Igloolik Research Center

STATION NAME AND OWNER

The Igloolik Research Center is owned by the Department of Environment of the Government of Nunavut, CANADA.

LOCATION

The Igloolik Research Center (IRC) with its main building with offices and laboratories, as well as warm and cold warehouses is located in the hamlet of Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada (69°22’34” N, 81°48’11” W). The center is located on a small island at the northern tip of the Foxe Basin, in between the continent and the large Baffin Island. Additional facilities include stations in Kugluktuk (67°49’ N, 115°06’ W), Arviat (61°06’ N, 94°03’ W), Pond Inlet (72°41’57” N, 77°57’33” W), and Iqaluit (63°44’ N, 68°31’ W).

BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Igloolik is located in the tundraA type of ecosystem in which tree growth is limited by low temperatures. The origin of the word is from from the Kildin Sami word t?ndâr, meaning "uplands" or "treeless mountain tract". In the northern... More zone and is part of the northern arcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude, long winters, short, cool summers,... More ecozone. Snow cover usually remains from September to June. Extremely low temperatures are common (-30°C as a mean temperature during winter month). The average precipitation per year is c. 280 mm. Much of the landscape is composed of barren plains covered by frost-patterned soils and rock outcrop. This area is rich in sea mammals and seabirds, with charismatic polar bears, belugas, and killer whales. The terrestrial wildlife includes in particular caribou (although declining in abundance), ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude, long winters, short, cool summers,... More foxes, several waterfowl species, snow geese, falcons, and lemmings.

HISTORY AND FACILITIES

The facility was established by the federal government of Canada in the early 1970s to strengthen research in the Eastern Canadian ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude, long winters, short, cool summers,... More. Within the main building, eight offices and two labs lead radially from a central area used for meetings. The research centre supplies local transportation with trucks, snowmobiles, sledges, boats with outboard motors, and all-terrain vehicles all stored in a warm and a cold warehouse. Biologists, social scientists, and technicians of the Department of Environment, conduct research on a variety of terrestrial wildlife and management issues.

GENERAL RESEARCH AND DATABASES

Research focuses on terrestrial wildlife and habitats with a special mandate on species directly linked to the traditional life of Inuit, i.e. caribou, polar bears, and muskoxen. The main research objectives of the station are to provide up-to-date information from various sources, including in-house scientific research and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, to co-management partners in order to make responsible wildlife management and land use decisions. Existing data bases include reports and publications arising from research at the station, climateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies from place-to-place across the Earth. Climate is determined by long-term (over at least... More records, terrestrial wildlife survey and trends, as well as habitat mapping, wildlife monitoring, and ecosystemAll the living organisms (including people) in an area as well as its physical environment, functioning together as a unit. An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil,... More modelling.

HUMAN DIMENSION

Nunavut is the newest territory in Canada and is one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions in the world. It covers a large area of c. 2 millions km2. The Igloolik hamlet is located almost centrally in Nunavut and harbors approximately 1600 inhabitants (1/20 of the total population in Nunavut). The traditional Inuit culture still plays a major role in the daily life. Fishing and hunting is very important to local residents, all year round, focusing in particular on caribous, polar bears, seals, and beluga whales.

ACCESS

During the summer, there are commercial plane and boat services available to reach the station. Regular flights are available from Iqaluit (Nunavut capital), which is connected every day to Montreal and Ottawa. For local transportation the center offers logistical support to researchers working on site and in the larger area. This includes snowmobiles, a 4X4 truck, ATVs, and boats.