Last autumn, Beau Taptuna embarked on a hunting expedition with his family in the vicinity of Kugluktuk, Nunavut, and made a notable observation. Taptuna remarked on the presence of five deceased caribou on the land without any signs of gunshot wounds. He speculated that the animals succumbed to a parasite transmitted by insects. Additionally, Taptuna mentioned that other community members had expressed concerns regarding the impact of insects on wildlife such as caribou and muskox.
Taptuna, who serves as a summer science ranger in Kugluktuk, is actively involved in the Kitikmeot biting insect monitoring program, which is funded by the federal government. The initiative focuses on studying insects, the parasites they carry, and their effects on animals. It also tracks the diversity of biting insects like black flies and mosquitoes in response to changing climate conditions. Launched three years ago in Kugluktuk, the program has since expanded to Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, and Cambridge Bay in Nunavut.
As part of his responsibilities, Taptuna utilizes various nets to capture insects, which are then dispatched to laboratories at the University of Guelph and the University of Calgary.
According to Danielle Nowosad, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, the project has revealed that insects are emerging earlier due to rising temperatures. Moreover, there is a greater variety of insect species compared to a previous survey conducted in 2010-2011. Nowosad anticipates a surge in the population abundance of mosquitoes and other biting insects, along with the possible introduction of new species in the future.
Last year’s insect sampling in Kugluktuk unveiled nearly 300 insect species, as reported by Taptuna. Nowosad has developed a species distribution model based on climate data, projecting a significant expansion in the geographical area where black flies can breed in the North in the forthcoming decades.
The inception of the monitoring program stemmed from a request made during a hunters and trappers organization’s annual general meeting in 2022. It is a community-driven effort, with extensive consultations with community members, elders, and harvesters forming an integral part of the initiative.
Hannah Zikalala, a project manager in Cambridge Bay, expressed her enthusiasm for participating in the program and being in the field. She emphasized the program’s significance in safeguarding the health and population of caribou in the North against insect-borne parasites, underscoring the importance of preserving traditional sources of sustenance.
Nowosad emphasized the program’s focus on monitoring parasites, highlighting the unexpected diversity uncovered in their research. She also mentioned community discussions regarding the potential introduction of new biting insects from southern wildfires, an aspect under investigation by the researchers.
The monitoring program is set to continue for the next few years, with a research paper slated for release in the fall. Taptuna emphasized the critical nature of the program, emphasizing its broader impact beyond insects, particularly in sustaining the traditional animal-based livelihood of the community.