The bowhead whale as an indicator of changes in the Eastern Arctic: Disko Bay, Cumberland Sound and Foxe Basin
Climate change is causing multiple physical and biotic changes in the polar marine environment. The ongoing modifications in climate, oceanic and sea ice conditions may impact the trophic structure of marine food web and energetic pathway. We are using archived bowhead whale skin sample as a unique biological record of time series data to study the temporal variation in the trophic position of bowhead whales, baseline isotope values and energetic pathway in three Arctic regions; Disko Bay (western Greenland), Foxe Basin and Cumberland Sound in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Every year, hundreds of bowhead whales congregate within the vicinity of Disko Bay, between the months of March and May, before undertaking their seasonal voyage across Baffin Bay to go forage within the Eastern Canadian Arctic during summer months. Bulk stable isotope and compound specific isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen of individual amino acids are allowing us to reconstruct temporal changes in diet and in the Baffin Bay marine system biogeochemistry. So far, results from Disko Bay (2007-2013) point toward recent temporal changes in the system associated with carbon dynamic. We are looking forward to find out if similar trends will be observed in whales from the two Canadian locations (2011-2014).