Projects

Characterizing a widespread disturbance regime in the ABoVE domain: Beaver engineering (PI: 2022-2025, NASA). Collaborators: S. Swieback, M. Loranty, C. Elder, R. Pavlick.

Collaborative Research: Adaptive multi-Robot Configurable Teams Investigating Changing Ecosystem (Co-PI: 2022-2025, NSF: National Robotics Intiative). Collaborators: B. Duncan, C. Detweiler, J. Bradley.

Arctic Beaver Observation Network: Tracking a new disturbance regime (PI: 2021-2026, NSF AON): Collaborators: B. Jones, C. Brown

Emergence of beavers as ecosystem engineers in the New Arctic (PI: 2019-2022, NSF ANS): Collaborators: B. Jones, B. Gaglioti, J. Clark

Arctic Beaver Observation Network, 1st annual meeting (Co-PI: March 15-18 2022, IASC): Collaborators: H. Wheeler, P Marsh, C. Westbrook

Beavers Impacting Tundra Ecosystems (BITE): Quantifying effects on hydrology, permafrost, water quality, and fish habitat in Alaska’s arctic national parks (Co-PI: 2019-2022, USGS-NPS Water Quality Partnership Program): Collaborators: M. Carey, J. O'Donnell, B. Poulin, J. Koch

Predicting beaver colonization of the Arctic and creation of tundra stream oases (PI: 2018-2021, NSF EPSCoR): Collaborators: L. Berner, S. Goetz, J. Clark

Effects of Shrub Expansion in the Arctic on Plant Functional Trait Variation and Belowground Carbon Dynamics (Co-PI: 2016-2020, DOE): Collaborators: J. Fraterrigo, E. Euskirchen

Collaborative Research: Arctic Oases - How does the delayed release of winter discharge from aufeis affect the ecosystem structure and function of rivers (Co-PI: 2016-2018, NSF): Collaborators: A Huryn, M. Gooseff, L. Deegan

Quantifying and modeling the effects of deciduous shrubs and trees on the water balance of Arctic ecosystems (Co-PI: 2014-2019, NSF): Research conducted on plant water use in boreal and arctic ecosystems. Collaborator: J. Young-Robertson

Climate change effects on wetlands, invertebrates, and shorebirds (2014-2017, ALCC, USFWS): Collaborative work to understand the effects of climate change on snow/hydrology/permafrost and the implications for higher trophic levels, specifically invertebrates and birds. Collaborators: A. Liljedahl, M. Sturm, R. Daanen, R. Lanctot

Alaska adapting to changing environments, Northern Test Case (2013-2018, NSF-EPSCoR): Research to understand the cause of 20th century moose expansion in northern Alaska and implications for local hunters. Collaborators: G. Kofinas

Greening and Herbivory in Arctic Alaska (PI: 2011-2012, USGS): Post-Doctoral work through the Alaska Cooperative Research Unit examining potential bird and caribou habitat changes in Arctic Alaska. Collaborators: D. Gustine, P. Flint

Landscape Heterogeneity of Shrub Expansion (PI: 2008-2011, NPS/UAA-ENRI): Characterize physical and chemical soil, shrub, and leaf properties in expanding and stagnant shrub patches, as identified using repeat photography. Patches sampled were scattered along the Nimiuktuk, Colville, and Sagavanirktok Rivers. Collaborators: M. Hallinger, J. Welker

Ptarmigan Herbivory and Shrub Expansion in Arctic Alaska (PI: 2008, NSF-EPSCoR): Described complex interactions between ptarmigan, snow distribution, and shrubs. Collaborators: R. Lord, H. P. Marshall, R. Ruess

20th Century Erosion and Permafrost Degradation Reconstructed from Short Lake Cores (PI: 2008-2011, UAF-WERC): The chronology of deposition in four short lake cores was determined using Pb210 and Cs137 dating techniques. Erosion rates were quantified for the four watersheds and trends in likely explanatory factors discharge and vegetation were presented. Collaborators: D. Verbyla

Mapping Changes in Shrub Abundance and Biomass in Arctic Tundra using NASA Earth Observing System Data, A Structural Approach (2009-2012, NASA): Uses shadows derived from multiangle satellite sensors (MODIS/MISR) to map shrub canopy over large scales. Collaborators: M. Chopping

Mapping shrub cover on the North Slope of Alaska (2008-2010, NASA): Creating a circa-2000 baseline map of %cover of short and tall shrubs using a nested scale approach. Collaborators: P. Beck, S. Goetz, N. Horning, R. Pearson

Floodplain Vegetation Dynamics in Glacial vs. Non-glacial Rivers in the Arctic Refuge (2010, USFWS): Uses time series imagery and quantitative techniques to characterize and compare changes in floodplain vegetation/stability. Collaborators: J. Jorgenson

Linkages Between Climate and Prehistoric Culture (2009-present, NPS): Lake coring and post-glacial paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Lake Selby (Gates of the Arctic National Park), as related to archaeological evidence. Collaborators: B. Gaglioti, J. Rasic, M. Wooller

Then & Now, The Changing Arctic Landscape (2010, Rasmuson Foundation/University of Alaska Museum of the North): Book and museum exhibit containing repeat photography of glaciers, vegetation, and permafrost. Additional historical and cultural material is included. The exhibit debuted at UAMN in 2010 and has since been traveling nationally. Collaborators: M. Guthrie

Aerial Repeat Photography of Northern Alaska (2000-2004, NSF): Repeated ~300 1948-50 photographs of arctic Alaskan landscapes and analyzed for changes in vegetation. Collaborators: M. Sturm & C. Racine

Using Near-Infrared (NIR) Photography to Record Snow Stratigraphy (2009, NSF): Developed NIR photography technique to accurately record layers in snowpits. Collaborators: N. Rutter, H. P. Marshall, R. Essery, M. Sturm

Carbon Storage Across an Advancing Treeline (2005, NPS): Used repeat photography to identify migrating white spruce treeline in the Noatak region. Sampled across the treeline for above and below ground biomass and decomposition rates. Collaborators: M. Wilmking

SnowSTAR (Snow Science Trans-Alaska Research) 2000, 2002: Snowmachine expeditions from Nome to Barrow to characterize physical and chemical properties of arctic snow cover. Collaborators: M. Sturm

AMSERIce 2003, 2006: Snow and sea ice mapping and modeling, aerial photography of sea ice. Collaborators: J. Maslanik, M. Sturm, J. Stroeve