ArcticNet’s Eastern Newsletter In this issue:

ArcticNet project profile (2008-11) Dominique Berteaux, Gilles Gauthier Scientific priority issues

Dominique is a professor at the Université du Québec à Project profile #15 – March 2011 Rimouski; Gilles is a professor at Université Laval

Effects of climate change on the Arctic wildlife

Summary Study site locations

Many northern ecosystems are un- dergoing major shifts related to cli- mate change. An understanding of this transformation and of the sig- nificance of its consequences is criti- cal to anticipating ways in which potential negative and positive ef-

fects to wildlife populations (and ultimately humans) may be miti-

gated or used through sound man-

agement.

Arctic wildlife monitoring

First, we identify the main vulner- abilities of Arctic wildlife with regards to climate change. Second, we Bylot Island, , ,

monitor more than 30 wildlife popu- Steensby Inlet, East Bay (Southamp- lations, mostly tundra wildlife and ton Island), South Baffin Island, marine birds, at nine main study , St-Elena Island, and sites (see map). Coats Island.

Third, we use data from our own

field work and from the literature to Local collaborations

Climate change vulnerability of analyze past and present responses

Arctic wildlife of wildlife to climatic variability in Wildlife Management Board,

order to develop Impact Models. Communities of Igloolik, Coral Har-

bour, Ivujivik, Belcher Islands, Cape Our overall goal is to provide the Finally, we project some wildlife pat- Dorset, Rankin Inlet, and , wildlife-related knowledge necessary terns into the future by forcing these Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, to conduct the integrated regional Impact Models with regional climate Nunavut Field Unit of Parks , impact studies of the “Eastern Arctic” change scenarios. Staff of Sirmilik National Park of and “”, two of the four Canada, Joint Park Management regions identified by ArcticNet to Committee of Sirmilik National Park conduct regional impact studies. We of Canada, Nunavut Research Insti- work through 4 specific objectives. tute (Arctic College), Department of

Environment of Goverment of Nuna-

vut, Baffinland Iron Mine Corpora-

tion, Canadian Wildlife Service,

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Hunters and Trappers Organizations Wildlife monitoring tells us which General information of all communities located near field wildlife populations’ increase or de- sites. crease, but detailed analyses of food Contact us if you have suggestions, webs and ecosystems tell us the feedback or questions regarding the Questions to Researchers reasons of these changes. research projects presented in this newsletter. ArcticNet recognizes the importance Our third contribution is to work at models that will help us to anticipate of framing climate change issues future changes in wildlife patterns in from various perspectives. Below we are asking a few questions to the the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Al- Project contact information: project leaders in order to identify though projections into the future scientific priority issues and demon- cannot be very precise, they are still Dominique Berteaux strate how the research results can very useful to inform current wildlife Professor, Canada Research Chair in be used by policy and decisions- management decisions. Northern Ecosystem Conservation, makers in terms of community and Université du Québec à Rimouski, climate change adaptation planning Rimouski, Québec. in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. 3) Provide an example of how the [email protected] results of your project may contrib-

ute to the decision-making process Gilles Gauthier 1) From your own research perspec- with respect to these issues. Professor, tive can you identify and describe Department of Biology, the key issues that are (will be?) Wildlife management, biodiversity Université Laval, Québec. affecting social, economic or envi- conservation, and management of [email protected] ronmental conditions in the Eastern protected areas in the Eastern Arctic

Canadian Arctic? are informed and influenced by our

project. A few examples: we work

From our perspective of wildlife bi- closely with the Canadian Wildlife ArcticNet IRIS contact ologists, the key priority science Service to monitor wildlife popula- issues that need our attention are: tions of high importance to Philippe LeBlanc 1) detecting changes in wildlife dis- communities (e.g. eider ducks in the ArcticNet IRIS Coordinator tribution and abundance; 2) better Belcher Islands), we provide a large Eastern Arctic Region understanding the structure and portion of the information available Memorial University of Newfoundland functioning of food webs because to Parks Canada to monitor the eco- [email protected] they generally explain changes in logical integrity of Sirmilik National wildlife patterns; 3) elucidating the Park, we examine environmental roles of climate in wildlife distribution impacts of mining operations on and abundance; 4) modeling the Baffin Island in close collaboration effects of climate on wildlife pat- with Baffinland Iron Mines Corpora- terns; 5) projecting arctic wildlife tion, we work with the Department patterns into a warmer future. of Environment of the Government of

Nunavut to examine the ecology of

2) How will your ArcticNet project several tundra predators and help contribute to a better understanding determining best management prac- of these issues affecting the Eastern tices, etc.

Canadian Arctic?

Our first contribution is to monitor more than 30 wildlife populations Upcoming Newsletter

(mostly birds and mammals) distrib- uted from the Low to the High East- Researcher ern Arctic. There is no possibility to understand environmental issues Greg Henry affecting the Eastern Canadian Arctic without a detailed monitoring of its Research project wildlife. Our second contribution is to improve our understanding of the Impacts of Vegetation Change food webs of the Arctic and, more in the Canadian Arctic: generally, of the functioning of arctic Local and Regional Assessments ecosystems and wildlife communi- ties, including the roles of climate in structuring wildlife patterns.

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