Mammal inventory of Alaska's National Parks and Preserves, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Annual report 2003

Cook, Joseph; MacDonald, Stephen

This report details the inventory of mammals in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LACL) between 7 and 31 July 2003 as part of a cooperative effort of the Beringian Coevolution Project at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico and the Inventory and Monitoring Program of the National Park Service of Alaska. We begin the process of documenting the approximately 36 species of mammals that occur in the Park, with a primary focus on small mammals (i.e., shrews, voles, lemmings, weasels, porcupine, squirrels, and hares). This survey resulted in 856 primary specimens comprising 17 species. Across all localities sampled, two shrews (Sorex cinereus, S. monticolus) and a murid rodent (Clethrionomys rutilus) were the most frequently captured species, comprising over 85% of all mammals sampled. The discovery of singing vole (Microtus miurus) at Turquoise Lake constitutes a new mammal for the park and a major range extension for the species. This inventory also provided the first documented records in LACL of pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi), montane shrew (Sorex monticolus), tundra shrew (Sorex tundrensis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and ermine (Mustela erminea). Two tiny shrews (Sorex yukonicus) collected at Turner Bay are only the second record of this rare species in the park and constitutes the latest additions to the 37 specimens now known to science. The findings from this study, when combined with specimen information gathered from a review of holdings at the University of Alaska Museum and other major collections, bring the total number of documented small mammal species in LACL to 18 of 22 probable species, or 82% coverage. The specific products of this inventory include a large collection of well-prepared, well-documented, and diverse preparations of mammal specimens and associated materials (tissues, parasites, fecal samples, digestive tracts) for taxonomic, zoogeographic, ecological, genetic, parasitological, epidemiological, and other research and management purposes.

Mammal inventory of Alaska's National Parks and Preserves, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Annual report 2003

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