Climate Change Linked to Berry Declines

Observation by Jordan Tanguay:

Research suggests declining berry populations. Berries are a significant form of subsistence for Alaskans, as well as a cultural symbol. I would be interested to know what organizations are beginning to see this trend, and to have conserted brainstorm projects on how to adapt to this change; harvesting from prolific areas, farming berries, how to manage with animal need for food, etc.

LEO Network says:

Thank you Jordan for your observation. Change in berry conditions and harvest is a regular and important topic in LEO Network. In 2015 LEO Network participated with USGS in a survey of statewide berry conditions, after numerous reports about changing harvest times and in some cases harvest failures. An article about this study is attached. We have copied the lead researcher Jerry Hupp in this post. Another regular collaborator and LEO Network member is Dr. Katie Spellman at UAF, also copied. A LEO Map showing other berry related posts from Southeast Alaska can be found ]here. There are other agencies (State, Federal, Tribal) involved in berry monitoring as well as academics. USFWS are cited in a related article for their work in Southeast Alaska and in the Kodiak Island area.

Comment from Gemini:

Numerous observations across Alaska, demonstrate a noticeable shift in berry seasons and yields, with climate change emerging as a dominant factor. Observers have noted variations in berry ripening times. For instance, in 2016, Sitka and Nome reported unusually early ripening of salmonberries and blueberries (Salmonberries Blooming In February, Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) Ripe Early!). Conversely, Seldovia Village experienced a significant delay in salmonberry ripening in 2023 (Salmonberries are a month late). These fluctuations in berry phenology are corroborated by research in Sitka (New Sitka research could help berry pickers adjust to climate change), which attributes these changes to altered berry development cycles due to shifting temperatures and precipitation patterns. Observations also highlight significant variations in berry abundance. While some years, such as 2016 in Anchorage, saw bountiful berry harvests (Great Berry Picking), others like 2020 in Chistochina (Not much for berries or fireweed) and 2014 in Togiak (Berry Harvest Change), experienced diminished yields and, in some cases, complete berry failures. This observation aligns with a USGS, ANTHC, and LEO Network study titled "Wild Berry Harvests Less Reliable According to Alaskan Local Observers," which concluded that wild berry harvests in Alaska are becoming unpredictable. This unpredictability underscores the need for adaptation strategies for communities reliant on berries as a crucial food source.