| Principal Investigator: | Blais, Jules M (7) |
| Licence Number: | 15128 |
| Organization: | University of Ottawa |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2013
2012
|
| Issued: | Jul 19, 2012 |
| Project Team: | Neal Michelutti, Cyndy Korosi, Jenny Korosi |
Objective(s): To determine how the recent and dramatic climate changes in Arctic freshwater have affected the transport and fate of anthropogenic contaminants to freshwater systems; to determine chronologies of pollutant deposition in Arctic lakes, and assess temporal trends in relation to ecosystem productivity and organic matter deposition; to determine how warming-related factors affect the delivery of dissolved organic carbon in Arctic lakes; and to develop microbial bioreporters that can be used to assess the bioavailability of pollutants.
Project Description: This research will determine how the recent and dramatic climate changes in Arctic freshwater have affected the transport and fate of anthropogenic contaminants to freshwater systems, two of the largest threats facing northern communities and ecosystems. This research will develop new tools to examine how the fate of anthropogenic contaminants is affected in Arctic regions under different climate change conditions. Specifically, this research will: (1) determine chronologies of pollutant deposition in Arctic lakes strategically selected to span a gradient in climate change, and assess temporal trends in relation to ecosystem productivity and structure (e.g., beta-diversity and assemblage structure of diatoms) and organic matter deposition; (2) determine how warming-related factors affect the delivery of dissolved organic carbon in Arctic lakes; and (3) develop microbial bioreporters that can be used to assess the bioavailability of pollutants (e.g. mercury). Lakes will be accessed using an inflatable boat. Sediment cores will be collected using gravity corers (3 inch diameter tubes that collect sediment from the bottom of lakes). This procedure is non-intrusive and causes no harmful environmental impacts. Lake water will be collected for water testing (nutrients, metals, algal pigments, organic chemicals). Benthic invertebrates (snails, insect larvae, small crustaceans) will be collected for analysis of organic and metallic contaminants. We have partners with Aboriginal and Northern Affairs and NWT government who will communicate findings to the NWT. Researchers from The University of Ottawa will also participate in public presentations. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 18, 2012 to August 15, 2012.
