Marine mammal ecology and health: finding common ground between conventional science and indigenous knowledge to track arctic ecosystem variability

Abstract

Marine mammals respond to, and thereby reflect, changes in Arctic ecosystems that are important both to practitioners of conventional science (CS) and to holders of indigenous knowledge (IK). Although often seen as contrasting approaches to tracking ecosystem variability, when CS and IK are combined they can provide complementary and synergistic information. Despite exceptions, ecosystem-focused CS is often spatially broad and time shallow (1000 s km, decades) while IK is comparatively narrow spatially and time deep (10 s km, centuries). In addition, differences in how information is gathered, stored, applied and communicated can confound information integration from these two knowledge systems. Over the past four decades, research partnerships between CS practitioners and IK holders have provided novel insights to an Alaskan Arctic marine ecosystem in rapid transition. We identify insights from some of those projects, as they relate to changes in sea ice, oceanography, and more broadly to marine mammal ecology and health. From those insights and the protocols of existing community-based programs, we suggest that the strong seasonal cycle of Arctic environmental events should be leveraged as a shared framework to provide common ground for communication when developing projects related to marine mammal health and ecology. Adopting a shared temporal framework would foster joint CS-IK thinking and support the development of novel and nonlinear approaches to shared questions and concerns regarding marine mammals. The overarching goal is to extend the range and depth of a common understanding of marine mammal health and ecology during a period of rapid ecosystem alteration. The current focus on CS-IK coproduction of knowledge and recent inclusion of marine mammals as essential variables in global ocean observatories makes this an opportune time to find common ground for understanding and adapting to the rapid changes now underway in Arctic marine ecosystems.

Implications of Zoonoses From Hunting and Use of Wildlife in North American Arctic and Boreal Biomes: Pandemic Potential, Monitoring, and Mitigation

“…Such awareness and presence of eyes-in-the-field is irreplaceable for the early detection of changes in wildlife populations, and the environment. Combining Indigenous Knowledge with scientific understanding improves wildlife surveillance, fosters reconciliation, and advances Indigenous Peoples' selfdetermination in research, while creating mutual health and conservation benefits (331,(344)(345)(346)(347)(348). However, a history of colonialism, relocations, residential schools, and loss of Indigenous languages has led to generational changes in diet, life-style and relationships with the environment for many Indigenous communities.…”

Climate change stressors and social-ecological factors mediating access to subsistence resources in Arctic Alaska

“…We documented recent temporal shifts of anywhere from one to three weeks earlier start for harvest of three coastal species-bearded seal, beluga, and chum salmon-as well as an earlier end to the bearded seal and beluga harvest depending on ice break up in Kotzebue Sound. We expect the more ice-dependent species, bearded seal and beluga, to experience continued reduction in availability with loss of habitat (Laidre et al 2015), especially in northwestern Alaska (Moore and Hauser 2019). Although culturally important, beluga harvesting has not occurred on a large scale in Kotzebue Sound since the mid-1960s, with variable and sporadic harvesting since the early 1980s (Georgette and Loon 1993).…”

Conceptualizing indicators as boundary objects in integrating Inuit knowledge and western science for marine resource management

“…Notably, indicators of marine mammal health and ecology, key for the subsistence economy of Indigenous People across the Arctic, are increasingly being developed through a refined and holistic understanding brought by effective IK-WS communication and meaningful research partnerships (Moore and Hauser 2019). Participatory research and inclusive efforts to build bridges between science and IK have significantly contributed to advancing the understanding of climate change and related ecological shifts at different spatial and temporal scales (Laidler 2006;Tengö et al 2014).…”

“…These efforts have created a shift in research methodologies to aim at having Indigenous Peoples at the forefront of research conducted in their lands and having them drive the research questions, needs, and practices (Davidson-Hunt and Michael O'Flaherty 2007;Castleden et al 2017;Graeme and Mandawe 2017). Such long-term joint research efforts that involve Indigenous communities and WS knowledge holders have strengthened co-learning and have contributed to building relationships that are key for knowledge co-production (Country et al 2016;Castleden et al 2017;Moore and Hauser 2019). However, the notion of community involvement is in many cases viewed as rhetoric on behalf of the communities themselves; a feeling that has been created largely due to the ways in which research has been conducted in the past and also unexpected uses and communication of the research results (Natcher et al 2005).…”