When ARCBIO launched officially in early 2019, researchers from the University of Guelph planned to travel to Nunavut each summer to work with communities in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk, tracking insects, plants, and aquatic invertebrates to collect valuable biodiversity information to build a foundation for future community-based biomonitoring. Last summer, the ARCBIO team included members from the University of Guelph, local science rangers, and staff at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) campus. With the advent of COVID-19, the 2020 field season has been postponed, but ARCBIO continues with analysis of specimens and data collected during the 2019 field season, and the 2018 pilot season. ARCBIO looks forward to returning to Nunavut soon to continue working with the community to better understand, and ultimately protect Arctic environments.
ARCBIO is a flagship project for the International Barcode of Life Consortium’s BIOSCAN global research program. ARCBIO is funded by Polar Knowledge Canada, the federal organization responsible for advancing Canada’s knowledge of the Arctic, as well as strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology.
For more information on ARCBIO or to get involved, please visit: www.arcticbioscan.ca or email: info@ibol.org.