Long-term monitoring of the abundance of bird and mammal species encountered daily on Akimiski Island, Nunavut

• Main Author: Abraham, Kenneth F.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2012
• Subjects: Abundance; Akimiski Island; Birds; Mammals; Monitoring; Tundra; Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna - Terrestrial; International Polar Year-Arctic Wildlife Observatories Linking Vulnerable EcoSystems; Arctic; Nunavut; Akimiski island; Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program; Climate change; Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna; International Polar Year; IPY
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5443/1739; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=1739

A daily record of birds seen has been made on Akimiski since 1993 when goose ecology research began. Observers record all species and either exact or estimated numbers, depending on the observer's skill level. A collective recording of the daily checklist is made each evening. The relative abundance of species is analyzed as the proportion of days on which it was sighted and the daily average number of individuals seen. Observers also record any mammal species encountered in the field and the number of individuals observed and this is recorded in a log. To correct for any potential biases the activities and mode of transportation of observers is also taken into account. Notes on other species (e.g., anurans) and notable natural history events (phenology, brood sightings, etc.) are also recorded. ** Data from the IPY years 2007-2009 are available for download. If data are downloaded and used for analyses, it would greatly be appreciated that the principal investigator be informed. : Purpose: To monitor the presence and abundance of birds and mammals on the North shore of Akimiski Island in Nunavut as a biodiversity metric, and to determine if there are trends or if abundance and presence are affected by covariates, including metrics of climate change. : Summary: Not Applicable