To:Dr. John Kelley

Professor

IMS/SFOS

From:Loda Griffeth

Student Intern

UAF NEWNET

Date:August 31, 2001

Subject: LICHEN RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE

Lichen Radionuclide Baseline Research

  1. Problem Definition
  2. Background –

Lichen has a high absorbance capacity for radionuclides, which varies depending on the species of lichen. (Hanson 1968). Lichen is a major source of food for caribou during the winter months. The radionuclides contained in lichen transfer to the caribou and concentrate within their tissue. Caribou is a subsistence food within Alaska. Many communities and villages depend on caribou meat for nutrition and other subsistence uses. By eating the caribou, the radionuclides are then concentrated within the human body. Since humans are primarily at the top of this food chain, the concentrated radionuclides remain within their tissue until it completes the cycle of its natural decaying process.

The periodic sampling of lichen will provide a baseline of radionuclide bioaccumulation in caribou. The information would predict whether caribou meat exceeds the safety standards set forth should an accidental release of atmospheric radiation occur.

  1. Problem Definition
  2. What are the baseline radionuclide concentrations in lichen in Alaska in 2001?
  1. Based on 2001 baseline analysis and previously published data, what are the changes in lichen bioaccumulation?
  1. Based on previously published data on caribou bioaccumulation and current lichen radionuclide baseline data, what is the bioaccumulation in caribou?
  1. Project Description.
  2. Overview
  3. Lichen and soil samples
  1. Sampling Methodology – Sampling guidelines/methods adopted from the International Technology Corporation Standard Operating Procedure for both surface soil sampling and vegetation sampling (1993).
  2. Sampling sites (See attached Map):

a)Murphy Dome

b)Wickersham Dome

c)Eagle Summit

d)Along Denali Highway (Cantwell to Paxson)

e)Donnelly Dome

f)Thompson Pass

g)Anchorage (Alpine areas)

h)Passes to Seward

  1. Criteria for sampling plot – Determined by the type of lichen and its abundance at each sampling site.
  2. Process.

a)Lichen Sampling.

(1)Sample size is a 1/4-meter area. If low abundance of lichen, a smaller area will be used and annotated.

(2)Collect lichen within area and place in 1 gallon Ziploc plastic bag.

(3)Take three lichen samples at each site.

b)Soil Sampling.

(1)Sample size is a corer with 5-centimeter diameter and a 10-centimeter maximum length.

(2)Depth is 0 – 5 centimeters and 5 – 10 centimeters.

(3)Take 1 soil sample per plot and 1-2 more samples outside of plot area

c)Transects (i.e. Denali highway).

(1)Transect is 300-meters in length.

(2)Samples taken every 50-meters.

(3)Lichen and soil sampling will be the same.

  1. Sample storage

a)Samples refrigerated until dried.

b)Dried and ashed samples stored in 1-gallon Ziploc bags inside action packer.

  1. Sample recording

a)Coding samples is a pre-existing coding system used by ADEC (see attached key).

b)Samples will be logged in field book when samples are taken with appropriate coding, wet weight, date sample retrieved, and Global Positioning System (GPS) location.

c)Plastic bags will be marked with appropriate coding and date.

  1. Sampling archiving/preservation –

a)Samples stored in cold storage until dried.

b)Dried and ashed samples stored in large plastic bins.

c)Lab notebook used with field notebook to annotate each sample and procedures.

  1. Analysis for both lichen and soil samples.

a)Determine sample mass upon immediate return to building.

Scale: Navigator Balances by Ohaus Corporation, Model Number N0H110.

b)Dry samples at 100-degrees centigrade.

Oven: Precision Scientific Thelco Laboratory Oven, Model Number 130DM

c)Ash samples at 450-degrees centigrade.

Oven:

d)Radiation gamma spectroscopy analysis conducted on premises.

Gamma Ray Spectrometer:

e)Quality Analysis:

  1. Products:
  2. Data to be included in appropriate database at UAF and NEWNET project.
  3. Data and final reports available for public and professional journal.
  4. Poster paper for presentation at technical conference.
  1. Quality Objectives
  2. Establish composition and spatial distribution of anthropogenic and natural radionuclides in Alaska.
  3. Provide baseline for detecting future changes.
  4. Assess known and potential indicator species.
  5. Derive correlation between baseline lichen data and NEWNET stations and remote sites.
  1. Documents and Records
  2. Tag individual samples
  3. ID samples
  4. Sample numbers
  5. Location on filed maps and GPS coordinates
  6. Sample weights
  7. Environmental conditions at sample site
  8. Photographic documentation for each sample area and plot
  1. Report Archiving
  2. Data stored in database.
  3. Data accessible via the NEWNET web site,
  1. Assessment and Oversight