The Mitik of Nunatsiavut and beyond: Using satellite telemetry, contaminant analysis and Indigenous Knowledge to uncover movements, key areas of habitat use, and threats for the Common Eiders of northern Labrador throughout their range
Project Number: 172
Year Funded: 2024
Lead Institution(s): Nunatsiavut Government
Project Lead: Michelle Saunders
Collaborator(s): Scott Gilliland (Acadia University), Sarah Gutowsky (CWS), Sarah Wong (CWS), Mark Mallory (Acadia), Nic McLellan (DUC), Jennifer Provencher (ECCC), Greg Robertson (ECCC)
Location: Atlantic Canada
Focal Species: Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Project Description: This research project, centered in Nunatsiavut, Northern Labrador, Canada, focuses on the Common Eider (Mitik in Inuktitut). The study area overlaps the subspecies division between the American (S. m. dresseri) and Northern (S. m. borealis) Common Eiders and falls within Sea Duck Key Site 40. The project, led by the Nunatsiavut Government, aims to understand the year-round movements, habitats, and risks faced by Common Eiders breeding in Nunatsiavut waters. The project aims to deploy satellite PTTs on up to 25 Common Eiders, measure contaminant levels, and integrate Indigenous knowledge and scientific data to understand the species' migratory patterns, habitat use, and risks to improve sea duck conservation and management, aligning with many SDJV Science Needs and Priorities. This research builds upon previous and on-going studies and will improve our understanding of affiliations between Labrador eiders and wintering areas in the USA. By enhancing our understanding of risks faced by eiders both inside and outside Nunatsiavut waters, this project supports the Nunatsiavut Government's efforts to conserve a culturally significant species and fosters cross-jurisdictional collaboration in eider management. Additionally, community engagement and participatory mapping will ensure that Indigenous knowledge is incorporated into both study planning and interpretation of our findings, enhancing local and scientific understanding of the Common Eider's importance and informing marine conservation efforts in the region.
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