During a hunting trip last autumn near Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Beau Taptuna observed a concerning phenomenon. He came across multiple dead caribou in the area, none showing signs of gunshot wounds. Taptuna suspected that an insect-borne parasite was responsible for the deaths. Additionally, he had heard similar worries from fellow community members regarding the impact of insects on caribou and muskoxen.
As a summer science ranger in Kugluktuk, Taptuna actively participates in the Kitikmeot biting insect monitoring program, which is supported by federal funding. The initiative focuses on studying insects, the parasites they carry, and their effects on wildlife. It also tracks the changing biodiversity of biting insects like black flies and mosquitoes due to climate variations. Originally launched in Kugluktuk three years ago, the program has now expanded to Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, and Cambridge Bay in Nunavut.
Taptuna employs various types of nets to capture insects during his fieldwork, sending the samples to research labs at the University of Guelph and the University of Calgary for further analysis.
According to Danielle Nowosad, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, the project findings indicate that insects are emerging earlier due to rising temperatures, and there is a greater diversity of insect species compared to a previous survey conducted in 2010-2011. She predicts a potential increase in insect population abundance in the future, leading to a higher presence of mosquitoes and other biting insects, including new varieties.
Last year’s research in Kugluktuk identified nearly 300 insect species, as reported by Taptuna. Nowosad has developed a species distribution model based on climate data, revealing a significant projected expansion of the geographical range where black flies can breed in the Northern regions over the next few decades.
The monitoring program originated from a request made at a hunters and trappers organization’s annual general meeting in 2022, emphasizing community involvement through consultations with residents, elders, and hunters. Hannah Zikalala, a project manager in Cambridge Bay, expressed her enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding the health and size of caribou populations in the North, which could be threatened by insect-borne parasites.
Nowosad highlights the program’s focus on monitoring parasites, emphasizing that the parasites under study are not transmissible to humans. She emphasizes the unexpected diversity of parasites discovered through advanced genomic techniques, contrary to earlier assumptions of limited diversity.
The research team is also investigating the potential influence of wildfires in the southern regions on the migration of new biting insect species towards the North. Nowosad affirms the continuation of the program for the next few years, with a research paper scheduled for release in the fall.
For Taptuna, the monitoring program holds vital significance beyond just insects, as it plays a crucial role in protecting the wildlife essential for the community’s sustenance and cultural practices.
