Annual Report for National Park Service Intertidal Reconnaissance Survey to Assess Composition, Distribution, and Habitat of Marine/Estuarine Infauna in Soft Sediments in the Southwest Alaska Network
Lees DC and Driskell WB. 2006. Annual Report for National Park Service Intertidal Reconnaissance Survey to Assess Composition, Distribution, and Habitat of Marine/Estuarine Infauna in Soft Sediments in the Southwest Alaska Network. Anchorage, AK
Soft sediments on beaches in Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM) in the Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN) were examined using 0.25 m2 excavations, infaunal core samples, and visual assessment to assess species composition and distribution of the infauna, especially bivalves used for prey by important predators (esp. brown bears, sea otters, and diving ducks). Samples were collected at 13 of the 31 sites examined in KATM. Soft intertidal habitats in KATM are quite diverse, varying from clean fine sand on the exposed beaches to compact sandy mud in protected areas in Kamishak Bay. Habitats differ substantially within and among regions in KATM and between KATM and Kenai Fjords NP (KEFJ). Sediments in KEFJ are dominated by gravel with substantial quantities of sand or silt. However, very few gravel or mixed-soft sediments were observed in KATM. Nevertheless, they appeared to be biologically rich where they occurred. In contrast, habitats in the northern region of KATM, dominated by sand or mud, are quite similar to those observed in LACL but wave exposure in KATM may have created harsher environments. Generally, beaches in KEFJ appear to be considerably younger than those in KATM or LACL. The bivalve fauna differed considerably within and among regions in KATM, but dominant bivalves within the regions also dominated within either KEFJ or LACL. Potential target species common in KATM and KEFJ included butter and softshell clams, Baltic macomas, and foolish mussels. Potential target species common in KATM and LACL included razor, surf, and softshell clams and Baltic macomas. Among the three parks surveyed in the last two years, KATM exhibited the highest diversity in habitats and bivalve assemblages. Moreover, foraging by “charismatic” predators, i.e., species such as sea otters and brown bears that are especially appealing to humans, was more intense than in KEFJ and LACL.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Lees, Dennis; Driskell, William
- Date of Issue
- 2006-01
- Units
- KATM , KEFJ , LACL , SWAN
- Keywords
- Alaska razor clam, Arctic hiatella, Arctic surf clam, Baltic macoma, Bivalve, butte clam, false softshell clam, foolish mussel, Hiatella arctica, Infauna, Intertidal, Inventory, Katmai National Park And Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Lake Clark National Park And Preserve, Macoma balthica, Macoma golikovi, Mactromeris polynyma, Mya arenaria, Mya pseudoarenaria, Mytilus trossulus, oval Macoma, Pacific razor clam, Saxidomus giganteus, Siliqua alta, Siliqua patula, softshell clam, Southwest Alaska Network