Hi! I’m Patrick, a researcher at Dalhousie University, and I study marine life like the beluga whales. You might not think you need a microscope to do what I do (since belugas aren’t exactly tiny!), but I actually study them by looking at one of the tiniest creatures in the Arctic Ocean—phytoplankton! More on exactly how I do that coming up later. But first, let’s talk belugas!
Beluga whales are incredible animals. You might know them as the “canaries of the sea” because of their amazing sounds—whistles, chirps, squeaks, and clicks! They live in the chilly Arctic and subarctic waters around North America, and are easy to recognize thanks to their white color, round foreheads, and super social personalities. Belugas love to swim together in groups called pods, and they use sound to communicate, navigate, and find food in dark or murky waters.
But did you know that belugas rely on something so small, you need a microscope to see it?
That’s right—it’s phytoplankton! These tiny ocean organisms live near the water’s surface and are the base of the Arctic food web. They help feed all the animals, even big ones like belugas. In other words, without healthy phytoplankton, belugas—and lots of other sea creatures—could be in trouble.
That’s why I head way up to Jones Sound, Nunavut, to study how these microscopic creatures are changing as the Arctic warms. Climate change is causing big changes in the Arctic waters, like sea ice melting earlier in the season and ocean temperatures rising. I want to know how that affects phytoplankton, and what that means for the entire ecosystem—including beluga whales.
I use powerful microscopes and computers to identify different phytoplankton species and track how they’re shifting over time. It’s a bit like being a detective, but for ocean science! If we understand how the base of the food chain is changing, we can better predict how animals like belugas will be affected—and how we can help protect them.
When you adopt a beluga whale, you’re helping me upgrade the high-tech tools I use to do this work—tools that help me see, study, and understand the ocean’s tiniest superheroes. Your support helps us protect the entire Arctic ecosystem, starting from the bottom up. Thanks for being part of the team—and for helping belugas (and plankton!) thrive.
Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Beluga Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!
