2021
NUNAVUT WILDLIFE RESEARCH TRUST PROJECTS
Nunavut Wildlife Management Board
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ABOUT NWRT The Nunavut Wildlife Research Trust provides funding for government departments to carry out wildlife research in Nunavut that addresses the priorities of the NWMB and Inuit. Research is necessary to ensure that wildlife resources are harvested in a knowledgeable and sustainable way so that Nunavummiut can continue the hunting and fishing that is so essential to their way of life. The NWMB has a lead role to play in this area and is committed to making wildlife research responsive to the needs and concerns of the people of Nunavut. The NWMB responsibly facilitates the NWRT to ensure that the funds continue to grow and are therefore available for wildlife research over the long-term. Eligible candidates to receive NWRT funding are the Canadian federal or Nunavut territorial government departments. The enclosed booklet describes projects that were awarded NWRT funding in 2021. Project leads are noted under each project description.
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1 Eclipse Sound narwhal ecology
This study will use passive acoustic monitoring to document noise levels around the Eclipse Sound marine environment, as well as detect the presence/absence of narwhal in relation to shipping activity. This project has received NWRT funding in the past. (Marianne Marcoux, DFO)
2 High Arctic beluga whale stock structure
The proposed study aims to update critical information of beluga whales in the Somerset Island Prince Regent Inlet region. A combination of study methods, including use of unmanned aerial vehicles, underwater cameras and hydrophones, and DNA sampling techniques will be used to conduct a stock assessment, assess body condition, and beluga behaviours. (Cortney Watt, DFO)
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3 Population structure and ecology of killer whales in the eastern Canadian Arctic The overall project broadly focuses on killer whale abundance, population structure, and ecology to better understand their influence on the Eclipse Sound marine ecosystem. This project has received NWRT funding in the past. (Cory Matthews, DFO)
4 Foxe Basin bowhead telemetry, photo-ID and biopsy collection
The project aims to understand Foxe Basin's bowhead population abundance and movement patterns, as well as develop a photo-identification catalogue of individuals. This project has received NWRT funding in the past. (Brent Young, DFO)
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5 Consultation on Sam Ford Fiord Arctic char and Clyde River's fishery
6 Pond Inlet Arctic char fishery development research program
Preliminary information
This project has received NWRT
gathering sessions will be held
funding in the past. Community
with Clyde River HTO and
collected char samples and local
community fishers to develop an
knowledge will be used to
understanding of Arctic char
establish a baseline stock
stock distributions and fishery
assessment for the Koluktoo Bay
characteristics in Sam Ford fiord.
and Saatut stocks. (Ross Tallman,
Results will be used to inform a
DFO)
complete stock assessment plan. (Ross Tallman, DFO)
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7 Fishery independent sampling of Cambridge Bay Arctic char with emphasis on the Lauchlan River Stock
8 A team-based approach to investigate and increase the understanding of char and cod declines in adjacent waters to Kugluktuk, Nunavut
Multi-mesh gill nets will be used
This study aims to develop a
to collect time series data related
better understanding of Arctic
to biological and catch-effort
char and cod ecology and habitat
data. Samples will be collected to
use in the Coronation Gulf region.
determine the presence and
The study is supported by a
impacts of contaminants. This
community fish collection
project has received NWRT
program in Kugluktuk. (Tracey
funding in the past. (Les Harris,
Loewen, DFO)
DFO)
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9 Inferring walrus distribution and stock structure from satellite telemetry, microchemistry, and genetics
This project has received NWRT
This study will build off of a
funding in the past. It focuses on
previous study from 2008-2009.
the Central Arctic walrus
The area will be resampled to
population. Various approaches
update the estimate of grizzly
will be used to collect short- and
bear abundance and distribution.
long-term movement data, as
Hair snare stations will be set up
well as genetic data. The results
to collect DNA samples. (Malik
will be used to evaluate stock
Awan, GN)
interactions and delineations. (Cory Matthews, DFO)
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10 Estimation of density and trend for grizzly bears in the Western Kitikmeot using DNA markrecapture methods
11 Re-estimating the abundance of the Lancaster Sound polar bear subpopulation via genetic mark-recapture sampling
12 Muskox distribution and abundance of Central Mainland Nunavut
This project will employ genetic
Aerial surveys will be employed
biopsy mark-recapture
to gather data on the Central
techniques to estimate the
Mainland (MX-11) management
abundance and demographic
unit to provide a muskox
composition of the Lancaster
population estimate and map
Sound polar bear subpopulation.
herd distribution. (Amélie
(Caryn Smith, GN)
Roberto-Charron, GN)
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13 Use of trail cameras to estimate cow:calf rations, calf mortality and predator abundance on the Bathurst caribou herd calving grounds
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14 Dolphin &Union caribou movement monitoring
This study will apply passive
The proposed work will involve
surveillance techniques to
collaring 50 cows in order to
investigate Bathurst caribou
investigate Dolphin & Union herd
population dynamics, calf
habitat preferences, movement
mortality, and predator
patterns, population trends, and
abundance on calving grounds.
calving events. (Amélie Roberto-
(Amélie Roberto-Charron, GN)
Charron, GN)
15 South Baffin caribou distribution using GPS telemetry
16 Kivalliq ungulate monitoring
In Spring 2022, 25 GPS collars will
Dropped GPS satellite collars will
be deployed on South Baffin
be collected from the
Island caribou. Daily telemetry
Qamanirjuaq and Lorillard herds.
data will provide an insight into
Composition surveys of the
South Baffin caribou ecology such
Qamanirjuaq herd will also be
as overwinter cow and calf
conducted. Results will be used
mortality, habitat use areas,
to monitor the herds and inform
subpopulation structure and
land use planning. This project
delineation, and possible effects
has received NWRT funding in
of industrial development. (John
the past. (Mitch Campbell, GN)
Ringrose, GN)
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17 An abundance survey of the Wager Bay and Lorillard Barrenground caribou subpopulations of the Northeast Mainland of Nunavut
composition, seasonal
18 An abundance survey of the Ahiak Barren-ground caribou subpopulation of the Northeast Mainland of Nunavut
distribution, and herd delineation
The proposed research will
of the Wager Bay and Lorillard
employ aerial surveys to
caribou herds of the Northeast
investigate the abundance,
Mainland. (Mitch Campbell, GN)
composition, seasonal
The proposed research will employ aerial surveys to investigate the abundance,
distribution, and herd delineation of the Ahiak herd. (Mitch Campbell, GN)
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19 Baffin caribou health monitoring
This project will establish a hunter-based sample and information collection program.
20 South Baffin Island caribou Spring composition survey
Information collected will be used to monitor the occurrence of disease, parasites, and other
Aerial surveys will be conducted
health related parameters of
to estimate caribou herd
caribou inhabiting Baffin Island
composition and demographics.
over time. (John Ringrose, GN)
Calf:cow ratios will be used to predict herd productivity and population trends. (John Ringrose, GN)
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