Regions: South Slave Region
Tags: contaminants, bioaccumulation, fish, environmental baseline, habitat
| Principal Investigator: | Little, Alison (1) |
| Licence Number: | 12809 |
| Organization: | University of Alberta |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1995
|
| Issued: | Jan 01, 1995 |
| Project Team: | W. Tonn, R. Tallman, J. Reist, K. Howland |
Objective(s): To provide important baseline ecological information on the seasonal patterns of resource use amongst species and age-classes of fishes in the Slave River system, and to identify potential pathways for bio-magnification of contaminants into harvested fish. The focus will be on the top predators (inconnu, burbot, walleye, northern pike). These species are important for aboriginal subsistence and commercial fisheries; as well, burbot is a focal species for the species of the Northern River Basin Study. These species also represent a range of migratory tendencies that could be related to potential contaminant exposure.
Project Description: The researchers will sample the fishes in three areas (below the rapids at Fort Smith, at the mouth of the Salt River, and in the delta) throughout the open-water season to monitor broad patterns of habitat distribution of the different species and different sizes/ ages of each species. Fish will be collected by use of multi-mesh gill nets, set lines and seines. Fish measurements, aging structures (scales, otoliths) and gut contents will collected for analysis.
