Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Western Arctic Marine Fish Museum Records, New Collections, Taxonomic Studies, and Atlas  (Arctic Marine Fishes)

Outline
This project focuses on establishing the current and historical baseline for western Arctic marine fishes through research in museums to accumulate reliable records of occurrence, taxonomic studies to resolve problems affecting accurate identification of Arctic fishes, and participation in expeditions to collect new samples. This baseline is needed in order to assess climate change effects on the fauna. Many Arctic fish species are taxonomically problematic; museum collections contain numerous specimens needing identification, or examination to confirm or correct existing identifications; literature accounts of geographic range demonstrate the inadequacy of our knowledge by their inconsistencies, and sampling in the western Arctic has been incomplete and sporadic. One use for the records we accumulate will be an atlas with GIS-generated "dot" range maps, brief species accounts, summaries of continuing taxonomic problems, literature references, and photographs. The emphasis for the photographs will be on live and fresh specimens, to enhance our knowledge of coloration which for many species was described from faded, preserved specimens. We anticipate that the atlas will be available online from the Arctic Ocean Diversity (ArcOD) office of the Census of Marine Life (CoML), University of Alaska Fairbanks. The database of confirmed museum records will also be available via the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). We started the database from records accumulated during research for the monograph Fishes of Alaska (Mecklenburg et al., 2002, American Fisheries Society). The database grew and focused on the Arctic under the Russian-American Long-Term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) program of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Database expansion and museum research continue with ArcOD and other funding, and we plan a concerted effort in the IPY timeframe for essentially completing the database and web-based atlas.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Creation of current and historical Arctic marine fish baseline which may be used to assess effects of climate change on the distribution of fishes (Themes 1, 2). Intensified research into taxonomic problems using traditional morphological methods as well as collection of tissue samples for molecular genetics analysis; such research is basic to determining the present status of Arctic fish diversity (1). Filling gaps in knowledge of geographic ranges of Arctic fishes and discovery of species new to the Arctic through participation in expeditions, especially those reaching into unsampled or rarely sampled regions, including the great depths, of the Arctic (4).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The primary collaborators at present are U.S. and Russian scientists. The work in museums with Arctic collections will require the cooperation of curators and collection managers from many countries, some of whom may become more involved as collaborators as the geographic area covered expands to the Atlantic Arctic from the current focus on the Pacific Arctic.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
New sampling and collecting will be accomplished through participation in and cooperation with expeditions under other projects focusing on the western Arctic: Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, northern Bering, and Beaufort seas, across Canadian Arctic to west coast of Greenland and Atlantic coast of Newfoundland; including the high Arctic and extending from coastal to deep basin waters.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 10/07      04/08 – 10/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No significant logistic support/facilities will be required, but to support taxonomic studies and increase accuracy of identifications a digital-imaging x-ray machine is needed on the Juneau or Fairbanks campus of the University of Alaska. Without radiographs, it is difficult or impossible to make significant progress in taxonomic research on fishes. Other IPY projects, such as on mammals or birds, could benefit; images can be shared electronically.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The database and atlas will provide a foundation against which to study changes in Arctic marine fish distributions in future years. The database can evolve indefinitely through addition of records from future explorations, and can be used periodically to update the atlas. The database itself will be a valuable reference and research tool. Entry of data into the database will make museum records available electronically which currently exist only in paper form.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - The project is endorsed by the CoML through ArcOD.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

The database was started several years ago. It needs to be expanded, with a concerted effort in the IPY timeframe. The web-based atlas part of the proposal is new.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Catherine Mecklenburg will coordinate with collaborators to set milestones for meeting project objectives. Both Mecklenburgs will manage the data obtained, including museum records, photographs, and bibliography, to prepare it for transfer to ArcOD. We will meet early in 2006 and as necessary thereafter with ArcOD and information transfer personnel at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to discuss implementation of objectives and timeframe.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The atlas will be a product for education as well as a research tool. We will give seminars at the University of Alaska Southeast, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, as well as presentations at annual meetings including the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Gilbert Ichthyological Society, and American Fisheries Society. We will contribute to specific ArcOD outreach coordinated through the ArcOD office.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be made available through the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) of CoML.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We seek funding from U.S. and Russian agencies and programs such as CoML; NOAA, including RUSALCA; and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Other ongoing projects, such as participation in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service marine refuge surveys, taxonomic research funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, and research for taxonomic checklists for the California Academy of Sciences, will help support the project.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The study area currently extends from the Laptev Sea side of the Taymyr Peninsula to the west Coast of Greenland and Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, including the adjacent High Arctic and Canadian Basin. The area can be expanded to the entire Arctic with enough funding and additional collaborators. Restricted to the western Arctic or not, the database would benefit from addition of records from other IPY researchers who may wish to contribute. These and other refinements will continue through 2010, coinciding with the last year of CoML

PROPOSER DETAILS

Catherine W. Mecklenburg
Point Stephens Research
P.O. Box 210307
Auke Bay, Alaska
99821
USA

Tel: (907) 789-7603
Mobile: no
Fax: (907) 789-7693
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation