How well are we protecting common plants and animals?
Gap Analysis is the science of answering this question. Developing the data and tools to
support that science is the mission of the USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP).
The Condor 97:233-255 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1995
Abstract. Phylogenetic relationships of modem seaducks (Me&i) were investigated
using a cladistic analysis of 137 morphological characters. The analysis produced a single
tree (consistency index = 0.692, excluding autapomorphies) with complete resolution of the
relationships among the 25 taxa recognized. Phylogenetic inferences include: (1) the eiders
(Polysticta and Somateria) constitute a monophyletic group and are the sister-group of other
Generally, black scoters breed near shallow tundra lakes in Alaska, or tundra and taiga (boreal forest) lakes in eastern Canada. They winter in near-shore marine and estuarine areas, and to a lesser extent in the Great Lakes.
As with other sea ducks, black scoters are believed to reach sexual maturity when they are two or three years old.The diet of black scoters at sea is predominantly mollusks (e.g., mussels and clams), but also crustaceans (e.g., snails, periwinkles), limpets, barnacles, and vegetation.
Eleven out of 15 species of sea ducks appear to have declining populations within some portion of their range (exceptions are common goldeneyes, buffleheads, red-breasted mergansers and common mergansers). Furthermore, two species (Steller's eider and spectacled eider) are listed as threatened. Thus, waterfowl managers need current, science-based models to establish sustainable harvest strategies for sea ducks, and they need it now.
Bird conservation plans are organized by taxa, with comprehensive 'all birds' conservation plans now available in a number of BCRs. Landbird conservation plans in the west were done by state, whereas those in the rest of the country were done by Partners in Flight (PIF) physiographic area. Shorebird plans were done by shorebird planning regions, which generally represent amalgams of BCRs. Waterbird plans were done by waterbird conservation planning regions, which also represent amalgams of BCRs. Waterfowl plans were done by joint venture area based on waterfowl areas of importance.
This map has been cooperatively put together with agreement by the same signer countries of the Migratory Bird Treaty. A standardized system of ecoregion will assist resource management to collaborate seamlessly between countries of migrating birds. An indepth description of each of these regions has been updated as of April 2011.
This map of ecoregions has been produced for Alaska as a framework for organizing and interpreting environmental data for State, national, and international level inventory, monitoring, and research efforts. The map and descriptions for 20 ecological regions were derived by synthesizing information on the geographic distribution of environmental factors such as climate, physiography, geology, permafrost, soils, and vegetation. A qualitative assessment was used to interpret the distributional patterns and relative importance of these factors from place to place (Gallant and others, 1995).
Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components. These general purpose regions are critical for structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across federal agencies, state agencies, and nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same geographical areas.
Conservation needs in Alaska and across the nation require an unprecedented
collaborative effort that links science and conservation with the combined
capacities of many conservation partners. Landscape Conservation
Cooperatives (LCCs) are self-directed partnerships that provide science
support for conservation actions that address landscape-level challenges or
stressors such as climate change. The Northwestern Interior Forest LCC is
one of 21 LCCs identified nationally to complete a network approach of
The Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperative (ABSI -LCC) is one of 21 Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) identified nationally to complete a network of LCCs across the nation. The LCC concept was formed as land and resource managers recognized that dealing with the potential effects from climate change will require a stronger level of collaboration. They are designed to provide connections between researchers and managers seeking to address large landscape and seascape concerns.