My first field season in the Arctic was short, but nonetheless a very fulfilling experience. We had near-perfect weather for flying, allowing us to get our field work done quickly. My first time up north left only impressions in my mind, and the notion that there is much to learn about the wild and the people of the Arctic.
The Science
Well, I know you probably logged on to look at pretty pictures of polar bears (nothing wrong with that), but I have to plug my research. This spring represented the first research season for my Masters degree at the University of Alberta. My M.Sc. will focus on polar bear feeding ecology. Specifically, the research will be based on 2 questions:
1) What age-class and sex of prey do polar bears focus on?
- We know polar bears preferentially eat ringed and bearded seals, but we don't know what proportion of pups, juveniles and adult seals make up a polar bear diet. This is a very important aspect of the predator-prey relationship, and as any hunter could tell you, age-class and sex of kills can have huge ramifications for future prey population sizes.
2) What type of ice are polar bears selecting for when they hunt?
- The effect of climate change on polar bears is well researched (see video link at the bottom). We know that timing of freeze-up and melt can affect the body condition of bears, which can lead to reduced reproductive output. However, we don't yet have a firm grasp on how changes to the ice conditions during the freezing period may affect the relationship between seals and bears. The first step in understanding this dynamic is to study the type of ice the bears prefer to hunt on (and there are many types of ice).
Both of these questions are part of a bigger puzzle about the future of the polar bear. With projections of ice-free Arctic summers by 2030, understanding the impacts of climate change to the polar bear has never been greater. At this point, I just feel honored to work on the largest terrestrial carnivore on the planet. I hope that the research I partake in can contribute to an increased understanding of this quiet, powerful animal.
The Work
Upon arriving in Tuktoyaktuk, the weight of climate change became very apparent. Temperatures on our first day of work hovered around +6 degrees Celsius, 20-25 degrees above normal, and stayed that way the entire time. Dr. Derocher recalled of times in the 1980's where he'd have to wait for days for the temperature to get above -35 just so the helicopter could run. While climate change isn't responsible for the dramatic rise in temperatures in a single year as it has this year, it does play a role in accentuating the above average temperatures. No matter the exact cause, the warm temperatures were definitely an interesting context for the start of my research (and resulted in prodding by field veterans about the soft welcome I was getting from the north).
In the realm of ecology, predator-prey relationships are often sought after as a study topic for potential graduate students. Something about the notion that one is going to be sitting watching predators hunt down their prey, like a BBC special minus David Attenborough. The truth of predator-prey research is not as glamorous though. Usually, predator hunting habits are established through collecting and analysing scat. Too fun. I can imagine the joy of sifting the scat remains for chunks of hair or some other trace of a predators meal. Luckily, polar bears have less fibre in their diet, and so analysing scat is really not possible (I won't go into any descriptives). So instead the research involves visiting kill sites and taking samples. Although better than collecting scat, it still requires a strong stomach.
On the last afternoon of flying, after a proud week of not needing Gravol while tracking in the helicopter, the 'essence' of my research caught up with me. A little background: in order to establish the kill sex and age-class, I need a souvenir, usually a jaw or paw to use the teeth or claws to age the seal. On my last afternoon, we stopped at an adult ringed seal kill. Since it had lost its head in the struggle with a polar bear, I needed to take the paw, which I happily sawed off. In the process I covered my hands and boots in the oily smell of a male seal musk. [Post-script note: Inuit call the odour "tiggak". It's so bad that even sled dogs won't eat the meat of a rutting male ringed seal ]. After wrapping up my sample and stowing it in the back compartment, I hopped back into the heli and off we went. Maybe it was the sun, the ham and cheese sandwich, or the intoxicating smell of seal, but suddenly I was reaching for the little white baggie on the back of the seat in front of me. Fellow researcher Jody passed me a couple Gravol, and the waves of nausea soon faded into jumpy legs and light-headiness. I really hate bringing forth well masticated meals, so jumpy legs were a welcome option.
Being Close
As all research for the field season is done simultaneously, I helped with collaring female polar bears for monitoring. The bears are tranqualized from the air, and within 5 minutes or so are fast asleep in the snow. After we are sure they are down we land the heli and go to work. It is stunning to be that close to a polar bear. Large heavy breaths steam across the snow. We take samples, hair, nail, blood, nothing a big bear will miss. We catalogue their condition, whether they have nursed or are in esterus. It is amazing to think of all the studies that have been published from these little samples. How we know that chemicals used in everyday products such as flame retardants have bioaccumulated their way into polar bears. How over 30 years of research has shown the consequences of a warming climate to bear condition. All from little vials, filled every so cautiously by researchers year after year.
While the bear(s) are down we do try to keep an eye open for other bears. There's a saying: where there's one bear there's two, and where there is two bears there's three. As it was mating season, and we were collaring adult females, we were always on the lookout for roaming boyfriends. As the males had most likely just spent a lot of energy fighting off other rival males for the chance to mate, we were sure 4 researchers weren't going to deter a randy boyfriend. Although all properly armed, vocal checks were in place to keep us vigilant.
Fudgee O's
I found out that I love double-stuff Fudgee O's. That's really all there is to say about that.
Land of the Midnight Sun
Tuk is small, so is Inuvik. Without a serious connection to the land, I don't know how I would live in these towns. The dynamic between western cultural ideals and traditional ways among the locals is too complex for me to even comment on. It was strange to watch the 11:30PM sunset, followed by dusk till 5AM and then back to full sun again. It didn't change the way I slept, but to those who know me, this shouldn't come as a surprise. It still took a bomb to get me out of bed at 7AM.One thing I did notice, was how little we know in the south about what's going on in the north. I am not sure if this is intentional or not, but it sure is surprising. The MacKenzie pipeline is a big topic for the town of Inuvik. A meeting of the National Energy Board took place in Inuvik to discuss the plans for the pipeline in late April. Off the coast, drilling rights have already been established for off-shore drilling in the Beaufort Sea. Currently the plans are in Environmental Impact Assessment stages. I feel very few Canadians know about the potential development in the north. As we look south to the devastation in Louisiana, we should be wary of what's happening in our own backyard.
