Abstract
Interpreting present-day biodiversity patterns requires an understanding of the cumulative historic and contemporary effects of cultural practices on ecosystems. Research in ecology is increasingly acknowledging the wide-ranging and enduring effects of cultural practices in shaping landscapes, but long-term transformative effects of Indigenous peoples on landscape are less recognised in the Circumpolar North. The objectives of this research are to determine whether the built environments (BEs) at fishing places express persistent differences in plant communities, compared with visually undisturbed patches at these same sites; and whether plant communities differ in response to Inuit and commercial fishing legacies. This work occurred near the Inuit Community of Makkovik (Nunatsiavut; Labrador, Canada). We surveyed vascular plant community composition at BE patches with Inuit and commercial fishing histories, and at visibly undisturbed patches, and measured soil characteristics including depth, pH and chemical composition. Habitats with BE legacies have plant communities with distinct species composition and abundance. Additionally, plant communities of BEs with Inuit cultural legacies have unique species assemblages, including a high proportion of native, disturbance-tolerant calciphiles. Soil nutrient inputs from Inuit harvesting practices have positive impacts on biodiversity at small scales. Soil analysis indicates that some visually undisturbed patches have cultural legacies that are not expressed by vegetation patterns, and that mechanical disturbance is also a factor shaping the plant communities of BEs. Inuit cultural practices have increased beta diversity in Circumpolar landscapes. We propose that effective biodiversity conservation planning must actively support Indigenous cultural practices that drive biodiversity.
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Acknowledgements
We thank all Makkovimiut plant mentors who are the foundation of this work. We thank the Makkovik Inuit Community Government and Nunatsiavut Government for their support. In Makkovik, we thank Community Research Advisor Carol Gear, Guide Sheldon Andersen, Lead Conservation Officer Errol Andersen, Research Assistant Jessica Winters, and Historian Joan Andersen. We thank Jacques Cayouette (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) for assistance in species identification and verification. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments towards improving this manuscript. We acknowledge financial support in the form of Scholarships and Grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, the Nasivvik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments, the Northern Scientific Training Program, the Canadian Northern Studies Trust, Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat, and the Labrador Institute.
Funding
This study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, the Nasivvik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments, the Northern Scientific Training Program, the Canadian Northern Studies Trust, Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat, and the Labrador Institute.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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This research was conducted under a Research Permit from the Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee (NGRAC; issued July 12, 2013, by letter), Nunatsiavut Land Use Permits issued annually in Makkovik (2012–2015), and Carleton University Research Ethics Board Permit (issued 20 May 2013; Project Number 14–0165).
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Prior and informed consent processes for all Makkovimiut plant mentors were included in these permits.
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Communicated by David Hawksworth.
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Oberndorfer, E., Broomfield, T., Lundholm, J. et al. Inuit cultural practices increase local-scale biodiversity and create novel vegetation communities in Nunatsiavut (Labrador, Canada). Biodivers Conserv 29, 1205–1240 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01931-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01931-9