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- The Effect of Traffic Levels on the Distribution and Behaviour of Calving
Caribou in an Arctic Oilfield
Authors: Alexander K. Prichard, Joseph H. Welch, Brian E. Lawhead
Pages: 1 - 19
Abstract: Caribou are the most abundant large terrestrial mammals in Arctic Alaska, providing important cultural and subsistence resource values for local communities. As oil and gas development expands across the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska, understanding the potential impacts on caribou and improving associated mitigation measures are a crucial focus of applied research. One consistently observed impact in northern Alaska is displacement of maternal caribou within 2 – 5 km of active oilfield roads and gravel pads for a period of 2 – 3 weeks during and immediately after calving. A potential mitigation measure to address calving displacement is convoying of traffic to reduce traffic frequency and vehicle-related disturbance on roads in calving areas. We conducted frequent road and aerial surveys of caribou near two oilfield roads, one with convoying and one without, over a 3-year period during the precalving, calving, and postcalving periods to evaluate the effectiveness of traffic convoying. Road surveys indicated that caribou closer to the roads and groups with calves exhibited more frequent and stronger behavioural reactions in response to traffic, and that moderate or strong reactions to traffic, such as standing up and walking or running away, were more frequent near the road with convoying than near the road with unlimited traffic. Aerial survey results indicated some avoidance of areas up to at least 2 km from the road with convoying and 4 km from the road without convoying by caribou groups with calves. This relationship was present even after adjusting for other factors affecting distribution. This avoidance of roads by maternal caribou was limited to the calving period and was not evident during the precalving or postcalving periods. In addition, an inactive elevated terrestrial drilling platform was present on the calving grounds during one year, but we found no evidence of caribou avoidance of that structure during calving at our scale of analysis.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74609
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Subarctic Corridors in Northern Quebec: Is the Canadian Northern Corridor
Concept Aligned with Quebec’s Historical Development'
Authors: Thomas Stringer, Marcelin Joanis
Pages: 20 - 37
Abstract: Proposals for infrastructure development in Canada’s North are gaining political traction, including a corridor connecting the northern regions of each of the country’s provinces. Quebec is Canada’s largest, northernmost province and would be pivotal in the construction of the corridor. Examining the historical phases of Quebec’s northern development is crucial in assessing the challenges ahead. This paper groups Quebec’s infrastructure developments into three main phases, synthesizes each phase, and critically compares them to the proposed Northern Corridor concept (NCC). No research has yet examined the NCC’s complementarity with Quebec’s history of northern infrastructure development. While previous phases could be categorized as intraprovincial penetration corridors linking northern to southern Quebec, the NCC aims to develop an interprovincial economic corridor for landlocked provinces to be able to gain better sea access. Obstacles arising from the conciliation of past developments with the NCC include the unfitness of using existing infrastructures in Quebec for a Pan-Canadian corridor and differing development trajectories at the provincial and federal levels. Three route options for the NCC in Quebec are presented in this study. More generally, this paper outlines difficulties specific to subarctic remote corridor development.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74657
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Interregional Differences in Agricultural Development across Circumpolar
Canada
Authors: Rose Seguin, Mark G. Lefsrud, Treena Delormier, Jan Adamowski, Helen Fyles
Pages: 38 - 54
Abstract: In response to the circumpolar region’s high levels of food insecurity, many Canadian communities have identified the development of local agriculture as a means to resolve the issue. Agricultural development is varied across the circumpolar region, an area which includes Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik (Quebec), and Nunatsiavut (Newfoundland and Labrador). This review explores the interregional differences in circumpolar agriculture, their historical development, and their relationship to prevailing biophysical, socioeconomic, and political conditions. Drawing upon local food strategies and literature pertaining to current agricultural initiatives, we discuss the future direction of circumpolar agriculture in Canada. Yukon and the Northwest Territories are the most agriculturally developed subregions of circumpolar Canada, and their territorial governments support the development of commercial agriculture. In Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, relatively few agricultural initiatives are underway although local efforts have been made to establish community gardens or greenhouses and improve access to fresh commodities through subsidization of imported goods. Because of variability in biophysical, social, institutional, and political environments, strategies for food production would be most effective if tailored to each subregion. The continued development of agriculturally favorable policies and certified processing facilities in Yukon and the Northwest Territories could improve market access, both locally and out-of-territory. The eastern subregions (Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut) seem more inclined towards small, community-driven projects; these initiatives could be promoted to encourage community involvement for their long-term sustainability. Most studies on circumpolar agriculture have focused on the biophysical and social challenges; the region would benefit from additional research into the institutional and political barriers to agricultural development.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74717
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Improving Peary Caribou Presence Predictions in MaxEnt Using Spatialized
Snow Simulations
Authors: Chloé Martineau, Alexandre Langlois, Isabelle Gouttevin, Erin Neave, Cheryl A. Johnson
Pages: 55 - 71
Abstract: The Arctic has warmed at twice the global average over recent decades, which has led to a reduction in the spatial extent and mass balance of snow. The increase in occurrence of winter extreme events such as rain-on-snow, blizzards, and heat waves has a significant impact on snow thickness and density. Dense snowpack conditions can decrease or completely prevent foraging by Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) by creating “locked pastures,” a situation where forage is present but not accessible under snow or ice. Prolonged and severe weather events have been linked to poor body condition, malnutrition, high adult mortality, calf losses, and major population die-offs in Peary caribou. Previous work has established the link between declines in Peary caribou numbers in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and snow conditions, however these efforts have been limited by the quality and resolution of data describing snow physical properties in the Arctic. Here, we 1) investigate whether a snow model adapted for the Antarctic (SNOWPACK) can produce snow simulations relevant to Canadian High Arctic conditions, and 2) test snow model outputs to determine their utility in predicting Peary caribou occurrence with MaxEnt modelling software. We model Peary caribou occurrence across three seasons: July – October (summer forage and rut), November – March (fall movement and winter forage), and April – June (spring movement and calving). Results of snow simulations using the Antarctic SNOWPACK model demonstrated that both top and bottom density values were greatly improved when compared to simulations using the original version developed for alpine conditions. Results were also more consistent with field measurements using the Antarctic model, though it underestimated the top layer density compared to on-site measurements. Modelled outputs including snow depth and CT350 (cumulative thickness of snow layers surpassing the critical density value of 350 kg·m-3; a density threshold relevant to caribou) proved to be important predictors of Peary caribou space use in each of the top seasonal models along with vegetation and elevation. All seasonal models were robust in that they were able to predict reasonably well the occurrence of Peary caribou outside the period used to develop the models. This work highlights the need for continued monitoring of snow conditions with climate change to understand potential impacts to the species’ distribution.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74868
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Arctic Connectivity: A Frugal Approach to Infrastructural Development
Authors: Mette Simonsen Abildgaard, Carina Ren, Israel Leyva-Mayorga, Cedomir Stefanovic, Beatriz Soret, Petar Popovski
Pages: 72 - 85
Abstract: As the Arctic is heating up, so are efforts to strengthen connectivity within the region, enhance the connections from remote settlements to the global networks of trade, and increase sociality. With global interest in the Arctic on the rise, it becomes increasingly relevant to ensure that investments in Arctic infrastructure actually serve the people of the Arctic, while promoting industrial and commercial innovation in the region through widespread access to broadband and Internet of things (IoT) services. This challenge calls for interdisciplinary research strategies that are able to connect and integrate technological and societal approaches, which are commonly applied in isolation from one another. In this article, we propose an interdisciplinary collaborative research agenda for Arctic connectivity. Drawing on examples from Greenland, we stress the need for localized knowledge to design valuable and cost-effective connectivity solutions that cover the needs for everyday life and may also provide a new set of collaborative connectivity tools for innovation at an international level. Such solutions, termed “frugal connectivity,” are vital for the development of connected Arctic communities.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74869
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Relationships between Rangifer and Indigenous Well-being in the North
American Arctic and Subarctic: A Review Based on the Academic Published
Literature
Authors: David Borish, Ashlee Cunsolo, Jamie Snook, Cate Dewey, Ian Mauro, Sherilee L. Harper
Pages: 86 - 104
Abstract: Many Rangifer tarandus (caribou or reindeer) populations across North America have been declining, posing a variety of challenges for Indigenous communities that depend on the species for physical and cultural sustenance. This article used a scoping review methodology to systematically examine and characterize the nature, extent, and range of articles published in academic journals on the connection between Rangifer and Indigenous well-being in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America. Two reviewers independently used eligibility criteria to identify and screen abstracts and titles and then screen full texts of each potentially relevant article. To be included in this review, articles had to discuss linkages between Rangifer and Indigenous well-being in the North American Arctic and Subarctic and be published prior to 2018. A total of 4279 articles were identified and screened for relevance; 58 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using descriptive quantitative and thematic qualitative methods. Results characterized the depth and diversity of what we know about Rangifer for Indigenous culture, food security, livelihoods, psychological well-being, and social connections across North America in the academic literature. Several gaps were identified. Little is known about the psychological ties between Rangifer and Indigenous Peoples and the influence of Rangifer-related change on Indigenous well-being and adaptive capacity. We urgently need to know more about the emotional connections that arise from Indigenous-Rangifer linkages, the effectiveness of adaptive strategies, and the intergenerational implications of Rangifer-related change. Further, enhanced inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the production of knowledge on this topic is fundamental to the future of understanding Indigenous-Rangifer relationships.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74870
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- The State of Knowledge about Grizzly Bears (Kakenokuskwe osow Muskwa
(Cree), Ursus arctos) in Northern Manitoba
Authors: Douglas Clark, Andrew F. Barnas, Ryan K. Brook, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Lee-Ann Fishback, Jeff W. Higdon, Katie Manning, Danielle Rivet, James D. Roth, Vicki Trim, Matthew Webb, Robert Rockwell
Pages: 105 - 120
Abstract: Grizzly bears have been observed with increasing frequency in northern Manitoba, Canada over the last four decades (1980 – 2020), likely originating from the established population in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. We summarize and present an interdisciplinary synthesis of documented observations of grizzly bears in northern Manitoba from historical records from the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, published literature, direct observations, remote camera observations, government agency reports, the first author’s field notes, volunteered observations, and media and social media reports. A total of 160 observations were recorded, 140 of them since 1980. Spatially, these observations all fall within the Southern Arctic, Hudson Plains, and Taiga Shield ecozones within Manitoba and span from the northern limit of Manitoba at the Nunavut border to the south shore of the Nelson River. Grizzly bears were historically present in northern Manitoba prior to 1980, though in very low numbers, but the frequency of observations has increased significantly since then. Most observations (86%) were less than 1 km from the Hudson Bay coast. Grizzly bears appear to select for open habitats and against forested ones. Reported observations, however, have been largely opportunistic, and the geographical distribution of observer efforts was uneven, so our data likely contain spatial and temporal biases. All confirmed observations were of single bears, suggesting that the present population is likely maintained by dispersal from the population to the north. Understanding grizzly bear ecology, distribution, and demographics north and west of Churchill will be critical for more accurately assessing the status and conservation needs of grizzly bears in the province.
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74922
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Genetic Analysis of Birnirk Inuit from the Alaskan North Slope
Authors: Sarah L. Unkel, Lauren E.Y. Norman, Justin Tackney, Anthony M. Krus, Anne M. Jensen, Claire Alix, Owen Mason, Dennis H. O'Rourke
Pages: 121 - 132
Abstract: Archaeological evidence indicates that Birnirk peoples (AD 650 – 1300) are the proposed genetic ancestors of the Thule Inuit (AD 950 – 1400) and are potentially an intermediary population between the Thule Inuit and earlier Old Bering Sea people (AD 1 – 1000). We sequenced the first hypervariable region of the mitochondrial DNA of 22 clearly associated Birnirk individuals from the Piġniq (Birnirk), Kugok, Kugusugaruk, and Nunavak sites on the North Slope of Alaska. Haplotypes A2a, A2a1, A2a3, A2b1, and D4b1a2a1a were identified in this population, demonstrating an expansion of Birnirk maternal genetic diversity. Maternal lineages from these individuals were evaluated with other past and contemporary Inuit populations from the Chukotka Peninsula to eastern Greenland. Our findings confirm Birnirk Inuit as probable maternal ancestors to Thule Inuit and may be among the first peoples possessing these lineages to have moved into the western North American Arctic from the Bering Strait region.
PubDate: 2022-03-16
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74916
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- The Inuit World, edited by Pamela Stern
Authors: Joanna Kafarowski
Pages: 133 - 134
PubDate: 2022-03-14
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Seen But Not Seen: Influential Canadians and the First Nations from the
1840s to Today, by Donald B. Smith
Authors: David B. Marshall
Pages: 134 - 136
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74970
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Books Received and Papers to Appear in ARCTIC
Authors: Patricia Wells
Pages: 137 - 137
PubDate: 2022-03-14
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Richard Michael deBlicquy (1930 – 2021)
Authors: Thomas Frisch
Pages: 138 - 139
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74939
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Jacques Cinq-Mars (1942 – 2021)
Authors: Ruth M. Gotthardt
Pages: 140 - 142
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74940
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- Fieldwork Poetics and the Art of Observation
Authors: Samantha F. Jones
Pages: 143 - 146
PubDate: 2022-03-14
DOI: 10.14430/arctic74994
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
- AINA News
Authors: Patricia Wells
Pages: 147 - 148
PubDate: 2022-03-14
Issue No: Vol. 75, No. 1 (2022)
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