NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area, North Slave Region

Tags: biology, genetics, biodiversity, environmental adaptation, arthropods

Objective(s): To test how and to what degree the structure of arthropod communities changes between the northern boreal (Norman Wells and Yellowknife, NT), sub arctic (Ogilvie Mountains, YT, and Kugluktuk, NU), and high arctic (Aulavik National Park, NT, and Cambridge Bay, NU) zones.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are: (1) To test how and to what degree the structure of arthropod communities changes between the northern boreal (Norman Wells and Yellowknife, NT), sub arctic (Ogilvie Mountains, YT, and Kugluktuk, NU), and high arctic (Aulavik National Park, NT, and Cambridge Bay, NU) zones. This will provide a contemporary geographic profile of species and group distributions as well as estimates of abundance and diversity. (2) To assess how arthropod communities have adapted to recent (50-60 yr.) environmental changes by comparing contemporary survey results with those of the Northern Insect Survey (1947-62). Analyses will allow partitioning of the effects of spatial and temporal differences in northern arthropod communities on a scale not previously attempted. (3) To use molecular genetic techniques to aid in species identification and to help explore longer-term patterns. Data from themes 1 and 2 will be subjected to molecular genetic techniques to better define species range boundaries and to explore how genetic and morphological traits of species differ in distribution and evolutionary history over time (phylogeography). This will provide information about how species change on time scales of thousands of years. This work will be done in close collaboration with the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB). Genetic sequence data will allow the project to: a) identify species or life-history stages where it is difficult to do so; b) establish species boundaries, especially in Nearctic-Palearctic species; and c) obtain insights into actual species diversity of groups lacking existing classification frameworks, including ecologically important Diptera (flies) families (e.g., Tipulidae (crane flies), Chironomidae (non-biting midges), and d) analyze phylogeographic and post-glacial distributional patterns. (4) To provide a sound foundation from which to launch future studies, including the participation of northern native communities through education and training opportunities. Beginning in the first year of the project, the researchers worked closely with two communities in particular - Kugluktuk, NU and Norman Wells, NWT. However, the team will focus solely on the community of Norman Wells due to its location in NWT. With the completion of the thematic objectives they anticipate leaving a legacy of baseline data and specimens from which to launch future research initiatives in which northern communities can be actively integrated. Community work will incorporate local educational youth training programs about northern biodiversity, insect collection techniques, and identification of charismatic insect species (e.g. Butterflies, Dragonflies, some others). Although this project is largely focused on biodiversity assessment at broad spatial and temporal scales, the overreaching objective is to investigate how this assessment can be linked to changing environmental factors. Northern traditional communities will be severely affected by changing climates and will benefit from the dissemination of scientific knowledge to native representatives just as the scientific community will benefit from the exchange of traditional knowledge. The field crews will carry out the full sampling protocol as outlined below at all three sites in the Northwest Territories. Note that these sites are only a portion of the total 2011 sampling plan; the team will also be working near the North Fork Pass in the Yukon Territory, as well as near Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay in Nunavut. Terrestrial sampling: Three sets of nine pan traps and nine pitfall traps will be placed in upland tundra and three sets in wet tundra sites, for a total of 54 traps. These traps will contain diluted propylene glycol, and will be serviced approximately every 3 days. Malaise traps will also be set up to collect flying insects; a single Malaise trap will be placed at each of the first upland and wet tundra sites, and moved to the second set of sites after the first trap servicing and to the third set of sites at the following servicing. Servicing of pan, pitfall, and Malaise traps will include the collection of trapped insects and spiders into Whirlpak bags along with a small amount of preservative (ethanol). In suitable weather conditions, 75 metre sweep net transects will also be completed at each upland and wet tundra site. Sweep transects will completed at the same time traps are checked, and specimens will be preserved in a similar fashion. Samples of tundra (about 250 ml each) will be collected and return these to McGill University for extraction of soil arthropods in a Berlese Extractor. Finally, butterfly nets and hand collection will be used to collect spiders and insects at various locations. A number of small sediment samples will also be collected for pH assessment. Aquatic Sampling: aquatic insects will be sampled using a “D-net” with a kick-sample – the rocks/bottom of the water is kicked to dislodge invertebrates, which are then collected into the net. Net samples are placed into a sorting tray from which insects are sorted from the overall collection into separate vials containing ethanol. In addition, any adult aquatic insects (eg. dragonflies, mayflies) seen adjacent to the water may be collected by hand or using sweep nets. Adult mosquitoes may be captured by aspiration. The proposal aims to build capacity in northern communities for insect identification and methods for using biodiversity data to assess long-term change. The team has already begun and will continue to provide training to northern educators, which in turn will promote education about the impact of current and future changes. Many of the collaborators in the North have shared environmental concerns: climate change, environmental and health, clean water, conservation of biodiversity. The researchers will provide data and the tools necessary to document one aspect of a changing climate. For example, in Norman Wells the team will leave collected local species in display cabinets. The data and project information is also available through the website, http://insectecology.mcgill.ca/NBP/index.html. There is much anecdotal information about southern animals appearing in the North, but without the proper entomological training and tools, it is easy to misunderstand the changes. In addition, there are opportunities for students in northern communities to gain first-hand experience in biodiversity assessment. Finally, community members that are interested in participating further in the study will be encouraged to contact principal investigators to discuss how their interests may be incorporated with those of the project. Furthermore, the proposal will provide benefits to health by monitoring changes in biting fly distributions. Bloodsucking insects are vectors of disease to humans and wild and domestic animals, including high profile health concerns like West Nile Virus. It is important to track the movements of disease vectors, and to assess their potential impact on northern communities. The project website (http://insectecology.mcgill.ca/NBP/index.html) provides information about the project itself, its objectives, the people and collaborators involved, and the implications for northern communities. Information is provided in English, French, and Inuktikut. The website is updated periodically to inform of new developments, and also includes a blog where team members post pictures and details of their work. The researchers have budgeted for educational material to leave in Norman Wells (e.g., insect display cases), and will communicate the findings to local organizations (eg. HTOs) with the help students, and contacts at local organizations as well as Governmental and Territorial offices. In addition, the researchers will provide interested individuals and communities with copies of scientific papers and reports arising from the research. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 6, 2011 to July 22, 2011.