The Qamanirjuaq caribou have higher mercury concentrations than some other caribou in the Arctic. Usually, caribou get most of the mercury they eat from lichens, but at community meetings in Kivalliq, elders described caribou eating seaweed. Since seaweed absorbs some metals, the caribou may be getting additional mercury from seaweed.
For a version of this plain language summary in Inuktitut, click here.
A longer report on this study is also available.
Related Herds: Beverly and Qamanirjuaq
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