE BURGER
SITE
BIO
MA
SS
(KG
/KM
2)
MEAN BIOMASS IN BURGER 3X THAT IN KLONDIKE
MEAN BIOMASS IN BURGER 2X THAT IN KLONDIKE
INFAUNAL BIOMASS
0
100
200
300
400
KLONDIKE BURGER
SITE
BIO
MA
SS (G
/M2)
Prediction: Benthically feeding seals & Walruses will differ in abundance between study areas in both years
Slide 60
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Pelagic vs. Benthic PinnipedsIDENTIFIED ANIMALS ONLY
RINGED
SPOTTED
RINGED/SPOTTED
RIBBON
BEARDED
TOTAL PELAGIC SEALS
0
50
100
150
200
250
KLONDIKE 08 BURGER 08 KLONDIKE 09 BURGER 09
STUDY AREA/YEAR
NU
MB
ER
TOTAL BENTHIC SEALS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
KLONDIKE 08 BURGER 08 KLONDIKE 09 BURGER 09
STUDY AREA/YEAR
NU
MB
ER
TOTAL WALRUSES + UNID. PINNIPEDS
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
KLONDIKE 08 BURGER 08 KLONDIKE 09 BURGER 09
STUDY AREA/YEAR
NU
MB
ER
Slide 61
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Conclusions (2008–2009)
• Study areas were not spatially uniform• Differences in water-masses• Differences in zooplankton communities• Differences in benthic communities• BUT some interannual differences
Slide 62
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Conclusions (MM 2008–2009)
• Most marine mammal species found in the Chukchi Sea also occurred in one or both study areas in various numbers
• Remnant sea ice affected numbers of seals, Walruses, and Polar Bears
• Seals were significantly more abundant in both study areas during Cruise 1, with lower and similar numbers during Cruises 2 and 3 (2008)
• Most Gray Whales were east of the Klondike and Burger survey areas, primarily near the coast
Slide 63
Alaska
NMFS Open Water Meeting – March 24, 2010
Conclusions (MM 2008–2009)
• Small numbers of other cetacean species occurred sporadically in survey areas, including two Bowhead Whales observed at Burger in October (but no surveys in Klondike in October)
• Some Bowhead Whales migrate through or near both study areas
• Hypothesis of greater numbers of benthically-feeding Walruses and Bearded Seals at Burger and greater numbers of pelagically-feeding seals in Klondike* during open-water period, reflecting environmental differences
• Interannual variability is high
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