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July 14, 2016

Early spring at Tutakoke River field camp

Early spring at Tutakoke River field camp in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Researchers from Utah State University are studying how the phenology of sub-Arctic tundra plants and the seasonal arrival of migratory Pacific black brants affects ecosystem functioning at the camp.

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For this U.S. National Science Foundation-supported Arctic research project, led by Karen Beard of Utah State University, researchers are studying how a warming Arctic is affecting the relationships between migratory animals -- specifically, the Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans), a species of wild goose -- and the annual cycle of the forage they rely on for energy, nutrition and rearing of young. The researchers want to know how climate change is affecting the arrival time of the geese and the start of the growing season in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

[Research supported by NSF grant PLR 1304879 through the Arctic Systems Science program.] (Date image taken: 2014-2015; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: July 14, 2016)

Credit: Ryan Choi, Utah State University

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