Observation of Arctic island barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) migratory movement delay due to human induced sea-ice breaking

Dumond, Mathieu; Sather, Shane; Harmer, Rob

doi:10.7557/2.33.2.2533

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Arctic fox) that can use floating sea ice, caribou may only be able to cross when sea ice is stable and continuous. Mortalities, due to drowning or exposure after breaking though ice, have been documented [11][12][13]. Thus over the long term, the collapse of sea-ice connectivity could increase demographic and genetic isolation, undercutting population viability and persistence.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Loss of connectivity among island-dwelling Peary caribou following sea ice decline

et al. 2016

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These authors share senior authorship of this study.One contribution to the special feature 'Effects of sea ice on arctic biota'. Global warming threatens to reduce population connectivity for terrestrial wildlife through significant and rapid changes to sea ice. Using genetic fingerprinting, we contrasted extant connectivity in island-dwelling Peary caribou in northern Canada with continental-migratory caribou. We next examined if sea-ice contractions in the last decades modulated population connectivity and explored the possible impact of future climate change on long-term connectivity among island caribou. We found a strong correlation between genetic and geodesic distances for both continental and Peary caribou, even after accounting for the possible effect of sea surface. Sea ice has thus been an effective corridor for Peary caribou, promoting inter-island connectivity and population mixing. Using a time series of remote sensing sea-ice data, we show that landscape resistance in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has increased by approximately 15% since 1979 and may further increase by 20 -77% by 2086 under a high-emission scenario (RCP8.5). Under the persistent increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, reduced connectivity may isolate island-dwelling caribou with potentially significant consequences for population viability.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For caribou (Rangifer tarandus), sea ice acts as a bridge for seasonal inter-island or island-mainland migrations [10,11]. The longterm viability of island caribou may thus depend on sea-ice connectivity [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of connectivity among island-dwelling Peary caribou following sea ice decline

et al. 2016

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“…Finally, disruption to Peary caribou movement can occur through ice breaking. Ice breaking activities have been observed to disrupt caribou migrations across sea ice (Dumond, Sather, & Harmer, ), and while marine traffic in the High Arctic is currently limited, much like industrial activity it is expected to increase as sea ice coverage declines and the shipping season lengthens (Prowse et al, ). Beyond the climate‐driven lengthening of shipping windows, increasing development could bring with it pressure to artificially extend shipping seasons with ice breaking, or even year‐round shipping.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritization of landscape connectivity for the conservation of Peary caribou

Mallory

Boyce

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Adequate connectivity between discontinuous habitat patches is crucial for the persistence of metapopulations across space and time. Loss of landscape connectivity is often a direct result of fragmentation caused by human activities but also can be caused indirectly through anthropogenic climate change. Peary caribou ( Rangifer tarandus pearyi ) are widely dispersed across the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and rely on sea ice to move seasonally between island habitats throughout their range. Seasonal connectivity provided by sea ice is necessary to maintain genetic diversity and to facilitate dispersal and recolonization of areas from which caribou have been extirpated. We used least‐cost path analysis and circuit theory to model connectivity across Peary caribou range, and future climate projections to investigate how this connectivity might be affected by a warming climate. Further, we used measures of current flow centrality to estimate the role of High Arctic islands in maintaining connectivity between Peary caribou populations and to identify and prioritize those islands and linkages most important for conservation. Our results suggest that the Bathurst Island complex plays a critical role in facilitating connectivity between Peary caribou populations. Large islands, including Banks, Victoria, and Ellesmere have limited roles in connecting Peary caribou. Without rigorous greenhouse gas emission reductions our projections indicate that by 2100 all connectivity between the more southern Peary caribou populations will be lost for important spring and early‐winter movement periods. Continued connectivity across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and possibly Peary caribou persistence, ultimately hinges on global commitments to limit climate change. Our research highlights priority areas where, in addition to emission reductions, conservation efforts to maintain connectivity would be most effective.

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“…(Thorpe et al, 2001a:79) Ahiarmiut refers to caribou on the mainland and literally means 'from the berries' (Thorpe et al, 2001b:193), while Kiilliniq is the Inuinnaqtun name for Victoria Island (Thorpe et al, 2001b:194). The origins of the Kiilliniq caribou are said to be a mixing of Bathurst and Peary caribou (Thorpe et al, 2001b), and thus the term seems to refer to what scientists distinguish as the Dolphin and Union (DU) herd of Victoria Island Gunn and Fournier, 2000;Nagy et al, 2009;Dumond et al, 2013). Observations of increasing overlap between the ranges and migration routes of Ahiarmiut and Kiilliniq caribou prompted some mention that another herd had emerged as a mixture of the two.…”

Section: Kitikmeot Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inuit Approaches to Naming and Distinguishing Caribou: Considering Language, Place, and Homeland toward Improved Co-management

Ljubicic¹,

Okpakok²,

Robertson³

et al. 2018

ARCTIC

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Qikiqtaq (King William Island), in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, has been largely overlooked in caribou research to date. Qikiqtaq is shown as blank, or as having uncertain status, in the majority of caribou herd range maps.Qikiqtaq (King William Island), in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, has been largely overlooked in caribou research to date. Qikiqtaq is shown as blank, or as having uncertain status, in the majority of caribou herd range maps. However, our work with Inuit Elders and hunters in Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven) on the southeastern coast of Qikiqtaq made it clear that caribou migrate on and off the island seasonally, and some remain on the island year-round. Caribou were identified as a local research priority in 2010, and we have worked together with Uqsuqtuurmiut (people of Uqsuqtuuq) from 2011 to 2016 to document and share Uqsuqtuurmiut knowledge of caribou movements, hunting, and habitat, as well as the importance of caribou for community diets, livelihoods, and cultural practices. In this process, it was important to understand appropriate Inuktitut terminology and local approaches to naming and distinguishing caribou in the region. Uqsuqtuurmiut do not generally distinguish caribou (tuktuit in Inuktitut) according to herds, in the way that biologists or wildlife managers do. Locally, people differentiate four main types of caribou: iluiliup tuktuit (inland caribou), kingailaup tuktuit (island caribou), qungniit (reindeer), and a mixture of iluiliup tuktuit and kingailaup tuktuit. Through these names, along with reviewing approaches to naming and distinguishing caribou in other Kitikmeot and Kivalliq communities, we emphasize how Inuit-caribou connections are articulated and enacted through language, place, and homeland. In efforts to support more inclusive and meaningful incorporation of Inuit knowledge in caribou co-management, we suggest that careful consideration of Inuit approaches to naming and distinguishing caribou could aid communication and mutual understanding. Key considerations that emerged include (1) accounting for dialectical differences, (2) understanding relative geographic references, and (3) recognizing historical and contemporary influences of traditional homelands and societies on terminology used. These considerations have potential implications for identifying and discussing caribou, as well as for new or refined approaches to monitoring caribou herds and habitats, since these approaches are often the result of how herds are defined.

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Observation of Arctic island barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) migratory movement delay due to human induced sea-ice breaking

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Loss of connectivity among island-dwelling Peary caribou following sea ice decline

Loss of connectivity among island-dwelling Peary caribou following sea ice decline

Prioritization of landscape connectivity for the conservation of Peary caribou

Inuit Approaches to Naming and Distinguishing Caribou: Considering Language, Place, and Homeland toward Improved Co-management

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