Summer 2016 Research Assistants (2)
Study Title: Climate altered terrestrial carbon and nutrient flux to the aquatic foodweb from increased depth of permafrost
thaw, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Northwest Alaska.
Study Location: Kotzebue, Northwest AK; field work in the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge; several short field visits on
separate funded but similar project, Noatak National Preserve, Northwest AK.
Funding Source: Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University
Education Preferences: Recent graduate or well-qualified upper division undergraduate in aquatic
physical (hydrology) and/or biological science; second position in biological sciences and/or soils with field experience
Dates of Employment: June 2016 through August 2016; may be extended one month.
Remuneration: $15 / hr, $15 / day per diem; housing and travel expenses provided.
Primary Field Activities: The Selawik NWR (selawik@fws.gov) is about the size of Connecticut. The refuge is part of a
system of wetlands, streams, and rivers that includes >20,000 tundra ponds/lakes. The Selawik NWR provides essential
habitat for much of the region’s wildlife including waterfowl, shorebirds, marine mammals, and subsistence fisheries. The
upper Selawik River provides critical spawning habitat for Selawik sheefish; the entire life cycle of this endemic population
of estuarine anadromous fish occurs within the area. Fisheries also include broad and humpback whitefish, least cisco,
northern pike, burbot, Arctic grayling, and chum salmon. Vegetation change and permafrost melt will likely alter
ecosystem nutrient availability and timing, while temperature and precipitation changes can transform biotic communities.
Coastal storms and sea level rise could result in brackish water intrusion into freshwater which would alter the composition
and productivity of this vast ecosystem.
Terrestrial-aquatic linkages provide most of the nutrients and a significant fraction of energy to the base of the aquatic
foodweb. The focus of this new two-year study is to determine the source and quality of soil water and trace gas efflux with
increased depth of thaw in permafrost using natural isotope abundance; and quantify the flux of solutes and dissolved
organics in soil water reaching the aquatic ecosystem. The study will address the following objectives:
1. Refine our understanding of terrestrial-aquatic linkages and within aquatic components using natural abundance isotopes
of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon.
2. Quantify seasonal increase in permafrost depth of thaw, concurrent change in soil and surface water quality and trace gas
flux
3. Install and download a network of aquatic sondes; other water level, conductivity, Cyclops sensors
4. Routine water sampling for inorganic and organic chemistry at existing stations
5. Preparation of soil, trace gas, water samples for inorganic and organic analysis at Michigan Tech.
6. Prepare soil, soil and river water samples, and soil trace gas samples for natural isotope abundance analysis at UC Davis.
A permanent and long-term resident/employee of the Selawik NWR will provide boat travel, and has substantial knowledge
of the Selawik River watershed.
Context: This is the 5th year of studies in the Selawik River and tundra ponds, annual reports are available; and the 26th
year of continuous study in the Asik watershed, a brief description of Asik study/publications is at www.nwss.mtu.edu/sites.
Contact: Robert Stottlemyer (rstottle@earthlink.net)