Last autumn, while out hunting with his family near Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Beau Taptuna observed a peculiar sight. He noticed several dead caribou on the land, devoid of gunshot wounds. Taptuna speculated that these animals perished due to an insect-borne parasite. Additionally, he highlighted concerns expressed by fellow community members regarding the impact of insects on wildlife such as caribou and muskoxen.
Taptuna, a summer science ranger in Kugluktuk, actively participates in the Kitikmeot biting insect monitoring program, which is funded by the federal government. This initiative focuses on studying insects, the parasites they carry, and their effects on animals. It also tracks the biodiversity of biting insects like black flies and mosquitoes in response to climate shifts. Initially launched in Kugluktuk three years ago, the program has since expanded to Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, and Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
As part of his role, Taptuna utilizes various nets to capture insects, which are then forwarded to labs at the University of Guelph and the University of Calgary for analysis.
Research findings by Danielle Nowosad, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, indicate that due to rising temperatures, insects are emerging earlier, and there is a greater diversity of insect species compared to a survey conducted in 2010-2011. Nowosad predicts a potential surge in the population abundance of mosquitoes and other biting insects, along with the possibility of new species infiltrating the region.
Last year, Taptuna’s sampling efforts in Kugluktuk uncovered nearly 300 insect species. Nowosad has developed a species distribution model using climate data to project future scenarios, revealing a probable significant expansion of the geographical area suitable for black fly breeding in the North over the next few decades.
The monitoring program, initiated following a request at a hunters and trappers organization’s annual general meeting in 2022, is a community-driven endeavor. It involves ongoing consultations with community members, elders, and harvesters to ensure their input is integrated into the project.
Hannah Zikalala, a project manager in Cambridge Bay, expresses her enthusiasm for the program and the opportunity to work closely with nature. She emphasizes the program’s importance in safeguarding caribou populations from insect-borne parasites that could impact their size and health, highlighting the significance of preserving traditional food sources for future generations.
Nowosad underscores the program’s focus on monitoring parasites, emphasizing that the examined parasites do not pose a risk of human infection. She notes the unexpected diversity of parasites discovered through advanced genomic techniques, challenging previous assumptions about their genetic composition.
Community members have also raised concerns about the potential introduction of new biting insects from wildfires in southern regions, a phenomenon researchers are currently investigating. Nowosad confirms the program’s continuation for the next few years, with a research paper scheduled for release in the fall.
For Taptuna, the monitoring program holds immense significance beyond insect surveillance, as it directly impacts the ecosystem’s balance and the community’s reliance on wildlife for sustenance and cultural practices.
