DolphinUnit – Defining management units and genetic health of white-beaked and white-sided dolphins in the North Atlantic and the Arctic
Research leader: Marie Louis, postdoc, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Other participants: Dr. Sunnvør í Kongsstovu, Associate Professor, University of the Faroe Islands; Dr. Outi Tervo, Senior Scientist, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources; Dr Morten Tange Olsen, Associate Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Research area, purpose and research questions:
The North Atlantic and Arctic are experiencing rapid environmental change, which are impacting the distribution of species. White-beaked (WB) and white-sided (WS) dolphins are currently shifting their range into Arctic waters. Those species are hunted for subsistence in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. However, their population structure in the North Atlantic is not resolved, making it extremely difficult for management authorities to identify stocks and make recommendations for sustainable harvesting. We propose to collect samples of WB and WS from West Greenland and use state-of-the-art whole genome sequencing on an exceptional set of already existing samples collected by 13 collaborators across the two species’ North Atlantic range to
i) resolve the genetic structure and connectivity of the two species in the North Atlantic,
ii) reconstruct their responses to past climate change to better predict their future and
iii) assess their genetic health (i.e. vulnerability).
The ultimate goal is to provide a scientific basis for sustainable traditional use of these marine resources. Our project will focus on capacity building and strengthening synergies between the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and other research institutes through data, competence, knowledge and infrastructures sharing. Our project heavily relies on collaboration with local hunters and we will disseminate our results through local and international communication activities.
Methods for capacity building in Greenland:
This project relies heavily on collaboration with local hunters. We will discuss the project with local hunters and hire the chairman of the hunters’ association in Maniitsoq in West Greenland to increase sample size for the dolphins for that region. Our project will provide critical information (genetic structure and genetic health/vulnerability) to ensure sustainable use of the resources of the two dolphin species which are harvested for subsistence in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Ensuring sustainable harvesting is beneficial for the economy and the local communities relying on the resources. Results will be presented by Dr Louis to the master students in the course “Arctic Marine Ecosystems in a Changing Climate” at GINR, by Dr í Kongsstovu to students in biology at the UFI and by Dr Tange Olsen to students at UCPH. We see potential to present the results to students undertaking the biology bachelor degree which will start at Ilisimatusarfik in 2025.
Dissemination plan:
We will present the project to local communities, making the results visible locally in Greenland. We plan a public outreach event and a visit to a school in Maniitsoq. We will also disseminate the results of our project to the public through the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and the University of the Faroe Islands websites, social media platforms in particular Facebook which is extensively used in Greenland, as well as Twitter and Instagram. We will create an account for the project on the different platforms. We also plan to give public talks to present our results for example during the Greenland Science Week, the annual Faroese Research Day, at the Natural History Museum of Denmark and during visits to schools. The results will be included in the teaching material for biology students as detailed above. We will prepare a press release together with all our institutions for any publication associated with the project. We hope to further reach the Greenlandic public by writing an article for the Suluk, in-flight magazine from Air Greenland, and the Faroese public by writing an article for the popular science magazine Frøði.
Granted: 95.000,00 kr.
