Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada
Abstract A climate‐driven decline of sea ice has increased international interest in understanding the ecology of seldom studied high‐Arctic regions projected to retain the last remnants of summer sea ice. Arctic marine mammals are vulnerable to future environmental change due to their high dependen...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:40bab7ed657f4186b150c8ba00b3a127 2023-05-15T14:31:41+02:00 Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada Cody G. Carlyle Katie R. N. Florko Brent G. Young David J. Yurkowski Christine Michel Steven H. Ferguson 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/article/40bab7ed657f4186b150c8ba00b3a127 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/article/40bab7ed657f4186b150c8ba00b3a127 Ecosphere, Vol 12, Iss 6, Pp n/a-n/a (2021) aerial survey Arctic Atlantic walrus bearded seal climate change high latitude Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 2022-12-31T07:58:10Z Abstract A climate‐driven decline of sea ice has increased international interest in understanding the ecology of seldom studied high‐Arctic regions projected to retain the last remnants of summer sea ice. Arctic marine mammals are vulnerable to future environmental change due to their high dependence on sea ice. We completed aerial surveys in August 2019 to document the occurrence and location of marine mammals within the recently designated Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area which acts as a last refuge for ice‐associated species. We present photographic evidence of narwhals (Monodon monoceros), Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus), bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in Archer Fjord, northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada (81°14′–81°49′ N). We discuss these observations in the context of historical records and more recent opportunistic sightings from the region to support the hypothesis of an expansion north of the currently accepted range of narwhal. The diversity and number of observations of marine mammals in Archer Fjord is a striking contrast to the relative scarcity of the rest of the surveyed region, with very few observations of ringed seals throughout the more northerly study area. Our observations highlight opportunities to further explore high‐latitude areas that may host unique marine mammal biodiversity in the region, including narwhal. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic marine mammals Arctic bearded seal Climate change Ellesmere Island Erignathus barbatus Monodon monoceros narwhal* Nunavut Odobenus rosmarus Pusa hispida Sea ice walrus* Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Archer ENVELOPE(162.867,162.867,-76.850,-76.850) Ecosphere 12 6 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
aerial survey Arctic Atlantic walrus bearded seal climate change high latitude Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
aerial survey Arctic Atlantic walrus bearded seal climate change high latitude Ecology QH540-549.5 Cody G. Carlyle Katie R. N. Florko Brent G. Young David J. Yurkowski Christine Michel Steven H. Ferguson Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
topic_facet |
aerial survey Arctic Atlantic walrus bearded seal climate change high latitude Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract A climate‐driven decline of sea ice has increased international interest in understanding the ecology of seldom studied high‐Arctic regions projected to retain the last remnants of summer sea ice. Arctic marine mammals are vulnerable to future environmental change due to their high dependence on sea ice. We completed aerial surveys in August 2019 to document the occurrence and location of marine mammals within the recently designated Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area which acts as a last refuge for ice‐associated species. We present photographic evidence of narwhals (Monodon monoceros), Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus), bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in Archer Fjord, northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada (81°14′–81°49′ N). We discuss these observations in the context of historical records and more recent opportunistic sightings from the region to support the hypothesis of an expansion north of the currently accepted range of narwhal. The diversity and number of observations of marine mammals in Archer Fjord is a striking contrast to the relative scarcity of the rest of the surveyed region, with very few observations of ringed seals throughout the more northerly study area. Our observations highlight opportunities to further explore high‐latitude areas that may host unique marine mammal biodiversity in the region, including narwhal. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cody G. Carlyle Katie R. N. Florko Brent G. Young David J. Yurkowski Christine Michel Steven H. Ferguson |
author_facet |
Cody G. Carlyle Katie R. N. Florko Brent G. Young David J. Yurkowski Christine Michel Steven H. Ferguson |
author_sort |
Cody G. Carlyle |
title |
Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
title_short |
Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
title_full |
Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (Monodon monoceros) observations near northern Ellesmere Island, Canada |
title_sort |
marine mammal biodiversity and rare narwhal (monodon monoceros) observations near northern ellesmere island, canada |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/article/40bab7ed657f4186b150c8ba00b3a127 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(162.867,162.867,-76.850,-76.850) |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Archer |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Archer |
genre |
Arctic marine mammals Arctic bearded seal Climate change Ellesmere Island Erignathus barbatus Monodon monoceros narwhal* Nunavut Odobenus rosmarus Pusa hispida Sea ice walrus* |
genre_facet |
Arctic marine mammals Arctic bearded seal Climate change Ellesmere Island Erignathus barbatus Monodon monoceros narwhal* Nunavut Odobenus rosmarus Pusa hispida Sea ice walrus* |
op_source |
Ecosphere, Vol 12, Iss 6, Pp n/a-n/a (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3534 https://doaj.org/article/40bab7ed657f4186b150c8ba00b3a127 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3534 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
6 |
_version_ |
1766305229523910656 |