Habitat use, behaviour and genetic connectivity of narwhals in North Greenland
What is the motivation?
The Arctic is warming rapidly, and narwhals—an Arctic-endemic species—are particularly sensitive to environmental change. In the Nares Strait, limited human activity and persistent multi-year sea ice create rare conditions where narwhals remain undisturbed and show little fear of humans. Studying this population offers a unique opportunity to understand natural behaviour and climate-related responses.
© Hans Linderholm – taken in Hand Bugt, Greenland
Why does it matter?
The Nares Strait may serve as a climate refuge for Arctic species thanks to its long-lasting sea ice. As top predators, narwhals are important indicators of large-scale environmental change. Tracking their distribution and genetic links with other populations helps reveal how they are responding to a warming climate. This undisturbed group provides an essential baseline—the “healthy patient” needed to diagnose changes elsewhere. The non-invasive methods tested here could also be applied to other species, supporting future conservation efforts.
Project Focus
NorthWhale examines where narwhals occur in the Nares Strait, how their groups are structured, and how genetically connected they are to other populations. The region also hosts important terrestrial wildlife, so reindeer, muskoxen, polar bears and wolves will be counted. The project additionally evaluates innovative non- or minimally invasive monitoring tools—environmental DNA and RNA, passive acoustics, and drone-based blow sampling—to assess marine mammal populations and their vulnerability to climate change.
© Johann Gentry – GINR
How will it be done?
Narwhal presence and distribution will be assessed through visual observations, environmental DNA and RNA sampling, and passive acoustic monitoring. Genomic analyses of blow and eDNA samples will determine how closely related Nares Strait narwhals are to other groups. Drone imagery will document group composition—adult males, females and calves—and behaviour. The project will compare the performance of several non-invasive monitoring techniques, while also recording the distribution of marine and terrestrial mammals.
What will be collected?
During the expedition, visual observations of narwhals and other marine and terrestrial mammals will be recorded from the main vessel, small boats and the helicopter, including the number of animals and their group structure. Acoustic measurements will capture narwhal vocalisations, while water samples will be taken for environmental DNA and RNA analyses. Narwhal blow will be collected for genetic study, and drones will provide photographs and video footage to document behaviour and group composition. Additionally, bones from terrestrial fauna will be gathered on Washington Land.
Members and partners
- Principal Investigator:
- Marie Louis, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Other participants:
- Outi Tervo, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Mikkel Sinding, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Nukannguaq Sofie Mathiesen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Partners:
- Anni Djurhuus, University of the Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands
- Eline D. Lorenzen, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark