Monitoring - Habitat

Pingo Monitoring

Rationale

Ibyuk pingo in the Pingo Canadian Landmark.

Pingos are a permafrost feature represented by the Pingo Canadian Landmark near Tuktoyaktuk. The Western Arctic Field Unit manages the Landmark in cooperation with the Inuvialuit Land Administration, Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee and Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation. The community of Tuktoyaktuk is interested in protecting the pingos in the Landmark and developing the Landmark as an attraction for visitors. There is concern that recreational activities and natural processes are causing the pingos to deteriorate. Damage to the vegetation covering the pingos exposes their ice core and causes it to melt. There is concern that damage to the pingos will decrease the value of the Landmark as an area that represents permafrost landforms and as a visitor attraction.

Objectives

• To monitor natural and human caused changes to the vegetation on pingos in the Pingo Canadian Landmark.

Methods and Information Collected

• Monitoring is conducted at Split and Ibyuk pingos in the Pingo Canadian Landmark. The Landmark is adjacent to the community of Tuktoyaktuk.
• Vegetation at Split and Ibyuk pingo was identified and mapped in 1999. Soil type and the topography of the pingos were also mapped. Photos were taken to document erosion and human use of the pingos.

Years of Data

• Initial fieldwork was conducted in 1999

Partners

• Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk
• Inuvialuit Land Administration
• Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee
• Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation

Results

• The initial investigation of Split and Ibyuk pingos indicate that Split Pingo is in very good condition and Ibyuk Pingo is showing signs of erosion. This erosion is being caused by natural processes and human use.
• Vegetation identification and mapping indicate that the number of species present and the timing of growth changes with aspect and substrate. There are more species of plants at the base of the pingos than at the top. The crater of the pingos have a vegetation community that is different from the base and the slope of the pingo.
• A monitoring program for the Pingo Canadian Landmark needs to be developed with the Pingo Working Committee

Split Pingo in the Canadian Pingo Landmark.

Contacts

Brian Johnston
District Planner
Western Arctic Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency
P.O. Box 1840
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
Phone: (867) 777-8804
Fax: (867) 777-8820
Brian_Johnston@pch.gc.ca