142 
1971-72 a deliberate trapping program was con- 
ducted around Prudhoe Bay to reduce the popu- 
lations of arctic fox (W. Hanson, pers. comm.). 
Perhaps this reduction of canid predators facili- 
tated the increase in collared lemmings found in 
the summer of 1972. 
The impact of several years of human activ- 
ity in the area on the populations of microtine 
rodents remains to be determined. It is conceiv- 
able that the elevated road systems, which facil- 
itate field studies, have modified drainage pat- 
terns and altered the habitat conditions. Assess- 
ment of the significance of this disruption to the 
reproductive success and survival of local popu- 
lations requires further studies both near Prud- 
hoe Bay and in areas of the coastal tundra yet 
undisturbed by man. 
Conclusion 
The impact of the lemmings at Prudhoe Bay 
on the net primary production and upon the 
integrity of the tundra habitat would appear to 
be very small compared to that of lemmings at 
Barrow if the population numbers of these small 
herbivores normally remain as low as found in 
1971 and 1972. 
Acknowledgments 
This research was supported by the National 
Science Foundation under Grant GV 29342 to 
the University of Alaska. it was performed 
under joint sponsorship of the International 
Biological Program and the Office of Polar Pro- 
grams and was directed by the U.S. Tundra 
Biome. Logistic support at Prudhoe Bay was 
made available through a grant to the Tundra 
Biome Center, University of Alaska from the 
Prudhoe Bay Environmental Subcommittee. | 
am grateful to the late Scott Parrish for his 
assistance in logistics as site coordinator at Prud- 
hoe Bay. | would like to thank Wayne Couture 
and Thomas Lahey for able field assistance, and 
Dr. Stephen F. MacLean, Jr. for helpful com- 
ments. 
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