NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: arctic ecosystems, grizzly bear, wildlife population, animal diet

Objective(s): To analyze available archived Grizzly bear samples and collecting new Grizzly fecal samples as well as samples of animal and plant species that are possibly part of the diet of Grizzly bears around Ulukhaktok to create baseline knowledge on the number of resident Grizzly bear around Ulukhaktok and on the importance of muskoxen and caribou in their diet.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5353. This project aims at analyzing available archived Grizzly bear samples and collecting new Grizzly fecal samples as well as samples of animal and plant species that are possibly part of the diet of Grizzly bears around Ulukhaktok to create baseline knowledge on the number of resident Grizzly bear around Ulukhaktok and on the importance of muskoxen and caribou in their diet. Two methods have been selected as the most promising approach to start gathering reliable data on Grizzly bears around Ulukhaktok: Stable isotope analysis of Grizzly muscle and hair samples to evaluate the diet of grizzly bears; and a genetic analysis of Grizzly fecal samples to produce a baseline estimate on the numbers of Grizzly bears around the community. Stable isotope analyses is based on comparing tissue samples from the Grizzly bear with samples from every possible species that are part of the Grizzly bear diet (animal and plant). Currently 25 archived Grizzly bear samples are ready to be used for this project. In addition, the team plan a sample collection of plant and animal species that can be part of the diet of Grizzly bear. This will be done through harvester-based sampling for animal samples and through field work for plant samples. Samples will be sent to the lab at University of Laval to be analyzed. The team expect the results to inform the team on which proportion of the Grizzly bear diet is made of caribou and muskoxen, although the relative low number of grizzly bear samples will limit the accuracy of our estimates. However, this project is planned as a pilot project and will be followed up by additional work in the area. Additional samples will be added to the repository created through the current project and will allow to refine the estimates. The research team propose to use genetic analyses to get a first estimate of the Grizzly population size around Ulukhaktok. Genetic analyses will serve to identify individual bears to obtain a minimum estimate of the Grizzly bear population around Ulukhaktok. Samples will be obtained through field work and through harvester-based sample collection (harvester will be able to submit fecal samples of Grizzly bear found during their travel on the land). The samples collected will be shipped for DNA extraction and microsatellite genotyping to identify distinct individuals. As the project progresses and connects to future projects, the genetic repository will grow and allow for a better understanding of the population of Grizzly bears around Ulukhaktok (for example by better establishing family relationship between different individuals or documenting whether Grizzly bears are mostly residents and established around the community). Research results are shared with the Olokhatomiut Hunters and Trappers (OHTC), the community of Ulukhaktok, as well as with Wildlife Management Advisory Council (WMAC), Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC), and Environment and Natural Resources in form of reports and community bulletin. Community bulletins will be made available on the Facebook page and printed and distributed in the community. The team will also regularly update the OHTC of progress in the study through e-mails and phone calls (for example during the monthly general assemblies, as soon as they resume). Once travel restrictions are lifted, our group members will also travel to Ulukhaktok and attend the General Assembly of the HTC to report directly to the community. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 23, 2022 to December 31, 2022