Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #124:An Arctic Archipelago animal tracking and physical oceanographic array.  (Arctic Curtain)

Outline
The Arctic Curtain (AC) could monitor movements of nearly any marine species from 10g fish to 100mt whales for about $300 per animal using individually coded, active-acoustic telemetry tags and collect physical oceanographic data on temperatures, salinity and currents at key locations in the Arctic Archipelago. Global warming is having a dramatic impact on the Arctic with some models predicting permanent ice will disappear by 2030. Documenting movements of key species from squid and fish to whales now is crucial to understand how they interact with present ocean physics and predict how future changes will impact humans and ecosystems. Amazingly, the AC needs only four links between the Canadian Arctic and Atlantic, a total linear extent of 115km (See 2.1). The AC builds on the Census of Marine Life Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) project led by DFO scientist, David Welch, that demonstrated the practicability of curtain tracking this year on the scale of the entire Canadian West Coast with hundreds of kilometers of privately funded curtains. The Arctic is a more challenging environment, but the scale is much smaller. POST personnel with technical experience will work with DFO colleagues to develop the logistics for putting the system in place. A consortium would be developed to maintain receiver lines. VR3 receivers, produced by Canadian manufacturer, VEMCO Ltd., allow frequent data recovery for five years simply by putting a hydrophone modem connection in the water. In the Arctic this can be done through the winter through an ice hole and in summer from small boats. Individual receivers cover a kilometer, so all animal movements between oceans in open water or under ice can be tracked with $600,000 worth of VR3s. The longest curtain across the Barrow Strait (B, in 2.1), closest to Resolute and most likely to be a migratory pathway, is the initial focus. B, C and D are already being monitored for physical parameters as major routes for water transfer between the Pacific and Atlantic, with stored data recovered annually using expensive cruises. VR3s have connectors to collect, store and download physical data via modem, so for these sites there is synergy and potential savings between physics and biology. Site A, Bellot Strait, is not routinely monitored for physics, so getting a VR3 for both biological and physical monitoring into this narrow passage is the second priority in collaboration with DFO physical oceanographer, Eddy Carmack.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The Arctic Curtain fits all themes: (1) recording current animal migrations and water flows through the Archipelago, (2) establishing permanent infrastructure to monitor future changes, (3) flows through passages are an index of overall water relations between Pacific and Atlantic and the reopening Arctic will give insights into evolutionary history in three oceans. (4) discovering seasonal migration patterns of marine species feeding higher Arctic trophic levels, including humans, (5) distinguishing between anthropogenic and climate impacts globally in relatively unaltered Arctic ecosystems, (6) monitoring will allow rapid adjustments without abandoning traditions for hunting societies already being altered by ice cover changes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We imagine the AC will become part of a North American continental scale tracking system under CoML and also see links to a pan-Arctic CoML biodiversity project (centred at U. Alaska Fairbanks), possibly including more tracking curtains. At minimum, the project would involve Canadian, US, Russian and Greenland (EU) partners.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 7/06 – 6/07      7/07 – 6/08      7/08 – 12/09
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Initially, collaboration from DFO/Coast Guard currenting maintaining physical monitoring systems would put equipment in place, using low-tech data collection approaches involving local people using acoustic modems, long-term. We would be pleased to share other support or infrastructure, particularly for tagging animals, which would be left to experts on species.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
We anticipate the Curtain becoming a valuable permanent asset involving local people in Arctic science. Receivers function for five years unattended, likely to be replaced with a new generation of instruments, but, in any case, they would require rebatterying at that time to maintain a permanent system.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

NSERC or CFI are possible supporters for equipment and DFO for installation. Collaborations with existing Canadian projects could maintain data collection. Tagging could involve many scientists from Canada or other countries. The POST system tracks animals over thousands of kilometers across national boundaries.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project is associated with the international COML, which includes POST and Arctic and Antarctic biodiversity projects. COML is a SCOR affiliated program, and SCAR approved the Antarctic project. This project was adopted at a recent NSERC funded meeting of the COML Canadian Implementation Committee in Ottawa. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems Terrestrial Processes

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

he project would be part of a 'three ocean' tracking system extending the COML Pacific Ocean Tracking System, currently supported with over $10 million from the Sloan and Moore Foundations, DFO, NSERC, Bonneville Power Authority, etc.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Details remain to be worked out, but COML currently manages 17 projects worth over $100 million global. We anticipate continued involvement of the POST management team, but would also like to see COML.CA develop the project in collaboration with existing Canadian Arctic programs and the COML Arctic Ocean Diversity project. We have discussed possible links with ArcticNet and AquaNet.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
COML has a strong education and outreach group that has been very effective in communicating global. This group would continue to be available to the AC project. This includes continuous online access to data and analysis through the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Through the POST links, the project would make all biological data available through the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), which is the principal marine data provider to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and linked to IOC physical data providers. Existing commitments for physical data would also be maintained.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Initial support for a post-doc coordinator and graduate student would come from RO's NSERC Discovery Grant, followed by a consortium grant for equipment to NSERC and/or CFI. POST and DFO would assist with technical support for installation, and data collection might be handled by existing Arctic projects. Tagging of animals would be supported by individual experts (e.g. Ron O'Dor, squid; Sara Iverson, seals and polar bears; Jeff Hutchings, fish; Hal Whitehead, whales; etc.). Partial tag funding is possible from existing POST and NSERC grants. Estimated cost to install and maintain curtains for IPY about $1 million. Tagging costs depend on the number and kinds of species that people decide to study once the system is in place.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ron O'Dor
CORE, Suite 420
1201 New York Ave.
Washington, DC
20005
USA

Tel: 1-202-448-1233
Mobile: no
Fax: 1-202- 332-9751
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation