Climate change is causing multiple physical and biotic changes in the marine environment. Among the various changes faced by bowhead whales are the reduction of sea ice as well as increased competition for food and habitat by non-endemic species of baleen whales that are expanding their range to the north. The geographical distribution, biomass and abundance of bowhead whale prey species are also changing and the ongoing modifications in climate and oceanic conditions may impact the trophic structure of marine food web and energetic pathway.

As part of my current postdoctoral research, we are using bowhead whale skin samples as a unique biological record of time series data to shed light on temporal variation in the trophic position of bowhead whales and in baseline isotope values (ecosystem biogeochemistry) as well as energetic pathway in Baffin Bay. Read more....