Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #23: An early-warning system for detecting Arctic marine ecosystem change through the use of top predators  (Arctic Marine Alert System (AMAS))

Outline
Inter-regional (Canadian Wildlife Service, University of Manitoba) and international (Circumpolar Seabird Working Group) collaborators will combine to design and carry out a comprehensive programme of marine ecosystem monitoring for food-web structure and contaminants based on diet sampling of top predators – marine birds. Rationale Arctic marine ecosystems are changing rapidly due to changes in sea-ice cover and timing of break-up. The great extent of Arctic marine waters makes them difficult to sample, especially before ice dispersal makes free movement of ships possible. In Canada, especially, lack of access to waters within the Arctic archipelago has resulted in sparse and temporally variable information on marine food webs and community composition, making it difficult to identify climate induced changes. Marine homeotherms (birds, mammals) are efficient samplers of this environment: their diets are sensitive to changes in food-web structure. Where fish stock information is available, they have been shown to track changes in fish stock abundance. Diving species make use of a wide range of water depths; some species take food both from the sea bottom, and in mid-water. Seabirds are especially effective samplers, as they return regularly to land throughout the summer, where they can be trapped. Because they need to feed rather frequently, their stored energy reserves reflect local rather than distant food sources. Goals To provide an ongoing and cost-efficient means of tracking changes in Arctic marine ecosystems, we propose to develop a network of sampling stations within Canada and across the Atlantic sector of the Arctic, based on colonial seabirds and using a mixture of established and new techniques to determine diet composition, foraging range, contaminant loads and contaminant effects for selected species. Aims (1) Measure marine birds diets and prey standing stocks to assess biases in the use of marine birds for monitoring Arctic marine food webs; (2) In collaboration with local communities and international partners, establish a network for sampling food webs in Arctic marine ecosystems using marine birds as sampling tools. (3) examine changes in Eastern Arctic food webs since the 1980s by comparing new observations with similar data collected in the 1970s and 1980s. (4) analyse specimen material for contaminants and stable isotopes (C, N) to improve understanding of how diet affects contaminant loads for seabirds and marine mammals – currently standard assays of Arctic marine contaminants (5) In collaboration with Arctic College, expand the current laboratory facilities in Iqaluit and develop programs to involve students in diet analysis studies

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The current state of the polar environment: Description of geographical variation in current Arctic marine food webs and contaminants via higher trophic level samplers; Change in the polar regions: Detection of Arctic marine ecosystem changes since the 1970s; Polar-global linkages and interaction: assess impact of global climate shifts through comparison of changes occurring among regions (Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Hudson Bay, Davis Strait, Parry Channel ). Investigating new frontiers: Use innovative techniques to investigate prey species ecology through instrumentation of predators in Arctic marine ecosystems

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Members of the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group of CAFF (especially Iceland, Norway and Denmark/Greenland).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field work to be based out of the following communities: Ivujivik, Koartac (Nunavik), Coral Harbour, Iqaluit, Broughton Island, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay (Nunavut), as well as field camps at Coats Island and Digges Island (northern Hudson Bay), Cumberland Peninsular, Cape Hay, Bylot Island and Coburg Island.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
In Canada, we need to make use of suitable boats for at-sea sampling operating from Coral Harbour, Ivujivik, Broughton Island and Resolute Bay. If a larger (research) vessel is available for shipboard studies either in northern Hudson Bay, Davis Strait or Parry Channel, we would hope to share that facility with others. We propose to extend the present EC wet-lab in Iqaluit to make it a major centre for analysis and specimen identification

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Infrastructure: laboratory facilities in Iqaluit; cabins constructed at field sites will facilitate future sampling. A database, available through the web and including historical information, will contribute to future monitoring potential. Creation of a community-based network of sampling sites and increased participation of Arctic college students will help to develop Northern-based skills in ecosystem monitoring

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

Support for flying will be sought from Polar Continental Shelf Project of NRCan. We are discussing possible joint ship needs with other groups putting forward proposals.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
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

Most of the proposal involves new research. However, a segment of the proposal makes use of pre-existing information. Some facilities developed by CWS for related work and much existing equipment will be used.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Steering of the international portion of this project will be achieved through the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group of CAFF. Within Canada, it will be coordinated by National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
By working with communities we expect there will be direct transfer of techniques and information. Input by hunters will be sought in the initial sampling design and local people will be emplyed throughout for specimen collection. Collaboration with Arctic College should provide northerners with experience in identification of marine organisms. Data produced by the project will be made available, in simplified form, via the world wide web.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The Circumpolar Seabird Working Group of CAFF is currently compiling databases relating to all aspects of Arctic marine bird ecology. Our data will be managed in that context, using the format provided free of charge by The Pacific Seabird Group Seabird Monitoring Database, already designed for this purpose. Data will be available via the web site.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding sources include Environment Canada A-Base, Northern Ecosystems Initiative, Northern Contaminant Programme, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, NSERC Discovery and Research Tools and Instruments Grants, Nunavut Research Trust, and DIAND funding for local assistantships.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Possible collaborators who are also submitting pre-proposals: James Reist, DFO, Winnipeg (Arctic Char monitoring) Steven Ferguson, DFO (Global Warming and Arctic Marine Mammals) Derek Muir, EC, NWRI, Burlington (Contaminants in seals) Terry Dick, University of Manitoba (Arctic marine ecosystems)

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Anthony Gaston
Canadian Wildlife Service
Carleton University
Ottawa
K1A 0H3
Canada

Tel: 613-998-9662
Mobile: no
Fax: 613-998-0458
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation