METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION 



As previously described in APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY, terrestrial data 

 were collected at all 25 study sites, with individual site visits occur- 

 ring either during the summer of 1976, 1977, or 1978. Standard procedures 

 were used to collect field data on flora, soils, birds, and mammals. 



Site locations are identified on Figure I. Sites occurred on the Seward 

 Peninsula, North Slope (in both the coastal plain and Arctic foothills). 

 Northern Interior (between the Brooks Mountain Range and Yukon River), and 

 Southern Interior (between the Alaska Mountain Range and the Yukon River). 

 One study site, selected as being most representative with respect to river 

 type and biological conditions in each regional study area, was sampled 

 during a 5-day visit. We attempted to coincide this visit with the peak of 

 the avian nesting season. All other sites were surveyed during a 3-day 

 visit. Within each region, the 3-day visits were spaced throughout the 

 spring, summer, and fall to measure seasonal fluctuations in species compo- 

 sition and abundance. 



The selected approach to meet the objectives of this project was to 

 document the presence and establish the habitat relationships of the flora 

 and fauna of the disturbed area and compare these to pred isturbance flora 

 and fauna populations and habitat affinities. A control area which was most 

 representative with respect to physical site characteristics (i.e., inside 

 or outside meander) and habitat characteristics (i.e., dense riparian shrub 

 thickets, or unvegetated f I oodp I a i n ) was selected to establish pre-gravel 

 removal biological conditions and flora-fauna relationships. In addition, 

 surveys were conducted in floristic serai stages representative of the 

 disturbed area during the time of the field visit, and in serai stages 

 representative of anticipated future disturbed-area vegetative development. 



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