The land mammal fauna of southeast Alaska
Macdonald SO and Cook JA. 1996. The land mammal fauna of southeast Alaska. The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 110(4):571-598
(Adapted from author's abstract). This paper presents information based on 4280 specimens in the University of Alaska Museum and a review of other large collections for 54 species of land mammals that occur or have recently occurred in Southeast Alaska. Based on the presence of endemic taxa or unique combinations of taxa, five subregions within Southeast Alaska are described. Patterns of species richness and endemism are similar to other archipelagos. The origin of this fauna has been complex and includes species with Beringian and/or southern refugia affinities. Fossil mammals recoverd from Prince of Wales Island and the large number of endemics suggest a coastal corridor along the continental shelf that allowed the movement of a number of mammals into southeast Alaska prior to the Fraser glacial advance.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Macdonald, Steve; Cook, Joseph
- Units
- GLBA , KLGO , WRST
- Keywords
- Alexander Archipelago, Animal Studies, Conservation, Endemic, Glacier Bay National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve AK, Island, Klondike Golrush National Historical Park, Mammals, Southeast Alaska, temperate rainforest, Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve