Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008 Changes in sea ice conditions have direct bearing on ice-associated species such as Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which are an important component of subsistence for Alaska Native communities in the Bering Sea. I explore the r...
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/8995 2023-05-15T15:43:59+02:00 Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship Robards, Martin D. Chapin, F. Stuart III Schweitzer, Peter P. Burns, John J. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Lovecraft, Amy L. 2008 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8995 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8995 Department of Biology and Wildlife Biological oceanography Environmental science Native American studies Dissertation phd 2008 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:37:11Z Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008 Changes in sea ice conditions have direct bearing on ice-associated species such as Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which are an important component of subsistence for Alaska Native communities in the Bering Sea. I explore the relationship between walrus, sea ice, and Alaska Native subsistence at Diomede, Gambell, and Savoonga between 1952 and 2004 to better understand walrus ecology and subsistence under different climatic regimes. I then consider how the inability to reliably and regularly count walrus and other ice-associated pinnipeds in this dynamic environment challenges effective management of walrus and subsistence under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). However, the primary management goals of the MMPA, which are intended to be ecosystem-based, have been bypassed in favor of a numerical population assessment approach. Governance approaches such as adaptive co-management, using a suite of ecological and population indicators have theoretical promise for making management responsive to both observed ecosystem and population changes. Nevertheless, understanding outcomes of co-management has proven difficult. To address this, I argue that such an understanding requires not only a review of a statute's ecosystem-oriented goals, but also a critical consideration of the specific goals of each co-management partner. To sustain natural resources, mismatches between the scale of ecological processes regulating resources, and the social or political processes governing resource use should logically be reduced, thus improving what is termed "fit." I argue that failures to foster fit of these processes might better reflect underlying co-management partner goals, rather than a focus on the statutory goals of policy. I examine this claim by assessing the spatial and temporal "fit" of boundaries defining the political context of walrus co-management under the MMPA. I find that the ability to address the uncertainty of walrus population ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Bering Sea Odobenus rosmarus Savoonga Sea ice Alaska walrus* University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA Bering Sea Fairbanks Pacific |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
op_collection_id |
ftunivalaska |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Biological oceanography Environmental science Native American studies |
spellingShingle |
Biological oceanography Environmental science Native American studies Robards, Martin D. Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
topic_facet |
Biological oceanography Environmental science Native American studies |
description |
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008 Changes in sea ice conditions have direct bearing on ice-associated species such as Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which are an important component of subsistence for Alaska Native communities in the Bering Sea. I explore the relationship between walrus, sea ice, and Alaska Native subsistence at Diomede, Gambell, and Savoonga between 1952 and 2004 to better understand walrus ecology and subsistence under different climatic regimes. I then consider how the inability to reliably and regularly count walrus and other ice-associated pinnipeds in this dynamic environment challenges effective management of walrus and subsistence under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). However, the primary management goals of the MMPA, which are intended to be ecosystem-based, have been bypassed in favor of a numerical population assessment approach. Governance approaches such as adaptive co-management, using a suite of ecological and population indicators have theoretical promise for making management responsive to both observed ecosystem and population changes. Nevertheless, understanding outcomes of co-management has proven difficult. To address this, I argue that such an understanding requires not only a review of a statute's ecosystem-oriented goals, but also a critical consideration of the specific goals of each co-management partner. To sustain natural resources, mismatches between the scale of ecological processes regulating resources, and the social or political processes governing resource use should logically be reduced, thus improving what is termed "fit." I argue that failures to foster fit of these processes might better reflect underlying co-management partner goals, rather than a focus on the statutory goals of policy. I examine this claim by assessing the spatial and temporal "fit" of boundaries defining the political context of walrus co-management under the MMPA. I find that the ability to address the uncertainty of walrus population ... |
author2 |
Chapin, F. Stuart III Schweitzer, Peter P. Burns, John J. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Lovecraft, Amy L. |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Robards, Martin D. |
author_facet |
Robards, Martin D. |
author_sort |
Robards, Martin D. |
title |
Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
title_short |
Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
title_full |
Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
title_fullStr |
Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
title_full_unstemmed |
Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship |
title_sort |
perspectives on the dynamic human-walrus relationship |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8995 |
geographic |
Bering Sea Fairbanks Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Bering Sea Fairbanks Pacific |
genre |
Bering Sea Odobenus rosmarus Savoonga Sea ice Alaska walrus* |
genre_facet |
Bering Sea Odobenus rosmarus Savoonga Sea ice Alaska walrus* |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8995 Department of Biology and Wildlife |
_version_ |
1766378203878785024 |