Survey of Vegetated Areas and Muskox Populations in East-Central Ellesmere Island
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic2050Keywords:
Aerial surveys, Animal distribution, Animal ecology, Geomorphology, Landforms, Muskoxen, Plant ecology, Plants (Biology), Wetlands, Wildlife habitat, Ellesmere Island, NunavutAbstract
The results of 1981-84 summer helicopter surveys and ground reconnaissance of east-central Ellesmere Island are presented. This was the first systematic ecological survey to be conducted in this region of the Canadian High Arctic. Central Ellesmere Island is dominated by two large ice fields separated by the deglaciated Sverdrup Pass (79 degrees N). Muskox migrate freely through the 70 km long corridor between the Fosheim Peninsula and some lowlands on the east coast, but large areas of suitable habitat were found unused on the central east coast. Muskox densities in Sverdrup Pass were comparable with those at other arctic sites, as were their reproduction rates (proportion of calves). Vegetated areas (>5 percent cover) constituted only 5 percent of the total surveyed land area and were largely restricted to coastal lowlands and the Sverdrup Pass valley.
Key words: Ellesmere Island, Sverdup Pass, high arctic vegetation, polar oases, muskox, muskox habitat
