Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: biology, fish habitat, dolly varden char
| Principal Investigator: | Mochnacz, Neil (6) |
| Licence Number: | 17088 |
| Organization: | Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2022
|
| Issued: | Jul 12, 2022 |
| Project Team: | Neil Mochnacz, Sarah Lord, Robert Bajno, Andrew Chapelsky, Gwich'in community member, Gwich'in community member, Myles Panciera, Brennan Romaniuk |
Objective(s): To collect eDNA samples to determine the essential habitat requirements of Dolly Varden and to maintain the temperature monitoring network in Fish Creek.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5306. To collect Environmental Deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) samples to determine the essential habitat requirements of Dolly Varden trout and to maintain the temperature monitoring network in Fish Creek. For eDNA collection, two litres of water will be collected in the stream and a portable pump will be used to filter the water. The eDNA is collected on the filter, which is then carefully folded and placed inside a small plastic vial with drying material to preserve it. Temperature logger sites have been maintained in the Fish Creek watershed using Tidbit temperature data loggers deployed in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cases. Crews will navigate to the temperature logger sites, locate the temperature loggers in the streams, download the loggers, and maintain the temperature logger sites by redeploying new loggers with fresh batteries. If new sites of interest are found, a new temperature logger site may be created by attaching a temp logger holder. The eDNA samples and temperature loggers will be sent to Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Winnipeg for analysis and storage. Support from the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB) and the Ehdiitat Renewable Resources Council (ERRC) have enabled this and related projects. The project was proposed at the annual Rat River Working Group meeting where it was virtually presented and supported by the committee. Field planning and coordination will occur via email and phone to arrange field crews and hire local support. Results will be presented at the next Rat River Working Group meeting scheduled for Feb 28, 2023. Any publications resulting from the work will be sent to the GRRB for distribution and storage. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 20, 2022 to August 25, 2022
