Alaska Wild Berries

Project Description: 2016 has been a landmark year as far as temperatures, lack of snow and ice, early emergence and abundance of plants and berries. This project includes observations posted in 2016 related to the early emergence and the condition of wild berry plants and fruit.

Location: Alaska

Start Date: February 29, 2016

Project Lead: Jerry Hupp, USGS

Observation Invite: LEO Network Members are invited to share observations about early berry plant bloom and fruit development and other information about the phenology/timing of plants and condition of plants.

Updates:

2013 / 2014 Berry Harvest Survey – A survey of berry harvest was performed in 2013 and 2014 with LEO Network participants from across the state of Alaska. The findings were published here in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health. The study is an example of how environmental managers and participants in local observer networks can report on the status of wild resources in rural Alaska. The findings suggest that there have been changes in the productivity of some wild berries in the past decade, resulting in greater uncertainty among communities regarding the security of berry harvests. Monitoring and experimental studies are needed to determine how environmental change may affect berry abundance.

2015 Berry Harvest Survey Update Pending

2016 Berry Harvest Survey Currently 2016 is open to LEO Network members. It can be accessed at this link.

Media:

Alaska Public Media – Study - Alaska’s wild berry harvests becoming more variable, "A new study suggests that the harvests of several popular wild berries are becoming less reliable in many areas of the state. The study is a first step in a process that might learn more about the connections between climate factors and berry production." By Tim Bodony, KIYU - Galena. October 13, 2015

Video: Sylvia Kazimirowicz Ekwok Berries (00:53 sec.)

Filmed by Kazimierowicz, S. September 2014. talks a bit about the berry harvest in their area of Alaska.