Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #237: Permanent Ecological Monitoring Databases and Field Research/Teaching Infrastructure legacy through Yukon College  (Yukon focal species assessment and permanent tundra monitoring legacy)

Outline
Concept: A series of long-term data sets tracking the fortunes of focal species are maintained at Yukon College. These data sets will be analyzed and annually augmented to explore their value as indicators of ecosystem health. The research and field teaching interests at Yukon College propose to establish permanent field research stations and study areas in two key tundra ecosystems, the Mackenzie and Tombstone Mountains. The major research function will be to provide permanence to the tracking of a suite of ecological parameters that act as base line data for a) understanding long term changes such as climate variability and b) for building more sophisticated ecological research questions for students to pursue. The Northern Studies and Environmental Education academic streams at Yukon College have a keen interest in providing “site” to their courses by offering them at field stations. The benefit of melding teaching, seminars and workshops with ongoing research is a very powerful strategy. The stations will also provide visiting researchers with critically needed infrastructure from which to base their research in the Yukon.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Permanent reference data sets tracking focal species and other environmental indicators are the corner stones for research (addressing literally all themes.) The Northern Research Institute at Yukon College houses data sets that are approaching 30 years of tracking the fortunes of keystone, indicator and umbrella species in northern systems. It is essential to future understanding of stressors and resilience processes in northern ecosystems that these valuable data sets and their field sources be protected and nurtured (themes 1-2). Student research is based on these data sets (theme 4) and the research facility infrastructure proposed for tundra systems have strong educational purpose (themes 5-6).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Yukon College is a key partner in the “University of the Arctic” consortium of circumpolar institutes. Our educational partnerships with the proposed project will be principally via that venue. Research collaboration will develop over time and our Northern Research Institute is in its formative stages with a vision of becoming a centre of northern research excellence. Current collaboration is with other Canadian Universities and mostly with Alaska researchers engaged in similar work.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Two opportunities currently exist for the College to develop partnerships with existing and planned field facilities for reduced cost to the College: ‘Dechenla’ in the Mackenzie mountains (formerly the Old Squaw Lodge) and the Tombstone Interpretation center in the southern Ogilvie mountains. 1) The Mackenzie mountains facility is an existing, fairly sophisticated tourist lodge that the owners are in the process of re-positioning as a field research station. The study area is a tundra plateau of about 100 sq. km. Location: 63 25’N 129 37’W 2) The Tombstone Mountain site is in the mid-Yukon’s Ogilvie Mountain section of the Mackenzie Mountain Ecoregion. Location: 64 30’N 138 15’W The site at the head of the Klondike drainage in the Ogilvie mountains is attractive for a number of reasons. The site lies on the southern edge of “beringia”, the unglaciated refugium from the Pleistocene ice advances. The area is already the site of a 30-year study area tracking the fortunes of ptarmigan species and is part of a larger study area with a 25-year history tracking gyrfalcon and other bird of prey productivity. It is also the site of a long-established natural history interpretive station which is slated for redesign and rebuild by the Yukon Government and the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation. The obvious efficiency of working the new building into a partnership with Yukon College is an integral part of this proposal.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Annually, continuing      Year-round but May-Sept are key      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
New field stations(2): mostly redesign and adaptation of existing facilities. Operational expenses will be on going and need to be identified. Logistic support needed is primarily remote travel (fixed wing air charter, helicopter survey support, 4x4 vehicle support, and living expenses for field workers) These support logistics would be available through the Northern Research Institute, Yukon College to others to partner in and share.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
One of the chief visions of the project is to leave a permanent legacy for research into northern systems. Field research/educational facilities are seen linked to a proposed research facility at the Whitehorse campus of Yukon College. The data bases (some of which are already housed at the College) will become permanently protected by the project and protocols for updating and expanding the monitored parameters will be in place.

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

Both facilities are going to be ‘owned’ by third party. One is private, the other Territorial/First Nation government owned. The economy of this and the valuable partnerships entailed are a powerful attraction to the Northern Research Institute and Yukon College as a contributing part of Yukon society.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes. This proposal was an integral part of the “Dialogue on Northern Research” (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) in Whitehorse, 2004. Infrastructure for field research was identified as a major impediment at this forum. It would also provide a functional wing of a needed research centre attached to Yukon College.

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?


This is a new project but builds on existing work currently being done at Yukon College. A “biodiversity assessment and monitoring” project has been conducted by the principal applicant over the last 10 years. The data sets being added to annually predate the assessment and monitoring project by at least 20 years. The need is to provide permanence to these valuable data sets, expand them to include other variables and to use the work in an educational initiative.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Northern Research Institute at Yukon College will be the coordinating body for managing the research component. The Environmental Education program at Yukon College will be the principal coordinating body for the educational component. Both have experience in the areas noted and are fully aware of the problems and processes involved.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project is in part an extension of the Yukon College educational mandate. Field courses currently conducted in the field or at the campus will be planned for delivery at the field sites. An important part of the ‘vision’ for the facilities is the linking of educational opportunity with on-going field research and researchers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will be through existing storage/retrieval systems at Yukon College. A state of the art network system exists and data storage and dissemination are subject to the policies of the Northern Research Institute. The College vision is to remain an integral part of Yukon society, producing data and knowledge that is disseminated to the public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding of the initial facilities will be mostly through the partners who will own the structures: private and local government. Northern Research Institute plans to fund raise through its normal channels to cover additional costs. These initiatives will incur a cost but these are not envisioned as major. Use of the facility for research is seen as the operational cost of doing the research involved. Educational costs will be covered in the normal course fees and granting processes already in place at Yukon College.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Biology Instructor/Researcher Dave Mossop
Northern Research Institute - Yukon College
Box 2799, Whitehorse
Yukon
Y1A 5K4
Canada

Tel: (867)668-8736
Mobile: no
Fax: (867)668-8805
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation