A zoogeographic analysis of the thermal and feeding ecology of Artic charr: implications for climate change

预计北极炭及其生态系统将经历许多严重的气候变化影响，这些影响将在许多层面上直接影响北极炭的生物学，并改变北极炭的栖息地，预计后续的间接后果将加剧直接的生物效应，并最终对北极炭的重要北部渔业产生实质性影响。目前，由于严重缺乏关于气候效应（如温度升高）传递给北极炭的机制以及北极炭“适应”这种效应的能力的知识，应对北方气候变化挑战的准备工作受到了阻碍。这里提出的研究将通过关注[1]继续开发准确重建北极碳热史所需的分析工具来解决已确定的知识差距，从[1]中可以推断出生长与环境变化之间的关系。将沿着南北梯度在一些北部地点进行研究，包括：埃尔斯米尔和巴芬群岛、努纳维克（北部ququ伦贝克斯）和努纳茨亚武特（拉布拉多）。拟议的北极charr研究提供的信息将具体解决最近国际气候影响报告（如北极气候影响评估）中确定的关于气候变化对北方鱼类影响的知识差距。因此，研究将有助于提高对与驱动各种北极水生生态系统在北极木炭中观察到的生长变化模式相关的功能生物学关系的理解。收集到的数据还将有助于建立关键的基线，以此来判断北极碳种群未来变化的重要性。通过这种方式，研究结果将为改进炭的科学管理提供所需的信息，从而协助负责管理北极炭资源的政府和北方管理机构。

Arctic charr and their ecosystems are projected to experience many serious climate change impacts that will directly affect Artcic charr biology at many levels and alter Arctic charr habitats, with follow-on indirect consequences expected to compound the direct biological effects and ultimately cascade to create substantive impacts on important northern fisheries for Arctic charr. Preparedness to meet the challenges of climate change in the north are currently hampered by a critical lack of knowledge about the mechanisms by which climate effects (e.g., increased temperatures) are transmitted to Arctic charr and the ability of Arctic charr to 'adapt' to such effects. Research proposed here will address the identified knowledge gaps by focusing on [1] continued development of the analytical tools necessary for the accurate reconstruction of Arctic charr thermal histories from which [2] relationships between growth and environmental variation may be deduced. Studies will be conducted in a number of northern locations along a north-south gradient, including: Ellesmere and Baffin Islands, Nunavik (northern Quèbec) and Nunatsiavut (Labrador). Information produced by the proposed Arctic charr studies will specifically address knowledge gaps about the impacts of climate change on northern fish as identified in recent international climate impact reports such as the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Thus studies will help improve understanding of the functional biological relationships pertinent for driving the patterns of growth variation observed in Arctic charr from a variety of Arctic aquatic ecosystems. Data collected will also help establish critical baselines against which the significance of future changes in Arctic charr populations may be judged. In this way research results will provide information needed for improved scientific management of the charr, thereby assisting both government and northern management agencies charged with the stewardship of Arctic charr resources.