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

北极红点鲑及其生态系统预计将经历许多严重的气候变化影响，这将在许多层面上直接影响北极红点鲑的生物学，并改变北极红点鲑的生境，预计后续的间接后果将加剧直接的生物学影响，并最终级联对北极红点鲑的重要北方渔业产生实质性影响。由于严重缺乏对气候影响机制的了解（例如，温度升高）传播到北极红点鲑和北极红点鲑的能力，以“适应”这种影响。这里提出的研究将通过重点关注[1]继续开发准确重建北极炭热历史所需的分析工具来解决已确定的知识差距，[2]可以从中推断出生长与环境变化之间的关系。研究将在沿着南北梯度分布的北方若干地点进行，包括：埃尔斯米尔和巴芬群岛、努纳维克（魁北克北方）和努纳齐亚武特（拉布拉多）。拟议的北极红点鲑研究所产生的信息将具体解决最近的国际气候影响报告，如《北极气候影响评估》中确定的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相关的功能生物学关系的理解，这些关系与在北极各种水生生态系统中观察到的北极红点鲑的生长变化模式有关。收集的数据还将有助于建立关键基线，据此可以判断北极红点鲑种群未来变化的重要性。通过这种方式，研究结果将为改进对红点鲑的科学管理提供所需的信息，从而协助负责北极红点鲑资源管理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.