Terrestrial Systems

  • A Bald Eagle at the top of a tree.
    Bald Eagles

    Southwest Alaska parks support large populations of Bald Eagles.

  • Evidence of insects under tree bark.
    Insect Outbreaks

    A warmer climate is known to facilitate the growth of spruce beetle and spruce aphid populations.

  • A tidewater glacier.
    Glacial Extent

    Glaciers currently cover approximately one-eighth of Southwest Alaska parks.

  • Ice from break up piles on the shore.
    Seasonal Processes

    Seasonal processes are natural cycles such as lake ice formation and breakup or snowpack accumulation and melt.

  • A bear in a salt marsh.
    Sensitive Plant Communities

    Salt marshes are important habitat to many species and are sensitive to environmental changes.

  • Researchers measure plant communities.
    Vegetation Composition and Structure

    Vegetation drives ecosystem productivity, provides habitat and forage for wildlife, and food and materials for subsistence.

  • A group of visitors watch bears at the Brooks Falls platform in Katmai National Park and Preserve.
    Visitor Use

    Identifying where visitors go in our parks and what they do helps us maintain excellent visitor experiences and protect natural resources.

Last updated: February 20, 2018

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