Monitoring Environmental Impacts on Insect and Bird Biodiversity in Ivvavik National Park
Organization Responsible
The agency responsible for implementation (field work and reporting) is
Parks Canada Agency, Inuvik, NT (Dr. Linh Nguyen). Dr. Nguyen is one of the research team leaders
along with Dr. Erica Nol of Trent University.
Dr. Linh Nguyen Dr. Erica Nol
Parks Canada Agency Department of Biology
PO Box 1840 Trent University
187 Mackenzie Road 1600 West Bank Drive
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8
Phone: (867) 777-8801 Phone: (705) 748-1011 ext 7640
Fax: (867) 777-8820 Fax: (705) 748-1139
Email: linh.nguyen@pc.gc.ca Email: enol@trentu.ca
Partner Organizations:
Parks Canada Agency (Western Arctic Field Unit) provides financial and in-kind
logistic supports ($47,000). Trent University provides financial and logistic support to the university
student through various grants. Parks Canada Agency (Western and Northern Service Center) provides inkind
technical assistance.
Background:
Climate change poses a serious threat to the Western Arctic, and will change living
conditions for plants and animals. In recent decades, biologists have noted a steady decline in the
diversity and numbers of animal pollinators in both managed and natural ecosystems around the world.
Animal pollinators include bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and birds. They play a key role in plant
reproduction, moving pollen from plant to plant as they forage for food. Recently, the rate of this decline
has begun to increase dramatically. An urgent need to develop programs to monitor and conserve the
ecological complexity is warranted as both traditional culture and emerging Arctic interests become
impacted.
This integrated monitoring project in Ivvavik National Park builds on past work of animal pollinators to
investigate variation in environmental factors and the biological responses to them in the short-term, and
assess the consequences of climate warming in the long-term by quantifying changes from earlier
baseline data. Specifically, we will engage students to work alongside researchers and Parks Canada
staff to investigate variation in soil moisture and weather, the consequences for this variation to insects,
plants and then to bird communities and bird productivity. This research project is an opportunity to
excite young Canadians about the challenges and career opportunities in Arctic research. It is also an
opportunity for collaboration with leading experts associated with NSERC-CANPOLIN, a 5-year NSERC
Strategic Network that addresses the growing problem of pollinator decline in agricultural and natural
ecosystems in Canada. Ivvavik National Park is the farthest site within the network across Canada.
This integrated baseline and monitoring initiative in Aulavik National Park assessed the consequences of
climate warming in the long-term by quantifying changes in biodiversity (e.g., lemming and vegetation)
and environmental (e.g., active layer depth and soil composition) parameters from earlier baselines.
Program Description:
The research outreach program received positive reviews by volunteer
participants and Inuvialuit youths last year, where one Aklavik student learned to collect and pin insects.
Another student expressed his thoughts in the next issue of Tusaayaksat. We wish to continue engaging
students in the proposed research because science is best learned when doing science. The objectives
are to: (1) inventory the biodiversity (particularly insects, plants, and birds) in this Arctic ecosystem; (2)
collect data on abiotic factors (e.g., air temperature and soil moisture) of some ecological processes that
may influence biodiversity; and (3) provide opportunities for skill development and capacity building for
college/university students as a means of connecting with the land.
Twenty-eight 20 x 20 m plots had been established in the forests surrounding Sheep Creek, Ivvavik
National Park (69°09.60'N; 140°09.00'W). Vegetation was sampled with standard techniques to gather
baseline data in 2009-2010. Insect sampling was conducted using pan and pitfall traps to identify peak
abundance. Insects are being identified to Order and Family as baseline data. In 2011, we will focus on
animal pollinators following standardized techniques of CANPOLIN to collect insects and examine plant
reproductive responses to the diversity of pollinators. Bird sampling will be continued using 10-min point
counts, where we record singing birds for later identification. Nest searching will also be used to support
birds identified in point counts, and to assess habitat preference of some species. Soil moisture, and air
temperature from a nearby weather station will be gathered. Field data will be transferred to digital
format immediately after the field season for synthesis to determine what forest components should be
included in Parks Canada ecological monitoring program.
Management Implications: The research itself will provide critical information on the major geographic,
landscape and biotic factors affecting plant and pollinator diversity across major Canadian ecozones as
identified by the Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan, Long Term Research
and Monitoring Plan, and Ivvavik National Park Management Plan. Animal pollinators include bees, flies,
moths, butterflies, and birds. These pollinators are sensitive to change, so they serve as good indicators
to assess the consequences of climate warming in the long-term by quantifying changes from earlier
baseline inventory data.
The selection of the study area drew on and consolidated previous work of Breeding Bird Surveys. There
will also be opportunities to tie these ground-level observations to other projects that occurred on the
Yukon North Slope (e.g., latitudinal variation in insects by comparing our inventory data to the
International Polar Year ArcticWOLVES project, and hierarchical monitoring by linking our ground-level
observations to remote sensing data of the International Polar Year Field Sampling to Support Terrestrial
Ecosystem Inventory). The baseline inventory data may also complement the deliverables of Arctic
Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op, as the changes observed by Inuvialuit and Gwich’in may be
early signals of things to come (if not already in Ivvavik National Park).
Budget:
The proposed budget assumes 70 days in the field during late May to early August 2011. Grant
applications to obtain funding from other sources are pending (e.g., Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council, INAC’s Northern Scientific Training Program, Environment Canada’s Science Horizons
Youth Internship, and Young Canada Works).
Item Cost Parks Canada University IFA
Total project coat $74,000, Parks Canada $39,000, University $25,000, IFA $10,000
Communication Plan:
We will seek community support, provide opportunities to train and capacity
build, and communicate the results of this work in the normal process, where:
• Consultation with the (1) Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee will be through a letter, and if
necessary, a meeting with board members for community support, and (2) Environmental Impact
Screening Committee will be through an application process for a research collection permit;
• Students will have an opportunity to work alongside researchers through several employment
opportunities with Parks Canada as a Young Canada Works summer student and as a Patrol
Person;
• Community members will have the opportunity to be trained through a volunteer program
designed to build capacity as they become future ambassadors for the park and leaders of
visitor experiences, research, park planning, and park management;
• Maps and progress reports will be disseminated to different organizations within the Inuvialuit
Settlement Region through the Annual Research and Monitoring Report by Parks Canada Agency
(Western Arctic Field Unit); and
• Data will be presented at annual meetings with the Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee,
Inuvialuit Game Council, Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope), and Arctic
Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op.
Timeline:
The proposed timeline also incorporates work conducted thus far. The outstanding lab analysis
will be completed early the following year for data synthesis. The research will be reported in the first
State of the Park Report for Ivvavik National Park in 2011.
Deliverables:
Many of the data will be gathered in hard copy (field note books, data sheets, and maps).
All data will be transferred to digital format. Any map products and reports will be shared with academic,
Inuvialuit, and co-management partners. Specifically, we will:
• Synthesize data to disseminate interim reports identifying critical ecosystem processes and
components and their status to Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope), Aklavik
Hunters and Trappers Committee, and Inuvialuit Game Council;
• Bring up to date the Ivvavik National Park Bird Checklist that was created using past wildlife
sighting records and the breeding bird surveys for distribution to park visitors;
• Promote ecological resources with a display of an insect collection for visitor experience staff to
use when describing park ecological integrity to visitors of the field unit;
• Publish with academic partners manuscripts in scientific journals; and
• Provide a CD of appropriate images for publication will be provided to the Wildlife Management
Advisory Council (North Slope).