Protocol implementation plan for monitoring muskox sex-age composition in the Arctic Network

Schmidt, Joshua; Robison, Hillary; Miller, Scott

Muskoxen are rare worldwide. Within the U.S. National Park system (NPS), muskoxen only occur in four park units, all within the Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring program (ARCN): Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA), Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR), and Noatak National Preserve (NOAT). Occasionally, muskoxen are observed in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (GAAR). Key reasons for monitoring muskoxen are that muskox are: (1) an important subsistence species; and (2) an arctic obligate species and are therefore a good indicator of the condition in Alaska’s arctic ecosystems. Muskox in the Arctic Network occur in two distinct populations. The northern population occupies CAKR and spreads north onto the north slope of Alaska and east into NOAT. The second population encompasses all of BELA and is found throughout the Seward Peninsula and to the east. The NPS surveys muskox in both populations in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG). Abundance and distribution of muskoxen is monitored with an adapted distance sampling technique (Schmidt et al. 2010, Westing 2011, Schmidt and Gorn 2013). Following the abundance survey, a second survey is conducted to gather information on muskoxen sex-age composition. The ADFG typically leads, with support from the NPS, the logistics for the abundance and sex-age composition surveys of the Seward Peninsula muskoxen population and consolidates the data gathered during the surveys. The NPS and ADFG analyze the data for the abundance and sex-age composition surveys, respectively. For the Cape Thompson muskoxen population, the NPS and ADFG share logistics for the abundance and sex-age composition surveys, and share consolidation of the data. The NPS and ADFG analyze the data for the abundance and sex-age composition surveys, respectively. As of this writing, the NPS participation in these surveys has been led by Western Arctic National Parklands (WEAR). Muskox sex-age composition surveys are the focus of this protocol implementation plan. Determination of muskoxen sex-age is a helicopter-supported ground-based survey that targets groups of muskox located during the aerial abundance and distribution surveys. Ideally, composition surveys are conducted less than a month after the completion of the abundance and distribution surveys to minimize movement of animals, and thereby minimize the need to search for muskox groups. Monitoring objectives of this protocol implementation plan are to: 1) Determine late winter muskoxen sex composition in the Cape Thompson and Seward Peninsula populations; and 2) Determine late winter muskoxen age composition in the Cape Thompson and Seward Peninsula populations.

Protocol implementation plan for monitoring muskox sex-age composition in the Arctic Network

Series

See also

Collections