Project title – The Arctic Arena of the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN)

Project web site – http://www.oceantrackingnetwork.org

Activity leader(s) (name, affiliation, email address) – Ron O’Dor, CORE, Washington D.C., rodor@coreocean.org; Michael Stokesbury, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Terry Dick, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Project goals (1-2 sentences) - The OTN will monitor movements of nearly any marine species using individually coded, active-acoustic telemetry tags and collect physical oceanographic data on temperatures, salinity and currents at key locations in the Arctic Archipelago. In the context of Arctic warming, documenting movements of key species from squid and fish to marine mammals now is crucial to understand how they interact with present ocean physics and predict how future changes will impact humans and ecosystems.

Geographic focus – Pan Arctic

Taxonomic focus – Most migratory marine species traveling through Arctic waters, range extensions and animal/environment interactions, with a focus on those feeding at higher trophic levels

Countries involved in activity – Pan-Arctic scope, at minimum Canada, United States, Greenland, Russian, and European Union

Expedition dates and vessels – Collaboration with DFO/Coast Guard for equipment deployment, 7/08 – 12/09

IPY Activity #640