Project Leaders: Les N. Harris, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Matthew Gilbert, University of New Brunswick; Jean-Sébastien Moore, Université Laval; and Bonnie Hamilton, University of Toronto.
Research Summary
What can we learn by tracking fish movements, habitat temperatures, and contaminants during a period of climate change?
Climate change in the Arctic is affecting the habitats and health of fish and the ecosystems they rely on. Researchers used acoustic telemetry to track Arctic char, lake trout, Greenland cod and marine sculpin to study their behaviour and habitat use in Cambridge Bay’s saltwater and nearby lakes.
Researchers have tagged more than 800 fish with acoustic transmitters as part of a long-term 10-year study to track Arctic char migrations and habitat use to assess how these migrations are affected by changing climatic and environmental conditions.
Researchers assessed the effects of temperature variation on the health of several fish species, and on their ability to store and use energy. They also monitored contaminant and microplastic levels in marine and freshwater environments and investigated their effect on various fish species.
Results from the last five years revealed that warmer temperatures can initially improve the performance of Arctic char, but some lakes and river temperatures can get too hot and place stress on fish heart function, metabolism, and health.
In addition, microplastics and chemical plastic additives are in fish and their habitats in the Cambridge Bay area. Continued monitoring of these fishes will help researchers to understand the sources of these contaminants and the overall effect they are having on fish health and the ecosystem.
Read the full research results in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences , Science of the Total Environment and Conservation Physiology .
This project received funding from the Government of Canada, ArcticNet, Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network, National Geographic Society, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and Weston Family Foundation.