Pacific Northwest Laboratory Annual Report for 1978 to the DOE Assistant Secretary for Environment Part 2. Ecological Sciences.

• Main Authors: Hanson, W.C., Eberhardt, L.E.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Pacific Northwest Laboratory 1979
• Subjects: Research Programs; Beaufort Sea; 54 Environmental Sciences; Mammals; Pipelines; Years Living Radioisotopes 560305* > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology > Vertebrates > (-1987); Ruminants; Beta Decay Radioisotopes; Environmental Effects; 530200 > Environmental-Social Aspects Of Energy Technologies > Assessment Of Energy Technologies > (-1989); Cesium 137; 510100 > Environment; Terrestrial > Basic Studies > (-1989); Beta-Minus Decay Radioisotopes; Prudhoe Bay; Data; Algae; Radioactivity; Isotopes; Population Relocation; Baseline Ecology; Animals; Alaska; Fungi; North America; Odd-Even Nuclei; Nuclei; Energy Source Development; Surface Waters; Alkali Metal Isotopes; Lichens; Plants; Seas; 63 Radiation; Thermal; And Other Environ. Pollutant Effects On Living Orgs. And Biol. Mat; Ecology; Deer; Vertebrates; Soils; Data Compilation; Numerical Data; Radiation Monitoring; Birds; Monitoring; Tables; Population Dynamics; Information; Data Forms; Food Chains; Environmental Impacts; 510302 > Environment; Terrestrial > Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport > Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains > (-1987); 29 Energy Planning; Policy And Economy; Radioisotopes; Arctic Ocean; Pacific Northwest Region; Usa; Alaska Oil Pipeline; Cesium Isotopes; Arctic; Pacific; Alces alces; Alopex lagopus; Caribou Eskimo; eskimo*; Moose; Rangifer tarandus; Tundra
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/5791145; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1101241/

The objective of this research is to provide an integrated program of investigation for the definition of the ecological consequences of resource developments in northern Alaska. Qualitative and quantitative results are obtained that describe environmental costs incurred by petroleum resource extraction and transportation, including interaction of industrial activities with arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus), small mammals, and tundra-nesting birds in the Prudhoe Bay field and along the Trans-Alaska pipeline and haul road; similar information from the Colville River delta for comparative purposes; baseline information on moose (Alces alces) populations, caribou (Rangifer tarandus) range quality and use, and lichen communities that are or will be impacted by resource developments; field experiments to determine lichen sensitivities to sulfur oxide concentrations likely to be encountered near pipeline pumping stations; food chain transfers of stable and radioactive elements that utilize a data base of some 19 years for comparative purposes; and evaluation of oil field development activities on rabies and other physiological phenomena in foxes. A significant fraction of the research is coordinated through university contracts that utilize academic researchers in specific areas of expertise. During 1978 research continued to emphasize investigations on the ecological consequences of petroleum resource development in northern Alaska. Studies were conducted this year on arctic foxes, tundra-nesting birds, small mammals, caribou, lichens, and fallout radionuclides in the lichen-caribou-Eskimo food web.