NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, landscape disturbance, arctic lakes, aquatic food web, fish

Objective(s): The overall objective of this research is to improve the knowledge on present-day food webs/productivity in small Arctic pond/lake systems, in order to better predict changes that could occur under changing climate.

Project Description: The overall objective of this research component is to improve the knowledge on present-day food webs/productivity in small Arctic pond/lake systems, in order to better predict changes that could occur under changing climate. The methodology described below pertains to all new research activities related to this new research component dealing with fish. All other research activities related to this work have been licenced as part of the overall research project “Hydro-ecological Responses of Arctic Tundra Lakes to Climate Change and Landscape Perturbation” (ARI Scientific Research Licence 14502 and ILA Right Number ILA05IN009). FISH COLLECTIONS: Fish sampling will include all types of fish present in each lake using small nets, minnow traps, and electro-fishing (near-shore habitat only, for small fish species and young-of-year). A range of sizes (ages) of each species will be collected. This is necessary to characterize the food web including dietary preferences of fish at several life stages. Electro-fishing (backpack) will be limited to short sections (30-50 m per lake) of the nearshore (0-2 m from shore) to aid collections of small individuals and fish types that inhabit the nearshore zone that otherwise would be missed. Sampling will be conducted during peak productivity in summer. The study lakes will be accessed using helicopter. A team of three to four people will be deployed at a lake and sampling conducted using an inflatable boat equipped with an electric motor. The sampling teams will make one-day visits to the study lakes from Inuvik (no field camps required). No permanent or temporary structures will be constructed at or near the lakes and all sampling will be conducted with caution to minimize environmental impact. Local guides, field assistants and students to assist in the field program will be identified through the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat and the Aurora Research Institute. The researchers will provide training of sampling methodology to the local people, in an effort to build capacity for community-based monitoring for the future. Wildlife Monitors will be utilized when necessary. LABORATORY ANALYSES: Fish species identification will be performed using standard laboratory identification techniques. This work will be conducted by students at W-CIRC/University of Victoria. Stable isotope analysis will be used to characterize the nature and location of each abundant fish species within the lake food webs. COMPUTER MODELLING: The researchers will combine their new information on fish with the information on water chemistry, plants, insect larvae living in the water, environmental factors and food webs that they have obtained from their ongoing overall research program. This combined information will allow them to assess/validate various ecological computer models to see which one is the best for predicting changes that could occur in small Arctic lakes/ponds under changing climate. To communicate results to individuals and communities in the North, the researchers plan to hold annual community-based meetings and consultations in northern communities, to inform local residents in the region of the nature and significance of the research, what they are trying to find out and why, and to provide updates on what they have learned (key findings) as the work progresses. They will also visit the schools to reach out to the youth. Information will also be made available through a project website, posters, brochures, fact sheets, etc. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 08 to August 31, 2009, on Noell Lake and two small lakes to the west of it; three lakes west of Parsons Lake, and six lakes on Richards Island. Coordinates can be found in the research licence application; maps can be requested from the researcher or from the licencing office at ARI.