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While it may seem fairly easy to understand any animal's reluctance to become host to invading larvae, the issue of "1002 Sanctuary" exists and depends upon factors specific and unique to the Arctic Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is exactly the interaction of these circumstances relative to the biology of the Warble Fly, that creates the "1002 Sanctuary".

In consideration to those readers of less appetite for detail or limited time, I will attempt to first present a condensed summary.

Throughout the late spring and summer of the "1002 Sanctuary" region, from the coast to the foothills and mountains, there exists a dramatic variation in temperature. In some instances the near mountains may be 35ºF warmer than the temperatures at the coast, ie. 22ºF at the coast, while at the same time 57ºF to 60ºF in the mountains. In the example of this specific temperature gradient, the coast it is too cold for the Warbles to function whereas in the mountains, they could be active in full force. Somewhere, at some point in between the mountains and the coast, the transition region exists where temperatures too cool for the Warble Fly, effectively shuts down any fly activity.

Once the Warble Fly has emerged for the season, caribou travel according to this temperature gradient, destined to reach the region of cooler temperatures, (relief), where Warble Fly activity is suppressed or nonexistent. As the temperature gradient is always in motion, an ebb and flow of wandering current randomly streams across the coastal plain; so in the follow, the caribou are in constant motion.

When the coincidence of fly relief occurs in an area of graze that supports the nutritional needs of the caribou herd ... when the occurrence of fly relief and feed quality coincides with a region of pristine wilderness allowing the post calving aggregation to exist and function undisturbed ... the caribou have located "sanctuary".

There exists no other region comprised of these factors of sanctuary available to the great numbers of the Porcupine and Central Arctic herds. The geographical occurrence of this area of the Arctic Coastal Plain, ("1002 Sanctuary"), in proximity to the mountains, is as no other region of the North Slope of Alaska. The existence of pristine wilderness relegates this already unique geographic region to a sad testimonial of irreplaceable resource: the last undeveloped plain of the Arctic coast, the last refuge of these herds.

In a region of Warble Fly presence, if caribou are unable to access regions of Warble Fly relief, the resultant (life threatening) infestation of larvae into a single caribou can reach numbers into the thousands. The fact that the most likely areas of oil related development coincide with the most critical region of Warble Fly relief ... that the most sensitive region to afford the post-calving aggregation their disturbance free requirements will become regions of gross disturbance and surface occupancy exclusion, the caribou will be forced from their sanctuary. The rate of mortality due to increased levels of infestation could very likely cross the threshold below that of successful herd maintenance. It is entirely possible for the disruption and displacement of caribou from the "1002 Sanctuary" to result in the decline and extirpation of theses herds from this region.

I submit that this region be permanently reserved and set aside, that the human need for an intact ecosystem, whole of its' parts, is a necessary and vital component for the condition of the civilization of the human race.


	Caribou-Warble Fly-Environmental Interdependencies
While it may seem fairly easy to understand any animal's reluctance to become host to invading larvae, the issue of "1002 Sanctuary" exists and depends upon factors specific and unique to the Arctic Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is exactly the interaction of these circumstances relative to the biology of the Warble Fly, that creates the "1002 Sanctuary". In consideration to those readers of less appetite for detail or limited time, I will attempt to first present a condensed summary. Throughout the late spring and summer of the "1002 Sanctuary" region, from the coast to the foothills and mountains, there exists a dramatic variation in temperature. In some instances the near mountains may be 35ºF warmer than the temperatures at the coast, ie. 22ºF at the coast, while at the same time 57ºF to 60ºF in the mountains. In the example of this specific temperature gradient, the coast it is too cold for the Warbles to function whereas in the mountains, they could be active in full force. Somewhere, at some point in between the mountains and the coast, the transition region exists where temperatures too cool for the Warble Fly, effectively shuts down any fly activity. Once the Warble Fly has emerged for the season, caribou travel according to this temperature gradient, destined to reach the region of cooler temperatures, (relief), where Warble Fly activity is suppressed or nonexistent. As the temperature gradient is always in motion, an ebb and flow of wandering current randomly streams across the coastal plain; so in the follow, the caribou are in constant motion. When the coincidence of fly relief occurs in an area of graze that supports the nutritional needs of the caribou herd ... when the occurrence of fly relief and feed quality coincides with a region of pristine wilderness allowing the post calving aggregation to exist and function undisturbed ... the caribou have located "sanctuary". There exists no other region comprised of these factors of sanctuary available to the great numbers of the Porcupine and Central Arctic herds. The geographical occurrence of this area of the Arctic Coastal Plain, ("1002 Sanctuary"), in proximity to the mountains, is as no other region of the North Slope of Alaska. The existence of pristine wilderness relegates this already unique geographic region to a sad testimonial of irreplaceable resource: the last undeveloped plain of the Arctic coast, the last refuge of these herds. In a region of Warble Fly presence, if caribou are unable to access regions of Warble Fly relief, the resultant (life threatening) infestation of larvae into a single caribou can reach numbers into the thousands. The fact that the most likely areas of oil related development coincide with the most critical region of Warble Fly relief ... that the most sensitive region to afford the post-calving aggregation their disturbance free requirements will become regions of gross disturbance and surface occupancy exclusion, the caribou will be forced from their sanctuary. The rate of mortality due to increased levels of infestation could very likely cross the threshold below that of successful herd maintenance. It is entirely possible for the disruption and displacement of caribou from the "1002 Sanctuary" to result in the decline and extirpation of theses herds from this region. I submit that this region be permanently reserved and set aside, that the human need for an intact ecosystem, whole of its' parts, is a necessary and vital component for the condition of the civilization of the human race. CONTINUE WARBLE FLY- CARIBOU DYNAMICS All content property and © Arthur C. Smith III no reproduction without express permission and release
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