Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Tags: climate change, fish, benthic invertebrates, geomorphology, marine ecosystem, coastline, plankton
| Principal Investigator: | Edinger, Evan N (3) |
| Licence Number: | 13806 |
| Organization: | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2005
|
| Issued: | May 12, 2005 |
| Project Team: | Dr. Donald Forbes (Project leader, Geological Survey of Canada), Dr. Gavin Manson (marine acoustics and habitat analysis, Geological Survey of Canada), Dr. Norman Catto (Geomorphologist, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Dr. Evan Edinger (Marine Biologist/Geologist, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Karissa Belliveau (geomorphology student, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Tanya Brown (marine biology student, Memorial University of Newfoundland) |
Project Description: Climate change is affecting coastlines and coastal communities across Arctic Canada. Communities in the Western Arctic, including Sachs Harbour, have described a variety of effects, including warmer temperatures, reduced sea ice thickness, longer duration of open water in summer, increased wave activity, and new or early arrivals of migratory animals. These effects can have a variety of impacts on landscapes and wildlife used by Inuvialuit. This project will address the effects of warmer temperature, reduced sea ice cover, and greater wave exposure on coastal geomorphology and benthic biology along the southwest coast of Banks Island, centred around the community of Sachs Harbour. Coastal exposures along the southwest coast of Banks Island between Cape Kellett and De Salis Bay will be described and measured, taking note of sediment types and quantifying the degree and nature of coastal erosion. Precise study sites for geomorphology will be chosen from air photo analysis prior to field research activities. Coupled with the geomorphological studies, the researchers will assess possible climte change impacts on marine habitat and their biodiversity, including plankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish. Marine habitat will be described using side-scan sonar, underwater video, and a grab sampler to collect samples of bottom sediments. Water transparency will be measured using a secchi disk, a light intensity meter attached to a cable, and water samples will be taken to measure chlorophyll concentration and suspended particulate matter concentration. Marine flora and invertebrate fauna will be sampled using plankton nets, grab samples, and a small experimental crab trap. Any crabs caught will be photographed and measured, then returned live to the sea. Fish will be described based on underwater video. The field team will be happy to meet with community members in Sachs Harbour to discuss the results of past research efforts and the progress of the current project. This will be facilitated by the team staying in the community. They are also happy to present the results of a previous research project on the paleoecology of fossil reefs on Northeast Banks Island to the community (Edinger and Copper, field work 2000 and 2003). The field team intends to employ local personnel as wildlife monitors, field assistants and guides as required by logistics and field safety concerns, as they have done in the past. The study will be conducted at Sachs Harbour (71.58 N, 125.13 W), Cape Kellett (71.96 N, 125.92 W), Blue Fox Harbour (72.12 N, 125.75 W), Lennie Harbour (72.30 N, 125.50 W), Duck Hawk Bluff (71.96 N, 125.58 W), Masik River (71. 53 N, 123.45 W), Cape Queenston (71.23 N, 123.47 W), Cape Collinson (71.58 N, 122.00 W), and De Salis Bay (71.42 N, 121.65 W), from July 10 to August 25, 2005.
