Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Alaska
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems are amplified in high-latitude regions, however, due to the remote location of Arctic Alaska climate data are limited. Predictions have indicated that warming temperatures owing to climate change could increase fish growth, but the magnitude and factors influencing these changes remain uncertain. This project was a collaboration between the University of Alaska Fairbanks, USGS Alaska Science Center, and the Bureau of Land Management. This study demonstrated the utility of biochronology techniques to estimate past climate patterns in remote regions, as well as provided valuable knowledge regarding growth-environment relationships for Lake Trout. In turn, this information can be used to better understand the effects of a changing environment in sensitive Arctic lake ecosystems.