Research finds wood and plains bison not subspecies

Wood bison are kept at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage. An Alaska Fish and Game plan to release them into the wild was halted due to their status as an endangered species. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center)

DNA analysis does not support the designation of wood bison and plains bison as different subspecies, according to recently published research results from a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist.

Wood bison from northwest Canada and plains bison from southern Canada and the Lower 48 have been designated as different subspecies, although scientists don't all agree that they should be. Wood bison are listed as an endangered subspecies, while plains bison are not.

“This is important because the Endangered Species Act allows subspecies to be listed as species," said Matthew Cronin, UAF professor of animal genetics. “The ESA is mandated to use the best available science, so thorough assessment of the subspecies status is necessary.”

Cronin and his collaborators found that the animals in some plains bison herds are genetically more different from each other than some plains bison are from wood bison, yet those herds are not identifiable as two distinct groups. They also found that wood and plains bison are much more genetically similar than cattle subspecies and breeds, such as Angus and Texas Longhorn cattle.

The bison herds Cronin studied are located in Alaska, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, New York, Alberta and the Northwest Territories and include plains bison in Alaska at Delta Junction, Chitina, Copper River and Farewell, and wood bison at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Cronin’s findings are published in the online May 10 issue of the Journal of Heredity.

Cronin emphasized that the term “subspecies” denotes a formal taxonomic category and that evolutionary history is a primary criterion for subspecies designation. For example, European cattle and tropical cattle have separate origins, are genetically distinct and thus have a scientifically supported subspecies designation. Wood and plains bison originally had contiguous ranges, were mixed in the 1900s and are not genetically distinct groups. These factors do not support subspecies designation, he said.

“My work replicates previous work,” said Cronin. “I worked with different herds and got the same results, that they are not distinct subspecies.”

It’s common for wildlife to be named as subspecies without adequate evidence, Cronin said, often resulting in lack of consensus in the scientific community.

“This creates a paradox for biologists because subspecies can be designated by one author, rejected by another and still others reject the entire subspecies ranking,” he said. “These factors make formal designation of bison subspecies a seemingly intractable taxonomic exercise.”

Cronin said in his paper that plains bison and wood bison should be considered geographic populations and not subspecies.

“The bison subspecies are currently recognized by management agencies so their taxonomy needs to be assessed,” Cronin said. “I hope that bison management across North America can be done in a practical manner and not by preconceived notions about subspecies.”

Cronin is also doing genetic research studies on wolves and bears. The bison research was supported by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Cronin is a professor in the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences and is based at the Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer.

Food and Culture available this fall

Food is always a good subject to study. Throw in culture and you have a fascinating "menu."

A new course called Food and Culture will be offered fall semester. Taught by Assistant Professor David Fazzino, the anthropology course (492/692, CRN 78568/78575) will focus on all aspects of the food system from production (agroecology, industrial and genetically modified foods) to distribution and exchange, food security, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and consumption (cultural consumption and the meaning of food).

It will cover not only anthropology but also Fazzinos' background in law and agroecology. Email Fazzino at dvfazzino@alaska.edu for more information.

SNRAS student headed to Australia

SNRAS junior Paul Lambert (pictured at left) will spend the next semester Down Under, taking classes and soaking up the environment and culture of Melbourne.

Lambert was inspired by friends who studied abroad. “I thought it would be a fun thing to do,” he said.

The UAF Office of International Programs and Initiatives connected Lambert with La Trobe University, where he will take environmental science courses that complement his natural resources management studies with SNRAS.

Lambert grew up in various places around Alaska, including Homer, Unalaska, Dutch Harbor and Chugiak. He was home schooled for two years while living in his grandparents’ cabin up the Salcha River. The family lived one year at Fort Drum, N.Y. His father is an Army Reserve chaplain.

Lambert chose UAF because he wanted to stay in Alaska and SNRAS had his preferred area of study: Humans and the Environment. “UAF has a nice location and emphasizes natural resources,” Lambert said.
Commenting on what he has learned in college, he said, “Everything is connected even if it might not seem that way. Pay attention to what is going on.”

Lambert will work at Northland Wood Products until he flies to Australia in July. He will return in November. “I’m not entirely sure what to expect,” he said. “I hope to get a different perspective or approach for resources management. And I’ll be in a warmer location.”

In his free time, Lambert enjoys backpacking, shooting, snowmachining and boating. His career goals are to work for the National Park Service or Forest Service. “I want to work outside,” he said.

OneTree offers field sketching and observation course

Each student will be assigned a tree to study and draw.

In cooperation with Boreal House, OneTree is offering a one-credit field sketching course May 29-Aug. 17.

Instructors will be SNRAS Assistant Professor Jan Dawe and Karen Stomberg, artist and educator.

The course will build botanical observational skills and a knowledge base of how to record change in words, drawings and measurements. Participants will adopt a single birch tree to study both visually and scientifically over the course of two and a half months. The results will be a set of journal entries and drawings made from a very intimate look at the growth stages in one individual tree.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Accurately observe and measure key growth stages in a single birch sapling over an extended time.
• Know how to organize and record observations using the Grinnell system in a science/art journal.
• Sketch comfortably in a field setting.
• Understand and apply color theory in drawing using colored pencils.
• Create accurate drawings and renderings in color from field sketches.

The schedule will be:

May 29: meet in the Arctic Health Research Greenhouse classroom, introduce the Generation OneTree research plot at the T-field on the UAF campus, overview of goals, discussion of materials and gear for field sketching, training in how to use the Grinnell system, warm-up drawing and practice in color theory with colored pencils.

June 1: meet in the parking lot at the Large Animal Research Station and walk approximately .5 mile to the T-field, meet your tree, do first observations, measurements and recording protocol, sketch and refine.

June 8: meet in the parking lot at the Large Animal Research Station and walk approximately .5 mile to the T-field, continue work with one tree, do observations, measurements and recording protocol, sketch and refine.

June 29: meet in the parking lot at the Large Animal Research Station and walk approximately .5 mile to the T-field, continue work with tree, do observations, measurements and recording protocol, sketch and refine.

Aug. 17: (2.5 hrs)meet in the parking lot at the Large Animal Research Station and walk approximately .5 mile to the T-field, do final field work with tree, do last observations, measurements and recording protocol, sketch and refine.

To receive credit, participants are required to:

* Actively participate in the class discussions and keep a science/art journal

* Complete colored renderings in the journal, as assigned, at home using samples in a Plexiglass study press/and or photographs

* Complete observations and measurements and enter them in the journal using the Grinnell system

* Present their journal at the final class meeting

The fee is $135, which includes a $15 materials fee. Total class time is 15 hours and students must attend all classes. Register by contacting Stomberg.

Geography grad off to NASA for summer internship

Erika Edgar

Erika Edgar, who received her B.S. in geography May 12, will begin an internship with NASA June 3 at Ames Research Center in California. The 10-week internship is part of the DEVELOP program, uniting NASA Earth observations with society to foster future innovation and cultivate the professionals of tomorrow by addressing diverse environmental issues today.

Edgar discovered the opportunity through NASA's Facebook page. "I had never read or heard about NASA's DEVELOP program before," she said. "They announced they would be taking applications for the DEVELOP summer program so I read the website and was amazed at the program."

After receiving a slew of emails for NASA student programs geared toward engineers and atmospheric scientists, Edgar was thrilled to find something that could apply to her education and interests. "I could not have been more excited," she said.

"It spoke to me and my studies. It is everything that I am looking for in an internship. It is extremely interdisciplinary and hands on. I hope to gain hands on experience using satellite imagery, collaborating with a team and how to efficiently promote free public scientific data. This program is all about bridging science with society."

Born and raised in Antioch, Calif., Edgar said she barely graduated high school and didn't think college was an option for her. She took community college courses in the arts off and on while working in retail for seven years, then decided there was something missing in life. She enrolled in a Geology 100 course at the community college. "It was like someone had ignited a spark in my brain," she asid. "All of a sudden I wanted to understand Earth's natural processes and how I could contribute in science."

After that, Edgar was off and running, taking biology, chemistry and mathematics courses. "I became dedicated to learning and researching what my next step should be," she said. She emailed professors at many different schools and through networking was introduced to Sarah Fowell from the UAF geology department. Eventually, Edgar visited the UAF campus. "I was really impressed and humbled by how Sarah, Rainer Newberry and Pat Druckenmiller all took time out of their very busy schedules to introduce us to the opportunities at UAF," she said. "Six months later my husband Alex and I were accepted to UAF, packed up everything we owned and drove from Antioch to Fairbanks in January 2011."

Edgar chose geography as her major because of the environmental studies concentration. "I wanted to learn about the atmosphere, geology, topography, soils, wilderness, anthropology and cartography," she said. "I love science, and I think geography encapsulates the interdisciplinary attitude I want to obtain. I have met some wonderful professors, faculty and friends in the SNRAS college and I could not be more excited to take what I have learned with me."

Edgar credited Terry Slocum, visiting geography professor, with helping her land the internship, as he wrote a letter of recommendation.

UAF commencement 2013

Congratulations to the SNRAS graduates who were recognized at the UAF commencement Sunday, May 12!

From left, Christine Butcher,  Matthew Martin, Erika Edgar, Blaine Sisson, Professor Mingchu Zhang, Nathan Heeringa, Jennifer Lutze, James Shewmake, Jason M. Theis

Ayshe Yeager carries the SNRAS flag at the beginning of the commencement ceremony.

Baccalaureate degrees

Christine Butcher, B.S. geography, geographic information science and technology
Mitchell Chandler, B.S. natural resources management: plant, animal and soil sciences
Erika Edgar, B.S. geography: environmental studies
Bryan Hamey, B.A. geography
Nathan Heeringa, B.S. natural resources management: high latitude agriculture
Ryan Jess, B.S. natural resources management: resources, cum laude
Jennifer Lutze, B.S. natural resources management: high latitude agriculture
Matthew Martin, B.A. geography

Shannon Pearce, B.S., natural resources management: plant, animal and soil sciences
Curt Puffer, B.A., geography
Blaine Sisson, B.S. geography: landscape analysis and climate change studies
Justin Smith, B.A. geography
Eric Straley, B.A. geography
Jason M. Theis, B.S. geography: geographic information science and technology
Teslyn Visscher, B.S.natural resources management, magna cum laude
Nicole Wells, B.S. natural resources management: plant, animal and soil sciences, cum laude
Kai Whitehill, B.A. geography
Cassie Wohlgemuth, B.S. natural resources management: forestry
Cherish Yuke, B.S. natural resources management: high latitude agriculture

Geography graduates Christine Butcher and Jason M. Theis added a worldly flair to their mortarboards.

Master's degrees

Rachel Garcia, M.S. natural resources management
Winslow Hanson, M.S. natural resources management
Benjamin Rance, master's of natural resources management and geography
James Shewmake, M.S. natural resources management
Michelle Lynn St. Martin, M.S. natural resources management

Brian Young and Kimberley Anne Maher received their doctor of philosophy degrees.

Doctor of philosophy degrees

Peter Anthony, Ph.D. natural resources and sustainability (major professor Stephen Sparrow)
Carolyn Levings, Ph.D. botany: interdisciplinary program (major professor Valerie Barber)
Kimberley Anne Maher, Ph.D forest science: interdisciplinary program (major professor Glenn Juday)
Brian Young, Ph.D. natural resources and sustainability (major professor John Yarie)

Professor emeritus

Retired Dean and Director Carol E. Lewis was granted emeriti status for serving the university with distinction in teaching, research and public service from 1973 to 2013.

Kimberley Anne Maher is hooded by her major professor Glenn Juday.

Brian Young is hooded. At left is his major professor John Yarie. At right is Provost Susan Henrichs.

Further reading:
University of Alaska Fairbanks celebrates record commencement, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, by Matt Buxton, May 13, 2013

Plant sale set for May 18

Healthy tomato plants will sell quickly at the popular plant sale.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Georgeson Botanical Garden will hold its annual plant sale at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be annual flowers, vegetable starts, trees, shrubs, house plants, herbs and hanging baskets, all products of student classes and volunteer efforts at the botanical garden.

Proceeds from the sale will support the GBG summer student intern program. For more information call 474-7222. Reach the farm by traveling to the west end of the UAF campus, 117 West Tanana Drive.

Asian lily will go home with a lucky buyer at the plant sale.