1
2017 s a us muskoxen
(
O ibos moscha us
)
Cape A holl
Thule egion G eenland
Technical Repo No. 104, 2022
Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
2
Ti le: 2017 s a us muskoxen (
O ibos moscha us
) Cape A holl,
Thule egion G eenland
Au ho s: Ch is ine Cuyle 1, Kasim S. Vi k2, Thomas B. Clausen2,
Flemming H. Jensen2, E ik W. Bo n3, K is in Laid e1 and
Øys ein Wiig4
1 Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces, P.O.
Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, G eenland
2 SPE Box 140, 3970 Pi u ik, G eenland
3 G eenland’s Rep esen a ion, P.O. Box 1915, 1023 Copenhagen K,
Denma k.
4 Na u al His o y Museum, Uni e si y o Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blinde n,
0318 Oslo, No way
Se ies: Technical Repo No. 104, 2022
Da e o publica ion: 16 Feb ua y 2022
Publishe : Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Financial suppo : Pi u ik Municipal Council (
Pi u ik Bo ge åd
)
Co e pho o: Inge Go edsen: Muskox cows, cal es, and ju eniles, wi h
Uummannap Kange lua (Wols enholme Fjo d) in back-
g ound, July 2017.
ISBN: 87-91214-81-5
ISSN: 1397-3657
EAN: 9788791214813
Ci ed as: Cuyle , C., Vi k, K.S., Clausen, T.B. Jensen, F.H., Bo n, E.W.,
Laid e, K. and Wiig, Ø. 2022. 2017 s a us muskoxen (
O ibos
moscha us
) Cape A holl, Thule egion G eenland.
Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al
Resou ces. Technical Repo No. 104. 60 pp.
Con ac add ess: The epo is only a ailable in elec onic o ma . You can
download a PDF- ile o he epo a his homepage
h ps://na u .gl/ o skning/ appo e /
Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
P.O. Box 570
3900 Nuuk, G eenland
Phone: +299 36 12 00
E-mail: in o@na u .gl
www.na u .gl
3
2017 s a us muskoxen
(
O ibos moscha us
)
Cape A holl
Thule egion G eenland
By
Ch is ine Cuyle 1, Kasim S. Vi k2, Thomas B. Clausen2, Flemming H. Jensen2
, E ik W. Bo n3, K is in Laid e1 and Øys ein Wiig4
1 Pinngo i ale i ik – Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, G eenland
2 SPE Box 140, 3970 Pi u ik, G eenland
3 G eenland’s Rep esen a ion, P.O. Box 1915, 1023 Copenhagen K, Denma k.
4 Na u al His o y Museum, Uni e si y o Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blinde n, 0318 Oslo, No way
Technical Repo No. 104, 2022
Pinngo i ale i ik – G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
4
[Emp y page]
5
Table o Con en s
Summa y (English) ................................................................... 7
Eqikkaaneq (kalaallisu ) ......................................................... 8
Resumé (dansk) ......................................................................... 9
In oduc ion ............................................................................. 10
Me hods .................................................................................... 16
Resul s ...................................................................................... 21
Discussion ................................................................................ 24
Acknowledgemen s ................................................................. 32
Li e a u e ci ed ........................................................................ 33
Figu es
1.
Map o he Cape A holl a ea, which o als ca. 880 km2, showing Pi u ik ...
Page 10
2.
Fligh pa hs du ing su ey o pola bea s be ween Kullo suaq and …
Page 13
3.
Inciden al obse a ions o muskoxen made du ing ligh s sea ching o ...
Page 14
4.
Map o he g id cells used du ing he 2017 muskox coun s o Cape A hol ...
Page 18
5.
G ound: Road and sea ou es used o July 2017 minimum coun …
Page 18
6.
Ae ial ou e lown o 14 Sep embe 2017 minimum coun ...
Page 19
7.
Loca ion and size o muskox g oups obse ed du ing he oad and sea …
Page 20
8.
Loca ion and size o muskox g oups obse ed du ing he ae ial su ey …
Page 23
9.
Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 16 Augus 2010: G een ege a ed slopes …
Page 35
10.
Qoo o suaq alley, 03 July 2011: G een ege a ed slopes …
Page 35
11.
Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 02 July 2011: G een ege a ed slopes …
Page 36
12.
Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 24 July 2017: G een ege a ed slopes …
Page 36
13.
Ae ial iew o Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep 2017: Vege a ed slopes unde …
Page 37
14.
Ae ial iew o Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep 2017, inne alley iew o NNE.
Page 37
15.
Ae ial iew o inne wes side o he Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep 2017 …
Page 38
16.
Sa elli e image o Qoo o suaq alley sys em, May 2010: Downloaded …
Page 38
17.
Ou e Qoo o suaq alley (abo e) and closeup Paaki soq sho e cli (below)
Page 39
18.
Fu he pho os o Qoo o suaq alley mou h wi h closeup, aken 24 July
Page 40
19.
Ch is ine Cuyle and Kasim S. Vi k, backg ound shows in e io o …
Page 42
20.
Kasim S. Vi k beside he Cessna 172 eady o ae ial coun 14 Sep embe ...
Page 42
21.
Ch is ine Cuyle s eadying he elescope while iewing muskoxen.
Page 43
22.
Low ele a ion e ain (< 100m) nea he Thule Ai Base was ypically …
Page 43
23.
Thule Ai Base, illus a ing minimal ege a ion and ed b own mud/clay
Page 44
24.
The iconic la - opped Dundas Moun ain, jus NW o he Thule Ai Base
Page 44
25.
Te ain and ege a ion ypical o a ound he Thule Ai Base.
Page 45
26.
Te ain and ege a ion ypical o jus eas o he Thule Ai Base.
Page 46
27.
A bull muskox g azing among boulde s nea Thule Ai Base.
Page 47
28.
Te ain and spa ce ege a ion ypical o a ound he Thule Ai Base. …
Page 47
29.
Landscapes and spa se ege a ion ypical o he in e io and i e alleys.
Page 48
30.
Te ain and spa se ege a ion ypical a he edge o he G eenland Ice Cap.
Page 49
6
31.
Typical open is a ( iew o NE on oad eas om Thule Ai Base) wi h …
Page 49
32.
G oup o ou muskoxen g azing on spa se ege a ion ypical ...
Page 50
33.
Rocky sho e a Ami sua suk, Uummannap Kange lua (Wols enholme …
Page 50
34.
Con as be ween he g een ege a ion on he ocky sc ee slopes …
Page 51
35.
Con as be ween he slim ho ns and sligh boss o cows (abo e) and …
Page 52
36.
Na u al mo ali y o an old bull muskox. Thule Ai Base pipeline in …
Page 55
37.
Pola bea sca enging he ca. h ee-week old ca cass o adul bull …
Page 55
38.
Young ma u e bull aged 5-6 yea s sho by Lemme S ensson, Augus 2017.
Page 56
39.
Whi e uzz hai , ypical o young bulls, behind (and be ween) ho n boss ...
Page 57
40.
Hype plasia o he igh on hoo om ma u e bull muskox, age 5-6 …
Page 57
Tables
1.
Muskox obse a ions in Cape A holl since 1986 e-in oduc ion ...
Page 12
2.
Ha es quo as and seasons o muskoxen o Cape A holl. Repo ed …
Page 15
3.
Muskox demog aphics om g ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun ...
Page 21
4.
Ae ial minimum coun esul s o muskoxen o Cape A holl, 14 Sep 2017.
Page 24
5.
Raw da a: G ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun , 24 July – 06 Augus …
Page 53
6.
Raw da a om ae ial minimum coun o muskoxen in Cape A holl ….
Page 54
Appendices
1.
Qoo o suaq Valley, sou h coas Cape A holl a ea
Page 35
2.
B ie desc ip ion me hods: 2013 ae ial pola bea su ey
Page 41
3.
Field wo k pho os ( aken 24-31 July, unless o he wise indica ed)
Page 42
4.
Raw Da a: G ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun
Page 53
5.
Raw Da a: Ae ial minimum coun , 14 Sep embe 2017
Page 54
6.
Na u al mo ali y, ma u e old bull
Page 55
7.
One obse a ion o hoo hype plasia in 2017
Page 56
8.
Da a shee o g ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun
Page 58
9.
Da a shee o ae ial minimum coun
Page 59
7
Summa y (English)
Muskoxen (O ibos moscha us) once inhabi ed he Cape A holl a ea
(Kangaa suk) be ween ca. 76o 14 N and ca. 76o 35 N in NW G eenland. In he
1800s, howe e , he muskox popula ion in his a ea ex i pa ed. In 1986, se en
ju enile muskoxen we e ansloca ed om he Kange lussuaq/Sønd e
S øm jo d egion and e-in oduced o he Cape A holl a ea. The i s
sys ema ic su ey (Sep embe 2015) dedica ed o muskoxen and co e ing
almos hal o he Cape A holl a ea, esul ed in a minimum coun o 276
muskoxen. This epo desc ibes he second simila ae ial minimum coun
(Sep embe 2017) and addi ionally a g ound ( oad and sea) coun o July-
Sep embe 2017. The la e co e ed a smalle po ion (14%) o he a ea han
he ae ial coun (34%). Despi e ecen ange expansion, he 2017 s udy
indica ed ha mos o he muskox popula ion con inued o emain
concen a ed in alleys and lowlands in he sou he n hal o he Cape A holl
a ea. The g ound coun was 109 muskoxen, which included 8.3% cal es (age <
1-yea ). The ae ial minimum coun was 212 muskoxen, which included
oughly 10% cal es. The ae ial coun was supe io o he g ound coun in bo h
a ea co e age and numbe s o muskoxen obse ed.
A ca. 76°N, he Cape A holl a ea is high A c ic and ele a ions abo e 200 m
a e spa sely ege a ed. Despi e his, he muskoxen ha e h i ed since hei e-
in oduc ion o he a ea. This appea s ela ed o he p esence o huge seabi d
b eeding colonies o li le auks (Alle alle), whose annual guano deposi ion
causes ege a ion ho spo s. In 2017, gi en minimum coun o 212 muskoxen,
densi y was ca. 1/km2 o all a eas wi h ele a ion <200 m and 4-5/km2 o
ege a ion ho spo s, while he 2017 cal pe cen age was low. Obse a ions in
2021 by s a a he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base sugges popula ion decline has
no occu ed ollowing 2017. To asce ain popula ion end, u he ae ial
minimum coun s a e equi ed and mus include cal pe cen age alue.
8
Eqikkaaneq (kalaallisu )
A ane sua mi Kangaa summi immisa umik, Kangaa suup a aa a missaa,
kisi si igineqa ma ikinne paamik 276-inik umimmaqa nissaa
missilio neqa poq. Kangaa summi umimmaa ikinne paa ile nia lugi
sep embe 2017-imi kisi sineq, kingulle mik 2015-imi kisi sine mu
sanilliunneqa sinnaa oq. Nalunaa usiami aamma ilanngullugu Kangaa suup
sine iaa a ua lugu umimmannik nunamii uniik aammalu Pi u immi biilimii
umimmaa akusa ikinne paa ile nia lugi juli-sep embe ungaanu 2017-
imi kisi si igineqa ne a ilanngullugi allaase ineqa pu . Umia siamik
aama u Kangaa summi kisi sine mi ama uma nuna aa a 14 %-ia a missaa
kisi si iu oq, immisa umilli kisi sine up nuna aa a 34 %-ia a missaanik
kisi si iulluni. Naak umimmaa sia ua igisimasa ik
anne use ia simagalua aa , aamaa oq Kangaa suup kuja aani
qooqquniinnia ne usimappu a sissuniinnia ne usimallu illu. Umia siami
aqqusine milu biilimii kisi a 109-usimappu , aakkkunannga 8,3 %-ii
pia aallu ik suli ukiisimanngi sulluunnii . Timmisa umik kisi sine up
ine ne aa Kangaa summi ikinne paamik umimmaa 212 akuneqa simasu ,
aakkua ilaa assa 10 %-iisa missaa pia aallu ik ukioq a aase luunnii suli
angusimanngikkaa . A aa simu naliliissagaanni immisa umik kisi sineq
umia siamii aqqusine miillu kisi sine nii pi saane usu u nalile neqa poq,
assa kisi si iup nunap anne ussusia aammalu umimmaa akusa
ame lassusia eqqa saa igalugi . Kanngaa suup nalaa a, a anna pasissuseq
76o N, silaannaa issi up silaannaa nille uu oq, immamiilllu qa sissuseq 200
me e i missaannii oq nuna naggo lu uulluni. Pissu silli aamaakkalua u
umimmaa aa unga suaq nuussaallu ik nunaligussa
ajo iinnagassaanngi sumik aniguisa simappu . Taama ajunngiusa umik
a ugaqa ne inu peqqu aa oq appalia sui ineqa ii, appalia suimmi anaa
(guano) kuullu ik nunamu eqqaamio isaminnik naggo i silluinna a ma a.
Aallaa igigu sigu umimmaa ikinne paamik 212-iusu , aa a km2-mu
eqimassusia umimmaap a aa sip missaanniissaaq, naggo issoqa immilu
km2-mu sisama allimallu missaanniissaaq. Naak 2017-imi
piaqqia ineqa simasu ikiginakulukkalua u , Pi u immi sulisu 2021-mi
oqaa igaa umimmaa eqqaminnii u ikilia o u u isikkoqanngi su .
Kangaa summilu umimmannu unnga illugu pissu si malinnaa iginia lugi
innne suussu igineqa poq, aaqqissuulluakkamik immisa umik kisi sine i
siunissami agge sumi inge la eqqinneqa a iaqa alua u .
9
Resumé (dansk)
Moskusokse (O ibos moscha us) o ekom idlige e i Kap A holl-om åde
(Kangaa suk) mellem ca. 76o 14 N and ca. 76o 35 N i No d es g ønland.
Imidle id o s and disse a om åde engang i 1800- alle . I 1986 ble
moskusokse e-in oduce e il Kap A holl-om åde , da sy unge indi ide
ble ly e de il a Kange lussuaq/Sønd e S øm jo d. I sep embe 2015
gennem ø es en ø s e sys ema isk op ælling, med de o mål a op ælle
moskusokse i Kap A holl-om åde . Denne lyop ælling, de dækkede
hal delen a Kap A holl-om åde , esul e ede i e minimum al på 276 dy .
Denne appo besk i e den anden - og med 2015-op ællingen
sammenlignelige - lyop ælling o e age i sep embe 2017 med de o mål a
å e es ima a minimumsan alle a moskusokse ed Kap A holl. Rappo en
besk i e også en op ælling o e age a båd langs kys en og a bil ( ejne e
omk ing Pi u ik/Thule Ai Base) i juli-sep embe 2017. Sids næ n e
op ælling dækkede ca. 14% a Kap A holl-om åde , mens lyop ællingen
dækkede ca. 34%. Til ods o a moskusokse ne ha ud ide de es gene elle
udb edelses-om åde, is e 2017-s udie a de s adig isæ a koncen e e i
dale og de la e eliggende egne i den sydlige hal del a Kap A holl-om åde .
Op ællingen a båd og ejne ga e samle al på 109 moskusokse , h o a
8,3% a ”unde 1-å -gamle” kal e. Flyop ællingen esul e ede i e
minimums al på 212 dy , h ilke inklude ede 10% ”unde 1-å -gamle”. kal e.
Flyop ællingen a gene el bed e end båd- og ejne op ællingen både h ad
angå om ang a om åde, de ble dække , og an al moskusokse se .
Omk ing 76o N e klimae i Kap A holl-om åde høja k isk og om åde ne o e
200 m o e ha e s o e lade (o.h.o.) ha spa som ege a ion. Ikke des o
mind e synes bes anden a e-in oduce ede moskusokse ne a ha e kla e sig
god . De skyldes isæ o ekoms en i om åde a s o e ugle jelde med
søkonge (Alle alle), h is a ø ing (guano) gi e gødning il odige
ege a ions ”ho spo s”. Med udgangspunk i minimums alle på 212 moskus
i 2017 a æ heden (densi e en) a dy ca. 1 p . km2 i alle om åde unde 200
m o.h.o., mens den a 4-5 moskusokse p . km2 i disse ”ho spo s”. Sel om
p ocen delen a nye kal e a o holds is la i 2017, ha obse a ione
o e age i 2021 a pe sonale a Pi u ik ikke an yde en nedgang i an alle a
moskusokse i om åde . Fo a ølge ud iklingen i bes anden i Kap A holl-
om åde anbe ales de emo e a o e age sys ema iske lyop ællinge
(minimumsan al sam andel a kal e).
16
P esen S udy
We examined he 2017 muskox dis ibu ion and abundance in he Cape
A holl a ea by comple ing bo h g ound and ae ial minimum coun s. We
began wi h he g ound minimum coun , which was conduc ed by boa , uck,
and all- e ain ehicle (ATV) om 24 July o 06 Augus . When possible, a
de ailed demog aphics (sex and age composi ion) o each g oup was
ob ained. On 14 Sep embe 2017, we comple ed an ae ial ixed-wing
minimum coun o he Cape A holl a ea. This epo p esen s he esul s om
hese coun s o muskoxen on Cape A holl, which include he obse ed
au umn dis ibu ion, o al coun s, cal pe cen age and demog aphics.
Me hods
S udy a ea
A ca. 76°N, he Cape A holl a ea’s loca ion is app oxima ely hal way
be ween he A c ic Ci cle and he No h Pole. To al a ea is ca. 880 km2, o
which only 202 km2 a e unde 200 m ele a ion. The Cape A holl a ea has a
somewha ec angula shape, which is bounded o he No h, Wes , and Sou h
by he sea and o he Eas by he G eenland Ice Cap, o which he sou heas
glacial ongue is known as he Pi u ik Glacie . To he no h is Uummannap
Kange lua (Wols enholme Fjo d), which is hick wi h ice be gs o igina ing
om h ee glacial ongues o he G eenland Ice Cap. The a ea’s opog aphy is
cha ac e ised by open expanses ha s e ch wes om he on o he
G eenland Ice Cap, in e up ed only by he Pingo sui (P-moun ain) massi e
and wo long idges named he No h and Sou h moun ains. The Pingo sui
massi e consis s o i e ounded peaks. The highes is 810 m. All i e ha e
gen le slopes. Two peaks a e isible om he oad ne wo k and sha e a
pe manen ice pa ch. Wi h he no able excep ion o he Pi u ik – Thule Ai
Base/Dundas a ea, he a ea’s coas lines a e gene ally exposed s eep slopes
wi h na ow sho eline/beach below. Sa e ha bou s a e ew o non-exis en .
The Cape A holl a ea is high a c ic wi h cool sho summe s and NDVI
(No malized Di e ence Vege a ion Index) is gene ally low (Mosbech e al.
2018). E en in July, g een is no a common colou in he ypically ligh b own
landscapes o he Cape A holl a ea. The excep ions can include i e banks,
some alleys nea he Thule Ai Base, and mos ma kedly, he s eep slopes
lining he sou h coas , which a e also punc ua ed by se e al i id g een
17
ege a ed a ine-like alleys. The p esence o mul iple li le auk colonies is
esponsible o he ex en o lush g een ege a ion along he sou h coas ’s
slopes and alleys (Mosbech e al. 2018). Elsewhe e, ege a ion is spa se and
low in s a u e. All willow (Salix spp.) and bi ch (Be ula spp.) hug he g ound,
wi h hei lowe ing pa s s icking s aigh up o only abou 4-5 cm abo e he
soil. G asses seldom each mo e han a heigh o 10 cm.
In addi ion o muskoxen, o he mammals p esen in he Cape A holl a ea
include only he a c ic ha e (Lepus a c icus), a c ic ox (Vulpes lagopus), and he
occasional pola bea (U sus ma i imus) o ca ibou/ eindee (Rangi e a andus
spp.). No able by hei con inued absence a e lemmings (Dic os onyx
g oenlandicus) and pola wol es (Canis lupus a c os). Albei ega ding he
la e , in 2021 acks o a single canid we e obse ed nea he Pi u ik – Thule
Ai Base. Howe e , no animal was obse ed, and i was di icul o asce ain
whe he he acks we e om a wol , o a loose G eenland sled dog. Al hough
uncommon, in he pas loose sled dogs ha e occu ed nea he Pi u ik –
Thule Ai Base. To da e and o he pas 30 yea s, pola wol es ha e ne e
been obse ed o sho nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base o elsewhe e in he
Cape A holl a ea (Kasim Vi k pe s. comm.).
Fo cla i y, i is wo h no ing ha he Cape A holl a ea has wo loca ions
sha ing ha name (Fig. 1). The i s , Kangaa suk (Cape A holl), has bo h
G eenlandic and English names, and is he egion’s sou hwes cape. The
second is a p omon o y known o Pi u ik locals by he Danish name, Kap
A holl, is midway on he sou he n coas o he egion. Fo u he desc ip ion
o he s udy a ea see Cuyle e al. (2016), while Appendix h ee con ains
se e al pho os illus a ing he Cape A holl a ea.
Su ey design
G ound coun : oad and sea
F om 24 July o 06 Augus 2017, a muskox minimum coun and demog aphics
was comple ed by he G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces (GINR) in
collabo a ion wi h he Pi u ik Municipal Council. Owing o ei he ain o
s o m o ce winds, which o ced closu e o he oad ne wo k and p ohibi ed
sailing, his coun ook place on jus 4 days (24, 26 & 29 July and 06 Augus ).
Pa icipan s included Ch is ine Cuyle (senio scien is , GN), Kasim S. Vi k
(Chai , Municipal Council o Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base), and Inge Go edsen
(pho og aphe ). We sailed he coas line on he e ening o 24 July. On 26 and
29 July we d o e he p incipal oads nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base. On 06
18
Augus , ATVs we e used o each he a no heas po ion o he Cape A holl
a ea. Obse ed muskoxen we e assigned a g id-cell posi ion (Fig. 4).
Figu e. 4. Map o he g id cells used du ing he 2017 muskox coun s o Cape A holl a ea. Each squa e
measu es 3x3 km
Figu e. 5. G ound: oad and sea ou es used o July 2017 minimum coun o muskoxen in Cape
A holl: sailing (solid o ange line), oads d i en (solid b own lines) and ATV ou e (dashed b own line).
Using Leica elescope o binocula s (32-x and 10-x magni ica ion espec i ely),
each muskox g oup was hen examined o o al numbe , and he sex and age
19
o he indi iduals (Appendix 4, 5). Cal es we e iden i ied by hei small body
size. Sex and age o olde animals we e de e mined by ho n size/shape and
body size (Hen ichsen & G ue 1980, Olesen & Thing 1989, Alaska Dep . o
Fish & Game 2010). To a oid double coun ing, once an a ea, alley o coas
had been coun ed i was conside ed ‘ inished’ and ne e coun ed again. Fo
example, nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base, se e al g oups and indi iduals
we e assumed seen epea edly in he same a eas h oughou he s udy pe iod.
We sailed app oxima ely 55 km o coas line and d o e abou 93 km o
oadway/ ack (Fig. 5). S ip wid h o he coas line was abou 500 m, and
wice ha o oadways d i en. The e o e, he oad and sea a ea su eyed
o alled abou 120 km2, p o iding app oxima ely 14% co e age o he Cape
A holl a ea. We no ed a c ic ox, a c ic ha e, and inged seal (Pusa hispida)
sigh ings.
Figu e 6. Ae ial ou e lown o 14 Sep embe 2017 minimum coun . To al pa h leng h (including e y
e u n o Thule Ai Base) was 360 km, which included he ca. 300 km o ac ual muskox coun . O ange
a ows nea he Dundas s a and end poin indica e ligh di ec ion.
Ae ial ixed-wing coun
On 14 Sep embe , om 17:45 un il 21:30, a muskox minimum coun was
comple ed by he Pi u ik Municipal Council. A Cessna, single engine, 4-sea ,
high ixed-wing ai c a was used o ly o e he Cape A holl a ea. Obse e s,
Kasim S. Vi k (Chai , Municipal Council o Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base) and
Thomas B. Clausen (Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base) sa on ei he side o he
ai plane. S een S ensson (Pi u ik Flying Club) was he pilo . Muskox g oups
obse ed we e assigned a g id cell posi ion and he o al numbe o
20
indi iduals we e w i en on o he g id map (Fig. 4). When possible, he
numbe o obse ed cal es (age < 1-yea ) was included. Cal es we e
iden i ied by hei small body size. Gi en he s a iona y na u e and slow
locomo ion o muskoxen, double coun ing (coun ing he same g oup o
indi idual wice) was a oided and assumed impossible by su eying he
en i e Cape A holl a ea in unde ou hou s.
C uising speed was 175 km pe hou . S ip wid h a ied bu was abou 500 m
o ei he side o he line lown. Su ey al i ude was gene ally like he 2015
su ey, i.e., abou 400 m ±100 (1000 – 1500 ee ). Flying ime was 3 hou s and
45 minu es. This is abou 1½ hou s mo e han lown in 2015. The g ea e ime
used in 2017 esul ed om he combina ion o h ee hings. Fi s , he hea y
winds and alling snow along he sou he n sho eline’s s eep slopes c ea ed
dange ous condi ions, which equi ed a g ea e al i ude and made lying
close o he s eep coas al slopes impossible. The esul was mul iple ime-
consuming a emp s o ly he assigned ou e. Secondly, was he ae ial
pho og aphy o he Qoo o suaq ege a ion, which equi ed addi ional
ci cling wi h he ai c a . Finally, ollowing comple ion o he Cape A holl
a ea, a side- ip was lown o sou h o he Pi u ik Glacie o he pu pose o
pho og aphing he ege a ion he e. The Cape A holl po ion o he ou e was
abou 360 km in leng h, o which ca. 300 km we e o he ac ual muskox
coun , and he emaining o e y e u n o he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base (Fig.
6). Resul ing a ea co e age was abou 34% o he Cape A holl a ea’s 880 km2.
Figu e 7. Loca ion and size o muskox g oups obse ed du ing he oad and sea minimum coun o he
Cape A holl a ea, July 2017
21
Resul s
G ound: Road and sea minimum coun July-Augus 2017
We obse ed 35 g oups o muskoxen, o a o al o 109 animals (Fig. 7), which
included 9 cal es (bo n sp ing 2017). Cal es made up only 8.3% o all animals
obse ed on he oad and sea coun . A e age g oup size was 3.1 ±3.7 S De
(S anda d De ia ion). Maximum g oup size was 18 muskoxen.
The numbe o muskoxen in he no h nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base
amoun ed o 37% (n= 40) o he o al obse ed du ing he g ound coun .
These included jus h ee g oups o mixed sex and age, and ou soli a y bulls
(Fig. 7). Meanwhile, 63% o all he muskoxen obse ed we e in he sou he n
hal o he Cape A holl a ea. Fo he i s ime, we obse ed muskoxen
o aging on he uppe hal o he ex emely s eep slopes o he sou h coas ,
speci ically om Kangaa suk sou h o Cape A holl. High abo e on he slopes,
se e al muskoxen we e only de ec ed once hey s ood up. Ini ially hese we e
hidden om ou iew because hey we e lying down in pi s, which we e
necessa y o p e en inad e en ly olling down he s eep incline.
Table 3. Muskox demog aphics om g ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun o Cape A holl, July 2017.
Muskox demog aphics in Cape A holl: G ound Coun
Classi ica ion
Age
Obse ed
Pe cen age
Unknown
1-2 yea s
10
9.2 %
Unknown
≥3-yea s
15
13.8 %
Cal
< 1 yea
9
8.3 %
Cow
1-yea
2
1.8 %
Cow
2-yea s
5
4.6 %
Cow
3-yea s
3
2.8 %
Cow
≥ 4-yea s
19
17.4 %
Bull
1-yea
2
1.8 %
Bull
2-yea s
8
7.3 %
Bull
3-yea s
5
4.6 %
Bull
4-yea s
5
4.6 %
Bull
≥ 5-yea s (T ophy)
26
23.8%
TOTAL
109
100 %
Ra io
Bull (≥ 5-y s) / cow (age ≥ 3-y s)
26 bulls: 22 cows
1.2: 1
Rec ui men (cal es/100 cows (age ≥ 3-y s)): Maximum
9 cal es: 22 cows
40.9: 100
Rec ui men (cal es/100 cows (age ≥ 3-y s)): Minimum
9 cal es: 29 cows
31.0: 100
22
77% (n = 84) o he muskoxen we e success ully sexed and aged (Table 3).
Wi h age based on hei body size, sex could no be de e mined o 15 animals
(age ≥ 3 yea s) and 10 sub adul s (age 1-2 yea s). Using only cows wi h known
sex and age, he maximum mid-summe cal ec ui men was oughly 41
cal es pe 100 cows. Howe e , he bull o cow a io sugges s he possibili y o
se en cows among he 15 animals o unknown sex bu age ≥ 3-yea s. This
sugges s a minimum cal ec ui men o oughly 31 cal es pe 100 cows. Cal
pe cen age was only 8.3% o he o al numbe o obse ed muskoxen, while
ep oduc i ely ma u e cows (i.e., age ≥ 3-yea s) we e jus 20.2%.
Miscellaneous obse a ions du ing g ound coun
Obse a ions o o he species included 27 a c ic ha e, 8 a c ic ox and 2 inged
seals (Pusa hispida). Mosqui oes we e p esen , bu he ypically s ong winds
kep ha assmen le el low.
Du ing he coun pe iod, wea he condi ions we e gene ally un a ou able
(s o m o ce winds and ain) o a el, excep o sunshine and ligh winds
on 24 and 25 July. Rega dless, he Cape A holl a ea’s open is as and low
ege a ion heigh aided sigh ing muskoxen o e g ea dis ances.
Gene ally, he muskoxen appea ed somewha dis u bed by ou p esence,
whe he his was sailing by in a boa o d i ing pas using a mo o ized
ehicle. I on a slope, hey mo ed up and away om hei ini ial posi ions. I
in open e ain nea a oad hey mo ed away in he opposi e di ec ion.
Dis ances mo ed anged om only a ew me e s o ca. 0.5 km.
On he ex emely s eep bu ege a ed slopes o he sou he n sho eline, one
sub adul male (age 2-yea s) e idenced an inju ed igh hind leg. No weigh
could be pu on he limb, which made mo emen labo ious on he s eep
incline. This sub-adul was closely accompanied by a cow.
On he 26 h o Augus 2017 he i s incidence o na u al mo ali y was
obse ed. A muskox bull was ound dead beside he oad jus eas o No h
Moun ain (Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base). The absence o any black colou a he
ho n ips, which we e also blun and ounded wi h wea , sugges ha his
animal was an old bull well pas his p ime. Abou h ee weeks la e , a pola
bea was sca enging he ca cass (Appendix 6).
23
This 2017 s udy obse ed hoo hype plasia (i.e., o e g own) on one muskox
(Appendix 7). The condi ion a lic ed jus one leg and hoo leng h was only
somewha mo e han no mal. Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base s a has epo ed ew
i any obse a ions o hoo hype plasia in ecen yea s.
Figu e 8. Loca ion and size o muskox g oups obse ed du ing he ae ial su ey o Cape A holl a ea, 14
Sep embe 2017. A o al o 212 muskoxen we e obse ed.
Ae ial ixed-wing minimum coun Sep embe 2017
F om he ixed-wing ai c a we obse ed 41 g oups o muskoxen, o a o al
o 212 animals (Fig. 8, Table 4). This included 21 cal es (bo n sp ing 2017, age
< 1-yea ). Cal es made up ca. 10% o all animals, howe e , his ough alue
may be low because he p esence o absence o cal es was no always possible
o asce ain. A e age g oup size was 5.2 ± 5.2 S De . Maximum g oup size
was 22 and occu ed a he mou h o he Maniiseqqa (G een Valley).
The majo i y, 80% (n=169), o all he muskoxen obse ed we e in he sou he n
hal o he Cape A holl a ea, albei many we e app oaching he ½-way poin
be ween he no h and he sou h. The emaining 20% (n= 43) o all muskoxen
obse ed we e in he no he n po ion o he a ea. These included he same
h ee mixed sex and age g oups obse ed ea lie in he g ound ( oad and sea)
coun (i.e., he g oups con aining 6, 12 and 18 muskoxen), while h ee o he
g ound coun ’s lone bulls appea ed o ha e become a g oup o h ee. Fo he
no he n Cape A holl a ea, he ae ial coun obse ed h ee mo e muskoxen
han he g ound coun , speci ically a g oup o wo and a lone adul .
24
Table 4. Ae ial minimum coun esul s o muskoxen o Cape A holl, 14 Sep embe 2017.
Pa ame e
Muskoxen Su ey o Cape A holl
Con inuous su ey line dis ance
300 km
Su ey line wid h
1 km (2x 500m)
Cape A holl a ea
880 km2
App oxima e su eyed a ea
300 km2
Su ey co e age
34%
Ai c a al i ude
300-500 m
Ai Speed
175 km/hou
Numbe o muskox g oups obse ed
41
To al muskoxen obse ed
212
Obse ed cal es among o al1
21
Rough cal pe cen age1
9.9 %
A e age g oup size
5.17 ± 5.2 S De
Median g oup size
3
Maximum g oup size
22
Minimum g oup size
1
1 P esence o absence o cal es could no be asce ained wi h ce ain y o 12 o he 41 g oups (Appendix 5, Table 6). Thus, he
cal pe cen age is app oxima e and may be lowe han he ue alue.
Wea he condi ions de e io a ed as he ae ial su ey p og essed, speci ically
while a emp ing o su ey he ca. 25 km sou he n sho eline be ween
Kangaa suk and he Pi u ik Glacie . Speci ically, s ong gus ing winds
p ohibi ed lying low o e he sho e cli s be ween Kangaa suk and Cape
A holl. Addi ionally, snow began o all, which obscu ed isibili y,
speci ically when combined wi h he highe al i udes lown. The esul was
educed obse e abili y o de ec muskoxen ha may ha e been p esen on
he slopes o he sou he n sho eline.
Discussion
Muskox dis ibu ion and abundance
Al hough 43 muskoxen we e obse ed in he no he n hal o he a ea, he
2017 esul s illus a e ha mos o he muskox popula ion con inue o emain
concen a ed in he alleys and lowlands o he sou he n hal o he Cape
A holl a ea. Ne e heless, he 2017 coun documen ed no hwa d expansion
and hun e obse a ion e ealed a leas one lone bull had managed o c oss
he ba ie ha is he Pi u ik glacie , since i was on he sou heas side nea
he illage o Sa issi ik. This 2017 dis ibu ion sugges s ha e en a his
s udy’s coun o 212 muskoxen, he muskox popula ion o Cape A holl is
expanding i s ange. Range expansion can be a mechanism o coun e ac
o e popula ion on ini ial ange a ea.
25
In 2017 we comple ed bo h an ae ial and a g ound ( oad and sea) coun . The
g ound coun co e ed ca. 14% o he Cape A holl a ea ( o al ca. 880 km2),
while he ae ial co e age was mo e han double a 34%. This di e ence was
e lec ed in he numbe o muskoxen obse ed. The g ound coun obse ed
109 muskoxen, while he ae ial coun had almos double a 212. The ae ial
esul s sugges a muskox densi y o 0.2/km2 o he en i e Cape A holl a ea.
On any coun some animals a e always o e looked. Muskox de ec abili y a
he ime an a ea is coun ed can be a ec ed by se e al ac o s, including
wea he . Du ing he ae ial coun o 2017, some imes blowing snow obscu ed
isibili y while s ong winds p e en ed low al i ude lying o e he bes
muskox habi a (sou he n sho e o Cape A holl a ea. I is likely ha some o
muskoxen we e no de ec ed. Thus, he 2017 ae ial minimum coun esul , 212
muskoxen, likely missed animals p esen along he ou e lown. Wi h i s
lowe o al numbe o muskoxen obse ed ela i e o he ae ial e o , he
g ound ( oad and sea) coun ob iously missed muskoxen ha we e o he wise
p esen in he Cape A holl a ea. Du ing he sea coun unusual ci cums ances
somewha explain he ewe g ound coun obse a ions. When we sailed he
coas on 24 July, he numbe o muskoxen obse ed (n=68) amongs he li le
auk colonies o he sou he n sho eline was low. We sailed ha coas in he
e ening, unawa e ha ea lie ha same day wo esea ch o ni hologis s om
Aa hus Uni e si y, Denma k, had sailed he same sho eline and gone asho e
in o all he main alleys o comple e ield wo k. To p o ec hemsel es om
possible muskox a acks hey had delibe a ely sca ed he muskoxen ou o
hose alleys (Mosbech pe s. comm.). Unde s andably, ew muskoxen
emained when we coun ed hose alleys ha e ening. The abo e, howe e ,
does no ully explain he 103 ewe muskoxen obse ed du ing g ound
e o s. Clea ly, owing o g ea e co e age and inc eased animal de ec ions,
ae ial coun s a e supe io o g ound coun s.
Un il 2012 he e had been no speci ic e o o coun muskoxen in he Cape
A holl a ea. Any obse a ions we e anecdo al, o en limi ed o jus he
Maniiseqqa and/o Na saa suk alleys, and no unexpec edly muskox
numbe s we e modes (Table 1). Since e-in oduc ion o muskoxen o he
a ea in 1986, he e ha e been ou ae ial minimum coun s. The i s wo, 2012
and 2013, we e sys ema ic obse a ions o muskoxen made du ing ae ial
su ey dedica ed o de ec ing land-locked pola bea s. These, howe e , did
no co e he en i e Cape A holl a ea. The hi d and ou h, 2015 and 2017
( his s udy), we e ae ial coun s speci ic o muskoxen, co e ed he Cape
32
Popula ion end
The muskox popula ion o Cape A holl appea s o ha e h i ed since se en
indi iduals we e e-in oduced o he a ea in 1986. Ne e heless, he low 2017
cal pe cen age indica es ha a leas ecen condi ions o cal p oduc ion/
su i al ha e no been good. Al hough no in es iga ed by his s udy,
condi ions migh include educed ange quali y and snow dep hs. I he
obse ed low cal pe cen age accu a ely e lec ed he 2017 si ua ion and i i
pe sis ed, hen popula ion decline is possible. The e ha e been no u he
muskox coun s since 2017.
In 2021, Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base s a p o ided an upda e on muskox
p esence o he a ea su ounding he Ai Base. The new in o ma ion
sugges ed he low cal pe cen age o 2017 had no pe sis ed. In 2017 only 43
muskoxen we e coun ed nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base. In con as by
2021, o e 100 muskoxen we e obse ed, g oup sizes we e some imes o e 20
animals and ypically included many cal es, and o he i s - ime lone old
bulls became a nuisance and sa e y haza d a he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base
unway (Kasim Vi k pe s. comm.).
Reasons o he 2021 g ea e numbe s o muskoxen a ound he Thule Ai Base
would include o cou se popula ion g ow h bu could also be a ibu ed o
o dina y mo emen in o he a ea om elsewhe e on Cape A holl owing o
damaged ege a ion in he p ima y habi a a ound li le auk b eeding
colonies. Fo he la e , popula ion g ow h would no necessa ily be a
p e equisi e. Meanwhile, alone, he 2015 and 2017 coun s p o ide jus wo
poin s o e e ence. This is insu icien da a o es ablish muskox popula ion
end. Fu he coun s a e equi ed.
Acknowledgemen s
The Pi u ik Municipal Council was pi o al in ini ia ing and ca ying ou he
2017 coun s. We g a e ully hank he pilo S een S ensson and he Pi u ik
Flying Club o once again p o iding hei Cessna 172 o disposi ion o he
ae ial su ey minimum coun . We since ely hank S end Guldage Pede sen,
Si e Manage o G eenland Con ac o s, o he inancial suppo co e ing
ligh s o and om Thule, accommoda ion, and meals. We hank anonymous
e iewe o c i ique o he manusc ip .
33
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35
Appendix 1
Qoo o suaq Valley, sou h coas Cape A holl a ea
Figu e 9. Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 16 Augus 2010: G een ege a ed slopes unde li le auk b eeding
colonies, iew o no heas om mou h o alley. Pho o by Pe e Lyngs.
Figu e 10. Qoo o suaq alley, 03 July 2011: G een ege a ed slopes unde li le auk b eeding colonies,
aken om inne wes slope wi h iew o eas . Pho o by Pe e Lyngs.
36
Figu e 11. Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 02 July 2011: G een ege a ed slopes unde li le auk b eeding
colonies, iew no heas in o mou h o alley. Pho o by Pe e Lyngs.
Figu e 12. Qoo o suaq alley mou h, 24 July 2017: A ea o g een ege a ed slopes unde li le auk
b eeding colonies appea s ela i ely unchanged since July 2011 (see Fig. 11). Pho o by C. Cuyle .
37
Figu e 13. Ae ial iew o Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep embe 2017: Vege a ed slopes unde li le auk
b eeding colonies, iew o no heas . Pho o by Kasim S. Vi k.
Figu e 14. Ae ial iew o Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep embe 2017, inne alley iew o NNE. Pho o by
Kasim S. Vi k.
38
Figu e 15. Ae ial iew o inne wes side o he Qoo o suaq alley, 14 Sep embe 2017, iew NNE.
Pho o by Kasim S. Vi k.
Figu e 16. Sa elli e image o Qoo o suaq alley sys em, May 2010: Downloaded 2021 Google Ea h
P o Maxa Technologies. Vege a ed a eas a e o limi ed ex en , see also igu es 9-15, 17 and 18.
39
Figu e 17. Ou e Qoo o suaq alley (abo e) and closeup o Qoo o suaq sho e cli (below), 24 July
2017. Pho os by C. Cuyle .
40
Figu e 18. Fu he pho os o Qoo o suaq alley mou h wi h closeup, aken 24 July 2017. Pho os by C.
Cuyle .
41
Appendix 2
B ie desc ip ion me hods: 2013 pola bea su ey
In he pe iod, 7-17 Sep embe 2013, se en days could be used o lying
sea ching o pola bea s in he a ea be ween 74° 34’ N (Kullo suaq) and 76°
46’ N (Mo iussaq; i.e. an abandoned se lemen NW o Pi u ik – Thule Ai
Base), and be ween 57° 14’ W (Kullo suaq) and 70° 03’ W (wes e n poin o
Appa /Saunde s Island) ou o a maximum dis ance o ca. 40 km om he
coas o include o sho e islands. An Ai G eenland AS350 Ecu euil B3
helicop e was used o sea ching he coas lines, moun ains, glacie on s,
glacial ice, and o sho e islands o land-locked pola bea s. Su eys we e
usually lown a 300-600 ee al i ude abo e g ound (ca. 100-200 m) depending
on opog aphy and landscape and a 100-110 kno s (185-200 km/h). All
obse a ions o wildli e we e sys ema ically no ed, including muskoxen. A
o al o 26 hou s and 15 minu es “ai ime” we e used in ac i e sea ching o
bea s and o he wildli e (Bo n e al. 2013). Simila me hods we e used o he
2012 pola bea su ey.
48
Figu e 29. Landscapes and spa se ege a ion ypical o in e io and i e alleys. Pho o by C. Cuyle .
49
Figu e 30. Te ain and spa se ege a ion ypical a he edge o he G eenland Ice Cap nea Camp Tu u.
Pho o by C. Cuyle .
Figu e 31. Typical open is a ( iew o NE on oad eas om Thule Ai Base) wi h G eenland Ice Cap in
backg ound igh o cen e: ligh b own colou s domina e he landscape, snow pa ches (cen e) om p e ious
win e a e common and g een ege a ion is spa ce and low in heigh . Pho o by C. Cuyle .
50
Figu e 32. G oup o ou muskoxen g azing on spa se ege a ion ypical o he in e io . Pho o by C.
Cuyle .
Figu e 33. Rocky sho e a Ami sua suk, Uummannap Kange lua (Wols enholme Fjo d) wi h iew o
NE showing he nume ous small and some la ge icebe gs. Pho o by C. Cuyle .
51
Figu e 34. Con as be ween he g een ege a ion on he ocky sc ee slopes immedia ely below li le auk
(Alle alle) seabi d colonies (abo e: a Qoo o suaq) and ypically b ownish ege a ion elsewhe e on he
coas whe e seabi d colonies a e absen (below: a Na saa suk). Pho os by C. Cuyle .
52
Figu e 35. Con as be ween he slim ho ns and sligh boss o cows (abo e) and he obus hick ho ns
and imposing boss o bulls (below). See also igu es 38 and 39 o e ical iew o a massi e boss ypical
o adul bull muskoxen. Pho os by C. Cuyle .
53
Appendix 4
Raw Da a: G ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun , 24 July – 06 Augus 2017.
Table 5. Raw da a om g ound ( oad and sea) minimum coun o muskoxen in Cape A holl, in he pe iod 24 July – 06 Augus 2017.
Da e
G id
Cell
To al
G oup
Size
Unknown
Cal
COW
BULL
Me hod
Commen s
O he
obse a ions
Age (yea s)
1
2
Adul
< 1
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
≥ 5
24 July
E5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
E5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
C7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
1 ha e
24 July
C8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
sailing coas
24 July
C8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
sailing coas
24 July
C8
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
sailing coas
24 July
C8
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
sailing coas
24 July
C8
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
C9
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
C9
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
sailing coas
A Cape A holl
24 July
C9
3
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
sailing coas
A Cape A holl
24 July
C9
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
C9
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
C10
7
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
3
sailing coas
S eep, 2-y male b oken R ea leg
24 July
D10
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
sailing coas
24 July
D10
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
sailing coas
24 July
D10
8
1
2
4
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
D11
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
D11
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
sailing coas
24 July
E11
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
sailing coas
1 ha e
24 July
E11
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
sailing coas
24 July
E12
8
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
sailing coas
G ey s ips unde li le auk colony
24 July
E12
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
sailing coas
24 July
E13
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
sailing coas
24 July
E13
2
0
0
2
sailing coas
1 ha e, 2 seals
24 July
E5
6
1
0
3
1
1
sailing coas
26 July
M8
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
d i ing oads
26 July
M8
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
d i ing oads
wind ca. 15 m/sec gus s mo e
26 July
M6
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
d i ing oads
10 ha es
26 July
O5
18
0
0
0
4
2
1
1
4
2
2
1
0
1
d i ing oads
27 July
L5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
d i ing oads
nea whi e uel anks
29 July
L8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
d i ing oads
nea b idge c ossing
1 ha e
29 July
G7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
d i ing oads
i e bo om, oad washed ou
29 July
M8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
d i ing oads
13 ha es
06 Aug
Q6
12
2
2
5
3
d i ing ATV
In e ain a eas o SWS12
TOTAL
109
5
5
15
9
2
5
3
19
2
8
5
5
26
27 ha es, 2 seals
54
Appendix 5
Raw Da a Ae ial minimum coun , 14 Sep 2017
Table 6. Raw da a om ae ial minimum coun o muskoxen in Cape A holl, lown by ixed-wing
Cessna 172 on 14 Sep embe 2017. Obse ed cal numbe is included in he numbe gi en o o al
g oup size.
G id cell
To al g oup size
Obse ed cal es
Commen s
M-4
2
Likely 0 cal es, likely 2 lone bulls
L-4
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
N-4
18
4
O-5
12
2
O-7
6
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
N-8
3
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
N-9
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
K-11
11
2
J-10
4
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
I-6
4
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
H-7
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
G-7
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
H-9
8
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
G-9
5
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
G-8
5
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
F-8
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
F-6
14
3
E-5
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
D-5
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
C-5
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
C-6
6
1
D-6
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
E-7
3
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
D-8
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
C-9
9
2
C-8
5
1
C-7
2
Likely 0 cal es, likely 2 lone bulls
D-10
7
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
D-9
4
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
E-10
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
D-11
22
3
E-12
2
Likely 0 cal es, likely 2 lone bulls
F-12
6
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
F-11
16
1
H-11
2
Likely 0 cal es, likely 2 lone bulls
I-11
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
I-12
10
1
H-12
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
G-12
3
Unable o see i any cal es p esen
G-13
1
Likely 0 cal es, likely a lone bull
F-13
9
1
212
21
TOTAL
55
Appendix 6
Na u al mo ali y, ma u e bull muskoxen
On he 26 Augus 2017, nea he Pi u ik – Thule Ai Base, a muskox was ound dead
o na u al causes (Fig. 36). Flemming H idbe g Jensen pho og aphed he dead bull
muskox, which was loca ed nea a oad eas o No h Moun ain, Pi u ik – Thule Ai
Base. Gi en he lack o black ho n ips, which we e wo n blun , i.e., ounded down
o below eye le el in o he whi e po ion o he ho n, his was a ma u e bull well pas
his p ime. By 18 Sep embe , his bull muskox ca cass was being sca enged by a
pola bea (Fig. 37).
Figu e 36. Na u al mo ali y o an old bull muskox. Thule Ai Base pipeline in uppe backg ound o pho o on
igh . Pho o F. H. Jensen.
Figu e 37. Pola bea sca enging he ca. h ee-week old ca cass o adul bull muskox. Pho o K. S. Vi k.
56
Appendix 7
One obse a ion o hoo hype plasia in 2017
Figu e 38. Young ma u e bull aged 5-6 yea s sho by Lemme S ensson, Augus 2017. In his pho o, he whi e
uzz hai behind he ho n boss is hidden unde he shedding neck hai . The ho n ips al hough long and black,
lack he expec ed sha p ips. Pho o by F. H. Jensen.
On 30 Augus 2017, Lemme S ensson sho a bull muskox du ing he hun ing season.
Gi en he shape, size, and leng h o ho ns ( ips cu l pas he eyeball) and ho n boss
(Fig. 38) combined wi h ex ensi e whi e uzz hai behind and be ween he ho n boss
o en ypical o ju eniles (Fig. 39), he age o his bull is es ima ed o be 5-6 yea s.
Al hough he ho ns a e long and possess black ips, hese a e no as sha ply poin ed
as expec ed o a 5-yea -old, and he ho n boss looks much wo n and chipped o a
ela i ely young ma u e bull. Al eady in he la e 1990s abno mal ho n chipping was
documen ed o muskoxen in Cape A holl a ea(Cuyle e al. 2002). Al hough
Augus , his bull had no ye comple ely shed las win e ’s coa , which migh
indica e subop imal body condi ion. A die in ol ing poo b owse was e idenced by
ex ensi e oo h wea on he on inciso s (no pho og aphed). The igh on hoo o
57
his ma u e bull muskox was hype plas ic, i.e., somewha o e g own (Fig. 40)
howe e , he o he h ee hoo es we e no mal. This sugges s ha hype plasia o he
one hoo esul ed om a pa hogen, i.e., was no he esul o gene ics o die .
Figu e 39. Whi e uzz hai , ypical o young bulls, behind (and be ween) ho n boss, which is p ema u ely old
looking being wo n and chipped. Pho o by F. H. Jensen.
Figu e 40. Hype plasia o he igh on hoo om ma u e bull muskox, age 5-6 yea s, sho 30 Augus 2017.
Pho o by F. H. Jensen.
