DOCSLIB.ORG

Protecting the Last Ice Area

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Protecting the Last Ice Area MAGAZINE Slipping Through the Cracks 10 Species Affected by Receding Ice 12 No. 2 2013 THE CIRCLE Frozen Assets Up For Grabs? 18 PROTECTING THE LAST ICE AREA PUBLISHED BY THE WWF GLOBAL ARCTIC PROGRAMME TheCircle0213.indd 1 28.06.13 16.28 THE CIRCLE 2.2013 PROTECTING THE LAST ICE AREA Contents EDITORIAL Where ice is life 3 IN BRIEF 4 CLIVE TESAR Resilience and the Last Ice Area 6 VICKI SAHANATIEN Managing new interest in Canada’s Last Ice Area 8 METTE FROST Greenland: Living the Last Ice Area 9 -OAN EAMER CO8RTNE< 3RICE Slipping through the cracks: Life linked to ice 10 Species affected by receding Ice 12 BR8NO TREMBLA< The Last Ice Area – the physical picture 16 OKALIK EEGEESIAK 8p for grabs" Inuit and cliPate change 18 GENEVIEVE CARR Managing offshore oil and gas resources in Canada’s north 19 ALE;E< KOKORIN HuPan activity greater threat than cliPate change 20 RIANNON -OHN R8NE LANGHOFF Building trust Poving forward 23 THE 3ICT8RE 24 Credit information: Photo: Jeremy Stewart/Fisheries and Oceans Canada The Circle is published quar- Publisher: (GLWRULQ&KLHI&OLYH7HVDU COVER: terly by the WWF Global Arctic WWF Global Arctic Programme [email protected] Photo: Brad Benter/USFWS. Programme. Reproduction and 30 Metcalfe Street (GLWRU%HFN\5\QRUEU\QRU#XQLVHUYHFRP quotation with appropriate credit Suite 400 ABOVE: In Franklin Bay, Northwest are encouraged. Articles by non- Ottawa ON K1P 5L4 Design and production: Territories, a diving specialist positions DI¿OLDWHGVRXUFHVGRQRWQHFHV Canada Film & Form/Ketill Berger, an ultra-sensitive light meter beneath VDULO\UHÀHFWWKHYLHZVRUSROLFLHV Tel: +1 613-232-8706 NHWLOOEHUJHU#¿OPIRUPQR two metres of Arctic sea ice. A DFO-led of WWF. Send change of address Fax: +1 613-232-4181 initiative sampled and documented the and subscription queries to the Printed by St. Joseph Communications under-side of the sea ice as part of the DGGUHVVRQWKHULJKW:HUHVHUYH Internet: www.panda.org/arctic Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study the right to edit letters for publica- (CASES). For more information, see Thank you tion, and assume no responsibil- ISSN 2073-980X = The Circle http://cases.quebec-ocean.ulaval.ca/ ity for unsolicited material. for your interest in The network.asp Date of publication: Circle. Did you know many of our June, 2013. VXEVFULEHUV KDYH PRYHG WR DQ HYHU VLRQ" 7R UHFHLYH DQ HOHFWURQLF FRS\ LQ \RXU email instead of a paper copy, please write to us 2 The Circle 2.2013 DW VQRYRWQ\#ZZIFDQDGDRUJ DQG KHOS XV UHGXFH our costs and footprint. TheCircle0213.indd 2 28.06.13 16.28 EDITORIAL Where ice is life FOR SOME, The Last Ice Area is a name that con- life. It is where they hunt and ¿sh, and how they jures the iconic, the adventurous, maybe even the travel. Arctic peoples will tell you there is a positive nostalgic. For others it is a call to action to protect psychological impact to getting out on the ice. And an area of summer sea ice above Arctic Canada and a negative effect when they can’t. Okalik Eegeesiak, Greenlandland projected to persist the longest in a president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association writes region undergoing unprecedented change. Still oth- that recent changes in the high Arctic are over- ers have said it conveys a sense of gloom for some- whelming for the average Inuk. thing we are on the verge of losing. There is a vast and intricate web of life in the All of these emotions and reactions could be apt. Last Ice Area – marine, terrestrial and bird species It depends on how you are experiencing The Last that use sea ice to migrate, mate, den, nest and give Ice Area – whether you are still learning about it, birth. Others use it as a place to socialize, eat or rest. living in it or analysing what is happening there and They will either adapt to receding attempting to formulate management and conser- sea ice, become prey of or displaced vation options. by new species This edition of The Circle THIS CANNOT ONLY moving north is your go-to guide about The BE A CONVERSATION as temperatures Last Ice Area project, begin- rise, or they will ning with what it is, where it ABOUT CLIMATE MODEL- be squeezed into is and why WWF settled on smaller habitats. ALEXANDER LING, STATISTICS AND SHESTAKOV is that particular name. An update on bio- DATA. THE LAST ICE the director of the We don’t pretend to have diversity in the far WWF Global Arctic all the data or all the answers. AREA IS ALSO AN EMO- north informed Programme. But we can present what the TIONAL DISCUSSION … by traditional eco- science and research tells logical knowledge us to date about how sea ice is also presented in this edition is receding, where and why. There are geographic by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, the and atmospheric reasons for summer sea ice biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. congregating in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago WWF’s role, as always, is to bring diverse com- and off the northernmost coast of Greenland as munities, interest groups, stakeholders and experts Bruno Tremblay at Canada’s McGill University will together to initiate discussion and facilitate strat- explain in his article about the physical picture of egizing. We recently did this at a Last Ice Area high latitude climate change. workshop in Iqaluit. That workshop and our report While critically important, this cannot only be on the discussions that ensued mark a milestone a conversation about climate modelling, statistics in what will be a lengthy, broad, but never boring and data. The Last Ice Area is also an emotional dialogue on this critically important Arctic region, discussion, and rightly so. For some people ice is regardless of what you choose to call it. The Circle 2.2013 3 TheCircle0213.indd 3 28.06.13 16.28 IN BRIEF been re-routed following come into open conÀict,´ “We had a very strict posi- Industrial road intervention by WWF-Russia. says WWF-Russia CEO, Igor tion at the beginning of the North-West Phosphoric Chestin, process, but after consulta- through proposed Company (NWPC) had NWPC planned to build tions with scientists, WWF planned to build a road the industrial road to unite and Kola Biodiversity Centre, Russian park through Khibiny, a national two ore deposits. The com- experts decided to change park scheduled to be created pany has now agreed to build the project concept,´ says re-routed in 2015. an underground mine and Vladimir Kunitsky, director “Thanks to the reasonable ore processing facility in an general of North-West Phos- A ROAD that would have position of the regional gov- area of young pine forest of phoric Company. bisected a planned national ernment, a compromise was lesser ecological value out- “From the environmental park in Russia’s Arctic has found and the process didn’t side of the planned park. point of view it’s the best alternative,´ says Victor Petrov, director of the Kola High Arctic research station saved Biodiversity Centre. CANADA’S northernmost The Canadian gov- million each under the new research lab will continue ernment had earlier Climate Change and Atmo- Canada names operating after receiving a announced it would stop spheric Research (CCAR) new grant from the Cana- funding the research sta- program. new Chair of dian government. tion, creating alarm within PEARL has been track- The Polar Environment the international scien- ing ozone depletion, air Atmospheric Research ti¿c community. PEARL is quality and climate change Senior Arctic Laboratory (PEARL) in one of the northernmost in the High Arctic since Eureka, Nunavut, will research stations in the 2005. It contributes data Officials receive 5 million over ¿ve world and one of very few to several international years. that contribute Arctic data environmental monitor- “That’s going to enable to networks of research ing projects through an us to keep the station stations that collect similar informal network of uni- running in a good cam- data around the world. versity researchers called paign mode for the whole The High Arctic research the Canadian Network for period,´ -im 'rummond, station, located at latitude 'etection of Atmospheric principal investigator for of 80 degrees north, was Change PEARL told the Canadian among seven projects that Broadcasting Corporation. will receive as much as $5 Patrick Borbey The Polar Environment Atmos- 3ATRICK BORBE< will become pheric Research Laboratory on Chair of the Arctic Council’s Ellesmere Island. Senior Arctic Of¿cials for the Canadian Chairmanship from 2013-2015. Photo: CANDAC/Mariele Wolfe 4 The Circle 2.2013 TheCircle0213.indd 4 28.06.13 16.28 “Mr. Borbey’s extensive experience working with Northerners will be a great asset in his role as the Chair of the Senior Arctic Of¿cials,´ said the Canadian Minister for the Arctic Council, Leona Aglukkaq. Borbey is currently president of the Canadian Northern Economic 'evelopment Agency. Before that, he served in several senior gov- ernment positions including Senior Assistant 'eputy Minister of Treaties and Aboriginal Government, and Assistant 'eputy Minister of Northern Affairs at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Oil industry backs From whales to wakes away from arctic WWF HAS launched a new are preconditions for showing natural resources online mapping tool to sound management and and updated overviews of help people visualize the informed public debate activities like shipping or waters different activities and about natural values and oil drilling. It allows any RE8TERS News Agency values at play in the Arctic. human activities,´ says user to download pre- reports that energy compa- ArkGIS was launched to Nina -ensen, CEO of WWF made maps and videos, as nies are no longer ¿nding coincide with the Arctic Norway.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study Nunavut, Canada
    english cover 11/14/01 1:13 PM Page 1 FINAL REPORT OF THE INUIT BOWHEAD KNOWLEDGE STUDY NUNAVUT, CANADA By Inuit Study Participants from: Arctic Bay, Arviat, Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay, and Whale Cove Principal Researchers: Keith Hay (Study Coordinator) and Members of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study Committee: David Aglukark (Chairperson), David Igutsaq, MARCH, 2000 Joannie Ikkidluak, Meeka Mike FINAL REPORT OF THE INUIT BOWHEAD KNOWLEDGE STUDY NUNAVUT, CANADA By Inuit Study Participants from: Arctic Bay, Arviat, Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Repulse Bay, and Whale Cove PO Box 1379 Principal Researchers: Iqaluit, Nunavut Keith Hay (Study Coordinator) and X0A 0H0 Members of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study Committee: David Aglukark (Chairperson), David Igutsaq, MARCH, 2000 Joannie Ikkidluak, Meeka Mike Cover photo: Glenn Williams/Ursus Illustration on cover, inside of cover, title page, dedication page, and used as a report motif: “Arvanniaqtut (Whale Hunters)”, sc 1986, Simeonie Kopapik, Cape Dorset Print Collection. ©Nunavut Wildlife Management Board March, 2000 Table of Contents I LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . .i II DEDICATION . .ii III ABSTRACT . .iii 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND FOR THE STUDY . .1 1.2 TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE . .1 2 METHODOLOGY 3 2.1 PLANNING AND DESIGN . .3 2.2 THE STUDY AREA . .4 2.3 INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE . .4 2.4 METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS .
    [Show full text]
  • Procurement Activity Report 2016-2017
    GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT Procurement Activity Repor t kNo1i Z?m4fiP9lre pWap5ryeCd6 t b4fy 5 Nunalingni Kavamatkunnilu Pivikhaqautikkut Department of Community and Government Services Ministère des Services communautaires et gouvernementaux Fiscal Year 2016/17 GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT Procurement Activity Report Table of Contents Purpose . 3 Objective . 3 Introduction . 3 Report Overview . 4 Sole Source Contract Observations . 5 General Observations . 9 Summary . 11 1. All Contracts (> $5,000) . 11 2. Contracting Types . 15 3. Contracting Methods . 18 4. Sole Source Contract Distribution . 22 Appendices Appendix A: Glossary and Definition of Terms . 27 Appendix B: Sole Source (> $5,000) . 29 Appendix C: Contract Detailed Listing (> $5,000) . 31 1 GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT Procurement Activity Report Purpose The Department of Community and Government Services (CGS) is pleased to present this report on the Government of Nunavut (GN's) procurement and contracting activities for the 2016/17 fiscal year. Objective CGS is committed to ensuring fair value and ethical practices in meeting its responsibilities. This is accomplished through effective policies and procedures aimed at: • Obtaining the best value for Nunavummiut overall; • Creating a fair and open environment for vendors; • Maintaining current and accurate information; and • Ensuring effective approaches to meet the GN's requirements. Introduction The Procurement Activity Report presents statistical information and contract detail about GN contracts as reported by GN departments to CGS's Procurement, Logistics and Contract Support section. Contracts entered into by the GN Crown agencies and the Legislative Assembly are not reported to CGS and are not included in this report. Contract information provided in this report reflects contracts awarded and reported during the 2016/2017 fiscal year.
    [Show full text]
  • Good Building Practices Guideline Is Intended to Illustrate Those Differences
    kNK5 Z?m1Z Government of Nunavut Nunavut Kavamanga Gouvernement du Nunavut Good Building Practices Guideline Second Edition December 2005 FOREWORD Building in the North is indeed different than building in more temperate climates. The Good Building Practices Guideline is intended to illustrate those differences. It is aimed at providing architects, engineers, building contractors, suppliers, facility administrators and operators with a comprehensive set of guidelines for building in the North. The Good Building Practices Guideline assumes an advisory role, while renewing the challenge to builders to be innovative in applying the practices. Builders are encouraged to present alternatives to the suggestions detailed in the Good Building Practices Guideline, or to present new or innovative ways of resolving technical problems or of reducing building life-cycle costs. The Good Building Practices Guideline incorporates years of experience in northern construction practices. The Good Building Practices Guideline was refined through input from architectural and engineering consultants, building contractors, suppliers, facility operators, Community and Government Services and client department staff, who worked together to achieve a consensus regarding northern building practices that are appropriate, economic and realistic. Simple, straightforward examples are used to illustrate and validate the practices. The guidelines are not intended to replace mandatory codes or regulations, but to supplement the National Building Code of Canada, specifically
    [Show full text]
  • Bathurst Fact Sheet
    Qausuittuq National Park Update on the national park proposal on Bathurst Island November 2012 Parks Canada, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and the community of Resolute Bay are working together to create a new national park on Bathurst Island, Nunavut. The purpose of the park is to protect an area within the The park will be managed in co-operation with Inuit for Western High Arctic natural region of the national park the benefit, education and enjoyment of all Canadians. system, to conserve wildlife and habitat, especially areas It is expected that the park’s establishment will enhance important to Peary caribou, and enable visitors to learn and support local employment and business as well as about the area and its importance to Inuit. help strengthen the local and regional economies. Qausuittuq National Park and neighbouring Polar Bear Within the park, Inuit will continue to exercise their Pass National Wildlife Area will together ensure protec - right to subsistence harvesting. tion of most of the northern half of Bathurst Island as well as protection of a number of smaller nearby islands. Bringing you Canada’s natural and historic treasures Did you know? After a local contest, the name of the proposed national park was selected as Qausuittuq National Park. Qausuittuq means “place where the sun does - n't rise” in Inuktitut, in reference to the fact that the sun stays below the horizon for several months in the winter at this latitude. What’s happening? Parks Canada and Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) are working towards completion and rati - fication of an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agree - ment (IIBA).
    [Show full text]
  • Zeszyt 10. Morza I Oceany
    Uwaga: Niniejsza publikacja została opracowana według stanu na 2008 rok i nie jest aktualizowana. Zamieszczony na stronie internetowej Komisji Standaryzacji Nazw Geograficznych poza Granica- mi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej plik PDF jest jedynie zapisem cyfrowym wydrukowanej publikacji. Wykaz zalecanych przez Komisję polskich nazw geograficznych świata (Urzędowy wykaz polskich nazw geograficznych świata), wraz z aktualizowaną na bieżąco listą zmian w tym wykazie, zamieszczo- ny jest na stronie internetowej pod adresem: http://ksng.gugik.gov.pl/wpngs.php. KOMISJA STANDARYZACJI NAZW GEOGRAFICZNYCH POZA GRANICAMI RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ przy Głównym Geodecie Kraju NAZEWNICTWO GEOGRAFICZNE ŚWIATA Zeszyt 10 Morza i oceany GŁÓWNY URZĄD GEODEZJI I KARTOGRAFII Warszawa 2008 KOMISJA STANDARYZACJI NAZW GEOGRAFICZNYCH POZA GRANICAMI RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ przy Głównym Geodecie Kraju Waldemar Rudnicki (przewodniczący), Andrzej Markowski (zastępca przewodniczącego), Maciej Zych (zastępca przewodniczącego), Katarzyna Przyszewska (sekretarz); członkowie: Stanisław Alexandrowicz, Andrzej Czerny, Janusz Danecki, Janusz Gołaski, Romuald Huszcza, Sabina Kacieszczenko, Dariusz Kalisiewicz, Artur Karp, Zbigniew Obidowski, Jerzy Ostrowski, Jarosław Pietrow, Jerzy Pietruszka, Andrzej Pisowicz, Ewa Wolnicz-Pawłowska, Bogusław R. Zagórski Opracowanie Kazimierz Furmańczyk Recenzent Maciej Zych Komitet Redakcyjny Andrzej Czerny, Joanna Januszek, Sabina Kacieszczenko, Dariusz Kalisiewicz, Jerzy Ostrowski, Waldemar Rudnicki, Maciej Zych Redaktor prowadzący Maciej
    [Show full text]
  • Radioactivity in the Arctic Seas
    IAEA-TECDOC-1075 XA9949696 Radioactivity in the Arctic Seas Report for the International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP) ffl INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCA / Y / 1JrrziZr^AA 30-16 The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Radiometrics Section International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratory B.P. 800 MC 98012 Monaco Cedex RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ARCTIC SEAS IAEA, VIENNA, 1999 IAEA-TECDOC-1075 ISSN 1011-4289 ©IAEA, 1999 Printe IAEe th AustriAn y i d b a April 1999 FOREWORD From 199 o 1993t e Internationa6th l Atomic Energy Agency's Marine Environment Laboratory (IAEA-MEL s engage IAEA'e wa ) th n di s International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP whicn i ) h emphasi bees ha sn place criticaa n do l revie f environmentawo l conditions in the Arctic Seas. IAEA-MEe Th L programme, organize framewore th n dIASAi e th f ko P included: (i) an oceanographic and an ecological description of the Arctic Seas; provisioe th (ii )centra a f no l database facilitIASAe th r yfo P programm collectione th r efo , synthesi interpretatiod san datf nmarino n ao e radioactivit Arctie th n yi c Seas; (iii) participation in official expeditions to the Kara Sea organized by the joint Russian- Norwegian Experts Group (1992, 1993 and 1994), the Russian Academy of Sciences (1994), and the Naval Research Laboratory and Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (1995); (iv) assistance wit d n laboratorsiti han u y based radiometric measurement f curreno s t radionuclide concentrations in the Kara Sea; (v) organization of analytical quality assurance intercalibration exercises among the participating laboratories; (vi) computer modellin e potentiath f o g l dispersa f radionuclideo l s released froe mth dumped f assessmeno wast d associatee ean th f o t d radiological consequencee th f o s disposals on local, regional and global scales; (vii) in situ and laboratory based assessment of distribution coefficients (Kd) and concentration factor sArctie (CFth r c)fo environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Thermal Physics, Daniel V
    PHY293F1 - Particles Part Lecturer: Prof. Kaley Walker Office: MP712; 416 978 8218 E-mail: [email protected] • Replies to e-mail within 2 business days (i.e. excluding weekends) but will not answer detailed questions by e-mail Office hours: Fridays 14:00 – 15:00 Course website for Particles Part: • http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~phy293h1f/293_particles.html • Class announcements given on the website Lectures: 3 hours/week in MP203 • Mon. 15:00-17:00, Tues. 15:00-17:00 and Fri. 15:00-17:00 My research (1) • I am the Deputy Mission Scientist for the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite • Launched in August 2003 for a two-year mission and still going strong… • We measure over 30 different species in the ACE satellite Earth’s atmosphere each day to study the changing composition relating to – Ozone depletion –Air quality –Climate change My research (2) • Studying the Arctic atmosphere from the Canadian high Arctic - PEARL in Eureka, Nunavut • A team of researchers will be going up there to see what happens when sunlight returns to the high Arctic (Feb.- Apr.) • On Ellesmere Island, 1100 km from the North Pole • PEARL is the most northern civilian research laboratory in the world • Nearest community is 420 km south at Grise Fiord PEARL, Eureka, Nunavut, 80 °N Textbook and Resources An Introduction to Thermal Physics, Daniel V. Schroeder (Addison Wesley Longman, 2000) • Available at UoT bookstore etc., should be some used ones Additional references available on short-term loan from the Physics and Gerstein libraries
    [Show full text]
  • ARCTIC CHANGE 2014 8-12 December - Shaw Centre - Ottawa, Canada
    ARCTIC CHANGE 2014 8-12 December - Shaw Centre - Ottawa, Canada Oral Presentation Abstracts Arctic Change 2014 Oral Presentation Abstracts ORAL PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS TEMPORAL TREND ASSESSMENT OF CIRCULATING conducted when possible. Results: Maternal levels of Hg and MERCURY AND PCB 153 CONCENTRATIONS AMONG PCB 153 significantly decreased between 1992 and 2013. NUNAVIMMIUT PREGNANT WOMEN (1992-2013) Overall, concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 among pregnant women decreased respectively by 57% and 77% over the last Adamou, Therese Yero (12) ([email protected]), M. Riva (12), E. Dewailly (12), S. Dery (3), G. Muckle (12), R. two decades. In 2013, concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 were Dallaire (12), EA. Laouan Sidi (1) and P. Ayotte (1,2,4) respectively 5.2 µg/L and 40.36 µg/kg plasma lipids (geometric means). Discussion: Our results suggest a significant decrease (1) Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, of Hg and PCB 153 maternal levels from 1992 to 2013. Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Geometric mean concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 measured Québec, Québec,Québec, G1V 2M2 in 2013 were below Health Canada guidelines. The decline (2) Université Laval, Québec, Québec, G1V 0A6 observed could be related to measures implemented at regional, (3) Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, Québec national and international levels to reduce environmental (4) Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), pollution by mercury and PCB and/or a significant decrease Québec, G1V 5B3 of seafood consumption by pregnant women. These results have to be interpreted with caution.
    [Show full text]
  • FI/18 Andersen-Et-Al.-2017-Walrus-Geneticspechora
    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2017, XX, 1–19. With 6 figures. Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Pechora Sea in the context of contemporary population structure of Northeast Atlantic walruses LISELOTTE WESLEY ANDERSEN1*, MAGNUS W. JACOBSEN1, CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN2, VARVARA SEMENOVA3, ANDREI BOLTUNOV3, ERIK W. BORN4, ØYSTEIN WIIG5 and KIT M. KOVACS2 1Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Aarhus, Denmark 2Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Postbox 6606 Langnes, N-9296 Norway 3Marine Mammal Council, Nakhimovskiy ave. 36, 117218 Moscow, Russia 4Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland 5Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1172, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway Received 23 May 2017; revised 4 July 2017; accepted for publication 5 July 2017 Identifying genetically different groups of animals, occupying specific geographical areas, is a prerequisite for con- servation and management priorities. In the present study, the genetic structure of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) occupying the Pechora Sea (PEC) in the western Russian Arctic, including walruses from Svalbard–Franz Josef Land (SVA–FJL) and East Greenland (EGR) regions, was investigated using 14 microsatellites (N = 159) and mtDNA sequences (N = 212). Bayesian-based clustering analysis identified two clusters: EGR and the other Northeast Atlantic areas. Pairwise FST analyses based on microsatellites revealed low but significant genetic differences between walruses from the PEC and SVA–FJL groups, which was supported by mtDNA analysis. FST was not significant for all sampling years, indicating a temporal effect or male-biased gene flow. Extended Bayesian Skyline Plots suggested a constant female subpopulation size (Nef) for EGR and an increase for the SVA–FJL and PEC groups that commenced around 40–30 Kyr ago, indicating different demographic histories for walruses in the EGR.
    [Show full text]
  • Arctic Surveillance Civilian Commercial Aerial Surveillance Options for the Arctic
    Arctic Surveillance Civilian Commercial Aerial Surveillance Options for the Arctic Dan Brookes DRDC Ottawa Derek F. Scott VP Airborne Maritime Surveillance Division Provincial Aerospace Ltd (PAL) Pip Rudkin UAV Operations Manager PAL Airborne Maritime Surveillance Division Provincial Aerospace Ltd Defence R&D Canada – Ottawa Technical Report DRDC Ottawa TR 2013-142 November 2013 Arctic Surveillance Civilian Commercial Aerial Surveillance Options for the Arctic Dan Brookes DRDC Ottawa Derek F. Scott VP Airborne Maritime Surveillance Division Provincial Aerospace Ltd (PAL) Pip Rudkin UAV Operations Manager PAL Airborne Maritime Surveillance Division Provincial Aerospace Ltd Defence R&D Canada – Ottawa Technical Report DRDC Ottawa TR 2013-142 November 2013 Principal Author Original signed by Dan Brookes Dan Brookes Defence Scienist Approved by Original signed by Caroline Wilcox Caroline Wilcox Head, Space and ISR Applications Section Approved for release by Original signed by Chris McMillan Chris McMillan Chair, Document Review Panel This work was originally sponsored by ARP project 11HI01-Options for Northern Surveillance, and completed under the Northern Watch TDP project 15EJ01 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2013 © Sa Majesté la Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2013 Preface This report grew out of a study that was originally commissioned by DRDC with Provincial Aerospace Ltd (PAL) in early 2007. With the assistance of PAL’s experience and expertise, the aim was to explore the feasibility, logistics and costs of providing surveillance and reconnaissance (SR) capabilities in the Arctic using private commercial sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Movements and Habitat Use of Muskoxen on Bathurst, Cornwallis
    MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE OF MUSKOXEN (Ovibos moschatus) ON BATHURST, CORNWALLIS, AND DEVON ISLANDS, 2003-2006 Morgan Anderson1 and Michael A. D. Ferguson Version: 23 December 2016 1Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Box 209 Igloolik NU X0A 0L0 STATUS REPORT 2016-08 NUNAVUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH SECTION IGLOOLIK, NU i Summary Eleven muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were fitted with satellite collars in summer 2003 to investigate habitat preferences and movement parameters in areas where they are sympatric with Peary caribou on Bathurst, Cornwallis, and Devon islands. Collars collected locations every 4 days until May 2006, with 4 muskoxen on Bathurst Island collared, 2 muskoxen collared on Cornwallis Island, and 5 muskoxen collared on western Devon Island. Only 5-29% of the satellite locations were associated with an estimated error of less than 150 m (Argos Class 3 locations). Muskoxen in this study used low-lying valleys and coastal areas with abundant vegetation on all 3 islands, in agreement with previous studies in other areas and Inuit qaujimajatuqangit. They often selected tussock graminoid tundra, moist/dry non-tussock graminoid/dwarf shrub tundra, wet sedge, and sparsely vegetated till/colluvium sites. Minimum convex polygon home ranges representing 100% of the locations with <150 m error include these movements between core areas, and ranged from 233 km2 to 2494 km2 for all collared muskoxen over the 3 years, but these home ranges include large areas of unused habitat separating discrete patches of good habitat where most locations were clustered. Several home ranges overlapped, which is not surprising, since muskoxen are not territorial.
    [Show full text]
  • January 19, 2021 Iviq Hunters & Trappers Organization Grise Fiord
    January 19, 2021 Iviq Hunters & Trappers Organization Grise Fiord, Nunavut X0A 0J0 email: [email protected] VIA EMAIL Subject: Construction at the Eureka High Arctic Weather Station Notification Request Dear Iviq Hunters & Trappers Organization, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) proposes to undertake various construction activities at the Eureka High Arctic Weather Station (HAWS) to upgrade existing, construct new, or decommission surplus infrastructure. The HAWS is located on the north side of Slidre Fjord, at the northwestern tip of Fosheim Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. ECCC has retained Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and the consulting firm AECOM Canada LTD. to engage with interested groups who may wish to receive project status updates or general information on upcoming project activities. Feedback will help ECCC understand how these activities may impact your community. Feedback may also support ongoing operations and planning efforts of the proposed activities at the HAWS. About the Eureka HAWS Since 1947, ECCC has owned and managed the overall operations and maintenance of HAWS under Land Reserve #1021. The total area of the HAWS main operational site is approximately 2.23 hectares. There are presently 15 primary buildings and other facilities at the HAWS. The Eureka runway is located 1.5 km northeast of the HAWS main site and is the most common way by which the HAWS is accessed year-round. The Eureka HAWS is an operational weather monitoring facility as well as a hub of activity for the Department of National Defence, the Polar Continental Shelf Project, and the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Lab (PEARL). Proposed Activities The following activities are proposed to be completed between 2021 to 2025: Replacement of new drinking water reservoir and upgrades to existing sewage treatment facility.
    [Show full text]