AMNWR 06/06 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING IN THE CENTRAL ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA IN 2006: SUMMARY APPENDICES Brie A. Drummond Key words: Aethia cristatella, Aethia pusilla, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, banding, black-legged kittiwake, breeding chronology, Cepphus columba, common murre, crested auklet, Eumetopias jubatus, food habits, fork-tailed storm-petrel, Kasatochi Island, Koniuji Island, Leach's storm-petrel, least auklet, Mesoplodon stejnegeri, monitoring, Oceanodroma furcata, Oceanodroma leucorhoa, pelagic cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus, Phalacrocorax urile, pigeon guillemot, population, red-faced cormorant, red-legged kittiwake, reproductive performance, Rissa brevirostris, Rissa tridactyla, Stejneger’s beaked whale, Steller sea lion, thick-billed murre, Ulak Island, Uria aalge, Uria lomvia U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Aleutian Islands Unit 95 Sterling Hwy. Homer, Alaska 99603 September 2006 Cite as: Drummond, B. A. 2006. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 2006: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 06/06. Adak, Alas. 125 pp. Table of Contents Page INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1 STUDY AREA...............................................................................................................................................1 METHODS....................................................................................................................................................3 INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS................................................................................................................5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................................6 LITERATURE CITED....................................................................................................................................6 FIGURES AND TABLES...............................................................................................................................9 Storm-petrels, Tufted Puffins, and Other Burrow Nesters..................................................................10 Reproductive Performance...........................................................................................................10 Chick Growth................................................................................................................................16 Morphology……………………………………………………………………………………………….18 Populations...................................................................................................................................19 Food Habits ……………………………………………………………………………………………..21 Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorants....................................................................................................24 Reproductive Performance...........................................................................................................24 Populations...................................................................................................................................31 Glaucous-winged Gulls.......................................................................................................................34 Populations...................................................................................................................................34 Food Habits..................................................................................................................................36 Black-legged and Red-legged Kittiwakes...........................................................................................40 Reproductive Performance...........................................................................................................40 Populations...................................................................................................................................42 Common and Thick-billed Murres.......................................................................................................45 Breeding Chronology....................................................................................................................45 Reproductive Performance...........................................................................................................47 Populations...................................................................................................................................49 Pigeon Guillemot.................................................................................................................................55 Populations...................................................................................................................................55 Crested and Least Auklets..................................................................................................................57 Breeding Chronology ...................................................................................................................57 Reproductive Performance...........................................................................................................62 Chick Growth................................................................................................................................66 Adult Survival................................................................................................................................68 Morphology...................................................................................................................................73 Populations...................................................................................................................................78 Food Habits..................................................................................................................................90 Miscellaneous...................................................................................................................................102 Boat-based Circumnavigations..................................................................................................102 Raptor Prey Remains.................................................................................................................103 Off-road Point Count Route........................................................................................................104 Beach Transects.........................................................................................................................105 Steller Sea Lion Populations......................................................................................................106 Annotated List.............................................................................................................................108 Breeding Status..........................................................................................................................117 Breeding Chronology..................................................................................................................118 Flowering Chronology.................................................................................................................119 Mean Air Temperature...............................................................................................................120 Sea Surface Temperature..........................................................................................................121 GPS Coordinates for Study Areas on Kasatochi........................................................................123 Kasatochi Surface Count Plot Characteristics...........................................................................124 Stejneger’s Beaked Whale Sightings.........................................................................................125 INTRODUCTION One of the 9 annual ecological monitoring sites in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) is located in the central Aleutian Islands. This "site" includes seabird monitoring plots on 3 nearby islands: Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak. As for all 9 monitoring sites, the objective is to collect baseline status and trends information for a suite of species representing piscivorous and planktivorous trophic guilds, including key species that serve as indicators of ecosystem health. By correlating data with environmental conditions and information from other sites, ecosystem processes may be better understood. Brief visits were made to Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak in the past, but 1996 was the first year that intensive, season-long monitoring occurred (Scharf et al. 1996). Previous work consisted primarily of boat-based circumnavigations (Early et al. 1981; Bailey and Trapp 1986; Byrd and Williams 1994; Byrd 1995a, 1995b). At Kasatochi, incidental seabird observations were recorded during an effort to remove introduced arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in the 1980s (Deines 1985, Deines and Willging 1985), and in 1991 crested and least auklet (Aethia cristatella and A. pusilla, respectively) population plots were set up and monitored for several days (Thomson and Wraley 1992). Since 1996, intensive season-long monitoring has been conducted each year (Scharf et al. 1996, Scharf and Williams 1997, Scharf 1998, 2000a, 2000b; Syria 2001, 2002; Barton and Lindquist 2003, Drummond and Kissler 2004, and Drummond and Rehder 2005). Bird distributions at sea around Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak were described by Drew et al. (2003). The specific goal in 2006 was to estimate population and/or productivity parameters for 9 indicator species representing the 4 major feeding guilds: diving fish-feeders (pelagic and red-faced cormorants [Phalacrocorax pelagicus and P. urile, respectively], common and thick-billed murres [Uria aalge and U. lomvia, respectively], pigeon guillemots [Cepphus columba]), surface fish-feeders (black-legged kittiwakes [Rissa tridactyla]), diving plankton-feeders (crested and least auklets), and surface plankton-feeders (fork- tailed storm-petrels [Oceanodroma furcata]). In addition, food habits, chick growth, and adult survival were described for one or more of the above species. Detailed results of the 2006 monitoring program are contained in these appendices and archived at the AMNWR office in Homer, Alaska. Food habits data for storm-petrels and auklets will be presented in a later report, pending analysis. Summary data were entered into the Pacific Seabird Monitoring Database and included in the AMNWR Consolidated Seabird Monitoring report. STUDY AREA Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak islands are located in the Andreanof Island group of Alaska's central Aleutian Islands. The weather is typical of a northern maritime climate, with moderate year-round temperatures and strong winds. Fog and rain are characteristic, and violent storms occur frequently. The average temperature at sea level is about 8.8oC in the summer and 4.8oC annually. Average annual precipitation is 166 cm. Snow accumulation at sea level rarely exceeds 0.5 m, and there is no permafrost. Vegetation on the islands is composed of maritime and alpine tundra and consists mostly of grasses, sedges, sphagnum mosses, lichens, and a variety of forbs. There are no erect trees or shrubs. Kasatochi and Koniuji are located on the southern edge of the Aleutian Basin, and are bordered to the north by deep water and to the south by relatively shallow water. Ulak is surrounded by shallow water. All 3 islands are relatively exposed, and are often subject to rough surf conditions that restrict small boat operations. In 1996-2006, sea surface temperatures off the coast of Kasatochi increased as the summer progressed, from around 4-5oC in late May and early June to over 6oC in early August. In 1998, the 1 temperature increased dramatically in mid to late August, reaching highs of over 22oC. Kasatochi Island.--Located approximately 19.5 km northwest of the westernmost point of Atka Island, Kasatochi Island (52o11'N, 175o30'W) is an extinct volcanic caldera, roughly circular in shape, that encompasses approximately 287 ha and has a diameter of about 2.7 km. There are no reliable reports of the island being eruptive in historic times (Coates 1950). However, the island remains volcanically active; in 1899, steam rose from the caldera and the lake at the base disappeared (Jaggar 1927), and in 2005, the water in the caldera began bubbling. The rim of the caldera rises at its highest point to 316 m, and descends sharply inward to a 0.8 km wide lake near sea level, with water about half the salinity of seawater (Bailey and Trapp 1986). The southern half of the island consists mostly of gentle grassy slopes, and the coastline is characterized by narrow sand or cobble beaches at the base of dirt cliffs up to 30 m high. High rocky bluffs are found on the west coast, rising over boulder beaches, and several grassy ravines slope from the bluffs to the caldera rim. Sheer impassable cliffs interspersed with rock slides and steep vegetated talus slopes dominate the northern coastline from Barabara Ridge on the west side to the easternmost point of the island. There are no freshwater streams or ponds during the summer months. Remnants of a house pit, probably Aleut, are on Barabara Ridge, and on the west side of the island a renovated fox trappers' cabin, originally built in 1929, serves as a base of operations for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel. Vegetation on the island was described by Scharf et al. (1996). Arctic foxes had been introduced on Kasatochi by 1927, and were trapped for fur through at least the winter of 1935. The Service attempted to eliminate foxes in the 1960s (Jones 1963), but foxes were not removed until the 1980s (Deines 1985, Deines and Willging 1985) and by 1991 the island was fox-free (Thomson and Wraley 1992). Foxes preyed on seabirds; Murie (1936) reported finding over 100 auklets in a single fox cache. Nevertheless, foxes did not extirpate crevice and ledge-nesting seabirds. An estimated 22,000 to 36,000 seabirds, primarily crested and least auklets, were reported breeding on the island in the 1970s and early 1980s (Sekora 1973, Bailey and Trapp 1986). In contrast, foxes may have reduced burrow-nesting seabirds to very low levels. In 1936, tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) were described as "very numerous about the island, nesting on the grassy slopes" (Murie 1936), but from 1991-1998 the few puffins remaining were restricted to extremely rugged and inaccessible areas of cliff faces. Now that foxes are gone these populations may recover. In addition to seabirds, a Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) rookery occurs on the north side of the island, and a small population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) is also present. Passerines are abundant on beaches and talus slopes, and several pairs of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest on the island. Koniuji Island.--Located 25.6 km east of Kasatochi and 16 km north of Atka Island, Koniuji Island (52o13'N, 175o08'W) encompasses approximately 110 ha and is about 1.3 km long and 0.9 km wide. Although volcanic in origin, the island is deeply eroded, suggesting that reports of activity in historic times were mistaken (Coates 1950, Sekora 1973). Almost all of the coastline is sheer, rising to a rugged 268 m peak on the northern end of the island. A low, flat, rocky point extends about 200 m on the northwest coast. A grassy ravine separates the north side of the island from the less precipitous southern bluffs. There is no fresh water on the island. Although Koniuji was leased for fox farming in 1934, foxes were apparently never introduced. As a result, the island hosts a diverse and prolific seabird colony, with an estimated 30,000 breeding diurnal seabirds and probably hundreds of thousands of nocturnal seabirds, including Leach's (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) and fork-tailed storm-petrels, ancient murrelets (Synthliboramphus antiquus), and whiskered auklets (Aethia pygmaea) (Bailey and Trapp 1986). Thousands of kittiwakes and murres nest on the sheer coastal cliffs, and tens of thousands of tufted puffins nest on the grassy slopes above the southern 2 bluffs. Tens of thousands of crested and least auklets can be observed circling the vegetated talus flanking the highest point on the island, and hundreds of parakeet auklets (Cyclorrhynchus psittacula) inhabit the boulder beaches along the west coast. In 1982, Bailey and Trapp (1986) noted an amazing abundance of bald eagles, counting 17 at once, though no nests were evident. They surmised that eagles were coming over from Atka to feed on seabirds. Ulak Island.--Located 2.5 km east of Great Sitkin Island and 46 km southwest of Kasatochi, Ulak Island (52o02'N, 175o54'W) is small and rugged. Encompassing approximately 46.5 ha, the island is 1.4 km long and 0.3 k wide, with a maximum elevation of 206 m. The south side is comprised of steep slopes covered with relatively deep soil and densely vegetated with large Elymus hummocks. These slopes provide habitat for thousands of nesting seabirds, including storm-petrels, tufted puffins, and Cassin's auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus). The north side of the island is characterized by cliffs inhabited by cormorants, puffins, and thousands of murres. Whiskered auklets nest in abundance along the boulder beaches and on vegetated talus slopes. There is no record of foxes ever having been introduced to the island. METHODS Personnel.— Brie Drummond and Maureen McClintock were present on Kasatochi in 2006 from 21 May through 1 September. At Koniuji, kittiwake productivity was estimated by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, and Jeff Williams on 8 August. At Ulak, burrow density and storm-petrel productivity data were collected on 20 June by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, Jeff Williams, and Keith Bell. Storm-petrel productivity data were also collected on 6 August by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, Jeff Williams, Yumi Arimitsu, and Erica Madison; on 18 August by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, Kirsten Bixler, and Phoebe Vanselow; and on 1 September by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, Jeff Williams, Craig Williams, and Troy Guy. Murre and cormorant population and cormorant productivity data were collected by Brie Drummond, Maureen McClintock, and Jeff Williams on 7 August. Data Collection and Analysis.--We followed data collection and analysis methods outlined in Williams et al. (2002), with the following exceptions: (cid:131) Plots 1, 3, or 4 at Ulak Island were not checked for burrow density or occupancy during the 2006 field season due to time and personnel constraints at Ulak. Following Scharf (2000a) all burrow size classes have been lumped together due to variation in methodology for measuring burrow size over the course of the monitoring program. (cid:131) Productivity data were collected on fork-tailed storm-petrels nesting in crevices at Kasatochi Island using methodology similar to that outlined for other crevice-nesters (rather than burrow-nesters) in Williams et al. (2002). Chicks were weighed and measured using methodology similar to that outlined for fork-tailed storm-petrel monitoring on Ulak Island in the same source, but done more often because of more frequent visits to nests. A detailed description of the collection and analysis of storm-petrel productivity data on Kasatochi can be found in the Kasatochi study plans binder until the protocols in Williams et al. (2002) can be updated. 3 (cid:131) Productivity data on fork-tailed storm-petrels nesting at Ulak Island were analyzed following a set of criteria for determining fate of chicks developed in 2004. Specifically, unknown nest status’ at the last check (i.e. E-C-U) resulted in unknown fates, rather than being considered empty nests from which eggs disappeared or chicks fledged, as done in previous years. Data for years prior to 2004 have been reanalyzed using this new criteria. The detailed methodology is described in the Ulak binder until the protocols in Williams et al. (2002) can be updated. (cid:131) Food samples from fork-tailed storm-petrels were collected at Kasatochi Island following protocols for storm-petrel food collection at Buldir and Ulak islands outlined in Williams et al. (2002). A detailed description of the collection of storm-petrel food samples at Kasatochi can be found in the Kasatochi study plans binder until the protocols in Williams et al. (2002) can be updated. Food habits information for fork-tailed storm-petrels in 2006 was not analyzed in time to be included in this report. A separate report containing food habits data from all AMNWR sites may be issued, and, in addition, results from Kasatochi in 2006 will be presented in the 2007 summary appendices for the central Aleutian Islands. (cid:131) In analyzing survival data for crested and least auklets, birds with similar resighting histories were grouped and data were tested for heterogeneity and goodness-of-fit (GOF) to the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model using program RELEASE (Burnham et al. 1987). Several survival and recapture models were then estimated using program MARK (Cooch and White 1998). Models estimated were evaluated by comparing Aikaike’s Information Criterion (AIC), the number of parameters, and model deviance. (cid:131) Because crested and least auklet survival rate estimates are dependent upon open-ended recapture histories and not on known-fate individuals, values presented in previous reports should be considered obsolete. (cid:131) Both crested and least auklet resighting data met the assumptions of the CJS model. Survival rates and recapture for both species are presented, as calculated by each of the following 4 models: {φ, p} time-dependent survival and recapture t t {φ p} time-dependent survival, constant recapture t, {φ, p} constant survival, time-dependent recapture t {φ, p} constant survival and recapture (cid:131) Least auklet plumage categories of previously banded birds were recorded when resighting, occasionally as intermediate numbers (e.g., a bird that looked darker than the average “2" but lighter than the normal “3" might have been classified as a “2.5"). Similarly, birds that were resighted on one occasion as a “2" and on another day during the same summer as a “3", for example, were entered as “2.5" for that year, since plumage was evidently somewhere on the borderline between categories. When evaluating how a particular bird’s plumage changed over the years, values were rounded off in favor of continuity. Thus, if a bird showed a plumage history from 1996-2006 of “2-2-2.5-2-2.5-2-2-2.5-2-2", it was interpreted as having remained a “2" throughout the period. (cid:131) Food habits information for least and crested auklets in 2006 was not analyzed in time to be included in this report. A separate report containing food habits data from all AMNWR sites may be issued, and, in addition, results from Kasatochi in 2006 will be presented in the 2007 summary appendices for the central Aleutian Islands. 4 INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS (cid:131) Leach’s storm-petrels were confirmed as breeding on Kasatochi for the second year in a row, with the capture of an adult with a full brood patch. Since 1996, Leach’s storm-petrels have been heard calling at night with more numerous fork-tailed storm-petrels on Kasatochi but prior to 2005, no birds had ever been caught and breeding could not be confirmed. No nests have ever been located on the island. (cid:131) Fork-tailed storm-petrel nests were located and monitored in crevices at Peregrine Ravine, Troll Talus, and Tundering Talus for the fourth year in a row. Populations were estimated by sound during numerous nocturnal ramblings at approximately 400 on Tundering Talus, at least 500 on Troll Talus, and at least 500-600 in Peregrine Ravine. Birds were also documented nesting underneath and on the slopes behind Sokolniekof Cabin, along the bluff above Guillemot Beach, on the slopes of Mt. Kasatochi, and at The Ladder at the north caldera rim. The fork-tailed population was high enough to allow for food collection for the third time on Kasatochi. More details of this species can be found in the Annotated List (Table 86). (cid:131) Red-faced cormorants experienced complete reproductive failure on Kasatochi for the second year in a row. (cid:131) Glaucous-winged gulls were observed nesting outside of the caldera for the eighth year in a row. Prior to 1999, gulls were not known to nest outside of the caldera; however, from 1999-2005 nests have been found or suspected on the grassy swales above the cliffs on the northeast side of the island, at the top of Tundering Talus, on small ledges on the cliffs of the talus, on Barabara Ridge, and on Reindeer Beach. In 2006, 4 active nests were located at the top of Tundering Talus and Barabara Ridge. (cid:131) Common and thick-billed murres did not breed successfully on Kasatochi this year and no birds were ever observed in the original colony at Turr Fjord. These species have not bred successfully on Kasatochi since 1998 and no eggs have been laid since 2001. (cid:131) Ancient murrelets bred successfully on Kasatochi for the third year in a row. Active nests were located on Troll Talus and underneath Sokolniekof Cabin. Throughout July, dozens of adult and fledglings were seen and heard at night on Troll Talus and in Peregrine Ravine. A full account of this species can be found in the Annotated List (Table 86). (cid:131) Whiskered auklets were found nesting in Peregrine Ravine, Troll Talus and on Guillemot and Snedgen beaches for the fourth year in a row. Before 2003, this species had previously been seen in small numbers at Peregrine Ravine and below The Ladder, but had not been recorded on the beaches. (cid:131) Tufted puffins were observed nesting in Tundering Talus for the eighth year in a row, suggesting that they continue to re-inhabit non-cliff areas since the introduction and removal of arctic foxes. (cid:131) A tufted puffin was found in a glaucous-winged gull pellet collected on Snedgen Beach. This is the first documented account of tufted puffins in the diet of glaucous-winged gulls on Kasatochi. (cid:131) Stejneger’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) were not observed on Kasatochi for the second year in a row, after previously being sighted for 8 consecutive years. A full description of their distinctive behavior can be found in the Annotated List (Table 86); their occurrence and numbers are documented in 5 Table 94. (cid:131) The water inside the caldera was observed bubbling for the second year in a row. Observations were made from the southern caldera rim and the gull counting hummock just north of the summit of Mt Kasatochi in early June and throughout August. The appearance and location was identical to that noted last year, although slightly less widespread this year. A detailed description can be found in Drummond and Rehder (2005). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Maureen McClintock deserves utmost thanks for her hard work, enthusiasm, and companionship throughout the field season. Greatly appreciated was the crew of the M/V Tiglax for providing safe transport, wholehearted support, and generous hospitality throughout the summer; as usual they were instrumental in the success of the monitoring program at Kasatochi. The Refuge staff at Adak, consisting of Lisa Scharf and Jeff Williams, provided excellent support and cheerful and creative radio communications. The efforts of all the people who helped collect data at Ulak and Koniuji were also immensely appreciated. Finally, as always, Jeff Williams and Vernon Byrd provided guidance and unwavering enthusiasm and without them the monitoring program would not exist. LITERATURE CITED Bailey, E. P. and J. L. Trapp. 1986. A reconnaissance of breeding birds and mammals in the east- central Aleutian Islands--Kasatochi to the Islands of Four Mountains--summer 1982, with notes on other species. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., Homer, Alas. 83 pp. Barton, D. C. and K. E. Lindquist. 2003. 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Continuation of fox eradication effort on Kasatochi Island, May 1985. U.S. Fish and 6 Wildl. Serv. Memo., Adak, Alas. 3 pp. Deines, F. G. and B. Willging. 1985. Introduced arctic fox eradication effort at Kasatochi Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, summer 1984. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., Adak, Alas. 9 pp. Drew, G. S., J. F. Piatt, G. Vernon Byrd, and D. E. Dragoo. 2003. Seabird, fisheries, marine mammal, and oceanographic investigations around Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak Islands, August, 1996 (SMMOCI 96-3). U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 03/06. Homer, Alas. 37pp. Drummond, B. A. and S. C. Kissler. 2004. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 2004: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 04/16. Adak, Alas. 115 pp. Drummond, B. A. and D. L. Rehder. 2005. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 2005: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 05/09. Adak, Alas. 113 pp. Early, T., K. Hall, and B. Minn. 1981. Results of a bird and mammal survey in the central Aleutian Islands, summer 1980. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., Adak, Alas. 185 pp. Evans, T. J., D. M. Burn, and A. R. DeGange. 1997. Distribution and relative abundance of sea otters in the Aleutian archipelago. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Tech. Rep. MMM 97-5, Anchorage, Alas. 29 pp. Fiscus, C. H., D. J. Rugh, and T. R. Loughlin. 1981. Census of northern sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) in central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 17 June - 15 July 1979, with notes on other marine mammals and birds. Natl. Oceanic and Atmos. Adm. Tech. Memo. NMFS F/NWC-17, Seattle, Wash. 109 pp. Jaggar, T. A. 1927. The Aleutian Islands. The Volcano Letter. No. 116, March 17, 1927. Hawaii Volcano Observatory, Volcano, HI. 1 p. Jones, R. D. 1963. Fox elimination--Aleutian Islands. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Memo., Adak, Alas. 3 pp. Kenyon, K. W. 1962. Sea otter studies, population and distribution (with notes on the Steller sea lion and emperor goose). Proc. Rep., U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Branch of Wildl. Res., Seattle, Wash. 47 pp. Kenyon, K. W. and D. W. Rice. 1961. Abundance and distribution of the Steller sea lion. J. Mammal. 42(2): 223-234. Merrick, R. L., T. R. Loughlin, and D. G. Calkins. 1987. Decline in abundance of the northern sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus, in Alaska, 1956-86. Fish. Bull. 85(2): 351-365. Murie, O. J. 1936. Biological investigations--Aleutian Islands and southwestern Alaska, April 23 - September 19, 1936. Unpubl. field rep., U.S. Bur. Sport Fish and Wildl. 310 pp. Murie, O. J. 1959. Fauna of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula, with notes on invertebrates and fishes collected in the Aleutians, 1936-38. North American Fauna 61, U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Washington D.C. 406 pp. 7 Scharf, L. 2000a. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, in 2000: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 00/05. Adak, Alas. 103 pp. Scharf, L. 2000b. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, in 1999: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 00/03. Adak, Alas. 104 pp. Scharf, L. 1998. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, in 1998: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 98/09. Adak, Alas. 101 pp. Scharf, L. and J. C. Williams. 1997. Biological monitoring at Kasatochi, Koniuji, and Ulak islands, Alaska in 1997: summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 97/21. Adak, Alas. 112 pp. Scharf, L., J. C. Williams, and G. L. Thomson. 1996. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 1996. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 96/11. Adak, Alas. 120 pp. Sease, J. L. and T. R. Loughlin. 1999. Aerial and land-based surveys of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska, June and July 1997 and 1998. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS- AFSC-100. 61 pp. Sekora, P. 1973. Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Wilderness Study Report. Preliminary draft. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Alas. 409 pp. Syria, S. J. 2002. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 2002:summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 02/06. Adak, Alas. 99 pp. Syria, S. J. 2001. Biological monitoring in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska in 2001:summary appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 01/09. Adak, Alas. 101 pp. Thomson, G. and J. Wraley. 1992. Results of a survey of Kasatochi Island, Alaska for arctic fox and auklets in June 1991. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., Adak, Alas. 25 pp. Williams, J. C., L. Scharf, and G. V. Byrd. 2002. Ecological monitoring methods of the Aleutian Islands Unit, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Rep., AMNWR 00/01 v.2. Adak, Alas. 351 pp. 8