AJW0WArV(t1vVS1(i Recent Research in the N. W. T. 1986-1987 INUVIK RSEAR0N CENTRE SCIENCE ISTITUTE Of Tb$ s.,t. : P.O. BOX 1430 INUVNL N.W.T. ZOl OTO Q 179.98 .C66 1986-87 Contents Introduction ... 1 Baffin Region ... 5 Fort Smith Region 29 Inuvik Region ... 39 Keewatin Region .54 Kitikmeot Region ... 60 Research Reports ... 66 )N1JVW RESEARCH CEHTf SOIEOE INSTITUTE Gf THE ILW.T. P.O. BOX 1430 INIJYW N.W.T. XO€ OTO Introduction 3 How and why do pingoes grow? As we face the prospect of climate Did dinosaurs live on the Arctic Islands, change brought about by air pollution, thousands of years ago? they are anxious to learn more about the causes and effects of climate change in Is the Arctic affected by acid rain and the past. Other physical scientists are in other airborne pollutants? vestigating northern phenomena such as pingoes, permafrost and naturally acidic How do whales react when icebreakers lakes. go through their feeding grounds? One of the most spectacular achieve How is the lnuktitut language growing ments in the physical sciences during the and changing? last several years has been the discovery and analysis of fossil forests on certain Are people who eat country food better islands in the far North. Millions of years nourished than those who buy groceries ago, researchers say, the Arctic was a at the store? tropical paradise, lush, green and warm. Even today, there are places where large Are the present standards of maternity fossil stumps protrude from the icy care in the North acceptable? ground. Last year, another exciting element was added to the story when a dinosaur bone was found on Bylot Island, just north of Pond Inlet. It was the most These are just a few of the questions cur northerly dinosaur bone ever found and rently being investigated by researchers permits us to imagine those enormous working in the Northwest Territories. In beasts lounging in swamps across the this booklet, you will become acquainted Arctic long ago. with almost 250 research projects that have been undertaken in the last two Insects and antifreeze years, between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1987. All of this work was In addition to the work that is done in the licenced through the Science Institute of physical sciences, a great deal of the N.W.T. research in the life sciences is also carried out each year. One common The studies listed here cover a wide theme is an attempt to understand more range of disciplines, including physical, about the ways in which Arctic organisms life, and human sciences. Much of the survive under harsh conditions. Recent physical-science research being done in discoveries include the fact that at least the North focuses on the history of the one species of Arctic insect makes its Earth and its landforms. Researchers own antifreeze. And did you ever wonder wonder about the effects of the glaciers what special mechanisms tundra plants during past Ice Ages. They want to know have developed to deal with permafrost, if long-ago movements of the continents the long winter darkness and severe and subcontinents can be read in cold? These are amongst the questions present-day rocks and surface features. that biologists are investigating. 4 Additional information about wildlife re If you want to know more about any of the search is available from the Department projects listed here, we encourage you to of Renewable Resources, Government of contact Laurie Nowakowski or Candace the N.W.T., Box 1320, Yellowknife, NWT, Savage at the Science Institute or, better X1A 2L9. yet, to write to the researcher whose work interests you. To give you an idea of the Medical research is another important information that may be available, we aspect of the life sciences, and one which have included a list of all the research appears to be underrepresented in the reports received to date that relate to the scientific work being done in the Territo projects mentioned in this booklet. ries. This also seems to be the case for Where possible, we will be happy to sup the human sciences -- linguistics, anthro ply copies of this material on request but pology, sociology, economics, political remind you that the researchers them science, and so on -- disciplines which selves are the best source of information. are potentially of great importance to the people of the NWT. In the past two If you are a scientist who is working in the years, less than 25 % of the projects NWT and whose research is not included licenced through the Science Institute here, please contact us. We would like to were in the human sciences. The ensure that your work is acknowledged in research that was carried out included future listings. investigations of caribou management boards, native broadcasting, parks plan -- February, 1988 ning, and native training programs. Information about archaeological research is not included in this listing but is available from the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Department of Culture and Communications, Govern ment of the NWT, Box 1320, Yellowknife, NWT, X1A2L9. uoibej U!j4 7 I1986 Location: across the Northwest Territories I Abele, Frances What factors contribute to the success of a training program Arctic Institute of North America for native northerners? What factors lead to failure? University of Calgary Frances Abele, as Director of the Native Employment 2500 University Dr. NW Training Study, is trying to draw some conclusions. Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 11986, 1987 Location: Axel Heiberg Island I Adams, Peter Colour Lake, on Axel Heiberg Island, is naturally acidic and Dept. of Geography has been for thousands of years. Dr. Adams and his Trent University students took samples for study. They also continued their Box 4800 measurements of White Glacier, to study the effects of Peterborough, Ontario climate change. K9J 7B8 p1986 Location: Iqaluit and Nettling Lake Aiken, Susan A plant can develop differently depending on where it Assistant Curator grows. Susan Aiken is interested in the way grass plants Botany Division differ with their environment. National Museum of Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8 11987 Location: Ellesmere Island Alexander, Vera A polynya is an area where the sea stays open year round Institute of Marine Science and which is consequently very rich in marine life. Vera University of Alaska Alexander is studying the distribution of microscopic plants Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 and the characteristics of the water in a polynya at Knut Peninsula. 11987 Location: outer coast of Frobisher Bay Andrews, John T. Did you ever wonder about the climate on the outermost Institute of Arctic and Alpine coast of Frobisher Bay for the last 10,000 or 20,000 years? Research John Andrews and his coworkers have. By examining University of Colorado fossils in a number of different ways, they hope to learn Box 450 more. Boulder, Colorado 80309 D 8 [ 11986 Location: Ellesmere Island Appollonio, Spencer Spencer Appollonio wants to find out about the [ 31 Eastern Avenue relationships between two different types of microscropic Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538 plants (algae and phytoplankton) in Arctic waters. Do c chemicals released by one help the other grow? 11987 Location: across the NWT Barreto, Luis This project is designed to find out more about cancer u Department of Health among Inuit people. How common is the disease? What Government of the NWT kinds of cancers occur most often? What age groups are [ Box 1320 affected? Are the patterns the same in Canada as in other Yellowknife, NWT circumpolar regions? This questions will be answered by c X1Z 2L9 reviewing medical records and statistics. 11986, 1987 Location: Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere islands c Basinger, James F. James Basinger's investigation of the fossilized remains of Dept. of Geological Sciences ancient tropical forests on Axel Heiberg Island made University of Saskatchewan headlines -- but it is just one aspect of a study of the history c Saskatoon, Saskatchewan of plants at high latitudes. u S7N OWO 11987 Location: lqaluit ~--------------------------------- u Bean, Philip What are the best ways to provide services for criminals and Dept. of Social Administration and people with mental health problems in "remote areas"? u Social Work Phillip Bean visited lqaluit as part of his investigation. University of Nottingham University Park ·L Nottingham NG7 2RD England ·D 11986 Location: lqaluit and Coral Harbour Beardsall, Ken How do Inuit observe the atmosphere and predict weather? 369 Hunter St. W., Apt. #8 Ken Beardsall tried to answer this question by talking to 0 Peterborough, Ontario people in Coral Harbour and lqaluit. 0 K9H 2M6 [ L 9 J1986 Location: Beechey Island Beattie, Owen Owen Beattie used modern methods of analysis to Dept. of Anthropology determine the cause of death of three people buried on University of Alberta Beechey Island in the 1840s. His conclusions are the Edmonton, Alberta subject of a forthcoming book called "Frozen in Time." T6G 2H4 J1987 Location: Ellesmere Island Beaudet, Hector Glaciers advanced and retreated over northern Ellesmere Dept. of Geography Island during the last Ice Age. What was the pattern and University of Alberta timing of these events? What was the island like during and EdmontoA, Alberta after the glaciations? T6G 2H4 11987 Location: Ellesmere Island Bednarski, Jan What is the history of the land near Nansen Sound on Dept. of Geography northern Ellesmere Island, during the last few million years? Trent University This study hopes to find out by studying material on the Peterborough, Ontario surface of the ground, as well as by "mapping" layings K9J 7B8 underneath. 11987 Location : Devon Island Beyens, L. Dr. Beyens and his coworker want to know about Dept of Botany microscopic animals (testate amoebae and diatoms) as they State University of Antwerp occur on Devon Island.