Identify Vulnerable Populations of Dall’s Sheep in Alaska’s National Parks Using Climate Models

Project ID: P15AC01026

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Idaho

Fiscal Year: 2015

Initial Funding: $53,337

Total Funding: $102,864

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Alaska Region

Principal Investigator: Rachlow, Janet

Agreement Technical Representative: Mangipane, Buck

Abstract: This project will support a region-wide analysis of Dall’s sheep habitat at multiple scales and resolutions and will assess vulnerability of populations based on climate forecasts for national parks in Alaska developed by the Scenarios Network for Alaska Planning (SNAP)
combined with other ecological attributes such as connectivity and population size.
Objectives
Investigators from UJ and NPS staff will collaborate to accomplish the following specific objectives.
1. Model resource selection for Dall’s sheep within selected Alaska national parks using traditional and bioclimatic variables.
2. Use climatic models and resource selection data to assess Dall’s sheep response to projected changes in climate.
3. Determine the vulnerability of park sheep populations to predicted climate induced
habitat changes.