WH A T W E H A V E L E A R N E D
The waters surrounding Alaska are warming. Sea ice is thinning. Open water lasts longer. How is the ecosystem responding to these changes? What might the consequences be for Alaska commu- nities, especially with respect to food security? Such observations and questions led to the Arctic Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (Arctic IERP www.nprb.org/arctic-program). The program has focused on building a better understanding of how physical changes in the ocean influence the flow of energy through the marine food web in the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, and western Beaufort Sea. Since the program began in 2016, change has become even more rapid. The research leverages previous studies and collaborations with ongoing Arctic research and includes Arctic residents who contribute traditional and Indigenous knowledge to improve our understanding of how changes in sea ice and oceanography affect plankton, fishes, benthic invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, and coastal communities.
1
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator