Limnology and Biogeochemistry of Arctic Delta Lakes

北极三角洲湖泊的湖泊学和生物地球化学

• 批准号: 305389-2013
• 负责人: Lesack, Lance
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Northern Research Supplement
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=628593
• 关键词: Limnology; Biogeochemistry; Arctic; Delta; Lakes

Since 1991, my research has been fully dedicated to Arctic aquatic science. I am using the Mackenzie Delta as a "natural laboratory" to develop a general understanding of lakes on large river floodplains, not before possible, via teasing apart the varied mechanisms that create the particular combination of high productivity, hydrologic complexity, and biodiversity characteristic of these systems. Large river floodplains represent vast areas of aquatic habitat world-wide, and global change is modifying the complex historical water level regimes that created these important systems. The circumpolar Arctic coast is particularly rich in such habitat, and a region where climate is changing more rapidly than anywhere else. The Mackenzie Delta is the second largest river floodplain in this region, and one of the world's prominent aquatic ecosystems. It is also a key ecosystem of the Canadian north because it functions as a biological hotspot within the region. This delta is also on the leading edge of Arctic coastal changes because it is located in an area of subsidence that has enhanced relative sea level rise. Over the next 5 years, my goals are to advance our understanding of how recently detected reductions in peak water levels and rising low-water levels will affect: (1) the ability of microbial communities to either release the carbon in these waters to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases or convert the carbon to a form ultimately consumed by fish and other organisms; and (2) the ability of Arctic delta habitat to function as a biological hotspot that affects delivery of riverine carbon to the ocean. Each of the above goals represents an exceptional opportunity for training graduate students, northern research assistants, and other highly qualified people, in Arctic fieldwork and in fundamental research of broad interest in Arctic aquatic sciences. Goal (1), in particular, will use traditional knowledge of water flow patterns in the Mackenzie Delta. Our work will directly benefit Arctic communities by helping to resolve whether Arctic deltas and their linked coastal ecosystems will respond resiliently or in unexpected ways to the multiple stresses of global change, as well as advancing our basic understanding of large river floodplains.

自1991年以来，我的研究一直致力于北极水生科学。我将麦肯齐三角洲作为一个“自然实验室”，通过梳理创造这些系统的高生产力、水文复杂性和生物多样性特征的不同机制，对大型河流洪泛平原上的湖泊有一个大致的了解，这是不可能的。大河漫滩代表了世界范围内广阔的水生栖息地，全球变化正在改变创造这些重要系统的复杂的历史水位制度。极地周围的北极海岸尤其有丰富的这种栖息地，而且该地区的气候变化比其他任何地方都要快。麦肯齐三角洲是该地区第二大河流泛滥平原，也是世界上著名的水生生态系统之一。它也是加拿大北部的一个重要生态系统，因为它是该地区的一个生物热点。这个三角洲也处于北极沿海变化的前沿，因为它位于一个下沉区域，这加剧了相对海平面的上升。在接下来的5年里，我的目标是推进我们对最近检测到的峰值水位下降和低水位上升将如何影响的理解：(1)微生物群落将这些水域中的碳作为温室气体释放到大气中或将碳转化为最终被鱼类和其他生物消耗的形式的能力；(2)北极三角洲栖息地作为影响河流碳向海洋输送的生物热点的能力。以上每一个目标都为培养研究生、北方研究助理和其他高素质人才提供了难得的机会，使他们能够从事北极实地考察和对北极水生科学广泛感兴趣的基础研究。特别是，目标(1)将利用麦肯齐三角洲水流模式的传统知识。我们的工作将通过帮助解决北极三角洲及其相关沿海生态系统是否能够以弹性或意想不到的方式应对全球变化的多重压力，以及推进我们对大型河流洪泛平原的基本了解，直接造福北极社区。