Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #261: A community-based approach to assessing the health of arctic wildlife.  (Wildlife Assessment)

Outline
Rationale: Global climate change and exposure to anthropogenic compounds are considered by Boonstra (Integr. Comp. Biol. 2004 (44) 95-108) to be the two persistent and pervasive changes that will have long term impacts on wildlife in the 21st century. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Report (Cambridge University Press 2004), released in November 2004, indicates that the Arctic climate is rapidly changing and has the potential to alter wildlife habitat, facilitate the northward migration of wildlife diseases and parasites, and alter contaminant cycling and fate; all of which have the potential to cause detrimental effects on the health and long term sustainability of wildlife populations. Despite our capacity to monitor trends in contaminants in the polar regions, our ability to interpret the significance of this information is greatly restricted by data and knowledge gaps. For example, a lack of background data regarding the current state of health of wildlife (e.g., parasite prevalence) hinders the ability to identify appropriate reference points (benchmarks) from which to assess future changes in wildlife health, or to assess trends in disease and pathogen prevalence. The absence of information on the physiology and endocrinology of many arctic species reduces the ability to assess the significance of high contaminant concentrations in wildlife. For instance, little is known about how chronic exposure to immuno-modulating contaminants will affect the ability of arctic species to resist bacterial or viral diseases; especially when overall fitness in these animals has already been weakened by climate related changes. Therefore, adequate baseline data on the current health conditions of wildlife and “biomarkers” to assess the effects of stressors (e.g. contaminants, parasites, dietary change) on arctic species are urgently needed. Without these data and techniques, it will not be possible to assess and predict the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors on wildlife in the arctic. Capacity building within arctic communities will be key to sustaining programs for monitoring wildlife health. The transfer of knowledge to northerners, who are the primary stakeholders of wildlife resources and who also are a repository of valuable traditional knowledge, will be an integral part of this work. Goals: 1. to develop and establish a community-based wildlife health monitoring program in selected northern communities, which can be used as a model for establishing similar programmes in other locations. This programme will gather baseline data necessary for interpreting future changes in wildlife health. South/North and North/South capacity building will be an essential component of this programme. 2. to organize a multidisciplinary group of researchers and focus the expertise of this group on developing integrated approaches to the assessment of the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors on the health of wildlife in the arctic.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed work will establish a community based network involving northern peoples in gathering baseline data on wildlife health (Theme 1). Using an integrated interdisciplinary approach, this work will build on baseline data generated under theme 1 in order to assess the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors (climate, pathogens, contaminants) on wildlife health (Theme 2) using a variety of biomarker assessment techniques (physiological, biochemical, molecular, etc.). Capacity building aimed at developing highly qualified personal originating from the North will be undertaken to facilitate the transfer of management and decision-making processes to local stakeholders. These activities will ensure the long-term sustainability of a monitoring programme and will facilitate an understanding by Northerners of issues related to wildlife health (Theme 6).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaborators are being sought. Some of the proposed team members have international colleagues who are potentially interested. However these possibilities have not yet been finalized.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposed research at this point will be located in Nunavut, Nunavik and possibly portions of the Northwest Territories of Canada. The Nunavut regions will be located primarily in south Baffin, the coastal areas of Hudson Bay and the coastal areas of Nunavik.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/07 – 03/10            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Laboratory equipment (microscopes, freezers, diagnostic equipment) would need to be purchased to help establish a laboratory centre in Nunavut (similar to that in the Nunavick Research Centre) to facilitate the preliminary examination of selected animals suspected of disease or parasite infestations.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave a legacy of infrastructure in terms of establishing a community based wildlife health monitoring network involving northern stakeholders and linkages to supporting institutions.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
National agency
Military support
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Capacity building, data and sample collection will be facilitated through community and educational contacts established in previous projects of investigators.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Project has been indorsed by the national Inuit organization- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

This project is new, however it will build upon a pilot study called the Nunavut Wildlife Health Program (NWHP) which was focussed in Arviat, Coral Harbour and Pangnirtung, Nunavut (2002-2005). The proposed work will be expanded to provide key support to existing Hunter and Trapper Associations/Organizations (HTA/Os) in order to facilitate a community based network of wildlife health monitors and to investigate the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors with the aid of an interdisciplinary team.

How will the project be organised and managed?
A project coordinator will be hired to provide technical support and training to local Hunter and Trapper Associations/Organizations (HTA/Os) and local educational institutions. Support will be provided to local HTA/Os to help them to administer the wildlife health monitoring component of the project. The project coordinator will also assist individual team members to facilitate an integrated approach to research questions.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The initial plans are to develop training and educational material in consultation with northern community partners, Inuit organizations, Territorial governments, educational institutions and other research groups which have established similar pilot projects (e.g., Sahtu Monitoring Project, NWT) or those that have the required technical expertise (e.g., Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The intent of the project will be to establish a community based wildlife monitoring health network administered through local Hunter and Trapper Organizations / Associations and to provide support to those organizations to facilitate this process. A project coordinator will be hired as a support for the interactions and communications of key agencies in this proposed research which will include researchers from Trent University, University of Saskatchewan, Canadian Wildlife Service, Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Nunavick Research Centre and local HTA/Os management boards.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding in Canada will be sought from Northern Contaminants Program (NCP), Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Northern Ecosystems Initiative (NEI) and other NGO organizations, including the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, World Wildlife Fund-Canada and private foundations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
There are some obvious overlap of interest with other IPY pre-proposals and initial discussion with Simard (IPY 78 – Canadian No.), along with Letcher (recently submitted) have indicated a willingness to share resources and work in a complimentary manner to accomplish common goals. Initial discussions with representative HTAs/Os of Nunavut has indicated great support for this project.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Environmental Toxicologist, PhD Gordon Balch
Research Associate, Trent University
Environmental and Resource Studies Program, 1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough
K9J 7B8
Canada

Tel: (705) 748-1011 ext. 7071
Mobile: no
Fax: (705) 748-1569
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation