NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Principal Investigator: Ostertag, Sonja K
Licensed Year(s): 2010 2008 2006
Summary: The objectives of this study are to collect brain samples from beluga whales harvested in the ISR for contaminant and brain analyses. The researcher will establish whether a link exists between contaminant exposure and brain chemistry. This information is important for understanding whether contaminants are affecting beluga health. Sampling will take place for four to six weeks at Hendrickson...

Principal Investigator: Romano, Tracy
Licensed Year(s): 1993
Summary: This research will examine the nervous (i.e., brain) and immune systems of beluga by collecting these tissues from harvested animals for laboratory analyses. This study will help to determine how contaminants affect the health of belugas. In addition, the data collected may lead to a better understanding of why whales strand themselves on the shoreline as it has been suggested that beached whale...

Principal Investigator: Richard, Pierre
Licensed Year(s): 1993
Summary: Beluga whales will be herded into shallow waters with boats and kept there for a short period of time. Whale size and sex will be determined and a small sample of skin will be taken for DNA analysis. Satellite tags will be attached to the dorsal ridge area of ten whales. These tags will allow the researchers to locate the whales' movements and diving patterns over the next several months....

Principal Investigator: Cosens, Susan
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1992
Summary: In this final year of the study, the researcher will be testing the responses of beluga whales to previously recorded underwater (background) and boat noise. The whales' behaviour to the recorded noises will be measured as a way to determine if belugas alter their behaviour to boat traffic....

Principal Investigator: Cosens, Susan
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1992 1991 1990
Summary: In this final year of study, the researcher will be recording whale sounds as well as `normal' underwater sounds (background noise) and underwater sounds that boats make. The purpose of this research is to determine whether the sounds of boats interfere with the communication that occurs between beluga. The field crew will camp at Cape Lambton and make day trips to the recording sites out on the...

Principal Investigator: Stabler, Matt
Licensed Year(s): 1993
Summary: The Beluga Harvest Monitoring Program is an on-going program conducted by the Fisheries Joint Management Secretariat that involves the monitoring of the beluga harvest in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Data and samples are collected from harvested whales in order to assess contaminant levels as well as population and reproductive parameters....

Principal Investigator: Patenaude, Nathalie
Licensed Year(s): 1992
Summary: The researcher will use a crossbow to fire an arrow with a stainless steel biopsy tip into landed beluga whales. Different tip designs will be tested to evaluate biopsy tip length and diameter required for effective sample retrieval, strength of bow string, and effective distance. Tissue surrounding the sample site will also be tested for tissue damage, and wounds will be photographed after each...

Principal Investigator: Norton, Pamela
Licensed Year(s): 1985
Summary: To monitor the white whale migration to and distribution and abundance in the Mackenzie Estuary. Secondary objectives are to observe white whale behaviour, to record whale-vessel interactions (if possible) and to quantify the number of whales missed by observers under normal survey conditions. All marine mammal sightings will be recorded....

Principal Investigator: Norton, Pamela
Licensed Year(s): 1984
Summary: To examine white whale use of offshore areas during and after the period of "peak" numbers; to document whale distribution and abundance; to record movements and feeding; to determine percent calves in the population and to compare white whale distribution with major oceanographic features depicted in satellite imagery and with industrial activities....

Principal Investigator: Fraker, P.N.
Licensed Year(s): 1982
Summary: To continue monitoring of the white whale herd, its population, distribution, migration patterns and behaviour. To relate hunter harvest to these criteria. To determine potential interference of resource development activities on hunter success....