Author Description

As part of a program to develop a long-term monitoring program in the national parks comprising SWAN, we examined soft sediments on beaches in Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LACL) in 2004 and Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM) during 2005. The objective of this reconnaissance survey was to assess species composition and distribution of the infauna, obtain information that will be used to design the sampling program and select species for long-term monitoring, and make recommendations on how that program should be structured. Although samples were collected to provide insight into the microinfauna, the focus of the program was on several larger (macrofaunal) bivalves used for prey by important predators in SWAN (esp. brown bears (Ursus arctos), sea otters (Enhydra lutris), and diving ducks (e.g., Melanitta spp., Histrionicus histrionicus, and Clangula hyemalis)).