Bering Strait Region Research Articles

Tracking a large‐scale and highly toxic Arctic algal bloom: Rapid detection and risk communication

AbstractIn recent years, blooms of the neurotoxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella have been documented in Pacific Arctic waters, and the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) that this species produces have been detected throughout the food web. These observations have raised significant concerns about the role that harmful algal blooms (HABs) will play in a rapidly changing Arctic. During a research cruise in summer 2022, a massive bloom of A. catenella was detected in real time as it was advected through the Bering Strait region. The bloom was exceptional in both spatial scale and density, extending > 600 km latitudinally, reaching concentrations > 174,000 cells L−1, and producing high‐potency PST congeners. Throughout the event, coastal stakeholders in the region were engaged and a multi‐faceted community response was mobilized. This unprecedented bloom highlighted the urgent need for response capabilities to ensure safe utilization of critical marine resources in a region that has little experience with HABs.

Transformative Ecological and Human Impacts from Diminished Sea Ice in the Northern Bering Sea

Abstract Our goal is to tie climate-scale meteorology to regional physics and ecosystem changes and demonstrate a few resulting impacts to which regional peoples are having to respond in the Alaskan Bering Strait region. The sea ice loss events in the winters of 2017/18 and 2018/19 initiated a series of marine environmental, ecological, and industrial changes through a chain of connected events from jet-stream meanders, storms, southerly winds, warmer sea temperatures, and minimum sea ice cover. Resulting impacts continue as coastal communities respond to ongoing nutritional, cultural, and economic challenges. Global warming potentially initiated these events through a weakened atmospheric Arctic Front. Ecological shifts included a transition/reorganization of the Bering Strait regional marine ecosystem. Subsequent changes included shifts in zooplankton species, increases in large-bodied, predatory fish species moving northward, an ice seal unusual mortality event, and seven consecutive years of multispecies seabird die-offs. These changes in the marine ecosystem create a serious food security concern. Ongoing impacts include large, toxic harmful algal blooms and coastal erosion. Recent changes to the maritime industries of the transboundary waters of the Bering Strait include increased industrial ship traffic, planned development of the Port of Nome, and northward proximity of foreign fishing activity. Projections for the next decades are for an increasing frequency of low sea ice years and continuing ecosystem and industrial transitions that contribute to increasing economic and food security concerns for the 16 coastal communities that compose the Bering Strait region. Significance Statement Extreme events in the atmosphere/oceans and resultant record sea ice minimums in 2018 and 2019 were manifested in marine ecosystem transitions and maritime industry impacts. This led to ongoing concerns over the food safety and food security of marine resources essential to the nutritional, cultural, and economic well-being of Alaskan coastal communities of the Bering Strait region. Persistent weakening of the Arctic Front may signal an increased frequency of low sea ice events into the next decades.

Pressure Flakers of Late Neolithic Forest Hunter-Gatherer-Fishers of Eastern Europe and Their Remote Counterparts

Abstract The remarkable group of tools was detected among the hunter-gatherer-fishers’ archaeological materials of the East European Plain central part dated around 3500–2700 BC. The so-called “crooked items” were initially interpreted as ritual phallic depictions, but now after conducting a more detailed analysis of their morphology, technology, and use-wear, it became clear that we deal with pressure flakers used to process flint tools. The most astonishing fact is that the straight parallel to these tools exists, coming from the opposite side of the globe, namely, the Bering Strait region – Kamchatka, Chukotka, and Alaska, where the same tools are known quite well both in archaeological and ethnographical collections. In this study, we discuss the results of use-wear analysis of both handles and removable tips from the Central Russian settlements of Moscow, Ivanovo, and Yaroslavl regions dated the second half of the fourth to the beginning of the third millennium BC.

Novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA.

We describe here a novel peeling skin condition (PSC) in 2 neonatal Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus subsp. divergens). Macroscopically, calves had various degrees of peeling skin exacerbated by mechanical trauma. Lesions occurred in areas subject to friction: ventrum, fore- and hindflippers, and associated joints. Histopathologic features included pseudocarcinomatous epithelial hyperplasia with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. Bacterial cocci were present within the stratum corneum. A few intraepidermal clefts were present. Inflammation, epidermolysis, and vasculopathies were not observed. PCR assays were negative for vesivirus and for Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative and toxic shock syndrome toxins. Tissue samples were cultured and bacteria isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF MS as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus, Globicatella sanguinis, Streptococcus phocae, Pseudomonas spp., Rahnella aquatilis, and Escherichia coli. Given the young age of the calves and their clinical presentation, congenital ichthyosis was suspected. No genetic differences were detected for sequenced portions of keratin genes (keratin gene K10) between diseased and normal walrus skin. This rare PSC in neonatal Pacific walruses is recognized as novel by indigenous Alaskan marine mammal hunters of the Bering Strait region. A comprehensive diagnostic work-up of future case materials is needed to characterize the underlying biochemical defect(s).

The Influence of Butterflies and Bees on Old Bering Sea Visual Art

Insects are a common sight across much of the circumpolar region during the summer season and have a multi-faceted cultural significance to Indigenous peoples across North America’s Arctic and the Bering Strait region. Historians and ethnologists in the 19th and 20th centuries documented contemporary Indigenous interactions and beliefs involving insects, notably butterflies, moths, and bees. However, these investigations inferred comparatively little about the understanding among ancient Arctic peoples and the influence of insects in their lives. By examining a select group of Old Bering Sea (OBS) ivory artifacts, I identify insect-related designs on OBS hunting implements and investigate the correlation between these designs and the potential implications of their inclusion on these objects. I attempt to challenge the vertebrate bias present in the study of Arctic prehistory and relational ecology and suggest that insects have a deeper cultural influence than has been previously acknowledged.

Global gateways as telecoupled human and natural systems: The emerging case of the Bering Strait

Numerous narrow marine passages around the world serve as essential gateways for the transportation of goods, the movement of people, and the migration of fish and wildlife. These global gateways facilitate human–nature interactions across distant regions. The socioeconomic and environmental interactions among distant coupled human and natural systems affect the sustainability of global gateways in complex ways. However, the assessment and analysis of global gateways are scattered and fragmented. To fill this knowledge gap, we frame global gateways as telecoupled human and natural systems using an emerging global gateway, the Bering Strait, as a demonstration. We examine how three telecoupling processes (tourism, vessel traffic, and natural resource development) impact and are impacted by the coupled human and natural system of the Bering Strait Region. Given that global gateways share many similarities, our analysis of the Bering Strait Region provides a foundation for the assessment of other telecoupled global gateways.

Community Perspectives on Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska.

The aim of this study is to present an explanatory model of hearing loss in the Bering Strait region of Alaska in order to contextualize the results of a cluster randomized trial and propose implications for regional hearing-related health care. To promote ecological validity, or the generalizability of trial findings to real world experiences, qualitative methods (focus groups and interviews) were used within a mixed methods cluster randomized trial evaluating school hearing screening and follow-up processes in 15 communities in the Bering Strait region of Alaska. Focus groups were held between April and August 2017, and semistructured interviews were conducted between December 2018 and August 2019. Convenience sampling was used for six of the 11 focus groups to capture broad community feedback. Purposive sampling was used for the remaining five focus groups and for all interviews to capture a variety of experiences with hearing loss. Audio recordings of focus groups and interviews were transcribed, and both notes and transcripts were deidentified. All notes and transcripts were included in the analysis. The constant comparative method was used to develop a codebook by iteratively moving between transcripts and preliminary themes. Researchers then used this codebook to code data from all focus groups and interviews using qualitative analysis software (NVIVO 12, QSR International) and conducted thematic analyses to distill the findings presented in this article. Participants in focus groups (n = 116) and interviews (n = 101) shared perspectives in three domains: etiology, impact, and treatment of hearing loss. Regarding etiology, participants emphasized noise-induced hearing loss but also discussed infection-related hearing loss and various causes of ear infections. Participants described the impact of hearing loss on subsistence activities, while also detailing social, academic, and economic consequences. Participants described burdensome treatment pathways that are repetitive and often travel and time intensive. Communication breakdowns within these pathways were also described. Some participants spoke positively of increased access via onsite hearing health care services in "field clinics" as well as via telemedicine services. Others described weaknesses in these processes (infrequent field clinics and communication delays in telemedicine care pathways). Participants also described home remedies and stigma surrounding the treatment for hearing loss. Patient-centered health care requires an understanding of context. Explanatory models of illness are context-specific ways in which patients and their networks perceive and describe the experience of an illness or disability. In this study, we documented explanatory models of hearing loss to foster ecological validity and better understand the relevance of research findings to real-life hearing-related experiences. These findings suggest several areas that should be addressed in future implementation of hearing health care interventions elsewhere in rural Alaska, including management of repetitious treatments, awareness of infection-mediated hearing loss, mistrust, and communication breakdowns. For hearing-related health care in this region, these findings suggest localized recommendations for approaches for prevention and treatment. For community-based hearing research, this study offers an example of how qualitative methods can be used to generate ecologically valid (i.e., contextually grounded) findings.

Species Identification of Common Native Arctic Mammals in Inuit Fur Clothing Based on Hair Microscopy

ABSTRACT Correct material identification is considered essential when documenting museum objects. This study examines the morphology of mammal hair and records the geographical use of common species in Inuit fur clothing collected by the National Museum of Denmark (NMD) from c. 1830–1940 in the Bering Strait region, Alaska, Arctic Canada, and Greenland. Through hair microscopy, the purpose is to test whether original identifications are correct to assess the origin of unique Inuit garments. By means of transmitted light microscopy (TLM) of stained, 1 µm thick cross-sectioned hairs and undyed, longitudinally mounted hairs, the research reveals that specific morphological structures are characteristic of the common native reindeer/caribou, musk ox, members of the seal family, domestic dog, wolf, Arctic fox, polar bear, and wolverine. Rarer animals (hare, lynx, otter, etc.) are not part of this study because of limitations in the collection. Hairs from seal species are difficult to distinguish from one another. Hairs from dog and wolf are distinguishable but have relatively similar morphology. Therefore, to confirm identification, supplementary analyses are required. The hair microscopy technique was used on 49 garments in NMD’s collections, and the results were compared to the original macroscopic species identification. The study revealed that the latter method is often erroneous when it comes to dog/wolf and wolverine fur.

Shipping governance in the Bering Strait Region: Protecting the Diomede Islands and adjacent waters

Increasing shipping in the Bering Strait Region (BSR) has prompted the two coastal states, the United States and Russia, to implement measures aimed at reducing the risks to the region’s sensitive marine environment and local population dependent on subsistence economies. A significant step forward was made in 2018 when the two countries established joint ships’ routeing measures in the area through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). However, additional measures will be needed to create a comprehensive traffic management scheme in the BSR. This article focuses on analyzing potential courses of action that Russia and the United States could pursue, jointly or separately, to protect the BSR from the adverse effects of growing shipping. In particular, it studies and compares specific tools that could be applied to the Diomede Islands and adjacent marine areas, such as designation of Areas To Be Avoided (ATBAs) and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs), speed restrictions, and implementation of a ship reporting system. In addition, considering the growing tensions between the United States and Russia, this article explores several potential scenarios in which the two countries implement different instruments independently of each other.

A Chlorophyll Biomass Time-Series for the Distributed Biological Observatory in the Context of Seasonal Sea Ice Declines in the Pacific Arctic Region

Declines in seasonal sea ice in polar regions have stimulated projections of how primary production has shifted in response to greater light penetration over a longer open water season. Despite the limitations of remotely sensed observations in an often cloudy environment, remote sensing data provide strong indications that surface chlorophyll biomass has increased (since 2000) as sea ice has declined in the Pacific Arctic region. We present here shipboard measurements of chlorophyll-a that have been made annually in July since 2000 from the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) stations in the Bering Strait region. This time series as well as shipboard observations made in other months since the late 1980s implicate complexities that intrude on a simple expectation that, as open water periods increase, the production and biomass of phytoplankton will increase predictably. These shipboard observations indicate that there have not been sharp increases in chlorophyll-a, for either maxima observed in the water column or integrated over the whole water column, at the DBO stations over a time-series extending for as long as 20 years coinciding with seasonal sea ice declines. On the other hand, biomass may be increasing in other months: we provide a shipboard confirmation of a fall bloom in October as wind mixing introduced nutrients back into the upper water column. The productive DBO stations may be at a high enough production already that additional enhancements in chlorophyll-a biomass should not be expected, but our time-series record does not exclude the possibility that additional enhanced production may be present in other areas outside the DBO station grid. These findings may also reflect limitations imposed by nutrient cycling and water column structure. The increasing freshwater component of waters flowing through the Bering Strait is likely associated with increased stratification that limits the potential change in biological production associated with decreases in seasonal sea ice persistence.

Food Storage in Permafrost and Seasonally Frozen Ground in Chukotka and Alaska Communities

Food cellars, otherwise referred to as ice or meat cellars, (lednik in Russian, k’aetyran in Chukchi, siġļuaq in Iñupiaq, and siqlugaq in Yupik) are a natural form of refrigeration in permafrost or seasonally frozen ground used to preserve, age, and ferment foods harvested for subsistence, including marine mammals, birds, fish, and plants. Indigenous peoples throughout the Arctic have constructed cellars in frozen ground for millennia. This paper focuses on cellars in Russian and American coastal and island communities of the Bering Strait, the region otherwise known as Beringia. This area has a unique, culturally rich, and politically dynamic history. Many traditions associated with cellars are threatened in Chukchi communities in Russia because of the impacts of climate change, relocation, dietary changes, and industrial development. However, even with warmer temperatures, cellars still provide a means to age and ferment food stuffs following traditional methods. In cooperation with local stakeholders, we measured internal temperatures of 18 cellars in 13 communities throughout the Bering Strait region and northern Alaska. Though cellars are widely used in permafrost regions, their structure, usage, and maintenance methods differ and exhibit influences of local climates, traditions, and economic activities. Monitoring internal temperatures and recording structural descriptions of cellars is important in the face of climate change to better understand the variety and resilience of living adaptations in different cold regions.

Genetic Analysis of Birnirk Inuit from the Alaskan North Slope

Archaeological evidence indicates that Birnirk peoples (AD 650 – 1300) are the proposed genetic ancestors of the Thule Inuit (AD 950 – 1400) and are potentially an intermediary population between the Thule Inuit and earlier Old Bering Sea people (AD 1 – 1000). We sequenced the first hypervariable region of the mitochondrial DNA of 22 clearly associated Birnirk individuals from the Piġniq (Birnirk), Kugok, Kugusugaruk, and Nunavak sites on the North Slope of Alaska. Haplotypes A2a, A2a1, A2a3, A2b1, and D4b1a2a1a were identified in this population, demonstrating an expansion of Birnirk maternal genetic diversity. Maternal lineages from these individuals were evaluated with other past and contemporary Inuit populations from the Chukotka Peninsula to eastern Greenland. Our findings confirm Birnirk Inuit as probable maternal ancestors to Thule Inuit and may be among the first peoples possessing these lineages to have moved into the western North American Arctic from the Bering Strait region.

Indigenous Beauty: Masterworks of American Indian Art from the Diker Collection

Accompanying a major exhibition, this stunning volume serves as an introduction to North American Indian art and a rare opportunity to see this comprehensive and superb private collection. A glorious testament to the infinite beauty, diversity, and historical significance of Native American culture, Indigenous Beauty presents outstanding examples of art made by tribes across the North American continent. This aesthetically rich and inclusive collection offers a broad view of American Indian art, including sculpture from the Northwest Coast; ancient ivories from the Bering Strait region; Yup'ik and Alutiiq masks from the Western Arctic; Katsina dolls from the Southwest Pueblos; Southwest pottery; sculptural objects from the Eastern Woodlands; Eastern regalia; Plains regalia and pictographic arts; and Western baskets. David Penney's introduction and texts by other renowned experts offer insight into the visual and material diversity of the collection, providing a greater understanding of the social and cultural worlds from which these works came. This magnificent survey is both an invaluable resource and a visual pleasure.

An integrated underwater soundscape analysis in the Bering Strait region.

Rapid changes in the Arctic from shifting climate and human use patterns are affecting previously reported distributions and movements of marine mammals. The underwater soundscape, a key component of marine mammal habitats, is also changing. This study integrates acoustic data, collected at a site in the northern Bering Sea, with information on sound sources to quantify their occurrence throughout the year and identify deviations in conditions and dominant soundscape components. Predictive models are applied to explain variation in sound levels and to compare the relative contributions of various soundscape components. Levels across all octave bands were influenced most strongly by the variation in abiotic environment across seasons. The presence of commercial ships did not have a discernible effect on sound levels at this location and period of time. The occurrence of sources was compared to a second site, where we documented how higher levels of shipping changed that soundscape. This study demonstrated the value of acoustic monitoring to characterize the dominant acoustic features in a soundscape and the importance of preserving soundscapes based on dominant features rather than level of sound. Using a soundscape approach has relevance for protecting marine mammals and for the food security of Alaska Native communities that depend upon them.

Life without ice: Perceptions of environmental impacts on marine resources and subsistence users of St. Lawrence Island

The Bering Strait region is undergoing rapid environmental change linked to reductions in the extent and seasonal availability of sea ice. The goal of the present study was to assess the impacts that environmental change and loss of sea ice has had on marine subsistence resources and resource users in the communities of St. Lawrence Island (SLI), Alaska. The broader research design was multidisciplinary in order to document any shifts in the abundance and health of key marine subsistence species, while recording people's perceptions of changing environmental conditions in their lifetime. The present study focuses on the perceived social and material effects of climate change on SLI residents. To capture human perceptions and experiences, open ended interviews were conducted during three weeks in April and May 2019, during which time 25 SLI residents were interviewed. Four main themes were assessed: 1) key marine resources for SLI communities, 2) perceptions about changes in key resources, 3) community responses to change, and 4) the future of the subsistence way of life in these communities. Interviews were transcribed, coded for themes, and analyzed using MAXQDA software. Results indicate the four most discussed marine resources were Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), seals, crabs, and fish. The largest changes observed in these resources included: decreased walrus harvests and limited access with increased hunting effort; an increase in the abundance of Hanasaki crab (Paralithodes brevipes) and limited crab harvests due to lack of shorefast ice; and increasing abundances of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). SLI residents utilize a broad range of edible marine flora and fauna, and at times, eat less desirable prey items due to scarcity of preferred species. Lastly, most informants that discussed the future of a subsistence way of life, were concerned future generations will be harvesting and eating less subsistence resources. Due to environmental changes, and most specifically loss of sea ice, SLI communities may have to diversify the species that they harvest to continue maritime subsistence practices, or may turn to consuming more terrestrial and domestic sources of protein if available. To better understand resource availability and to manage for a changing ecosystem, resource managers and policy makers may: 1) anticipate a need for conducting stock assessments for king and Hanasaki crabs at regular intervals, 2) anticipate a need for conflict resolutions, mitigation frameworks, or agreements if commercial fishing vessels encroach on space and resources traditionally used by SLI subsistence users, and 3) take an active approach in obtaining authorizations for the harvest of currently protected marine mammals, which may be needed to ensure food security and consumption of historically traditional foods from the local environment.

Spatial variability of summertime aragonite saturation states and its influencing factor in the Bering Sea

The Bering sea is susceptible to ocean acidification driven by both human activities (anthropogenic CO2) and distinctive natural processes. To assess the situation of ocean acidification, we investigated the spatial variability of aragonite saturation states (ΩAr) in July 2010 during the 4th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE). The surface waters were all oversaturated with respect to aragonite (ΩAr > 1) due to high biological removal, and ΩAr ranged from 1.43 to 3.17. The relatively low ΩAr values were found in the western Bering Strait and eastern nearshore region of the Bering Sea Shelf, which were associated with the upwelling and riverine input, respectively. In the subsurface, the ΩAr decreased to generally low saturation states and were observed to be strongly undersaturated (ΩAr < 1) in the bottom waters with a lowest value of 0.45, which might be caused by remineralization. However, unlike prior studies, the low ΩAr values in the shallow nearshore region were still above the saturation horizon throughout the water column, which were probably counteracted by high local primary production. In the context of climate change and increasing anthropogenic CO2 absorption, the suppression and undersaturation of ΩAr in the Bering Sea are not only attributed to the natural processes but also the accumulation of anthropogenic CO2.

Collaboration Between Indigenous and Research Communities in the Bering Strait Region

The Bering Strait region is a unique territory defined by its geographical and sociocultural features. In studying the region, researchers often involve local Indigenous peoples as experts and co-researchers. This paper examines collaboration between research and Indigenous communities, identifies contributors, and describes typical cases of these collaborations. Because this cooperation has a transcultural nature, the article provides an overview of the discussion about the coexistence of two types of knowledge: global scientific knowledge and Arctic peoples’ traditional knowledge. For the same reason, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is discussed as both a phenomenon being studied and a research tool. The incorporation and fusion of TEK into scientific methods and management systems has given rise not only to positive results but also to complex and contradictory consequences for both knowledge holders and the knowledge itself.

Cooking and Commensality Along the Bering Food Bridge

In the decades following the 1988 Nome-Provideniya Friendship Flight that marked the beginning of a “thaw” in US-USSR Cold War politics, the Bering Strait region has been the site of continuous exchanges between the Indigenous communities of Chukotka and Alaska. Ranging from relatively small family reunions to regional multi-community events, these bilateral transcontinental gatherings have facilitated the sharing of Indigenous knowledge, languages, and expressive culture—all reflected in present-day ideas and practices surrounding food. Envisioning the Bering Food Bridge as both a metaphor and a model for exploring culture and cuisine, this article employs a synergistic framework of anthropological and artistic research to offer an ethnographic excursion into the contemporary foodways in the Yupik, Inupiaq, and Chukchi communities in the region of the Bering Strait.

MARINE RESERVOIR EFFECTS IN SEAL (PHOCIDAE) BONES IN THE NORTHERN BERING AND CHUKCHI SEAS, NORTHWESTERN ALASKA

ABSTRACTWe explore marine reservoir effects (MREs) in seal bones from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas regions. Ringed and bearded seals have served as dietary staples in human populations along the coasts of Arctic northeast Asia and North America for several millennia. Radiocarbon (14C) dates on seal bones and terrestrial materials (caribou, plants seeds, wood, and wood charcoal) were compared from archaeological sites in the Bering Strait region of northwestern Alaska to assess MREs in these sea mammals over time. We also compared these results to 14C dates on modern seal specimens collected in AD 1932 and 1946 from the Bering Sea region. Our paired archaeological samples were recovered from late Holocene archaeological features, including floors from dwellings and cache pits, that date between 1600 and 130 cal BP. 14C dates on seal bones from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas show differences [R(t)] of 800 ± 140 years from to their terrestrial counterparts, and deviations of 404 ± 112 years (ΔR) from the marine calibration curve.

Voyaging towards the future: the brig Rurik in the North Pacific and the emerging science of the sea.

This article explores the networking activities of Count Nikolai Rumiantsev and Adam von Krusenstern, his close collaborator. The visionary Russian statesman and the celebrated navigator were deeply involved in northern exploration. They funded and organized a circumnavigating voyage by the brig Rurik in 1815-18, with the explicit goals of searching for a northern passage between Eurasia and North America and conducting a series of scientific investigations in the Bering Strait region. This private exploratory enterprise profoundly influenced the exchange of information and reconfigured both local and global networks of knowledge. Based on an analysis of private correspondence, printed accounts and journal articles related to the Rurik's expedition, this study sheds light on how this transnational network of actors emerged and functioned, and how it promoted a lively circulation of information about exploration in the Bering Strait region in the 1810s-1820s. I argue that a complex interplay of geopolitical and intellectual competition, with exchanges, collaborations and coordination among various actors (e.g. patrons, navigators, scholars, entrepreneurs and publishers), stimulated further research on the global ocean's northern spaces and laid the foundations of marine science.