| Description |
The Arctic is an ecosystem that climate change will impact dramatically. Melting sea ice enables anthropogenic changes that will impact marine species. These include noise pollution, boat traffic, hydrocarbon exploration and overfishing. It is important to carefully document the current status so that mitigation strategies can be developed.
Virginie Wyss, a Swiss biologist who has been studying marine mammals for 8 years, is the project leader. Virginie, 2 biologists, and a photographer will document the remote Arctic ecosystem by monitoring marine fauna such as cetaceans, seals, or polar bears. In May 2021, we will follow cetaceans on their annual migration to the Baffin Sea. Expedition Glacialis will have acoustic devices to monitor the signature of cetacean species and the impact of anthropogenic noise pollution. A sailboat is ideally suited for this mission. A thermal camera will be used to detect whale blows and help collaborators develop methods to minimize ship-strikes. Aerial drone footage of whales will document their health status, and show evidence of entanglement or ship strikes. Physicochemical measurements and samples for plastics and plankton will complement the research. The objective is to document innovative, replicable protocols while creating the first combined visual acoustic catalog of Arctic marine mammals. Drone and thermal camera use are new to cetology and have great potential to help minimize anthropogenic impacts. Data will be shared online with institutes, communities, universities, NGOs, governments, media and industry to encourage open science. Alongside partners, Glacialis will spread awareness through different media like radio, blogs, and a documentary. In 2022, while navigating the Northwest Passage, repeating these studies is proposed. We aim to improve knowledge of Arctic ecosystems, test innovative, replicable scientific methods and positively influence policies to allow humans and wildlife to coexist harmoniously. |
| Keyword |
arctic, ecosystem, climate, change, impact, melting, sea, ice, anthropogenic, changes, impact, marine, species, noise, pollution, boat, traffic, hydrocarbon, exploration, overfishing, documentation, mitigation, strategies, development, biology, marine mammals, species, whale, polar bear, dolphin, acoustic, sailboat, navigate, latitudes, ship strikes, drone, health, entanglement, physicochemical, innovative, replicable, protocols, cetology, institutes, communities, universities, ngo, media, industry, open science, north, west, passsage, atlantic, labrador, baffin, bay, canada, greenland, azores, alaska, wildlife, humans, harmony |