Clam communities in southeast Alaska (clam density and size) along a gradient of human and sea otter predation.

• Main Author: Sonia N. Ibarra
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity 2018
• Subjects: clams, subsistence, Southeast Alaska, sea otters, predation, clam size.; Enhydra lutris; Saxidomus giganteus; Clinocardium nutallii; Protothaca staminea; Macoma inquinata; Macoma nasuta; Tresus nuttallii; Mya truncata; Gari californica; Giganteus; Prince of Wales Island; Alaska
• Online Access: https://search.dataone.org/view/knb.92333.1

Intertidal clam community data were collected during summer 2015-2017 (May-August). Data were collected on western Prince of Wales Alaska and western Kupreanff Island, at 54 sites near the rural predominately-indigenous communities of Kake, and Hydaburg, Alaska. At each site, the coordinates, sampling date, and categorical descriptions of human and sea otter predation of clams were assigned using local and traditional knowledge. At each site, one 100 m x 1m transect was laid horizontally along a shoreline, and 10 quadrats laid out at random locations along the transect to collect live clam data (density, size, and species observed). At each site, one 50m x 1 m transect was laid horizontally along a shoreline and overlapped live clam survey area. Clam shells (litter) were collected along the 50m x 1m transect and were also measured, identified to species, and cause of death identified. Pits created by predators were also counted along this transect. Data types from 100m x 1m transects (live clam surveys) include: clam size and density, clam identification to lowest taxonomic order, and primary and secondary substrate characterization. Data types from 50m x 1m transects (shell litter surveys) include: clam shell size, clam shell cause of death, and total predator pit count at each site. The purpose of these data was to characterize clam communities so that analysis of trophic interactions could be assessed along a gradient of sea otter and human harvest of clams for an NSF-funded project: Apex Predators, Ecosystems, and Community Sustainability (APECS, http://apecs-ak.org/).