Session: : Ecology-Related Research Projects in Public Lands: Critical Resource Management and Career Advancement
INS 13-6 - SIP Ecology Intern for Central Alaska Network (CAKN) Streams Monitoring Program identifies long-term trends in stream temperatures in National Parks across central Alaska
Aquatic Ecologist Central Alaska Network, National Park Service Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Stream temperature plays a vital role in stream ecology, but little is known about how temperatures have changed across Alaska’s central parks. Recording of continuous stream temperature data at sites across the CAKN began in 2008 as a part of the Stream Monitoring Program. An internship initially designed to provide quality control and organization of the data provided an opportunity to analyze 15 stream sites across the network. Non-parametric trend analysis revealed statistically significant trends in 14 out of 15 stream sites. Further analysis was completed to identify climatic factors that may be driving stream temperature changes over time.
