Modelling of radiocesium transfer in the lichen-reindeer/caribou-wolf food chain

  • D. F. Holleman Institute of Arctic Biology University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, U.S.A.
  • R. G. White Institute of Arctic Biology University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, U.S.A.
  • A. C. Allaye-Chan Institute of Arctic Biology University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, U.S.A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.819
Keywords: caribou, radioactivity, environment, fallout, transfer systems, cesium, modelling

Abstract

The environmental contaminate radiocesium (cesium-137) has been shown to be of value as a marker in food selection and intake studies. Its greatest potential value as a food marker is in the subarctic/arctic regions, particularly in the lichen to reindeer/caribou to wolf food chain. A kinetic model describing the movement of radiocesium through the food chain has been developed using the SAAM computer program and is presented here. The program has been written so that the various paramenters affecting the transfer of radiocesium in the food chain can be altered more realistically to describe the system being modeled. The values of the parameters as given in this example are realistic for interior Alaska, however caution should be exercised in the application of the present results to regions that may be vastly different from the Alaskan interior without first evaluating the parameters and assumptions of the model.
Published
1990-09-01
How to Cite
Holleman, D. F., White, R. G., & Allaye-Chan, A. C. (1990). Modelling of radiocesium transfer in the lichen-reindeer/caribou-wolf food chain. Rangifer, 10(3), 39-42. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.819
Issue
Vol 10 (1990): Special Issue No. 3
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2015 D. F. Holleman, R. G. White, A. C. Allaye-Chan

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