Yesterday snow, today mostly sunny and 54 degrees! These changes really explain why I packed such a variety of clothes. We loaded 100 cups in the truck along with some pruning saws and a gallon of ethanol, and drove a little less than 30 miles to the Atigun river valley. This is in the same area as our hike from June 10 http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/predatory-spiders-in-the-arctic-food-web/journals/2012-06-10 .
Atigun River Valley
While the site we will be studying at Atigun isn't terribly far away, it is located in a very geographically different area than the plots we study at Toolik. The Atigun plots are located in a valley with steep mountains on either side. This change is significant enough to cause snow to melt a few weeks earlier than at Toolik. In fact, our plot is located within view of a camera that takes pictures at regular intervals to monitor snow melt. We are interested in finding out if the longer growing season (caused by earlier snow melt) will lead to differences in the wolf spider population.
Two tundra geese flew over directly over our heads a few minutes after we arrived. These beautiful birds are pure white and so large that you can hear them fly. I imagined that it sounded like a pterodactyl flying overhead. It's not the most graceful flight, but the sheer size of these birds is quite impressive. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera ready in time.
We started by measuring out a 10 meter X 10 meter square grid, and set out flags in 1 meter intervals. Once the grid was laid out we began cutting small holes in the tundra in which we inserted urine sample cups. Being careful to make sure the cups were inconspicuous and flush with the ground, we poured a small amount of ethanol into the bottom of each cup. The idea is that any spider running by could fall into the cup and be preserved by the ethanol until we pick them up 24 hours later. This will allow us to measure spider density (number of spiders per meter), and even help us determine the wolf spider's place in the food web using a technique I'll explain in a future entry.
Amanda Koltz and Kiki Contreras measuring out a 10 meter X 10 meter grid for setting spider traps.
Setting out flags in 1 meter intervals to mark the location for setting pitfall traps.
A pitfall trap waiting for a spider.
Kiki Contreras and Amanda Koltz setting out pitfall traps near the Atigun River.
I had a chance to explore the river valley a little. I found a great pattern of tracks near the river, and spent a bit of time watching Arctic ground squirrels, also called sik siks after the sound they make. I did shoot some video footage that I'm planning to put online soon.
A curious Arctic Ground Squirrel, or sik sik, peaking up out of the tundra.
Unknown tracks on the bank of the Atigun River.
Our drive back and forth to Atigun from Toolik was delayed by road construction. Building and maintaining a road through the tundra requires some serious machinery, and delays can take 30 minutes or more. So we bring along books, eat lunch in the truck, or scan the hillsides for Dall sheep.
Even the gravel trucks are gigantic in Alaska!
Upon returning to Toolik, we set out for the field to set up pitfall traps in our mesocosms to begin a 3 day spider density survey. We'll check both sets of traps tomorrow, and set up another grid at Toolik in the morning.
That evening I thoroughly enjoyed all two minutes of my first official shower. Water conservation is critical since all waste water has to be pumped to Prudhoe Bay at a cost of roughly $1.25 per gallon. I took full advantage of the chance to clean up and even shaved off my goatee for the first time in a long time. I'm considering featuring a new facial hair style each week. Suggestions are welcome in the "Ask the Team" forum.