Hudson Bay is a large inland arctic ocean. It is important for both its ecology and oceanography. In winter it is largely covered in sea ice, providing important habitat for marine birds and mammals, including polar bears, seals and eider ducks. Due to counter-clockwise circulation patterns, freshwater from river discharge and melting ice tend to accumulate in eastern Hudson Bay before eventually escaping through Hudson Straight. Freshwater entering the Labrador current plays a major role in global climate regulation due to its influence on the Atlantic Meridonal Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Gulf Stream. Over the last 40 years, extensive regions in eastern Hudson Bay have been developed for hydro-electricity. Despite concerns of local Inuit about the influence of changing freshwater regimes on sea ice habitats and wildlife, little to no research and monitoring has been conducted.

Our research program combines local and traditional knowledge with scientific approaches and multi-media data acquisition techniques. To evaluate wildlife ecology and the various components of environmental change in eastern Hudson Bay, we have established a research and monitoring network to quantify sea ice dynamics, local oceanography and the associated distribution, abundance and behavioural patterns of wildlife, particularly eider ducks. Our objective is to elucidate changes in sea ice, salinity, and ocean currents, and how this influences the ecology of wildlife and Inuit. While broad in scope, the focus of this project is on eider ducks as an indicator of variation in winter sea ice habitats. We employ an interdisciplinary approach to study the relationship between the foraging ecology of individuals and larger scale group and population dynamics, to evaluate how these are influenced by environmental processes. This will allow assessing the response of sea ice ecosystems to various scenarios of environmental change in eastern Hudson Bay.



Time lapse imaging is used to quantify sea ice extent at recurring polynyas within and between years (technology in collaboration with Harbortronics). Image processing is used to detect and measure ice edges and wildlife, producing time series data and video sequences.

Hunters and trappers associations are able to view the results of their monitoring efforts, allowing them to be effectively engaged with the project.

COMBINING LOCAL & SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

During winter, Inuit hunters regularly travel to different regions across the Belcher Islands land fast sea ice platform and have an in depth knowledge about the sea ice habitats and wildlife ecology. Interviews with hunters and elders, hunter reporting systems of wildlife and sea ice conditions and direct field research collaboration provides critical ecosystem information allowing a dialogue between western science and local knowedge that continues to guide research and monitoring efforts.

This project is a collaboration between The Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association, The Canadian Wildlife Service, The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, The Hudson Bay Interagency Working Group and university-based research by Dr. Joel Heath of the University of British Columbia.

This project is supported in part by International Polar Year funding to train Inuit in time-lapse and oceanographic monitoring techniques. Due to our multi-media data acquisition techniques, materials from this initiative will also be used for education and outreach.