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.