Adult Arctic Grayling were caught and tagged in the Kuparuk River. A second fishing campaign occurred later in the summer, and any fish that was recaptured was remeasured to determine growth. Phosphorus addition has occurred since 1983; station sites are relative distance from the original 1983 phosphorus dripper. Stations include sites in a reference, recovery, and fertilized reach. Reaches were defined based on the location of phosphorous addition (see methods). Arctic Grayling were caught early in the field season, tagged, and recaptured late in the field season.
Data Set Results
Since 1983, the Streams Project at the Toolik Field Station has monitored physical, chemical, and biological parameters in a 5-km, fourth-order reach of the Kuparuk River near its intersection with the Dalton Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. In 1989, similar studies were begun on a 3.5-km, third-order reach of a second stream, Oksrukuyik Creek. Fish were collected on each river. Station locations, representing kilomter values certain distances from original phosphorus dripper (see method) were noted.
Since 1983, the Streams Project at the Toolik Field Station has monitored physical, chemical, and biological parameters in a 5-km, fourth-order reach of the Kuparuk River near its intersection with the Dalton Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. In 1989, similar studies were begun on a 3.5-km, third-order reach of a second stream, Oksrukuyik Creek.
The Kuparuk River has been the central research location on the impact of added phosphorus to arctic streams. Additions of phosphorus occred since 1983. Today, 4 specific reaches show certain characteristics based on the years that they recieved fertilization. Whole Stream Metabolism is a way to quantify primary production of this stream system. Calculations were done using dissolved oxygen, discharge, stage, light and temperature measured by sondes and other equipment strategically deployed in the field at locations to quantify each of the unique stream reaches.