Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Understanding Ecological Change in the Arctic using Traditional and Scientific Ecological Knowledge: Comparisons between Northeastern Russia and North  (TEK/SEK: Northeastern Russia and Northwestern Alaska)

Outline
“The elders are the ones that are the scientists and professionals in our land…[white people] have their experts and our experts are the Elders. We should be comparing the knowledge of those two”. Edward Tapiatic, Chisasibi; Louis Bird, Peawanuck (McDonald et al., 1997). We propose an interdisciplinary study using both SEK (scientific ecological knowledge) and TEK (traditional ecological knowledge) of the native groups of the Chukchi Sea region- specifically those found in northeastern Russia and northwestern Alaska. The project builds on early work we have done with the Iñupiaq of the Kotzebue Sound, Alaska area. We will focus our fieldwork in Russia, and test the following hypotheses: H1) Food webs: SEK and TEK will agree with regards to the organizational structure of marine food webs at higher, but not lower, trophic levels; and H2) Ecosystem change: Both TEK and SEK will indicate significant environmental change on decadal time scales, specifically both will indicate that warming has occurred. Many coastal Russian native groups are undergoing a resurgence in subsistence culture, and we expect to find unique patterns in TEK and SEK as a result. We will then compare the results of the above work with the same two hypotheses we have previously addressed in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. Subsistence culture has continuously been part of the Inupiaq culture: accordingly we propose hypothesis 3: TEK in northwestern Alaska will be more detailed and consistently shared among the population in comparison to TEK in northeastern Russia. As subsistence has not been dominant in recent years in certain areas in Russia, we expect a difference in food web structure, and will also be comparing SEK between the different geographic locations.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Variations in fundamental structure of arctic food webs. Preservation of TEK, and quantitative understanding of TEK and SEK. Understanding of climate change in different Arctic regions. Variations in TEK as a function of different experiences.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International fieldwork, and international team of investigators, including active participation by native groups.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Northeastern Russia above the Arctic Circle

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/2006- 12/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
research boat with nearshore capabilities helicopters, snow machines, sample processing capabilities (building space with running water and electricity)

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The logistics of working in Russia will be a challenge- we will leave behind expertise in making that happen. We will also foster contact between native groups and scientists in both Russia and Alaska.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
Commercial operator

We anticipate working with VECO (US Arctic operator) and Russian logistics providers, which may be either agencies or commercial operations.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Kotzebue component of the project has been funded by the NSF since 2002. We will be applying for NSF funding for the new components of the work in 2005.

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?
Exp

Proposed work will build on current Kotzebue project.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Jeff Johnson, the current lead PI for the Kotzebue project, will serve as the lead PI, with East Carolina University being the lead institution. Jeff has collaborated with all involved scientists including Russian colleagues in the past.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We will be training undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students. We will also hold conferences linking native groups from Russia and Alaska. We will develop an ecological profile for northeastern Russia.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
We will build on our current procedures for the Kotzebue project, and will apply the principles set up by the funding agencies (archiving data with the US Snow and Ice Data Center for instance).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We will be applying for funding with the US NSF.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Jeffrey Johnson
ICMR
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
27858
USA

Tel: 252-328-1753
Mobile: no
Fax: 252-328-4265
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation