Infographic: Arctic char and other fish population dynamics

The long description of this infographic follows.

Description: Summary of Arctic char and other fish population dynamics

An infographic shows a simplified environmental and human impacts on Arctic char population. In the upper left corner of the infographic there is a circle with images of portioned Arctic char and an ulu knife. An arrow points downward to an image if a fish drying rack in the Inuit village. Beside the circle the text reads "PCBs, DDTs, Hg". Below there are images symbolizing fish parts and fish oil. The text beside reads "Quality related factors-Overall, contaminant levels in Arctic Char are low, and tend to be much lower in those that migrate to sea. The red colour of Arctic Char flesh comes from some of the marine prey that they eat. Arctic Char are high in nutritious omega-3 fatty acids." In the upper right corner of the infographic the text reads" Many factors shape the access, availability, quality, and stability of Arctic Char." Below the text reads "climate change" and there is an image of a shining sun beside the text box. Below there are images of clouds and rain and wind. The text reads" wind" and "precipitation" and "Warming temperatures can affect freshwater habitats, including reduction in stream flow."

Below there are images symbolizing tundra, ice floe and an ocean. On the tundra there are images of Inuit village with houses, people and dogs as well as fishing racks. The images symbolize the importance of Arctic char to traditional Indigenous lifestyle. On the tundra there are images symbolizing lakes and rivers and swimming char. Images of human figures symbolizing Inuit who fish for char in the ocean using a fishing rod and fish in the river using a spear are also present. A group of three human figures have gathered around a campfire. The group includes an elder, child and a kneeling man who cuts up caught fish. The image symbolizes the passing of knowledge on fish and fish behaviours and its use between generations.

Below the images of a tundra there is an image symbolizing an ocean with a blue color of the background. Beside the images of the broken ice floating on the ocean surface the capture reads" timing of breakup". Above the text reads" Changing weather conditions can affect fishing access." Images of sea waves are accompanied by a capture reading "sea conditions". Directly below the image symbolizing the tundra there is an image of fish swimming upstream the river with a capture "Salmon may interact with Arctic char in both freshwater and marine habitats". Below there is an image of a boat pulling a net with entangled fish and capture reading "Salmon are being caught in the same nets as Arctic species." On the right in the centre of the infographic there is an image symbolizing arctic char. The capture above reads "Shifts to deeper waters may decrease harvester's access" The text box beside reads" Changes in habitat use" and the capture below" Some Arctic char may move deeper and farther offshore in summer as climate change progresses"

On the left of the infographic the text box reads" interactions with unusual species" below there are images of fish symbolizing salmon and capelin with an arrow originating from the image of salmon pointing towards the river on the tundra and the second arow pointing toward images of smaller fish. The capture reads "The diet of Arctic Char may change as species like capelin become more abundant" and "Salmon may compete for food". Below another capture reads" The occurrence of salmon is increasing in the Canadian Arctic and more species of salmon are appearing". Closer to the center of the infographic there are images symbolizing krill and captures reading "Amphipods (small, shrimp-like animals) are important diet items for Arctic Char everywhere" and "Arctic char eat wide variety of prey" An arrow originating from the krill image points towards the image of char symbolizing the food dependency of char on marine amphipods. On the right bottom corner of the image symbolizing the ocean there are images of fish with an arrow in the background pointing upwards and a capture which reads "Preference for cooler waters may help Arctic Char maintain their growth rate."

The last part of the infographic located below the image of the ocean shows simplified life cycle of the Arctic char. In the left corner of this section capture reads "Arctic char life cycle "Below there is an image symbolizing tundra with lakes and as well as an image of an ocean. The image symbolizing a landlocked lake also shows an image of a life cycle of an arctic char from fish egg to small fish, bigger fish and adult, ready to spawn fish. The capture beside the image reads "Some resident and landlocked Arctic Char spend their entire lives in freshwater". Beside there is an image of a lake draining into the ocean. Fish life cycle from fish egg to small fish, bigger fish and adult, ready to spawn fish is depicted in the lake and the capture above reads" winter freshwater" another lifecycle is depicted in the other part of the lake and the river draining from the lake into the ocean. The arrows originating at the image of fish eggs point towards the image of smaller fish which swims toward the ocean where it matures and returns into the lake to spawn and to complete its life cycle. The capture above reads" Fall migration". An image of a human figure at the bank of a river fishing for char symbolizes Inuit dependency on char. The capture below reads "spring migration". On the ocean part of the image there are images of fish and a boat with a human inside. The captures read "Sea-run Arctic Char spawn and overwinter in freshwater habitat" and "Summer marine feeding"

Citation information

Harris, L., Moore, J.-S., Dunmall, K., Evans, M., Falardeau, M., Gallagher, C., Gilbert, M., Kenny, T., McNicholl, D., Norman, M., Lyall, G. and Kringayark, L., 2022, Arctic char in a rapidly changing North, Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat Report, Volume 4, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 34–57. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2021.02.eng

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