Canada's Most Northerly Postglacial Bowhead Whales (<i>Balaena mysticetus</i>) : Holocene Sea-ice Conditions and Polynya Development

Abstract

Rare remains of postglacial bowhead whales occur in the Norwegian Bay-Eureka Sound region. These are the northernmost remains known from the Canadian Arctic. The region is beyond the bowhead's current range because of persistent summer sea ice. We argue that the region has been beyond the bowhead's range for most of postglacial time for the same reason. With one exception, the 16 known subfossil bowheads from the region date to the last 4000 14C years. Within the region, whale bones are most common adjacent to polynyas, which connect to more southerly channels extending from Baffin Bay. This distribution suggests that the polynyas, which here occupy areas of strong currents, developed as a result of shallowing of inter-island channels due to postglacial uplift. The whale remains beyond the polynyas are seen as those of doomed strays that reached the polynyas from Baffin Bay and foraged farther along coastal leads before being trapped by freeze-up. This interpretation of Holocene sea-ice history agrees with the limited development of Holocene raised beaches in the region. However, it contradicts other interpretations of greatly ameliorated marine conditions in northernmost Canada at about 6000 14C years B.P.