Postdoc: Outi Tervo, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Granted amount: DKK 94,000

Project description:

The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, affecting sea ice and the animals that depend on it. The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is closely associated with sea ice and is therefore particularly vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, it holds significant cultural and economic importance for many local communities in Greenland.

In Northwest Greenland, narwhals gather during summer in Melville Bay and Inglefield Bredning. Local hunters describe three different types of narwhals based on appearance and behaviour, but it is unknown whether these types are also genetically distinct. Narwhals are also found in the Nares Strait, a remote and largely undisturbed area in the High Arctic where very little research has been conducted.

The aim of the project is to investigate whether the three described types of narwhals are genetically distinct, how narwhals in the Nares Strait use the area, and how they are related to other populations in Greenland and Canada.

The project combines genetic analyses with non-invasive methods such as environmental DNA from seawater, drone observations, and underwater acoustics. The project will provide new knowledge to support sustainable management of narwhals in a rapidly changing Arctic.