Alaska's Copper River: humankind in a changing world.

Abstract

Opportunities for natural and social science research were assessed in the Copper River ecosystem including long-term, integrated studies of ecosystem structure and function. The ecosystem is one where change, often rapid, cataclysmic change, is the rule rather than the exception. The ecosystem also contains a variety of people pursuing various human purposes. Although few people dwell in the ecosystem, their signatures are evident in many ways, and their numbers and effects are increasing. Thus, the Copper River ecosystem presents the opportunity to "watch creation," in the sense of both natural change and human influence. A multidisciplinary group of 16 scientists and specialists with a wide range of experience in natural resource science and education defined the Copper River ecosystem in scientific terms and described dimensions of the ecosystem including vegetation, wildlife, land ownership, and human occupation. Opportunities for science are described followed by recommendations. A section on "Knowledge as a Management Goal" also is included.

Citation

Christensen, Harriet H.; Mastrantonio, J. Louise; Gordon, John C.; Bormann, Bernard T., tech. eds. 2000. Alaska''s Copper River: humankind in a changing world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-480. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 20 p