Narwhal Surveys and Associated Marine Mammal Observations in Admiralty Inlet, Nav~ Board Inle!; .and Eclipse Sound, Baffin Islana, . N.W.T., During 1974 -1976
B. W. Fallis, W. E. Klenner and J. B. Kemper
~ Western Regio 'P\ H~", t Department otr heries ana~~ eans Winnipeg, Ma ' tob ~1A fR{£TI9~ ~ ~;f/.,. , ~ ~.. "'Al BRAn, \\\~ • December 1983 --~ Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences No. 1211 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences These report s co ntain sc ientific and techni ca l inform ation that rep rese nts an import ant co ntribution to ex istin g knowledge but which for so me reason ma y not be appropriate for primary scientific (i .e. Journal) publication. Technical Reports are directed primarily towards a wo rldwide a udience and have a n international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter a nd the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Depa rtment of Fis heri es a nd Oceans, namely, fisheries manage ment , tec hnol ogy and developm ent. ocea n sc iences, and aq uatic environments releva nt to Ca nada. Tec hnica l Report s ma y be cited as full publications. 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Les numeros 1-456 de cett e se ri e ont ete publies a titre de Ra pport s tec hniques de l'Office des recherches sur les pec heri es elu Canada. Les numeros 457 -714, a titre de Ra pport s techniques de la Direct ion ge nerale de la rec herche et elu developpement, Service des pec hes et de la mer, mini stere de l'Envi ronn eme nt. Les numeros 715-924 ont ete publies ,1 titre de Ra pports tec hniques du Service des pec hes et de la mer, M ini ste re des Pec hes et de l'E nvi ron nement. Le nom de 18 se rie a ete mod ifie a partir d u nllmero 925. La pa ge co uve rture port e Ie nom ele I'e tabli sse ment a uteu r ou I'o n peut se procure r les ra ppo rt s SO LI S co uve rtllre ca rt onn ee . Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1211 December 1983 NARWHAL SURVEYS AND ASSOCIATED MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVATIONS IN ADMIRALTY INLET, NAVY BOARD INLET, AND ECLIPSE SOUND, BAFFIN ISLAND, N.W.T., DURING 1974 - 1976 by B. W. Fallis, W. E. Klenner a~d J. B. Kemper Western Region Department of Fisheries and Oceans Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 This is the 162nd Technical Report from the Western Region, Winnipeq ii © Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1983 Cat. no. Fs 97-6/1211 ISSN 0706-6457 Correct citation for this publication is: Fallis, B.W., W.E. Klenner, and J.B. Kemper. 1983. Narwhal surveys ann associated marine mammal observations in Admiralty Inlet, Navy Board Inlet, and Eclipse Sound, Baffin Island, N.W.T., dlJrinq 1974-1976. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1211: iv + 20 p. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Fiaure Pilqe 6 Transects used to sample Admiral ty Inlet durinQ systematic aerial ABSTRACT/RESUME iv in Auqust 1976 ...... " 18 7 Fliqht paths of reconnaissance I NTRODUCTI ON 1 surveys flown in Nav.v Board Inlet and Eclipse Sound durinQ July and STUDY AREA 1 Auqust 1975 ...... 19 8 Fliqht paths of reconnaissance METHODS 1 surveys flown in Navy Board Inlet and Ecl ipse Sound durinCJ AUQust RESULTS 2 1976 ...... 20 Ice conditions 2 Systematic surveys 2 Reconnaissance surveys •. .. 3 Narwhal movement into Admiralty Inlet 3 Narwhal distribution in Admiralty Inlet 3 Narwhal behaviour 4 Other speci es 4 Beluqa .. . 4 Bowhead .. . 4 Rinaed seal . 4 Bearded seal 4 Harp seal . 4 DISCUSSION . . . 5 Survey desiqn . 5 Systemat i c surveys ...... 5 Narwhal movement patterns and distribution 6 Other species 6 RECOMMENDATIONS 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8 REFERENCES . . . 8 LIST OF TABLES Table PaQe 1 Narwhal densities and popu 1at i on indices for systematic surve,Vs flown in Admiralty Inlet. 1975-76 10 2 Reconnaissance surveys flown in the study area durin9 1975 . 11 3 Reconnaissance surveys flown in the study area durinQ 1976 . 12 LIST OF FIGURES Fiqure Paoe 1 The study area on northern Baffin Island. N.W.T. 13 2 Transects used to sample Admiral- ty Inlet durinq systematic aerial surveys in 1975 14 3 FliQht paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inl et durinQ July 1975 15 4 FliCJht paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet durinQ August 1975 16 5 Fl i Qht paUls of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet durinq Auoust 1976 17 iv AflSHACT qui ont emprunt~ l'inlet de l'Amiraute pendant, avant et apres 1a sa i son d' eau 1 i bre. Tres pell Fallis, 8.1>/., '>I.E. Klenner, anrl J.B. Kemper. de b~lougas (!Jelphinapterus leucas) ont ~te 1qiB. tJanll1a 1 surveys and associ ated aper~lIs au cours des deux anneescretude. Le 28 narine maMmal observations in Admi ral ty juillet 1975, on a observe trois baleines Inlet, ~Javy [loard Inlet, and Eclipse boreales (Balaena r.1ysticetus) au centre de Sound, Raffin Island, N.W.T., during 1974- l'inlet de l'Amraute. Les narvals n'ont pas 1971). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. souvent frequente les baies et les anses du cote 1211 : iv+20p. est de l'inlet en 1975 et en 1976, mais on en a aper~us a quelques reprises dans la partie Reconnaissance and systematic surveys were centrale des d~troits Strathcona et Adams. flown in Admiralty Inlet and adjacent waters Alors que le phoque du Groenland (Phoca groen during the open water season from 1974 to 1976 landica) abondait dans l'inlet de ~a~ to determine marine namal utilization pat 1975, on a note une diminution dans le nombre et terns. An estimate of Q 6R3 narwhal Ulonodon la taille des groupes de phoques dans la partie monoceros) in central Admi ralty Inl et was centrale de 1 'inlet en 1976. recorded on 28 July 1Q75 with a subsequent decl ine in numbers in August. In 1976, narwhal utilization was less than the level observed in 110ts cl efs: rel eves aen ens; mammiferes aquat 1975 with an estimated 1 614 whales present on i ques; tlonodon monoceros; Bal aena 14 August. Aerial surveys indicated substantial mysticetus; Phoca groenlandica. variations in the timing of narwhal movement into Admiralty Inlet between 1975 and 1976. Fl uctuations in the number of narwhal util izing Admi ralty Inl et between and withi n seasons were al so recorded. Bel uga (Del phi napterus 1eucas) were uncommon in the study area durln~ years. On 23 July 1975, three bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were observed in central Adrqiralt.Y Inlet. fJarwhal util ized bays and inlets on the east side of Admiralty Inlet infrequently during both 1975 and 1976 but were observed in the central portion of Strathcona and Adams sound on occasion. Harp seals (Phoca groenl andi ca) were very abundant in 1975 lilita decrease in size of groups and frequency of occurrence of groups indicated lower utilization of central Admiralty Inlet by harp seals in 1976. Key words: Aerial surveys; aquatic Mammals; t~onodon monoceros; Ba 1aena mys ti- cetus; Phoca groenl andl ca. -- RESUtlE Fallis, B.W., W.[. Klenner, and J.B. Kemper. 19R3. tJarwhal surveys and associated marine mammal observations in Admiralty Inlet, t.lavy Board Inlet, and Eclipse Sound, Baffin Island, N.W.T., during 1974- 1976. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1211: iv + 20 p. De 1074 a 1976, on a effectu~ des vols de reconnaissance syst~natiques au-des sus des eaux de l'inlet de l'Amiraute et des eaux adjacentes afin de determiner 1 'emploi qu'en font les nam mi feres mari ns qui 1es empruntent 1orsqu' ell es sont libres de glace. Le 28 juillet 1Q75, on a estiMe a Q 683 le nombre de narvals U40nodon monoceros) dans l'inlet de l'Amiraute, nombre qui a diminue au cours du mois suivant. Le 14 aout 1976, on a estime a 1 614 le nombre de nar vals ayant emprunte l'inlet, soit une diminution par rapport a 1971). Se 1on 1es re 1 ev~s a~ri ens, il v a eu des variations considerables dans l'emploi que firent les narvals rle l'inlet de l'Amiraute entre 1975 et 1976. On a ~galement not~ des fluctuations dans le nombre de narvals 1 I NTI{Of)UCTI ON portions of Admiralty and Navy Board inlets beqins to break up as the season progresses with In June 1974, an agreement was signed 9/10 pack ice predomi nant by 23 Ju 1y in an hetween the Government of Canada and Mi nera 1 average year. Ice breaklJp continues to proceed Resources International Ltd. to develop a lead from north to south in Admiralty Inlet with open zinc mine at Strathcona Sound (73°05'N; 84°40'W) water usually prevailing by approximately 6 on northern Baffin Island. Since the effects of AUGUSt. Open pack-ice (2-5/10) may persist in increased industrial activity and shipping on Ec 1 ipse Sound somewhat longer with open water tile marine mammal resources were not known, a predomi nant by 13 August (Markham 1981). baseline study of marine mammals utilizing the Freeze-up begins over much of the study area by req i on was proposed to document predeve 1opment 1 October with very close pack-ice conditions conditions. Before 1974, information on the (9/10) common b.v 15 October and a cont i nuous distribution, abundance and migration patterns cover of fast ice bv 30 October. Wide vari a of marine marmlals in the vicinity of Admiralty tions in the above pattern often occur; there Inlet was limited. A compilation of hunter may be open water as early as Ju 1y, or moderate information by Bissett (196B) indicated general pack may persist through August. di stri but i on and abundance trends for the spe cies harvested by local Inuit. While the pre Surface currents in Admiralty Inlet are sent stud.v was des i gned to focus on Admi ra lty characteri zed by a counterc1 ockwi se gyre with Inlet and nearby waters, concurrent investiga incoming waters flowing down the west shore of tions by Greendale and Brousseau-Greendale Admiralty Inlet and exiting along the east shore (1976). Johnson et al. (1976) and Renewable (Dirschl 1982). Water depths in Admiralty Inlet Resources (1977) in 1976 documented marine mam are vari able. ranging from approximately 300 m mal mi grat i on patterns and abundance in eastern at the entrance to Lancaster Sound to 700 m in Lancaster Sound. centra 1 areas. Informat i on on water turbi di ty in Admiralty Inlet is not available but Secchi This study, initiated in 1974. was di sc readi ngs of 6 to 13 m have been recorded des i gned to provi de i nformat i on on the abund in Strathcona Sound (B.C. Research 1975). ance, distribution and movement patterns of mari ne mama ls ut il i zi ng waters surroundi ng the 80rden Peni nsu 1a. As part of a more general program (Kemper 1976), it was expected that the METHODS data collected might subsequently be used to assess the effects of mine development and ship To achieve an understanding of the numbers ping on bioloqical resources in the reqion. and movement patterns of marine mammals in the study area, a combination of transect and recon naissance surveys were flown. In both 1975 and 1976, systematic surveys were restricted to STUDY AREA Admiralty Inlet. Reconnaissance surveys were flown along the shoreline (due to aircraft con The study area is located on the north straints) of Admiralty Inlet in 1974 and over coast of Baffin Island (Fig. 1). Systematic Admiralty Inlet, Navy Board Inlet and Eclipse surveys were centered on Admiralty Inlet; recon Sound in 1975 and 1976. Reconnaissance flights naissance surveys were flown over a wide reqion were conducted to evaluate movement patterns' and from Cape York- (73°50'N; 87"00'W) to Pond Inlet areas of marine mammal concentration within the (72°42'N; 78°00'W). The study area is part of study area before flyi ng systemat i c transects. the Lancaster plateau and is within the Arctic Approximately 50 hours of helicopter flight time lowlands physiographic region (Bostock 1970). were available for marine mammal surveys in 1975 Much of the underlying Precambri an rock in this and 1976. In addition to specific whale sur region is overlain with sedimentary strata dis veys. mari ne mamal s were frequent ly seen and rupted by belts of Prec ambri an materi a 1 (Thor recorded duri ng polar bear and seabi rd surveys. steinsson and Tozer 1970). Arctic Bay. Pond A concurrent seabi rd and polar bear monitori ng Inlet and Nanisivik are permanent settlements in program (Kemper 1976) necessitated a survey the study area. Residents of Pond Inlet and design which would satisfy multiple objectives. Arctic Bay have traditionally harvested local Since seal populations are best evaluated during marine mammals as a source of food and cash the hau10ut period in June (Stirling et al. income (ivory and pelts). To the local Inuit, 1982), seals recorded throughout the present both Admiralty Inlet and the Navy Board Inlet open water surveys i ndi cate presence or absence Eclipse Sound region are important seal and only. Information on narwhal behaviour was whale hunting areas (Bissett 1968; Dirschl recorded opportuni st i call y whenever undi sturbed 1982) • social interactions were observed. The climate of the region is characterized Surveys were flown using a Jet Ranger 206B by along wi nter (ear ly September to mi d-June) helicopter in 1974 and 1975 and an Alouette II with mean January and July temperatures of -28°C in 1976. Two or three observers occupying the to -32°C and +5°C to +8°C respectively (Maxwell front 1eft and rear passenger seats were used 1981) • during all flights. During 1975 and 1976. reconnaissance flights were flown at 65 to 122 m The open water peri od in Lancaster Sound a. s. 1. (wi th the exception of a short survey at and Admiralty Inlet shows considerable annual 350 m a.s.l. in 1976). Animals within an esti variation (Lindsay 1977, 1982). In an average mated 215 m of each si de of the ai rcraft were year, the ice cover in Lancaster Sound recedes recorded during surveys in 1975. In 1976, to the northeast coast of Somerset Is 1 and by marine mammals were recorded within an estimated early July (Markham 1981). Ice in the northern 400 m of each side of the aircraft. 2 Survey lines in A.dmiralty I~let were ini Information on ice conditions in the study tially dt>siqned as syste'natically spaced tran area was compi 1ed duri nq s ystemat i c and recon sects b'Jt wert> later altered since the survey naissance surveys. In adrlition, general ice aircraft was not e'luipped with an electronic conditions summarized in an ice atlas (Lindsay navi1at i on system, The use of 1andmarks and 1977, 1982) were incorporated to form a more dead reckoni nq to navi aate transects necess i complete representation of ice conditions. tated modifications which resulted in minor d~vi ations from a true systematic desiqn. Several limitations and biases associated Chanqes involved vari ations in transect spacina with the survey procedure beca'lle evi dent duri nq and nonparallel transects in some cases (Fig. the course of the study. The di ffi culty 2 \. These modi fi cat ions were cons i dered i nsuf encountered in eva1uatinq seal observations has ficient to affect the overall desiqn and in sub been mentioned earlier and precludes estimatinq se'luent analyses, these surveys were treated as the seal population in Admiralty Inlet. Narwhal standard systematic surveys. detectability is influenced by nUMerous factors including the aircraft used, survey altitude, Systematic transects were flown at alti transect width and observer experience or fati tudes of 91 to 152 m a. s. 1. and est imated qround gue. In addition, other variables inc1udinn speeds of BO to 160 km per hour. Observers 1i ght, sea st ate and ice condit ions can affect recorded all marine mammals observed within an the observers abi 1ity to see whales. 8eh avi our estimated 400 m of the aircraft to produce an and group size are probably of major importance overall tally for each transect. The number of since these factors influence the detectabi1ity under-aircraft whales which were not counted was of whales on the surface and the proportion of minimized bv excellent forward and downward whales under water and not visible. Since visibility from the front observers position. insufficent data precluded the use of correction All whales within the transect strip were factors to· offset the limitations and biases counted including neonate calves (which only indicated above, the estimates presented in this accounted for 2 or 3 percent of the total). report are best interpreted as nopu 1at i on Off-transect animals were not recorded. Since indices which are probably influenced by survey pinnipeds are difficult to evaluate durinq the methods. open water period, a population index has been calculated only for narwhal. Minor differences in transect area and RESULTS hiqh variability in the number of narwhal between transects of e'lua1 1enqth led to the use ICE CONDITIONS of the density estimate bas~d on equal area transects outlined in Jolly (1969) and CauQh1ey In 1975, ice breakup started earlier than (1977) to ca1cu1 ate an estimate of narwhal in in a "normal year" with open water present in the area under survey. The mp.an number and Lancaster Sound to the northeast corner of variance of narwhal from a given survey was Somerset Island by mid-June (Lindsay 1982). obtained by: Admiralty Inlet remained covered by In/l0 fast ice until early July. By mid-July, eastern ~ (N-n) Admiralty Inlet was open with only scattered ice Ny and Var(y) Y n re'llaininq while the west side remained covered where with 7-10/10 ice. Pond Inlet, Eclipse Sound and Navy Board Inlet remained covered with 7-10/10 Y = the population estimate ice. 8y 26 July, much of northern Navy Board N = the number of sampling units in the Inlet was open water and by 28 July, all of area under survey Admiralty Inlet was open wit~ only scattered ice n = the number of samp1 inq units (tran pans remaining. sects) y = the number of animals on individual Ice breakup in 1976 was approximately two transects weeks later; large ice pans and land-fast ice y- = the average number of animals per persisted in Admiralty Inlet until mid-Auqust. transect over the n transects Simi larly, much of Eclipse Sound and Navy Board Inlet rellained ice covered with numerous leads sampled until at least 11 August. Central Admiralty Inlet in the vicinity of Yeoman Island had = _1_ S2 {~ 2 _ (ly)2} the vari ance of extensive ice pans and shoreline ice persistina y n-l IY n the transects until 14 Auqust. sampled SYSTEMATIC SURVEYS Where obvious differences in density existed within the census area, regions of simi Durina 1975 and lQ76, seven systematic lar densitv were arouped into blocks and mean surveys were flown for which an estimate of the estimates calculated for each. The overall number of narwhal in the census area was calcu estimate was derived by summina individual block lated (Table 1). Transects were initially estimates. This procedure was necessary since designed to sample all of Admiralty Inlet north all transects did not represent e'lua1 areas of Yeoman Island (Fia. 2) but the complete area within the survey and an estimate based on was never covered durinq a single survey. Con averaqe density would have been bi ased by small sequently, the estimates of narwhal presented in regions of hiah or low density. Table 1 represent only the area under ~lrvey and probably form an overly conservative estimate of 3 the number of narwh a 1 ut i1 i zi nQ Admi ra lty In 1et Duri nQ 1975 and 1976, a total of 4 175 kfl1 at a qiven time. Since the area under survey, of reconnai~sance surveys were flown in coastal the reQion b~inQ surveyed and th~ sampli~q ann offshore zones in the studv arf~a (Table 2, intensity varied b~tween surveys, comparisons 3). AlthoUQh di fferences in fl i Qht path (off ar~ restricted to surveys flown under similar shore vs coastline), survey altitude, siahtino conditions. conditions and transect width preclude cOI~pari sons between years and surveys wit,'lin a year, The results of surveys on 28 July and 9 these surveys indicated movements and distribu Auqust 1975 indicate how variable the number of tion patterns. narwhal occurrinQ in central Admiralty Inlet can be within one season. Althouqh the northern transects were not flown until 10 AUQust, the NARWHAL MOVEMENT INTO ADMIRALTY INLET low estimated nUJ11ber of narwhal recorded on 9 AUQust (2 117) and 10 August (961) indicate many On 26 July 1975, a 1 arge group of narwhal of the animals recorcied on 28 July (9 683) had (approx. 800-1 200) was observed movina into left Admiralty Inlet. Admiralty Inlet along the northwest shore of the Borden Peninsula. Narwhal were spread out Surveys flown on 9 and 15 Auqust 1976 in between Cape Charles Yorke and Baillarge Bay and northern Admiralty Inlet indicate a different swam near the surface at an estimated five km trend from that observed in 1975 when the esti per hour. Within this large diffuse herd, many mated number of narwhal decreased after 28 narwhal were grouped into tiqht pods of five to July. In 1976, surveys on 9 and 15 August eight animals with distinct spaces between resulted in estimates of 443 and 1 507 narwhal pods. This type of migratory behaviour con respectively, indicatinq an increase in the num trasts with later surveys when feedinq or loaf ber of narwhal usinq northern Admiralty Inlet as inq behaviour was predominant. Most o~ the nar the season proqressed. Althouqh indicative of whal observed on this survey were within a kilo the low number of narwhal present, the 9 Auqust metre of shore and many were within a hundred 1976 survey J11ust be interpreted with caution metres. Prior to this survey, two qroups of since the estimate is based on only two qroups narwhal had been reported from the west shore of of 5 and 2B narwhal. Admiralty Inlet. On 19 July, a helicopter pilot (Georqe Jones Okanaqan Hel icopters Ltd.) Surveys flown on 14 and 15 Auqust 1976 in observed an estimated 150 narwhal movinq north central and northern Admiralty Inlet suqgest the along the west shore of A1miralty Inlet across hi9h number of narwhal observed on 28 July 1975 from Strathcona Sound. A second qroup of do not occur in all years. An overall estimate approximately 300 narwhal movinq south was noted of narwh~l utilizinq Admiralty Inlet (approx. near Cape Crauford on the west side of Admiralty 6 680 km ) cannot be inferred from the present Inlet on the same day. The laroe number of nar surveys since narwhal could easi ly be counted whal observed on 26 July is representative of twice or missed entirely if surveys on consecu the influx of whales into Admiralty Inlet tive days are added. In addition, heteroQeneotJs between 26 and 28 July. As indicated by recon densities within the area under survey indicate nai ssance surveys flown on 23 to 25 Ju ly, few the problems associated with extrapolatinQ ~ean narwhal are thouqht to have been present prior survey dens it i es to the remai nder of Admi ra lty to 25 July. The hiqh number of narwhal indi Inlet. The estimates presented in Table 1 cated by the systematic survey on 28 July illus shoul d therefore be interpreted as conservat i ve trates the rapid increase in narwhal utilizinq estimates of the number of narwhal utilizinq Admiralty Inlet between 25 and 28 July. Admiralty Inlet durinq a survey. In 1976, the initial rqovement of narwhal into Admiralty Inlet was not recorded since RECONNAISSANCE SURVEYS numerous whales were noted in central Admiralty Inlet when the first reconnaissance survey was In Auqust 1974, five reconnaissance sur flown on 8 Auqust. The rapid increase in num veys were flown alonq the ea~tern shore of Admi bers subsequent to the initial siqhting of nar ralt,Y Inlet between Cape Cunninqham and Ship whal in Admiralty Inlet in 1975 was not' observed Point. Narwhal were observed on two surveys in 1976. Surveys on 14 and 15 AUQust indicate during the last week in AU9ust when 50 and 200 narwhal utilization of central Admiralty Inlet narwhal were noted near the entrance to Adams did not reach the level recorded in 1975. Sound. During a brief reconnaissance flight on 12 AUQust 1974, Hay and McClung (1976) observed 183 narwhal and two beluqa in central Admiralty NARWHAL DISTRIBUTION IN ADMIRALTY INLET Inlet. On this survey, most narwhal were observed along the west shore of Admiralty Inlet Information on narwhal utilization pat from the Turner Cliffs to Kakiak Point and near terns was compi led durinq both reconnaissance the centre of the Inlet between Stephens Head and systematic surveys.' In 1975, narwhal land and Cape CunninQham. In early September, a appeared to prefer the west shore of Admiralty group of 12 narwhal was observed in Strathcona Inlet, especially in late July and early Aug Sound near Nanisivik. Subsequent reports by ust. On 28 July, all of the 1 198 narwhal Inuk residents of nan/hal in Strathcona Sound observed durinq a systematic survey were within indicate that substantial use is made of the several kilometres of the west shore (with most area by this species. There appears to be a animals within several hundred metres of tendency towards qreater utilization in late shore). On 4 Auqust, narwhal were aQain concen AU9ust and early September when narwhal start trated alonq the west shore. Narwhal were more makino their way north out of Admiralty Inlet common in central areas of Admiralty Inlet dur into Lancaster Sound. i nq a survey flown on 9 AUCltJst and on 23 Auqust, 4 central and eastern regions were being uti OTHER SPECIES I i zed. Beluqa In 1976, utilization patterns were marked ly different. Specific regions of high concen BeluCla (Delphinapterus leucas) were infre tration were not observed and narwhal appeared quently observed durinq the study and did not to be widely scattered within the area being appear to extensively utilize Admiralty Inlet or surveyed. other parts of the study area. In 1975, only one cow-calf pair was observed aoproximately Althouqh large numbers of whales were not 400 m offshore at Cape Crauford. Two small observed south of Yeoman Is 1and, small groups bel uCla herds were observed in Admiralty Inlet in were recorded in thi s area on occas i on. On 2 1976. On 13 August, 17 beluqa (mostly adults) August 1975, aoproximately 40 narwhal (primari ly were noted alonq the east shore between Bail females and calves) were reported near Sanuarer large Bay and St"rathcona Sound while on 14 AUq suk Island. On the same day, Inuk hunters kill ust: six animals were observed north of Yeoman ed several narwhal on the west shore of Admiral Island in central Admiralty Inlet. In the Navy ty Inlet acroSs from Iglorsuit Island. Board Inlet region, a single beluqa was recorded near Adams Island on 9 August 1976. Inlets on the east side of the Admiraltv Inlet do not appear to be frequently utilized by Bowhead narwhal. Since all flights originated at Nani sivik or Arctic Bay, an attempt was made to sur Bowhead whales (Bal aena m~sticetus) were vey (at least part i ally) either Strathcona or encountered in the study area on yonce. Three Adams Sound during departure or return. Narwhal bowhe ads were observed in Admi r a lty In 1et on 28 were observed in Adams Sound on 9 and 16 August July 1975 durinq a systematic survey. Two 1975 (2 and 26 narwhal respectively) and on 14 whales were recorded several kilometres north of August 1976 (9 narwhal). In addition, Inuk hun Kakiak Point on the west shore and a third was ters killed 11 narwhal in Arctic Bay on 10 Aug observed near Peter Richards Islands. An uncon ust 1975. While narwhal do utilize both Strath firmed report received the previous da,y of three cona and Adams sounds, thei r unpredi ctab 1e and bowhead whales on the west shore of Admiralty short term use of these areas has resu lted in In 1et 30 km south of Kak i ak Poi nt fI1ay have been most huntinq traditionally takinCl place along the same animals. the west shore of Adl'liralty Inlet. Ringed seal Though indicative of narwhal distribution in 1975 and 1976, the utilization patterns out- Ringed seal (Phoca hispida) were common 1i ned above remai n tent at i ve due to infrequent throuqhout the study area and were Observed on surveys and limited coveraqe within a survey. most surveys. No region within the study area In Cleneral, the above descriptions indicate was noterl as having either markedly high or low areas frequently utilized and the variability densities. The difficulties associated with within and between years. enumerating seals during the open water period preclude a population index for this species. NARWHAL BEHAVIOUR Bearded seals Since surveys were des i qned to evaluate Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) appear the rlistribution and numbers of narwhal, ed to be uncommon in the study area and were behavioural observations were recorded only when identified only twice durinCl surveys in 1975 and soci ali nteract ions were noted. One form of 1976. The low frequency of sightinCls may be social behaviour which was observed on several related to poor sightinCl conditions durinq the occas ions i nvo 1ved pro 1on qed contact and i nter ooen water period. This species was seen fre action between animals in a group. Narwhal were quently during visits to the Baillarqe Bay observed lyinq alongside one another or in a northern fulmar colony (Kemper 1976). pi nwhee 1 arran Clement , often with thei r tusks crossing or lying over another animal's back. Harp seal On occasion, one narwhal was observed rubbing the body of another whale with its tusk. Harp seal (Phoca groenlanrjica) were very SchweinsburCl (1976) illustrated some of the common in Admiraltyrniet durinq 1975 when larqe observed interactions. This type of social groups (50-500+) were often observed in the behaviour was observed on 27 July 1975 and again water or basking on ice floes. In 1975, large on 8 and 10 ,ll,ugust 1976. Silverman (1979) pro groups in excess of 100 ani mal s were common in vi des a comprehens i ve di scuss i on of these and July. By AUClust, these aqgregations had appa other closely related behaviours. Precise rently broken apart since most sightings were of information on the age-sex composition of ani small groups of one to thirty seals. In 1976, mals involved in qroup interactions was not harp seals did not appear to utilize Admiralty recorded but it appears most animals involved Inlet to the extent noted in the previous year. were males. OccaSionally, females were observed In early AUqust, larqe rafts of seals were not in or near qroups of "1 a 1es i nvo 1ved in tusk observed. Groups of less than 75 animals were crossing or body rubbinq activities. Social most common. Groups of one to fi fty harD seal interactions of this type appear to be most corn were observed occasionally durinCl the remainder man early in the open water season, occurrinq of surveys in 1976 but the number of animals with greatest frequency shortly after narwhal utilizing Admiralty Inlet appeared to be much arrived in Admiralty Inlet. lower than in 1975. Harp seals were recorded on surveys in Navy Boarn Inlet and Ecl ipse Sound 5 hilt sufficient information to evaluate their be attributed to different teams of observers. abundance in 1975 and 1976 is not availahle. No attempt has been Inade to apply correc tion factors to the narwhal tally fran each sur vey to compensate for whales on the surface but OISCUSSION not counted, animals under water and not visible or left-right side visibility biases. The ana lysis of left-right side observer bias was con SURVEY OESIllN founded by the - lack of observer continuity between surveys and the 1ack of separate 1eft The surveys outlined in this report repre ri ght side i nformat i on for Some surve vs. The sent an initial attempt to document the numbers proportion of whales visible on the' surface and utilization patterns of marine mammals in wh i ch are counted depends on numerous factors Admi ra lty In 1et. Although systemat i c surveys including narwhal behaviour, qroup size, observ were intended to form an estimate of the narwhal er experi ence, ai rcraft speed and transect population utilizing Admiralty Inlet, the esti width. Davis and Evans (1982) indicated that mates should be considered population indices beluga are not equally detectable at increasinq comparable only to surveys flown under similar distance from the flight path. Although not conditions. directly applicable to the present surveys, Davi s et al. (1982) reported procenures used in The use of prominent landmarks for naviga the Beaufort Sea to evaluate the prODortion of tion precluded employinq randomly located tran bowhead whales which are visible but not counted sects which are desirable for an unbiased popu and derive a correction factor to provide a less lation estimate (Cochran 1977). Since the tran biased population estimate. A second correction sects chosen di d not appear to coi nci de with factor to adjust the estimate to account for periodicities in narwhal distribution, a biased submerged and not visible bowheads was derived estimate is not expected (Caughley 1977). Simu from behavioural observations. Comparable lation studies by Caughley indicate estimates information on narwhal behaviour and detect derived from systematic transects are usually abi 1 ity was not avail able for Admiralty Inlet, unbiased and as precise as those obtained using therefore, correct i on factors were not app 1 i ed random sampling. One qeneral drawback of sys to the raw counts whi ch may be bi ased toward a tematic surveys relates to the calculation of conservative estimate. However, unlike the tur the standard error and the unknown influence of bid waters in the Beaufort Sea, clear waters in autocorrelation between transects on this para the study area should have reduced the probabi meter. lity of omitting submerged whales from the tally. Several aspects of the survey methodology relating to observer bias and visibility of nar Although the biases discussed above cannot whal may have influenced the estimate. Survey be corrected in the present surveys, most wi 11 altitude within and between surveys was not con result in lower estimates of narwhal than are stant and this probably influenced the estimated actually present. In qeneral, the population transect width. Although transect width was indices reported here provide a conservative recorded as a constant 400 m on each side of the estimate of narwhal in the survey area. aircraft for each survey, this varied so~ewhat with changes in altitude. As lonq as the ini tial estimate of 400 m on each side of the SYSTEMATIC SURVEYS flight path remains accurate, random variations in altitude within a survey should cancel and The estifllated number of narwhal recorded not seriously bias the area bein~ sampled. on 28 July 1975 probably forms a conservative Since strut and window marks (Stirling et al. estimate of the number of narwhal utilizing 1982) are difficult to implement on - a heli Admiralty Inlet. This survey covered approxi copter, the use of an i ncl i nometer and altitude matel.y one third of Admiralty Inlet north of information (Davis et al. 1982) would have pro Iglorsuit Isl and and although the recorded den vided a more accurate estimate of transect sity can not be extrapolated to the entire width. The use of a low survey altitude may In 1et, some narwh a 1 were prob ab 1y present out have biased the survey towards a lower estimate side the area surveyed. In a report outlininq a as a combi nat i on of two factors. He 1 i copter systematic aeri al slJrvey flown on 24 Aug1lst noise is substantial at the altitude flown and 1978, Koski and Davis (1979) estimated approxi may have resulted in an unknown number of nar mately 7 000 narwhal in Admiraltv Inlet. This whal reactinq to the survey aircraft and divin9 survey indicates that the high number of narwhal before hei ng tall i ed. In add it i on, decreased estimated to be present on 28 July 1975 is not ohservabil ity of whales at the periphery of the an ano'TIaly and that numerous narwhal often uti- transect strip when transects are flown at low 1ize Admiralty Inlet durinG the open water per altitude (Davis and Evans 1(32) rnay have bi ased iod. ~Jhen cOf11pared to population estimates of the estimate. The use of inexperienced observ narwhal uti 1 izing the Canadi an Arctic, it is ers during several surveys incorporates a con evident that a substantial proportion utilize foundinq factor which is difficult to evaluate. Admiralty Inlet. Mansfield et al. (1975) I nexperi enced ohservers often underest imate the reported a conservative estimate of 10 000 nar number of animals present (Caughley et al. whal in Canadi an and northwest Greenl ann waters 1976), but this trend would possihly be offset whi le Greendale and Brousseau-Greendale (1976) by a tendency to overestimate width of the tran estimatp.d 8 000 to 10 000 migrated past Cape Hay sect strip and include narwhal which were off in 1976. Davis et al. (1978) estimated 20 000 transect. Leatherwood et al. (1978) found sig to 30 000 narwhal in Canadi an waters alone. A nificant differences between surveys which could moderate extrapolation of the 28 July 1975 esti- 6 rnat~ (9 683 narwhal) to account for reqions out into central l~dil1iralty Inlet by the persistinq side the survey area indicates the estimate by fast ice. Subsequently, some ani'Tlals may have i~ansfield et a1. may be overly conservative. If moved off in search of ice-free waters. System the estimate proposed by Davis et al. is used, atic surveys conducted in Auqust 1976 indicated one third or more of the Canadian narwhal popu narwhal density in central Admiralty Inlet did lation makes at least occasional use of Admiral not reach the 1eve 1s recorded in 1g75. These ty Inlet. results suqqest annual fluctuations in narwhal utilization of waters adjacent to Lancaster Durinq the three years of this study, Sound may be common and related in part to ice Inuit from Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet harvested conditions. Silverman (1979) indicated the narwhal throuqhout the open water period. Much movement of narwhal into inlets and fiords is of the narwhal hunting in Admiralty Inlet related to calvinq and intensive feeding along occurred near Kakiak Point while in the Eclipse the ice edqe ear ly in the season. Si 1verman Sound reqion, most hunting was centred around also noted annual fluctuations in narwhal dis the camp at Kaunak. Duri I1g 1974 to 1976 the tribution in the Pond Inlet region similar to communities of Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet both those recorded in the present study. A subse had l1uotas of 100 narwhal per year and reported quent study by Finley and Gibb (1982) indicated catches slightly in excess of their quotas the stronq relationship between narwhal and (Fisheries and Oceans, marine mammal harvest Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and the possible statistics). Althouqh the total number of nar influence of cod numbers or distribution on uti- whal killed durinq the hunt is difficult to 1 ization of different areas by narwhal. A simi- assess, Finley and Miller (1980) indicated that 1ar relationship may also be responsible for the a substantial proportion of the whales killed observed chanqes in narwhal distribution in are not recovered. In the near future, narwhal Admiralty Inlet both within and between years. will probably be subjected to qreater huntinq Despite the infrequent use of bays and inlets on pressure as a result of an increasinq human the east side of Admiralty Inlet during the pre popu 1 at i on and the economi c i ncent i ve provi ded sent study, numerous narwhal do utilize these by hiqh ivory prices (Kemper 1980). Since pre areas on occasion. Koski and Davis (1979) cise demoqraphic parameters of the narwhal popu reported 232 narwhal in Strathcona Sound on 14 lation utilizinq Admiralty Inlet remain unknown, August 1978. Since narwhal which enter Strath the impact of present and future huntinq pat cona or Adams sounds are often hunted by resi terns is difficult to assess. However, a lonq dents of Arctic Bay or Nanisivik, their brief term decrease in the narwhal population using stay may be partially the result of such harass Admiralty Inlet may indicate an excessive pro ment. portion of the population is beinq removed. Although Arctic cod maY stronqly influence the seasonal distribution of narwhal, Finley and NARWHAL MOVEMENT PATTERNS AND DISTRIBUTION Gibb (1982) proposed that fast ice edqes restrict narwhal movement and determine utiliza In a report outlininq the numbers and tion patterns. The major influx of narwhal into miqration patterns of narwhal in the Canadian central Admiralty Inlet throuoh open pack-ice in Arctic, Johnson et al. (1976) and Renewable 1975 and the buildup of narwhal along the fast Resources (1977) indicate most narwhal move into ice edge in 1976 support this hypothesis. If adjacent waters in August after passing through prevented from entering desired areas for a pro Lancaster Sound in June and July. This pattern longed period by unfavourable ice conditions, of n arwh a 1 movement was app arent in 1975 when a narwhal may leave the region and seek alterna major influx of narwhal into Admiralty Inlet tive feedino areas. occurred on 26 July. Maxi~um narwhal density in central Admiralty Inlet was recorded in late Despite bei no exc luded from areas with an July with fewer narwhal noted on subsequent sur unbroken ice cover, narwhal wi 11 use lead sys veys. The decrease in utilization from late tems to penetrate far into reqions of almost July to Auqust 1975 probably reflects a general continuous ice cover. All of the narwhal movement out of Admiralty Inlet into adjacent observed durinq a reconnaissance survey in reqions. Renewable Resources (1977) documented Eclipse Sound in Auqust 1976 were in a series of the presence of narwhal in Prince Reqent Inlet 1eads wh i ch di d not appear to be connected to and alono the southern coast of Devon Island in the Pond In 1et fast ice edqe. The use of 1eads 1976. undoubtably allows narwhal to gain access to desired areas weeks in advance of complete ice Althouqh the movement of narwhal into breakup. Admiralty Inlet was not observed in 1976, inci dental observations recorded during studies in Lancaster Sound by LGL and Renewable Resources OTHER SPECIES consultants provide information on mid-July movement s. Joh nson et a 1. (1976) observed 325 Althouqh several beluga were observed dur and 277 narwhal in Admiralty Inlet on 12 and 26 ino surveys in 1975 and 1q76, their general July respectively with most whales along the absence substanti ates reports by Bissett (1968) fast ice edge. Simi larly, Renewable Resources and Davis et a1. (1q80) that beluqa are uncommon (1977) recorded 1 640 narwhal alonq the same in central Admiralty Inlet. One' unusual incur fast ice boundary on 20 July 1976. These sion of beluqa into Strathcona Sound occurred in results indicate a somewhat earlier mioration of Auqust 1979 when 31 beluqa were shot close to narwhal into Admiralty Inlet in 1976 than in shorf near Cape Strathcona by Inuk hunters (N. 1975 when the first major influx was noted on 26 Snow, personal communication). Serqeant and July. Despite moving into the region earlier in 1976, narwhal were prevented from penetratinq Ipetro-Canada Ltd., Calgary, Alherta. 7 Brodie (1975) noteri that belu9a are most often 2) Surveys should be designed to cover the lar found in shoreline or estuarine areas but do not gest area possible if an overall population indicate specific factors which may limit beluga estimate is desired. Unpredictable and distribution to such regions. The occurrence of large scale movements by narwhal between numerous beluga along the Admiralty Inlet fast regions make population estimates based on ice edge in June 1982 (Finley et al. 1983) indi several regional estimates obtained on cates beluga do penetrate into northern Admiral rlifferent days somewhat tenuous anrl ty Inlet in certain years but subsequently move difficult to evaluate. If a large area is on to summering areas farther west (Sergeant and to be surveyed, the use of more than one Brodie 1975). survey aircraft may be appropriate. The sighting of three bowhead whales dur 3) When heterogeneous densities are believed to ing the 28 July 1975 survey is significant since occur in the census region, a preliminary this indicates some bowhead still utilize Admi survey to determine distribution patterns ralty Inlet. Davis et al. (1980) noted that may be warranted. Stratification of the northern Admiralty Inlet was a whaling area when survey area and proportional sampling based the species was commercially harvested, implying on results of the preliminary survey will a former abundance of bowheads in the region. probably provide a more precise estimate. The use of bowhead bones in the construction of dwellings at Thule sites in the area also pro 4) Specific habitat information (ice condi vi des evi dence of former abundance of the spe tions, water riepth, etc.) should be recorded cies in this region. The lack of bowhead sight duri ng surveys for use in determi ni ng envi inqs during other surveys or (juring incidental ronmental vari ables which influence marine flights by Johnson et al. (1976) and Renewable mammal distribution. Resources (1977) indicates this species is rela tively rare in Admiralty Inlet. Reeves et al. 5) The use of aerial photography in conjunction (1983) present a thorough summary of bowhead with standard survey procedures woulri distribution and migration patterns in the east increase the accuracy of the estimate, espe ern Canadian Arctic which serves to emphasize cially if areas of high density are pre the relatively low abundance of this species. sent. A comparison of simultaneous visual and photographic results may also prove use The most abundant pinniped recorded during ful in deriving a correction factor for ani surveys was the harp seal. Although these mals present ~t the surface but not counted results may not accurately reflect the relative by the observers. abundance of pinnipeds due to visibility biases, surveys in 1975 indicate several thousand harp 6) Observations on cetacean diving behaviour seals utilized Admiralty Inlet. Bissett (1968) would prove invaluable in developing a cor also reported that numerous harp seals uti 1 ize rection factor to evaluate whales which are Admiralty Inlet even though few are taken by in the area under survey but are submerged Inuk hunters. The decrease in harp seal sight and not visible to the observer. Since dive ings during surveys in 1976 is comparable to a sequences are likely to vary with different similar trend in narwhal observations. Although behaviours (i.e. feeding, resting, migra the factors which caused a decrease in the num tion, etc.), a substantial observation ser ber of harp seals utilizing Admiralty Inlet from ies is required before a reliable correction 1975 to 1976 remain unknown, the dependence of factor can be determined. this species on Arctic cod (Finley and Gibb in press, as cited by Finley and Gibb 1982) may be 7) A program to evaluate all major narwhal sum of considerable importance. mering areas simultaneously is essential to more fully understand seasonal utilization patterns. An analysis of climatic features and habitat differences between these areas RECOMMENDATIONS may provide insight into factors which influence variations within and between To provide a more accurate and complete years as observed in Admi ra lty In 1et. A popu 1at i on est imate, future aeri a 1 surveys in program of this nature would also provide Admiralty Inlet should incorporate several modi information on the discreteness of narwhal fications: stocks utilizing specific summering areas. 1) The use of standardized aerial survey 8) Studies to assess the effects of increased methods is advised. Procedures for aeri al industrial activity and shipping on the surveys in remote areas have evolved some marine mammal resources of the area shoulrl what since surveys were completed in 1976. be undertaken. Behavioural observations and Moriifi cat ions i ncl ude the use of fi xed-wi ng an evaluation of distribution patterns would aircraft, window and strut marks or inclino provide insight into the short and long-term meters to determi ne transect wi dth, radar effects of industrial rlevelopment. In addi altimeters to maintain constant altitude, tion, a continued proqram of aeri al surveys the use of experienced observers only and is essent i al to monitor changes in the num electronic navigation systems to accurately ber of narwhal utilizing Admiralty Inlet. determi ne fl i ght path. A revi ew of proce dures outlined in Caughley et al. (1976), Caughlev (1977), Eberhardt et al. (1979), Cauqhley and Grigg (1981), Davis et al. (1982) and Stirling et al. (1982) is recom menrled before future surveys are initiated. 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CAUGHLEY, G., and G.C. GRIGG. 19R1. Surveys of the distribution and density of kangaroos This study was initi ated under the direc in the pastoral zone of South Australia, tion of Mr. S. E. Stephansson whose subseguent and thei.r beari nq on the feas i bi 1 ity of chanqe in employment in August 1975, left the aeri a 1 survey in 1arge and remote are as. studi~s to be completed by other personnel with Aust. Wi 1dl. Res. 8: I-II. in the Fisheries and Marine Service of the for mer Department of the Environment. CAUGHLEY, G., R. SINCLAIR, and D. SCOTT-KEMMIS. 1976. Experiments in aeri al survey. J. Mr. r~ichael Lawrence was primari ly respon Wi 1dl. Manaqe. 40( 2): 290-300. sible for carryin9 out the remainder of the sur veys conducted in 1975 assisted by D. Furnell, COCHRAN, W.G. 1977. Sarnpl in9 techniques. John G. Lacho and C. O'Brien. Their assistance is Wiley & Sons, Toronto. 428 p. greatly appreci ated. DAVIS, R.A., and C.R. EVANS. 1982. Offshore Durin9 1974 and 1976 the field study was distribution and numbers of white whales ably assisted by A. Burnett, R. Fudge, S. Har in the eastern Beaufort Sea and Amundsen bicht, C. Mack, B. Martin, M. Robertson and W. Gulf, summer 1981. Report by LGL Limited, Siemieniuk. Toronto, Ontario, for Sohio Alaska Petro leum Company, Anchoraqe, Alaska, and Dome Dr. R. E. Schweinsbur9 kindly cooperated Petroleum Limited, Calgary, Alberta. 76 in the shared helicopter charter which was used p. for polar bear, seabi rd and mari ne mammal sur veys in 1975. DAVIS, R.A., K.J. FINLEY, and W.J. RICHARDSON. 19BO. The present status and future We are especi ally grateful to the hel i manaqement of arctic marine mammals in copter oilots George Jones, Arne Veideman and Canada. Department of Information, the 1 ate Tom Lamb, without whose servi ces thi s Government of the Northwest Territori es, study could not have been conducted. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. 93 p. Mr. Jim Marshall, Strathcona Mineral Ser DAVIS, R.A., W.R. KOSKI, W.J. RICHARDSON, C.R. vices, kindly provided logistic support at Nani EVANS, and W.G. ALLISTON. 1982. Distri s i vi k and duri ng 1974 made the he 1 i copter on but i on, numbers and producti vity of the charter to Strathcona Mineral Services available Western Arctic stock of bowhead whales in for the marine mammal surveys which were under the eastern Beaufort Sea and Amundsen taken. Gulf, summer 1981. Report by LGL Limited, Toronto, Ontario, to Dome Petroleum Limit Fundinq for this study was provided by the ed, Calqary, Alberta, and to Sohio Alaska Fisheries and Marine Service of the Department Petroleum Company, Anchoraqe, Alaska. 135 of the Environment and by the Department of p. Indian Affairs and Northern Development. DAVIS, R.A., W.J. RICHARDSON, S.R. JOHNSON, and We are also grateful to r·lr. Fred Alt and W.E. RENAUD. 1978. Status of the Lan the Polar Continental Shelf Project for loqistic caster Sound narwhal population in 1976. support out of Resolute Bay durino 1976. Int. Whal. Comm. Rep. 28: 209-215. The manuscri pt was typed by Mrs. S. Ah 1- DIRSCHL, H•• J. 1982. The Lancaster Sound Reg- gren and reviewed by M. Kingsley, T. Strong an~ ion: 19BO-2000, Green Paper; Issues and ,~. Lawrence. options on the use and manaqement of the reqion. Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ottawa. 102 p. REFERENCES EBERHARDT, L.L., D.G. CHAPMAN, and J.R. GIL BERT. 1979. A review of marine mafl1'l1al B.C. RESEARCH LIMITED. 1975. Basel ine survey census methods. Wildl. Mon09r. 63: 46 p. of the mari ne envi ronment at Strathcona Sound, N.W.T. Report by B.C. Research FINLEY, K.J., and E.J. GIBB. 1982. Summer diet Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia for of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) in Pond Strathcona Mineral Services. Toronto, Inlet, northern Baffin Island. Can.J. Ontario. 84 p. Zool. 60: 3353-3363. BISSETT, D. 1968. Northern Baffin Island; an FINLEY, K.J., and E.J. GIBB. In press. Summer area economic survey. Vol. 2. Department diet and feedinq behaviour of harp seals of Indian Affairs and Northern Develop in the Canadian hiqh arctic. In D.M. ment, Ottawa. 131 p. Lavigne, K. Ronald and R.E.A. <)tewart (ed.) The harp seal: perspectives in BOSTOCK, H.S. 1970. Physiographic subdivisions vertebrate science. W. Junk, The Ha9ue. of Canada, p. 9-30. In R.J.W. [)ouglas (ed.) Geol09Y and economic minerals of FINLEY, K.J., C.R. GREENE, and R.A. DAVIS. Canada. Queen's Printer, Ottawa. 838 p. 1983. A study of ambient noise, ship noise, and the reactions of narwhals and CAUGHLEY, G. 1977. Sampling in aerial survey. belugas to the MV ARCTIC breaking ice in J. Wildl. Manage. 41(4): 605-615. Admi ralty In 1et, N. w:-r-:--Pre 1imi nary draft 9 report by LGL Ltrl., Toronto, Ontario to MARKHAM, W.E. 1981. Ice atlas, Canadian Arctic Canada Department of Indi an Aff ai rs and waterways. Department of Supply anrl Ser Northern Development, Ottawa. 96 p. vices, Ottawa, Ontario. 198 p. FINLEY, K.,J., and G.W. MILLER. 1980. The 1979 MAXWELL, J.B. 1981. Climatic regions of the hunt for narwhals (Monodon monoceros) and Canadian Arctic Islands. Arctic 34(3): an examination of harpoon qun technoloqy 225-240. near Pond Inlet, northern Baffin Isl and. Report by LGL Ltd., Toronto, Ontario for REEVES, R., E. MITCHELL, A. MANSFIELD, and N. the Department of Economic Development and McLAUGHLIN. 1983. Distribution and Touri sm, Government of the Northwest Ter migration of the bowhead whale, Bal aena ritories, Yellowknife, N.W.T. 57 p. mysticetus in the eastern North American Arctic. Arctic 36(1): 5-64. GREENDALE, R.G., and C. BROUSSEAU-GREENDALE. 1976. Observations of marine marrmals at RENEWABLE RESOURCES CONSULTING SERVICES LTD. Cape Hay, Bylot Isl and durinq the summer 1977. Aerial surveys of marine mammals of of 1976. Can. Fish. Mar. Servo Tech. Lancaster Sound, 1975-76. Report by Rep. 680: 25 p. Renewable Resources ConsultinQ Services Ltd. for Norl ands Petroleums 'Ltd., Cal HAY, K., and R. McCLUNG. 1976. Observations on gary, Alberta. 100 p. be 1uQa and narwhal in the Can adi an Hi qh Arctic, summer 1974. Fish. Res. Board SCHWEINSBURG, R.E. 1976. Work report polar Can. Manusc. Rep. Ser. 1385: 55 p. bear research in and around Admiralty Inlet, July-AuQust 1975. Northwest Terri JOHNSON, S.R., W.E. RENAUD, R.A. DAVIS, and tories Fish and Wildl ife Service, Yellow W.J. RICHARDSON. 1976. Marine marrmals knife, N.W.T. Unpublished report. 72 p. recorded during aerial surveys of birds in eastern Lancaster Sound, 1976. Report by SERGEANT, D.E., and P.F. BRODIE. 1975. Iden- LGL Limited, Toronto, Ontario for Norlands tity, abundance, and present status of Petroleums Limited, Calgary, Alberta. 170 populations of white whales, Delphinap p. terus leucas in North America. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 1047-1054. JOLLY, G.M. 1969. SamplinCl methods for aerial censuses of wildlife populations. East SILVERMAN, H.B. 1979. Social orqanization and Afr. A9riC. For. J. 34 (special issue): beh avi our of the narwhal, Monodon mono 46-49. ceros L. in Lancaster Sound, Pond Inlet, ana-- Tremb 1ay Sound, Northwest Terri - KEMPER, B. (ed.) 1976. Environmental baseline tories. M.Sc. Thesis, McGill University, studies. 1975. Strathcona Sound Program, Montreal, P.Q. 147 p. preliminary report. Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta. Unpublished STIRLING, I., M. KINGSLEY, and W. CALVERT. report. 96 p. 1982. The distribution and abundance of seals in the eastern Beaufort Sea, 1974- KEMPER, J.B. 1980. History of use of narwhal 79. Can. Wildl. Servo Occas. Pap. 47: 25 and beluqa b.y Inuit in the Canadian east p. ern Arctic includinq changes in huntinQ methods and regulations. Int. Whal". THORSTEINSSON, R., and E.T. TOZER. 1970. Geo- Comm. Rep. 30: 481-492. loqy of the arctic archipelago, p. 547- 590. In R.J.W. Douqlas (ed.) Geoloqy and KOSKI, W.R., and R.A. DAVIS. 1979. Distribu- economlc minerals of Canada. Queen's tion of marine mammals in northwest Baffin Printer, Ottawa. 838 p. Bay and adj acent waters, May-October 1978. Report by LGL Ltd., Toronto, Onta-: rio for Petro-Canada, Calgary, Alberta. 305 p. LEATHERWOOD, S., J.R. GILBERT, and D.G. CHAP MAN. 1978. An evaluation of some techni ques for aeri al censuses of bottlenosed dolphins. J. Wildl. Manage. 42(2): 239- 250. LINDSAY, D.G. 1977. Sea-ice atlas of arctic Canada 1969-1974. Department of Supply and Services, Ottawa. 219 p. LINDSAY, D.G. 1982. Sea-ice atlas of arctic Canada 1975-1978. Department of Supply and Services, Ottawa. 139 p. MANSFIELD, A.W., T.G. SMITH, and B. BECK. 1975. The narwhal, Monodon monoceros, in eastern Canadi an waters. J. Fi sh. Res. Board Can. 32: 1041-1046. Table 1. Narwhal densities and population indices for systematic surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet, 1975-1976. Survey No. of Area Transects Percent Narwhal Density Mean Standard Date (km 2 ) Flown Coverage Observed (whales- km- 2 ) Estimate Error 28 July 1975 2 220 1-11 (Fig. 2) 12.4 1 198 4.36 9 683 2 089 9 Aug. 1975 2 225 1-11 (Fig. 2) 12.4 305 1.10 2 117a 698 10 Aug. 1975 2 345 12, 14, 15, 8.0 75 0.99 961a 486 17, 18, 19 (Fig. 2) 23 Aug. 1975 836 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 13.9 253 2.18 1 820 314 (Fig. 2) 9 Aug. 1976 2 060 Fig. 6 7.5 33 0.22 443 426 14 Aug. 1976 2 057 Fig. 6 7.0 113 0.79 1 614 347 a I-~ 15 Aug. 1976 2 008 Fig. 6 7.2 119 0.75 1 507 737 0 amean estimate calculated by partitioning area under survey into blocks of similar density and sampling intensity. 11 Table 2. Reconnaissance surveys flown in the study area during 1975. ==== Survey No. of Length Narwhal Date Area Surveyed (km) Observed Conments 23 July Central Admiralty Inlet 249 o (Fig. 3) 24 July Central Admiralty Inlet 300 o (Fig. 3) 25 July Northern Admiralty Inlet 428 5 (Fig. 3) 26 July Northern Admiralty Inlet 155 800 - 1200 All narwhal moving into Admiralty (Fig. 3) Inlet along northwest coast of Borden Peninsula between Cape Joy and Baillarge Bay. 26 July Northern coast of Borden 130 400 - 500 Narwhal moving north in central Navy Peninsula and west coast Board Inlet near Low Point. of Navy Board Inlet (Fig. 3, 7) 30 July West coast of central 125 2 000 - 3 000 Narwhal moving both north and south Admi ra lty Inl et along west shore. (Fig. 3) 1 Aug. Strathcona and Adams 300 40 - 50 Narwhal in Admiralty Inlet between sounds Strathcona and Adams sounds (Fig. 4) 4 Aug. Central Admiralty Inlet 433 99 Most narwhal along west shore. (Fig. 4) 12 Aug. Milne Inlet and Tremblay 200 ",200 All narwhal (primarily cow-calf pairs) Sound in northern Tremblay Sound. (Fig. 7) 16 Aug. Northern Admiralty Inlet 201 235 26 narwhal in Adams Sound. 155 moving (Fig. 4) south along west shore. 23 Aug. Northern Borden Peninsula 350 3 and Navy Board Inlet (Fig. 7) 12 Table 3. Reconn (l is sance surveys flown in the study area during 1976. Survey No. of Area Length Narwhal Date Surveyed (km) Observed COlllTlents 8 Aug. Central Admiralty 89 151 Inlet (Fig. 5) 9 Aug. North coast of Borden 188 4 Peninsula and west coast of Navy Board Inlet (Fig. 8) 10 Aug. Central Admiralty 180 119 Directional movement Inlet not evident. (Fig. 5) 11 Aug. Northern coast of 260 0 Borden Peninsula and west coast of Navy Board Inlet (Fi g. 8) 11 Aug. West coast of Borden 112 267 All narwhal observed Peninsula across in leads in east Eclipse Sound to Pond central Eclipse Sound. Inlet (Fi g. 8) 11 Aug. Pond Inlet to west 196 64 Most narwhal in leads coast of Eclipse in Milne Inlet Sound via Milne Inlet and the mouth of (Fi g. 8) Tremblay Sound. 14 Aug. Central and southern 280 1 Admiralty Inlet (Fig. 5) 13 SOUNO BAFFIN ISLAND 100 kilometres Fig. 1. The study area on northern Baffin Island, N.W.T. 14 ~ ______-r74° LANCASTER SOUND ---- « -I :::J en z « Z -I 730 lJ.J :::J a.. en z z lJ.J a.. :::J --- z J!JII' Ric lJ.J 8 --- -- ~QI.IO"d' lJ.J o ------0 o ------a:: a:: -- 0 In In N o 10 20 30 40 I I ! I Kilometres L-~ ______-L ____ ialof'Slliti~~ __~ ______~ ____~ ______~ ______~ __~72° Fi g. 2. Transects used to sample Admiralty Inlet during systematic aerial surveys in 1975. 15 r------~74° LANCASTER SOUND ...... CeP. Chari •• ...... ' , ' : ...... « ...J ::l en z « z ...J 730 41 ::l a.. en z z 41 a.. z _. __ .-- 23 JULY 1975 41 24 JULY 1975 ------0 -,,--,,- 25 JULY 1975 a::: 26 JULY 1975 0 30 JULY 1975 In In N o 10 20 30 40 ! 1 1 Kilometre, Itlonulll ~~ ______~ ____ ~~ __ ~ ______~----~------~~------~--~72° Fig. 3. Flight paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet during July 1975. 16 r------r74 ° LANCASTER SOUND L-~------~----~---L------~~--~----~~------~-L72° Fig. 4. Flight paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet during August 1975. 17 r------,r74° LANCASTER SOUND ct ..J ;:) en z ct Z ..J W ;:) 73° en Il. z z W Il. ;:) ------...... 10 AUGUST 1976 Z W W --.-_.- II AUGUST 1976 0 0 ------14 AUGUST 1976 0 a::: a::: 0 II) II) 40 I L-~------~~--~~~------~--~------~~------~~72° Fi g. 5. Flight paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Admiralty Inlet during August 1976. 18 ~ ______-r74° LANCASTER SOUND « ..J ;:) en z « z ..J 730 W ;:) Q. en z I ./ z I ./ ./ W I ./ Q. Ca,tl, I /' ;:) Plf,r Richard Z w v../'/ . Q",.,,,, --. _. - 9 AUGUST 1976 W c I ----- 14 AUGUST 1976 C Kokiok 0 Point a::: ...... 15 AUGUST 1976 a::: 0 !Xl !Xl N o 10 20 30 40 I I I Kilometres PENINSULA L-~ ______~ ____lalorSllit I ~ __~ ______~~ __~ ____~~ ______~-L72° Fig. 6. Transects used to sample Admiralty Inlet during systematic aerial surveys in August 1976. 19 ~ ______~74° LANCASTER SOUND N o 10 20 30 40 ! ! ! ! ! Kilometre. BY LOT ISLAND « _.-.- 26 JULY 1975 ...J ~ 12 AUGUST 1975 Cf) z ------23 AUGUST 1975 z w o a:: o lD ECLIPSE ~ ______------~~~----~------r_------~--~------~~----~------~72° 80 0 Fi g. 7. Flight paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Navy Board Inlet and Eclipse Sound during July and August 1975. ~ ______20 --r74° LANCASTER SOUND N o 10 20 30 40 ! ! ! ! ! Kilometres BY LO T ISLAND -_.__ ._- 9 AUGUST 1976 ------II AUGUST 1976 lLJ o a: o al ... _- ...... ECLIPSE Point Point ~------~~----'-----~~------~~~~--~------~~----~------~72° 800 Fig. 8. Flight paths of reconnaissance surveys flown in Navy Board Inlet and Eclipse Sound during August 1976.