chukchi sea environmental studies program overvie · slide 1 alaska nmfs open water meeting –...

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

Alaska


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

Alaska


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

Alaska


• 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

Alaska


This Talk

• Observations on ecosystem and potential prey

Physical OceanographyZooplankton EcologyBenthic Ecology

• Marine Mammals

Alaska


Study Areas

BURGER

KLONDIKEWAINWRIGHT

PT. LAY

BARROW

Alaska


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

Alaska


Klondike Study AreattJ Klondike Study Area (onocoPhillips

I ii ij • ~ ij i~ LL§ Lll Lj L • , -,. • • • ~ st SI! S!! st Sl! 1 st sf SI! st - s! IIRZS

!

I; I i "f"1 1*'1" ' ! jii[ , ,

~ I ;~ I 1* t I

I .+ 1 , i; I .tqIII I I

, I I I I ' , I: t Illi ' l ~" i rr -• 1 ~ , , r I I' I

,- -,-

I@ 1 1 ,

I I: .~ r·1

I I '. I I , 1 'f

~ ..l . !-~~ H I I -,

I I * ~ I '

r , ' 1 -L i ~

r-i I. 1+ 1* 1

14.. I J I I i 1[1\ I I I :~~ -" I ' , I ' ! 1 , I I: I I OJ ,J.. I I + ' , I :~ , ,I I l+ -¥. • .... , ,

r , ~ i ~ ~ , ~ ~ ! , ! ! ~ i , • • • • • • • • • • •

- -

.-. _. -,

I I I i !

-j--- -

I ,

e __

* ---.. SUIIan, ~ * fUr-.. SUIIan,-,. . -~ IE __

- s.w,. Lft. -,. - s.w,. 1.-.. s-...,

1 8~'-" -.-D lS&e - 0ftII.

• , »

~-

• E

;

I •

I •

Alaska


Burger Study AreattJ Burger Study Area (onocoPhillips

I , .,.J • ! • • i ! Ii • •

., .... ! • i i 10"" a ; a a a a

J , 1 1 ! !: I : ,!

1 ' , 1 I . • 1 ,

I 1 1 i i • i • *

1 , ,.. I *~ I~-

• - t I " , ,

1 1 1 -,

" 1 1 ' ,

1 • • , 1 1

, 1

1 ' , I' Iwi; r1 1 ~i' * ~t " , b-.

. 18 ~ ] I

• --? , -, , r " ,

1 I ,

I ~ I 8

1

I~ f1: ~ ,

e __

I I~ I. * I'Undarn saaan.. MrUI'f

• .... * PUndOIn saaan.. ~

1

, ._-, ~ I 1 ~ : I.

III __

J-I

~ I - :uwy Ule.. 1'ItIIaIl' ,

I 1 ~ 1 j: , !

- Slnory lQ.~

1-:"" • • I § - -~ - , !

• ! !!ii!i~i! i i • i ---

~ ~ , 0 - --• ,

" , ~.- • , - -

Alaska


Oceanographic Stations (Fixed)ttJ Oceanographic Stations (Fixed) (onocoPhillips

I a a , ( _,1i ' - p

,

(

I " ~ n-(

r-,

• E

Alaska


Oceanographic Stations (Random)ttJ Oceanographic Stations (Random) (onocoPhillips

• :

I - a § • ij _LLLL§ - il --Li L , -, .... .~ ..... ~~ . ~ .. -'. I I'M I.t I Fi " ~ I , I I .+! :d l I i: I I I~ I I J I ' T ,

± ' ,00 r 1 L l " i oot I: -,

r~ :pi l ~ II IT T I , j J.,.. 1: 0 1 III

I 'W IIG Dr I I I I

~ !, ,!~ ~ J 'f I I 1Joooo·

1 .~ I i 1 i i I "j ! 'i I ~~ " i

I~ I 100-[ I i H I .... i 1:-+ ~ .. I " i' I l ,I I , 1 "i: ,l or I • 1 I i I I , -!- I.- I. , I 1 11' -1>

-, I T ,J;,> I •

r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I

r ~ • ~ • l ~ ~ • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

-

---

,

--

-, I ! I ! ~

. _--, i

I ,

---* runoorn SDDDn, PrIIM)'

* runoorn S&non. ~ . -~ 00 __ - SWWy une.~

- !lIney \.N, secmcIII)'

B~-~" --... D u.-·or.r. , • ~-

• E

• ,

I ,

I ,

Alaska


Bird/Mammal Survey LinesttJ Bird/Mammal Survey Lines (onocoPhillips

I ~ . § ~ ij _LLLL§ - il --Li L , -, . • !iii! Ii II! fI. II !iii! -!-st ' !iiI! Ii - !iii! KNH

• :

I;

I

1'1"/ I·t ' ! "'I I' t ~ I ;~ I .ok i I I I I i; I ."" I I I I I I I I I I I 100

I i: ± ,I Ii lilt I I I l " -,

i ,ij : ~ , I r T I

---, -,-

I I I I I

I

· I I I .. I I ~ ~ 0 1 I I I. ,r I I uJ 'f J H ! ~ I I

I I ,..,.

t · I ·lo- ~ I I

~ I 1 i i I I

, 1 l~

1* 1

,1 "j ! I I I I :~+ I

ItIl I I ",I I."" I , ~"

I I

I I

o~ It I I i: I I I I I

I I 1:4 I I

I ---l- I: ~ I I I -, I ! J<I,oI I •

r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I

r ~ • ~ • l ~ ~ • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

-

-----

-, I ! I ! !

._--I i

I I

---* runoorn SDDDn, PrIIM)'

* runoorn S&non. ~ . -~ 111--

- SWWy une.~ - !lIney \.N, secmcIII)'

I B:--~" --... D u.-·or.r. , , • ~-

• E

:

I ,

I ,

Alaska


Transit Survey LinesttJ Transit Survey Lines (onocoPhillips

Alaska


Acoustic MooringsttJ Acoustic Moorings (onocoPhillips

I ,

r-I

• E

Alaska


WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW

Results

Alaska


Thomas Weingartner, Seth DanielsonInstitute of Marine Sciences

University of Alaska—Fairbanks

Physical Oceanography

Alaska


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)

Alaska


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

Alaska


Surface vs. Subsurface

• Mooring datacollected from1990 to 1995

• Subsurface currentsoppose mean winds

• Swiftest incanyons/channelsand weakest inshallow regions

Wind

Alaska


• 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

Alaska


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

Alaska


Burger

Klondike

Transect Of 2008 CTD Stations

• July 25 toAugust 12

• August 18 to September 20

• September 20 toOctober 9

Alaska


• 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

Alaska


Interannual Variability

MODIS SST 22 AUG 2008 MODIS SST 24 AUG 2007

Alaska


• 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

Alaska


Russ Hopcroft, Jennifer Questel, Cheryl ClarkeInstitute of Marine Sciences


Zooplankton Ecology

Alaska


Planktonic Communities

• Nutrients (N, P, Si)

• Chlorophyll (phytoplankton)

• Zooplankton (meso- and macro-)

Alaska


Copepod nauplii

Larvaceans

Chaetognaths

Jellies

Meroplankton

Euphausiids

Copepods

.001%31%

2%

3%

5%

23%

36%

Zoops (2008)

Alaska


Area Differences (2008)

APPENDICULARIANS

LARGE COPEPODS

MEDUSAE

SMALL COPEPODS

Alaska


Temporal Variation (2008)

• Medusae (jellies)

• In primarily oceanic water

• Communities changing constantly—seasonal succession

• Makes characterizing plankton communitiesdifficult

Alaska


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)

Alaska


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

Alaska


Arny Blanchard, Hilary Nichols, Carrie ParrisInstitute of Marine Sciences


Benthic Ecology

Alaska


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

Alaska


• 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

Alaska


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)

Alaska


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)

Alaska


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

Alaska


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

Alaska


Epifaunal Differences (2009; Preliminary)

EPIFAUNAL BIOMASS

0

25

50

75

100

125

KLONDIKE BURGER

SITE

BIO

MA

SS (K

G/K

M2)


Alaska


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

Alaska


Jay BrueggemanCanyon Creek Consulting

Seattle

Marine-Mammal Ecology

Alaska


Data-collection Procedures

• Two marine mammalogists alternating 4-hr watches all daylight hours

• Observe from bridge with binoculars

• Line-transect sampling

Alaska


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

Alaska


Marine Mammals Sighted (2008–2009)

TOTAL MARINE MAMMALS

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

KLONDIKE BURGER OTHER

AREA

NU

MB

ER

2008 2009

Alaska


Pinnipeds Sighted (2008–2009)

PINNIPEDS

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

KLONDIKE BURGER OTHER

AREA

NU

MB

ER

2008 2009

Alaska


Pinnipeds (2008)

Species/Group Klondike Burger Other

Seals 549 173 368

Walrus 24 940 1

Unidentified pinnipeds 7 19 6

Alaska


Pinnipeds (2009)

Species/Group Klondike Burger Other

Seals 78 90 11

Walrus 8 62 239

Unidentified pinnipeds 5 5 0

Alaska


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

Alaska


Seals (2009)


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

Alaska


Cetaceans (2008)


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

Alaska


Cetaceans (2009)


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

Alaska


Polar Bears (2008–2009)

Year Klondike Burger Other

2008 0 9 0

2009 0 0 4

Alaska


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

Alaska


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

Alaska


Cetacean Distribution (2008)

BHW

BHW

GW, UW

KW

HP

GW

GW

UW

Alaska


HYPOTHESES ABOUT MARINE MAMMALS AND OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE

NORTHEASTERN CHUKCHI SEA DURING THE OPEN-WATER SEASON

Alaska


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

Alaska


Benthic Comparison (2008/2009)

EPIFAUNAL BIOMASS

0

25

50

75

100

125

KLONDIKE BURGER

SITE

BIO

MA

SS

(KG

/KM

2)



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

Alaska


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


STUDY AREA/YEAR

NU

MB

ER

TOTAL WALRUSES + UNID. PINNIPEDS

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700


STUDY AREA/YEAR

NU

MB

ER

Alaska


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

Alaska


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

Alaska


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

chukchi sea environmental studies program overvie · slide 1 alaska nmfs open water meeting –...

Documents