Using Scientific and Inuit Knowledge to Understand Recovery Patterns of Peary
caribou in Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada, Northern Ellesmere Island
LEAD FEDERAL ORGANIZATION
Parks Canada; Nunavut Field Unit and Western Canada Service Centre
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL CONTACT
Dr. Micheline Manseau and Ms. Vicki Sahanatien
SECTION 2.
1. Peary caribou draft recovery strategy, 2003.
2. Quttinirpaaq National Park, Nunavut, and adjacent land north of the Park boundaries that
is under the administration and control of the Minister of National Defence (43,233 km2).
3. The proposal is acting on high priority recovery activities identified in the recovery
strategy.
SECTION 3. ABSTRACT
At least 233 Peary caribou were killed in northern Ellesmere Island by Robert E. Peary’s
expedition teams to the North Pole between 1905 and 1909 (Dick 2003). Recent population
surveys (1988-2002) in Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada have indicated that the number of
animals present in the area is significantly lower than what Peary encountered at the turn of the
century (Manseau et al. 2003). In order to further investigate the impact of the explorers on Peary
caribou in northern Ellesmere Island, we propose to conduct additional population and habitat
survey on the north coast of Ellesmere Island, inside and outside of the national park, where the
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largest numbers of Peary caribou were killed between 1905-1909. We also propose to work with
the community of Grise Fiord to use Inuit knowledge along with scientific knowledge to begin
reconstruction of the historic genetic composition of Peary caribou in Northern Ellesmere Island,
to understand landscape use and movement patterns of Peary caribou in the High Arctic and to
identify the source population(s) that re-colonized Quttinirpaaq National Park and northern
Ellesmere. This work will provide us with necessary information to understand the status of the
population in the northern part of Ellesmere Island, recovery rates and recovery patterns and to
identify critical areas and habitats for the species.
SECTION 4. BACKGROUND
Over the past four decades, the Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) of the Queen Elizabeth
Islands have suffered declines of more than 90%; from a population of 26 000 in 1961 to as few
as 2000 animals. These declines can be attributed to a number of factors and their intensity and
inter-relations vary among different caribou populations. Some of the primary factors include 1)
availability and quality of forage which can be influenced by climate or competition within or
between grazing species and 2) predation which comprises natural and human sources of
mortality. Over the past years, we have incorporated different sources of knowledge and
observations to better understand the dynamics of the northern Ellesmere Island endangered
Peary caribou population and it appears that the factor that has most affected those animals was
the hunting activity of the Peary expeditions at the turn of the century (Manseau et al. 2003).
Archeological evidence has confirmed that Inuit people and their ancestors periodically used the
aquatic, marine and terrestrial resources of Ellesmere Island over four millennia. Periodic
abandonments of the area, particularly in High Arctic regions, seem to stem from climatic
changes. While the exact nature of the pre-contact use of the Hazen Plateau has not been fully
clarified, the archaeological records of faunal data from northern Ellesmere Island demonstrate
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that hunting and consumption of caribou and muskox occurred throughout all pre-contact cultural
periods.
Peary caribou were also hunted during the historical period for the purpose of supplying the
different polar expeditions and for local consumption following the establishment of RCMP posts
and the community of Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island. In northern Ellesmere, a minimum of 238
caribou were killed between 1875-1935 (most of the hunt occurring between 1905 and 1908) and
there is clear indication that by 1908, the population of the Peary caribou had been severely
depleted in these areas. The only significant hunting of terrestrial mammals in northern Ellesmere
Island after the Peary era was carried out by Walter Ekblaw, leader of a party of Donald
MacMillan’s Crocker Land Expedition in 1915. The fact that Ekblaw’s party encountered no
caribou may be evidence that the species had been largely depleted by Peary’s last North Pole
expedition. Areas traveled by the different explorers corresponded to most, but not all, areas of
high habitat productivity for caribou and muskox. Areas that were not visited included the valleys
between Tanquary Fiord and Lake Hazen; these areas possibly acted as refugia, protecting the
population from extinction. The most current Peary caribou population estimates are based on
wildlife surveys conducted between 1988-2002, casual observations by Park wardens during
annual patrols, and the satellite collaring work between 1994 and 1997. These observations
account for a minimum population of 45 animals which strongly suggest that Peary caribou have
not recovered over this 100-year period. This project proposes to further examine the recovery
patterns of Peary caribou in Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada, northern Ellesmere Island,
based on scientific and Inuit knowledge.
SECTION 5. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT AND SELECTED PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
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Objective 1. To conduct aerial and ground survey work on the north coast of Ellesmere Island in
order to estimate the number of animals occupying that area, to identify and describe potential
critical areas/habitats for Peary caribou.
Performance indicators of objective 1

Vegetation map for northern Ellesmere using TM Landsat images

Habitat productivity using AVHRR and TM Landsat based NDVI indices

Resource selection function analysis of Peary caribou using caribou telemetry
data/sightings, radarsat derived topographical information and TM Landsat based
productivity indices

Peary caribou population estimates for the northern portion of Quttinirpaaq NP and the
area to the north.

Diet based on analysis of faecal material.

Vegetation survey of main plant communities on the north coast of Ellesemere Island
along with some behavioural work.
Objective 2. To begin reconstruction of the historic genetic composition of Peary caribou from
Northern Ellesmere Island, to identify the source population that re-colonized Northern
Ellesmere, and to produce a current population estimate.
Performance indicators of objective 2

Acquisition of tissue samples from the American Museum of Natural History.

Acquisition of tissue and fecal samples from northern Ellesmere Island

Identification of genetic markers

Assessment of genetic variability in the different samples – temporal and spatial patterns.
Objective 3. To use both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific data assembled from the Peary
caribou research in northern Ellesmere Island in order to document long-range movement
(population structure) and recovery patterns of the species in Quttinirpaaq National Park. This
will be done in consultation with members of the Grise Fiord Hunters and Trappers Organization.
Performance indicators of objective 3
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
Database of Inuit commentaries on caribou population, distribution and
movement (including what may influence the movement of animals).

Video and textual collection of interviews applying Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to the
study.

Feedback to the community –regular meetings
Objective 4. To disseminate research results throughout Nunavut, Canada, and the international
community. To inform and educate Canadians about the status of Peary caribou and how
scientific and Inuit knowledge is used to understand recovery patterns of Peary caribou in
Quttinirpaaq National Park.
Performance indicators of objective 4

Texts for the web site of the Nunavut Field Unit of the Parks Canada Agency

Manuscripts will be prepared and submitted to refereed scientific national and
international journals.

Results of the study to be used in the Park interpretation material.

Illustrated public presentations on the research will be delivered to High Arctic
communities, Iqaluit, and in other cities across Canada.

Radio and local television interviews / communication.
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SECTION 6. PROJECT METHODOLOGY
Objective 1. To conduct aerial and ground survey work on the north coast of Ellesmere
Island in order to estimate number of animals occupying that area, identify and describe
potential critical areas/habitats for Peary caribou.
Historical data have suggested that most of the animals killed by Robert E. Peary’s expedition
teams between 1905 and 1909 were from the north coast of Ellesmere Island (Dick 2003). Since
limited reconnaissance work has been done in that area, we propose to conduct aerial and ground
survey work along the north coast of Ellesmere Island, inside and outside of the Park boundaries,
in order to estimate the number of animals occupying the area and to identify and describe
potential areas/habitats.
Initial vegetation and fine scale topographical maps will be created for the northern portion of the
Park. Landsat images will be acquired and classified based on St-Pierre’s work (2002) to identify
areas of different productivity indices (non vegetated, low and high productivity areas based on
NDVI values). Radarsat images will be acquired and used in stereography to produce a fine scale
(18m) digital elevation model (DEM). Based on this information and past collaring and survey
work, stratification will be applied and helicopter-based aerial survey will be done to estimate the
number of Peary caribou present in the area. In addition, we will conduct a vegetation survey
based on NDVI productivity indices, topographical information, and Peary caribou location data.
If possible (if Peary caribou are found), we will document foraging behaviour by measuring
feeding duration, plant community used and diet composition (based on faecal material).
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Objective 2. To begin reconstruction of the historic genetic composition of Peary caribou
from Northern Ellesmere Island, to identify the source population that re-colonized
Northern Ellesmere, and to produce a current population estimate.
At least 233 Peary caribou were killed in northern Ellesmere Island by Robert E. Peary’s
expedition teams to the North Pole between 1905 and 1909 (Dick 2003). Recent population
surveys (1988-2002) have indicated that the number of animals present in the area is significantly
lower than what R. E. Peary encountered at the turn of the century. Aside from those detailed
records obtained from the explorers’ diaries, a large number of pelts (at least one hundred),
antlers and other bone specimens of Peary caribou captured in northern Ellesmere Island have
been kept at the American Museum of Natural History. In order to assess the impact of that kill,
we propose to conduct genetic analysis on old and current animal tissue samples. These analyses
will assist in the reconstruction of historic genetic composition of caribou herds in northern
Ellesmere Island, it will inform on the extent of population reduction (possible bottleneck effect
or reduced levels of genetic variability) and the source population that re-colonized Northern
Ellesmere Island. Moreover, the same genetic material will be used to derive current population
estimates.
In order to obtain samples from the original population, we will contact the American Museum of
Natural History to acquire hair and skin tissues. Samples from the current population will be
based on fresh faecal material collected around cratering sites during the winter months and/or
samples from antlers and carcasses found in the Park area. Precise coordinates of collection sites
(old and current) and biological/environmental conditions will be recorded.
DNA profiling of historic and modern caribou will assess the loss of genetic variation as a result
of the initial population bottleneck and the subsequent lowered effective population size. Overall
levels of genetic variation, pre- and post-harvest in the early 1900s, and estimates of the overall
effective population size (Ne) will be examined using microsatellite loci (Wilson et al. 1997,
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Cronin et al. 2003). We will also estimate historic and extant effective population sizes for
females using the maternally inherited control region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
(Gravlund et al. 1998) and using Y-chromosome specific microsatellite loci for estimating the
male Ne. Y-specific DNA markers will consist of microsatellite loci on this chromosome.
Caribou polymorphic Y-specific microsatellite loci will be optimized using approximately 30
existing bovine loci from the Y-chromosome (Liu et al. 2002). Based on our experience, between
50-75% of primers characterized from one ungulate species, co-amplifies a polymorphic locus in
other species. A third type of DNA marker will examine functional genetic variation at the Major
Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc). Microsatellites and the mtDNA control region are generally
considered “neutral” as they typically do not encode for proteins and although they are useful for
estimating population genetic and demographic parameters such as effective population size, they
may not be a representative proxy for functional genetic variation under selection such as genes
involved in the immune system, i.e. Mhc. Discordance between neutral microsatellite markers
and Mhc variation was observed in Canadian moose (Wilson et al. 2003). In addition to
comparing historic to modern levels of genetic variation, the DNA profiles will be assessed in the
fecal samples to determine multiple “hits” for specific individuals to be used as a
capture/recapture approach to estimating the census population size to be compared to the genetic
estimate of effective population size. The Natural Resources DNA Profiling & Forensic Centre
(NRDPFC) has been successfully profiling caribou feces for assessing population structure and
population size estimates in northwestern Ontario parks.
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Objective 3. To use both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) and scientific data assembled from
the Peary caribou research in northern Ellesmere Island in order to document long-range
movement (population structure) and recovery patterns of the species in Quttinirpaaq
National Park. This will be done in consultation with members of the Grise Fiord Hunters
and Trappers Organization and in conjunction with an IQ project led by the Nunavut
Department of Sustainable Development.
This part of the proposal aims at documenting long-range movement (population structure) and
recovery patterns of Peary caribou in Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada. Despite the intense
hunting activities of R. E. Peary in the early 1900s, Peary caribou, albeit in very small numbers
(minimum counts of 45 animals), appear to occupy the extent of their range on northern
Ellesmere Island. We propose to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific information collected
through various components of the project (current and past) as a basis for discussion with
hunters within the community of Grise Fiord. Their recorded observations, based on knowledge
acquired through hunting or casual observations of Peary caribou in the southern parts of the
island and adjacent areas, are applicable to the distribution and movement patterns of Peary
caribou in the northern areas of Ellesmere Island. The discussion of the different results between
scientists and community experts, along with some genetic work presented in the second
objective of the proposal, should enhance our understanding of the movements and exchanges
between Peary caribou population(s) in the northern part of Ellesmere Island. This information
will serve as a basis for understanding recovery rates and recovery patterns of Peary caribou in
Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada and will be used for a number of management purposes
inside and outside of the Park.
More specifically, this work will enable the integration of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) into the
data collection, synthesis, and interpretation of empirical knowledge on Peary caribou. We
propose to work with the Inuit community of Grise Fiord on this Peary caribou research project
over a three-year period. This project, supported in principle by the Grise Fiord Hunters and
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Trappers Organization and the Joint Park Management Committee of Quttinirpaaq National Park,
would initially consist in some discussions with the community of Grise Fiord to confirm the
parameters of the study. The community will be asked to identify local individuals to work as
local coordinators with hunters and specialists. The project ecologist and ethnographer/historian
will return to Grise Fiord annually to present the scientific results from field and DNA research
and to enlist IQ perspectives and detailed feedback on the data. A full record of the discussions
will be videotaped or tape recorded, transcribed, and translated to enable all hunters and
interested community members to participate in the project. The results to be generated will
include a video and a translated report of the results generated by the research, including the IQ
perspectives.
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Objective 4. To disseminate research results throughout Nunavut and across Canada, to
inform and educate as many Canadians as possible, as well as the international community,
on Peary caribou and the use of scientific and traditional Inuit knowledge to understand
recovery patterns of Peary caribou in Quttinirpaaq National Park.
The products will include synthesized texts for the web site of the Nunavut Field Unit of the
Parks Canada Agency. As well, articles on IQ and Peary caribou will be prepared and submitted
to refereed scientific national and international journals. To further disseminate knowledge
generated by this study, illustrated public presentations on the role of genetic research, IQ and
Peary caribou in the area of Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada will be delivered to High
Arctic communities and in other cities across Canada.
To help ensure the integration of the data into Peary caribou management, a copy of the papers
will be given to the Peary caribou Recovery Team. Summaries of the captured data will be
translated into Inuktitut and provided to the Hamlet Councils and Hunters and Trappers
Organizations (HTOs) in Grise Fiord, other High Arctic Inuit communities, and the Government
of Nunavut to assist these authorities in developing management strategies for the Peary caribou.
References:
Cronin, M et al. 2003. Genetic variation in caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Animal
Genetics34: 33-41.
Dick, L. 2003. Hunting of Peary Caribou and Muskoxen on Ellesmere Island in the Contact Era,
1875-1979. Parks Canada.
Dick, L. 2001 Muskox land: Ellesmere Island in the age of contact. University of Calgary Press,
Alberta.
Gravlund, P. et al. 1998. Polyphyletic origin of the small-bodied, high-arctic subspecies of tundra
reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10: 151-159.
Liu, W.-S. et al. 2002. A radiation hybrid map for the bovine Y Chromosome. Mammalian
Genome 13, 320–326.
Manseau, M., Dick, L., Lyons, N., St-Pierre, C. and Wood,J. 2003. Ecological History of Peary
Caribou and Muskox on Northern Ellesmere Island, ca. 4300 BP to present. Research Links (in
press).
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St-Pierre, C. 2002. Habitat productivity and use by ungulates in Northern Ellesmere Island.
MREM Simon Fraser University.
Wilson, G. A. et al. 1997. Characterization of microsatellite loci in caribou Rangifer tarandus, and
their use in other artiodactyls. Molecular Ecology 6: 697-679.
Wilson, P. J. et al. 2003. Mitochondrial DNA extracted from eastern North American wolves
killed in the 1800s is not of gray wolf origin. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81: 670-683
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SECTION 7. IDENTIFY THE RISK FACTORS
The main risk factors are associated with the remote location of the study area, weather
conditions, size of the study area, sightability of caribou, low population density and widespread
distribution of Peary caribou. Park staffs have extensive experience working and organizing
logistics in this location and other High Arctic locations and have successfully completed many
research and monitoring projects. Polar Continental Shelf Project will be providing the aircraft
support; this agency has been providing High Arctic logistical support for many decades. Past
research and Inuit knowledge will be used to focus the survey efforts in order to reduce the risks
associated with surveying Peary caribou.
SECTION 8. WHAT CONTRIBUTION WILL YOUR PROJECT MAKE TO THE RECOVERY OF THE
SPECIES OR ECOSYSTEM

Identify the potential recovery rate and pattern of an unhunted population of Peary
caribou in the extreme environment of the High Arctic, possibly providing key
information to help define recovery objectives.

Identify principal habitat characteristics that are important for Peary caribou in the high
Arctic during the snow-free period. Based on those criteria, identify critical summer
habitats for the species.

Identify important areas for Peary caribou that should receive special human-use
guidelines within Quttinirpaaq National Park.

Provide information that will help DND to plan operations that avoid important caribou
habitat at times of the year when caribou are present.

Provide insights into the genetic diversity of a small and relatively remote group of
caribou.
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
Provide baseline genetic data that can be used to compare with caribou from other
locations to determine the relative degree of herd isolation.

Document changes to the population genetics of caribou that have survived a bottleneck
in population size.

Integration of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into our understanding of caribou population
dynamics, movement and distribution.

Informing Canadians about Peary caribou and the unique relationship of Inuit with this
Species at Risk.
SECTION 9. CATEGORY
Technical and scientific: 70%
Outreach and education: 20%
Management and operational: 10%
SECTION 10. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Work plan:
Timeline
Activity
Deliverables
April-July 2004
Collection of animal tissues from the Samples
stored,
American Museum of Natural History and documented and sent to
Quttinirpaaq National Park.
Trent
University
for
genetic analysis.
Resource selection analysis using a radarsat- Data
preparation
based DEM, Landsat-based NDVI, telemetry analysis.
and sightings of Peary caribou.
and
Aerial and ground survey work on the north Population estimates for
coast of Ellesmere Island.
the
north
coast
of
Ellesmere Island.
Habitat and behavior work.
Discussion with the communities on project Further
definition
of
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objectives, methodology and deliverables
Aug.-Nov. 2004
Data entry and lab work / genetic analysis
Diet analysis.
project objectives led by
the Hunters and Trappers
Organisation.
Genetic markers will be
developed.
Diet will be determined
from an analysis of the
faecal material.
Meeting and interviews in the community of Meeting and interviews
Grise Fiord.
Dec.-March 2005
Data entry and lab work / genetic analysis, Genetic markers will be
diet analysis.
developed.
Interviews, transcription and translation
Interviews transcribed and
translated.
Data analysis / reporting
April-July 2005
Report presenting the
results of the first year.
Collection of additional animal tissues from Samples
stored,
Quttinirpaaq National Park.
documented and sent to
Trent
University
for
genetic analysis.
Aerial and ground survey work on the north Population estimates for
coast of Ellesmere Island.
the
north
coast
of
Ellesmere Island.
Habitat and behavior work.
Aug.-Nov. 2005
Dec.-March 2006
Discussion on the research result and further Further
definition
of
discussion on project deliverables
project deliverables led by
the Hunters and Trappers
Organisation.
Data entry and lab work / genetic analysis, Genetic analysis, measures
diet analysis.
of genetic variability.
Completion of the interviews in the Interviews transcribed and
community of Grise Fiord.
translated.
Data entry and lab work / genetic analysis.
Genetic analysis
Discussion on project results, IQ and Discussion, interpretation
scientific, with the community of Grise Fiord. of project results.
Reporting/presentations
Publication, text for the
web
page,
video,
conference etc.
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2. Organization’s commitment
Parks Canada has an ongoing commitment to the recovery of Peary caribou:

Quttinirpaaq commits to sustain wildlife populations, such as Peary caribou, arctic wolf,
muskox and arctic char at naturally occurring population levels. Important natural
processes, such as reproduction, predation and wildlife movement, will continue
unhindered (Park Management Plan, 2003).

Inuit knowledge will be given equal consideration with scientific information in the
protection, management, and operation of the Park. On-going programs to research and
monitor environmental changes will involve Inuit and will be used to determine
appropriate courses of action (Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement for Auyuittuq,
Sirmilik and Quttinirpaaq, 1999; Nunavut Land Claims Agreement 1993).

Management of the park will be regionally integrated and linked to research and
monitoring activities in the circumpolar world. Partnerships with other organizations and
agencies will continue to enhance Parks Canada’s ability to protect natural and cultural
resources in the park (Park Management Plan, 2003)

Portions of the Peary caribou herd are surveyed regularly as part of the monitoring
program for Quttinirpaaq National Park.

Preliminary habitat data and maps have been generated.

Parks Canada will contribute funding, personnel, in-kind and logistical support to the
project.
3. Project team
Dr. Micheline Manseau, Ecosystem Scientist, Parks Canada Western Canada Service
Centre, and Associate Professor at the Natural Resources Institute, University of
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Manitoba. Dr. Manseau’s specialties are the ecology of northern ungulates and their
habitat, the use of different knowledge systems for the management of natural resources.
She is the principal investigator on the project.
Mr. Lyle Dick, West Coast Historian, Parks Canada Western Canada Service Centre.
Mr. Dick's research on High Arctic history recently was awarded the Innis Prize,
Canada's leading book award in the social sciences in the English language. Mr. Dick is
primarily interested in ethnography and documentation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as it
relates to the project.
Dr. Paul Wilson, Geneticist, Trent University. Dr. Wilson is also the supervisor of the Natural
Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre at the University.
Ms. Vicki Sahanatien, Chief, Resource Conservation, Parks Canada Nunavut Field Unit.
Ms. Sahanatien holds an M. Sc. in Environmental Science and has extensive experience
working on wildlife management in the Canadian Arctic.
Dr. Tom Knight, Ecosystem Scientist, Parks Canada Nunavut Field Unit. Dr. Knight has
expertise in habitat selection and landscape ecology.
4. Partnership
Department of National Defense.
Dr. Michael Ferguson, Regional Wildlife Biologist, Nunavut Department of Sustainable
Development.
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Quttinirpaaq National Park Joint Park Management Committee
Grise Fiord Hunters and Trappers Organization.
Resolute Bay Hunters and Trappers Organization.
American Museum of Natural History
5. Sources of funds
see other attachment
6. Cost breakdown
see other attachment
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