Enhancing Climate Adaptation for Native Communities in Western Alaska: Linking Pollinator Diversity and Abundance to Berry Production in a Rapidly Changing Environment

Berry-producing plants, a key resource in Alaska Native communities, provide primary subsistence and have been integral to maintaining cultural cohesion, sense of place, and physical ties to the surrounding landscape. Despite the importance of berry-producing plants, relatively little is known about their vulnerability to changes in climate and environmental conditions. The dynamics of insect populations are strongly related to climate; however, very little is known about the insect pollinators of berry plants in Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. This interaction between plants and pollinators is critical to plant communities and for providing fruit resources to Indigenous communities.  

Numerous plant species depend on pollinators for fruit and seed production, and studies have shown that the diversity and abundance of pollinators significantly influence fruit production. Pollinating insects are of increasing conservation concern, but due to declining populations numerous pollinators have been or have the potential to be listed as threatened or endangered. Habitat alteration could further threaten pollinator communities and exacerbate life cycle imbalances between arctic pollinators and plants. An improved understanding of arctic pollinators is critical for developing climate adaptation and management actions to ensure the persistence of berry resources.  

This project provides information on pollinator abundance and diversity that is a critical and necessary step for forecasting potential vulnerabilities of berry producing plant communities in western Alaska. Key products and outcomes from this project include the development of baseline information on the relationships among arctic pollinators, environmental conditions, and berry production, as well as the development of K-12 educational materials tailored to Alaska Native communities.