Videos

The Black-legged Kittiwake Breeds Along Greenland’s Coasts

When summer arrives in Greenland, black-legged kittiwakes gather in large colonies on steep cliffs along various parts of the coastline. Here, they build their nests and raise their chicks during the short but intense breeding season. The species is widespread throughout Greenland, although most breeding colonies are found in West Greenland.

The Ocean’s Secret Long-Distance Swimmer

The lumpfish is capable of swimming up to 50 kilometers in a single day and covering thousands of kilometers over its lifetime. Tagging studies have revealed migrations from East Greenland to the east coast of Iceland – a journey that showcases the lumpfish’s extraordinary endurance and navigational abilities.

The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has an interactive and invaluable collaboration with local communities, hunters, and fishers. Working with hunters provides better data, knowledge, and insight.

In Qaanaaq, senior researcher Malene Simon Hegelund from the Climate Research Centre at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and DMI works closely with local hunters to understand the effects of climate change on narwhals and hunting opportunities.

Only the tip of an iceberg is visible above the ocean, while the rest lies hidden below the surface. This is because ice is less dense than water.

Scallops are fascinating creatures. They have eyes and, unlike most other bivalves, they can swim by jetting water out of their shells. At the same time, they create habitats for other marine animals and play an important role in the ecosystem.

Sea sponges are fascinating creatures that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Their skeleton is made up of tiny spicules, which in most species are made of glass, making them truly unique in the animal kingdom.

Each year, Greenland’s glaciers discharge vast quantities of ice into the sea, corresponding to many billions of liters of water.

Barnacles are a common sight for anyone who owns a boat or spends time by the sea. They cling tightly to boats, rocks, and even other marine animals such as whales, mussels, and crabs.
Discover their impressive abilities here.

“For more than 30 years, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has been collecting skin and blubber samples from the large whales in Greenlandic waters. These samples hold vital information and are used to determine the whales’ origin and genetic relationships.

Sea sponges are vital to life on the ocean floor. They offer shelter to a variety of marine species, help clean the water, and capture and store CO₂ in the seabed.

If you shoot a bird with a tag and send the leg with the tag to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, you contribute valuable knowledge.

If possible, we would also like to receive the whole bird, as its tissues hold important information about the areas it has inhabited.

Tagged bird legs (or the entire bird, if available) can be sent to:

Pinngortitaleriffik
Kivioq 2
PO Box 570
3900 Nuuk

Narwhals in peril. by Professor Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Narwhal genetics: Peculiarities and populations. Post.doc Marie Louis, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Narwhal seminar, Greenland Science Week 2021.

The twisted tale of the narwhale. By senior scientist Eva Garde, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Narwhal seminar, Greenland Science Week 2021.

Hitching a ride on a narwhal. Scientist Outi Tervo, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Narhvalseminar, Greenland Science Week 2021.

Narwhal, where are you?, Scientist Rikke Guldborg Hansen. Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Narwhal seminar, Greenland Science Week 2021.

Narwhals in sauna – The effects of climate change. Post.doc Philippine Chambault. Greenland Institute of Natural Resources & University of California.

Narwhal seminar, Greenland Science Week 2021.

Professor Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources talks about the history of narwhal research in Greenland through the last 40 years.

Research into the biodiversity of the deep sea and the consequences of fisheries for benthic animals.

Launch of Greenland Institute of Natural Resources’ research ship Tarajoq

In this video you can see how thick-billed murres (appat) and black-legged kittiwake (taateraat) react to shots. The researchers started at a distance of 7 km and for every km they approached, they fired a shot until the birds took off from the mountain.
Breeding seabirds are susceptible to disturbance by their breeding colonies. In connection with a PhD project, the significance of shoot disturbances in thick-billed murres colonies has therefore been investigated.
The experiment was performed at six different thick-billed murres colonies in Greenland. The distance for when thick-billed murres responded to shots ranged from 0.5 to 5 km. In large colonies where the birds sat close together, thick billed murres responded earlier (at a greater distance) than in smaller colonies where the birds sat more scattered.

A team from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has just returned from field work at a bird colony in Sermilinnguaq, near Maniitsoq. Here, Aili Lage Labansen, researcher from the Department of Mammals and Birds, together with climbing expert Morten Bie, has put small light loggers on thick-billed murres (appat) and black-legged kittiwake (taateraat) for now four seasons. The logs sit on the bird for 1-2 years, and the bird must be recaptured to get data on where it has been outside the breeding season. New logs have been put on some of the same birds for several years in a row.

A pregnant Sebastes mentella. Video by Rasmus Nygaard.