Kenai National Wildlife Refuge: Dall sheep response to fire: vegetation surveys

Matthew Bowser; Colin Canterbury; Ryan Chen; Nathan Davis; Kennedy Farmer; Sarah Grigsby; Kristian Merrell; Jackie Morton; Jaylin Solberg; Stephen Strack

doi:10.15468/fucrpb

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge: Dall sheep response to fire: vegetation surveys

Citation

Bowser M, Canterbury C, Chen R, Davis N, Farmer K, Grigsby S, Merrell K, Morton J, Solberg J, Strack S (2024). Kenai National Wildlife Refuge: Dall sheep response to fire: vegetation surveys. Version 1.6. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/fucrpb accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-01-14.

Description

Populations of Dall sheep (Ovis dalli) have been declining in the Chugach Range, Alaska since the 1990s (Herreman, 2018; Lohuis et al., 2018), which these authors attributed at least in part to climate-driven changes in habitat. Past research suggests that fire can increase the carrying capacity of habitat for Dall sheep (see citations listed by Herreman, 2018). To learn more specifically how fire affects Dall sheep in the Kenai Mountains, we conducted a habitat use-availability study within and near the 2019 Swan Lake Fire Burn on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. This dataset includes occurrences of plants documented as part of this project.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Our sampling area included a system of ridges where the Mystery Hills to Round Mountain made up its southern and western extent and the ridges immediately north and east of Dike Creek made up its northern and eastern extent.

Sampling

At each sampling site we followed the 100 m2 circular plot and point intercept protocols of Morton et al. (2006) with some additions: We estimated the percentage of each 100 m2 circular plot that had burned and we indicated whether each site had been chosen randomly or because Dall sheep had been observed using the site. We also photographed the plot from the ends of each 10 m transect toward plot center instead of the pair of photographs taken from south of plot center described by Morton et al. (2006).

Quality Control

Data sheets were checked in the field to make sure that point intercept tallies were within acceptable bounds. After data were entered into spreadsheets, these data were checked using a Quarto script (Bowser, 2024a) and corrections were made.

Method steps

We hiked to pre-determined plot coordinates of both randomly-selected sites and feeding sites. At each plot we set a pin at plot center, then we stretched one tape from 10 m south of plot center to 10 m north of plot center and another tape from 10 m east of plot center to 10 m west of plot center. A 5.64 m radius, 100 m2 circular plot was marked by points at 4.36 m and 15.64 m along the tapes.
Using a standard datasheet (Bowser and Canterbury, 2023), we recorded whether a plot was a randomly selected site or a site where Dall sheep use had been recently documented. The percentage of the 100 m2 circular plot that had been burned in the 2019 Swan Lake Fire was estimated by eye. Plot coordinates were documented by GPS averaging.
We sampled vegetative cover within the first 2 m above ground using the modified point-intercept sampling technique described by Morton et al. (2006). Using an avalanche probe marked with 10 cm or 1 cm increments as a sampling pin, we proceeded along the right sides of tapes from 0 m to 20 m, skipping plot center at 10 m. We sampled at every 0.5 m interval for a total of 40 sampling points per tape and 80 points per plot. We further split each point into two strata: intercepts at 0 to 1 m above the ground surface and from 1 m to 2 m above the ground surface; potential intercepts above 2 m were ignored. Each plant taxon that touched the pin one or more times was recorded within each stratum at each point. Only one hit per stratum per point per taxon was recorded at each of the 80 sampling points. If no vegetation touched the sampling pin within stratum, then “no plants recorded” was tallied. Consequently, a minimum of 40 tallies were recorded per point and stratum. The number of tallies recorded could exceed this value considerably depending on species richness. We also recorded subrates at each point along the transects. Substrate categories were bare ground (including rocks < 13 mm in diameter or width), rock (> 13 mm in diameter or width), litter (including wood < 25 mm diameter), dead wood (> 25 mm diameter), water, snow/ice, ash/charcoal, and basal cover of live vegetation. Any live vegetation recorded as a substrate (as basal cover) was also recorded by species in the 0 to 1 m stratum. The total number of substrates recorded should always equal 40 per transect (80 per plot). From the ends of each transect we photographed the plot facing plot center.
We recorded all vascular plant species within 5.64 m (horizontal distance) of the plot center as described by Morton et al. (2006).
Plants that could not be identified with confidence in the field were collected and pressed for later examination. For identifications in the lab we used relevant keys and floras including Hultén (1968), Welsh (1974), Bayer (1993), Douglas et al. (1998), Collet (2002), Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2002), Bayer (2006), Skinner et al. (2012), and Murrell and Poindexter (2016).
Data from data sheets were entered by hand into tabular format (Bowser et al., 2024), and these were reformatted to Darwin Core format using a Quarto script (Bowser, 2024b).

Taxonomic Coverages

We primarily surveyed vascular plants, but some bryophytes and lichens were noted.

Fungi
rank: kingdom
Plantae
rank: kingdom

Geographic Coverages

Our study area was set in the Kenai Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

Bibliographic Citations

Bayer RJ (1993) A taxonomic revision of the genus Antennaria (Asteraceae: Inuleae: Gnaphaliinae) of Alaska and Yukon Territory, northwestern North America, Arctic and Alpine Research, 25(2), pp. 150–159. https://doi.org/10.2307/1551552 - https://doi.org/10.2307/1551552
Bayer RJ (2006) Antennaria Gaertner, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.) Flora of North America north of Mexico. Volume 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae (in part): Asteraceae, part 1. New York: Oxford University Press. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=101977 - http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=101977
Bowser ML (2023) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 2023 Dall sheep project sampling design. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175338 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175338
Bowser ML (2024a) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Dall sheep project, vegetation data checks. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175345 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175345
Bowser ML (2024b) Quarto script for exporting occurrence data from Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Dall sheep project, vegetation surveys 2023. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175408 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175408
Bowser ML & Canterbury C (2023) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 2023 Dall sheep project vegetation survey datasheet. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175348 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175348
Bowser ML, Canterbury C, Chen R, Davis N, Farmer K, Grigsby S, Merrell K, Morton J, Solberg J & Strack S (2024) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge: Dall sheep response to fire: Vegetation surveys - 2023 survey data, data sheets. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175351 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/175351
Collet DM (2002) Willows of Southcentral Alaska. Soldotna, Alaska: Kenai Watershed Forum. -
Douglas GW, Straley GB, Meidinger DV & Pojar J (eds.) (1998) Illustrated flora of British Columbia, volume 1: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons (Aceraceae through Asteraceae). Victoria, B.C.: B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,; B.C. Ministry of Forests. https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/mr/Mr100.pdf - https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/mr/Mr100.pdf
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.) (2002) Flora of North America north of Mexico. Volume 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. New York: Oxford University Press. -
Herreman JK (2018) Dall sheep management report and plan, Game Management Units 7 and 15: Report period 1 July 2011–30 June 2016, and plan period 1 July 2016–30 June 2021. Species Management Report and Plan ADF&G/DWC/SMR&P-2018-34. Juneau, Alaska: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/research/wildlife/speciesmanagementreports/pdfs/dallsheep_2011_2021_smr_gmu_7_15.pdf - https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/research/wildlife/speciesmanagementreports/pdfs/dallsheep_2011_2021_smr_gmu_7_15.pdf
Hultén E (1968) Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. -
Lohuis T, Smith K, Metherell L & Dial R (2018) Dall’s sheep population declines in Alaska’s Chugach Range may be related to climate and weather patterns, in Biennial Symposium of the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council. Whitefish, Montana: Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council, p. 76. http://media.nwsgc.org/proceedings/NWSGC-2018/Lohuis%20et%20al.%20abstract.pdf - http://media.nwsgc.org/proceedings/NWSGC-2018/Lohuis%20et%20al.%20abstract.pdf
Morton JM, Berg E, Bowser ML, Eskelin T, Jozwiak L, Laker M, Magness D & O’Brien L (2006) Long Term Ecological Monitoring Program: Interagency agreement, original proposal, and 2004 field protocols. Soldotna, Alaska: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/132198 - https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/132198
Murrell ZE & Poindexter DB (2016) Cornaceae Berchtold & J. Presl, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.) Flora of North America north of Mexico. Volume 12. Magnoliophyta: Vitaceae to Garryaceae. New York: Oxford University Press. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10219 - http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10219
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Contacts

Matthew Bowser
originator
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4879-3997

Colin Canterbury
originator
position: Biologist
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: colin_canterbury@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5160-1231

Ryan Chen
originator
position: Youth Conservation Corps Crew Member
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US

Nathan Davis
originator
position: Biological Technician
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: nathan_davis@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1475-3115

Kennedy Farmer
originator
position: Biological Intern
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: kennedy_farmer@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5498-6077

Sarah Grigsby
originator
position: Intern
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US

Kristian Merrell
originator
position: Biological Science Technician
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: kristian_merrell@fws.gov

Jackie Morton
originator
position: Biological Technician
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: jacqueline_morton@fws.gov

Jaylin Solberg
originator
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Office of Conservation Investment
Minneapolis
Minnesota
US
email: jaylin_solberg@fws.gov

Stephen Strack
originator
position: Senior Fire Fighter
USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: stephen_strack@fws.gov

Matthew Bowser
metadata author
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4879-3997

Matthew Bowser
administrative point of contact
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4879-3997

Kristine Inman
administrative point of contact
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Soldotna
99669
Alaska
US

administrative point of contact
position: Supervisory Biologist
PO Box 2139
email: kristine_inman@fws.gov