Why So Many Fish in Alaska?Why So Many Fish in Alaska?~ 60-65% of US Food Fish are Landed in Alaska WHY?

1. Alaska is Surrounded by Oceans

a. Oceanographic Currents

b. Ice Edge Considerations

2. Alaska’s Shoreline & Continental Shelf

3. Geological Nutrient Input into Alaskan Waters

a. Loess - Windborne Dusts

b. Suspended Sediments in Rivers

c. Volcanic Ash

4. Climate Controlled Nutrient Input

~ 60-65% of US Food Fish are Landed in Alaska WHY?

1. Alaska is Surrounded by Oceans

a. Oceanographic Currents

b. Ice Edge Considerations

2. Alaska’s Shoreline & Continental Shelf

3. Geological Nutrient Input into Alaskan Waters

a. Loess - Windborne Dusts

b. Suspended Sediments in Rivers

c. Volcanic Ash

4. Climate Controlled Nutrient Input

Volcanic NutrientsVolcanic Nutrients

Ecology of Boreal & Subarctic Waters IEcology of Boreal & Subarctic Waters I

1. Define Ecosystem Health: Temperate & Tropical

Systems - Definition is Species Diversity

2. Evolutionary Divisions in T&T Communities

- Speciation by Niche Specialization

3. In T&T Communities: Nearest Neighbor

Distance - Meters to Tens of Meters

1. Define Ecosystem Health: Temperate & Tropical

Systems - Definition is Species Diversity

2. Evolutionary Divisions in T&T Communities

- Speciation by Niche Specialization

3. In T&T Communities: Nearest Neighbor

Distance - Meters to Tens of Meters

Specialists Versus GeneralistsSpecialists Versus Generalists

1. Specialists

a. Allows Escape from Direct Competition

b. More Efficient - Greater Degree Fine Tuning

c. Less Evolutionarily Flexible

2. Generalists

a. Less Efficient - Tuned to Different Seasons

b. Greater Exposure to Direct Competition

c. Greater Evolutionary Flexibility

1. Specialists

a. Allows Escape from Direct Competition

b. More Efficient - Greater Degree Fine Tuning

c. Less Evolutionarily Flexible

2. Generalists

a. Less Efficient - Tuned to Different Seasons

b. Greater Exposure to Direct Competition

c. Greater Evolutionary Flexibility

SpecialistSpecialist

GeneralistGeneralist

Ecology Boreal & Subarctic Waters IIEcology Boreal & Subarctic Waters II

1. Ecosystem Health in Boreal & Subarctic Waters

- Defined Not by Species Diversity

2. Evolutionary Divisions B&SA Communities

- Generalists Predominate - Seasonal Differences

3. B&SA Communities Nearest Neighbor Distance

- Monocultures Covering Vast Areas

1. Ecosystem Health in Boreal & Subarctic Waters

- Defined Not by Species Diversity

2. Evolutionary Divisions B&SA Communities

- Generalists Predominate - Seasonal Differences

3. B&SA Communities Nearest Neighbor Distance

- Monocultures Covering Vast Areas

Boreal & Subarctic SpeciesBoreal & Subarctic Species

1. Ongoing Biological Research

a. Cold Adaptation

b. Reproductive Ecology

c. Census of Marine Life

2. Needed Research

a. B&SA Community Ecology

b. Winter Physiology

c. Stress, Disease & Monocultures

1. Ongoing Biological Research

a. Cold Adaptation

b. Reproductive Ecology

c. Census of Marine Life

2. Needed Research

a. B&SA Community Ecology

b. Winter Physiology

c. Stress, Disease & Monocultures

Boreal & Subarctic Ecology: Bottom LineBoreal & Subarctic Ecology: Bottom Line

1. Use Caution When Attempting to Apply Ecological Principles Derived from T&T

2. Estimations of Over-Fishing Cannot Be Based On Comparisons with T&T Populations

3. Generalist Physiological Parameters Can Be Markedly Different from Niche Specialists

4. Boreal & Subarctic Waters can be Distinct in Their Ecology Compared with T&T

5. Caution: Potential Cryptic Sister Species: Cucumaria lubrica C. vegae assemblage.

1. Use Caution When Attempting to Apply Ecological Principles Derived from T&T

2. Estimations of Over-Fishing Cannot Be Based On Comparisons with T&T Populations

3. Generalist Physiological Parameters Can Be Markedly Different from Niche Specialists

4. Boreal & Subarctic Waters can be Distinct in Their Ecology Compared with T&T

5. Caution: Potential Cryptic Sister Species: Cucumaria lubrica C. vegae assemblage.

Why So Many Fish In Alaska?Why So Many Fish In Alaska?

1. Area of Continental Shelf1. Area of Continental Shelf2. Length of Coastline2. Length of Coastline3. State’s Land Area3. State’s Land Area4. Number of Unpolluted Rivers4. Number of Unpolluted Rivers5. Boreal and Subarctic Waters5. Boreal and Subarctic Waters6. Extremes in Sunlight6. Extremes in Sunlight7. Ample Nutrients7. Ample Nutrients8. Huge Algal Blooms8. Huge Algal Blooms9. Excellent Management9. Excellent Management

Human Migrations into North AmericaHuman Migrations into North America

Clovis Culture ~12,000 bp

Probably Multiple Migrations

Concept of Bering Land Bridge - Land Migrations

Ice Free Corridor

Coastal Migrations Some Newer Evidence

Most Likely Sites Now Underwater

Clovis Culture ~12,000 bp

Probably Multiple Migrations

Concept of Bering Land Bridge - Land Migrations

Ice Free Corridor

Coastal Migrations Some Newer Evidence

Most Likely Sites Now Underwater

Bering Land BridgeBering Land Bridge

Bering Land Bridge 16,200 ybpBering Land Bridge 16,200 ybp

Beringia & Human MigrationBeringia & Human Migration

Beringia 15,000 ybpBeringia 15,000 ybp

Linguistic vs DNA DataLinguistic vs DNA Data

DNA Evidence Shows Not all Speakers share same DNA

Evidence of Multiple Migrations Many after 10,000 ybp

Bering Land Bridge Flooded 10,000 ybp

Close Affinity with Siberians

Newer Groups Moved Further South Tlinket & Haida among most recent

DNA Evidence Shows Not all Speakers share same DNA

Evidence of Multiple Migrations Many after 10,000 ybp

Bering Land Bridge Flooded 10,000 ybp

Close Affinity with Siberians

Newer Groups Moved Further South Tlinket & Haida among most recent

Alaskan Native Language MapAlaskan Native Language Map

Hunting Sea MammalsHunting Sea Mammals

Age Classes IAge Classes I

Yupik Fishing TechnologyYupik Fishing Technology

Closed Inupiat Stone Fish TrapClosed Inupiat Stone Fish Trap

Open Inupiat Stone Fish TrapOpen Inupiat Stone Fish Trap

Archaeological Dig SW AlaskaArchaeological Dig SW Alaska

Ancient Fish SpearsAncient Fish Spears

Ancient Barbed SpearsAncient Barbed Spears

Ancient Harpoon TipsAncient Harpoon Tips

Reconstructed Halibut HookReconstructed Halibut Hook