Research leader: Eva Garde, Seniorforsker, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR), Institute of Mammals and Birds, Nuuk, Grønland
Other participants:
Bjarne Ababsi Lyberth, Programcoordinator, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR), Nuuk, Grønland
Professor Paul Szpak, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
Assistant Professor Kathleen Hunt, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA

Granted amount: DKK 98.000

Project description:

The narwhal’s long, spiral tusk is one of the Arctic’s most iconic natural features. Beyond its cultural significance and the many myths it has inspired, the tusk has a remarkable scientific property: it acts as a natural archive that records information about the narwhal’s life, its environment, and ongoing changes in the Arctic climate.

The tusk grows continuously throughout the narwhal’s life and forms annual growth layers, much like the rings of a tree. Each layer contains chemical signals from the surrounding environment, including information about diet and physiological stress. By analysing these layers, scientists can reconstruct long-term changes in narwhal ecology and gain insight into how Arctic marine ecosystems have changed over time.

This project builds on nearly a decade of research on narwhal tusks and expands existing datasets with new material from North-West Greenland. Of particular importance are tusks from a little-studied narwhal population north of Inglefield Bredning, an area where scientific knowledge is limited but where local hunters report clear differences in body shape and behaviour. These new samples will be integrated with earlier material to create a unique time series spanning several decades, from the late 1950s to the present.

By analysing stable isotopes, the project will investigate changes in narwhal diet over time, while measurements of the stress hormone cortisol will provide insight into how narwhals respond to environmental and climatic change. Previous studies from East Greenland suggest that narwhals have experienced both dietary shifts and increasing stress levels during a period marked by reduced sea ice, rising ocean temperatures, and ecological change. This project will examine whether similar patterns can be observed in narwhals from North-West Greenland.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with local hunters, Greenlandic researchers, international partners, and students at the University of Greenland. Results will be shared through scientific publications and communicated to the public through Greenlandic media and outreach activities, contributing to a deeper understanding of climate impacts on Arctic wildlife and supporting informed management of a species with great cultural and societal importance in Greenland.