Optimization of ecosystem monitoring methods along the north coast of British Columbia, Canada

加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省北海岸生态系统监测方法优化

• 批准号: 507569-2017
• 负责人: Juanes, Francis
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 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=640478
• 关键词: Optimization; ecosystem; monitoring; methods; along

Intertidal invertebrates, especially meiofauna (animals retained on a 45 µm sieve but pass through a 1 mmsieve), can be powerful tools to monitor and study marine systems. Changes to meiofauna communities canpotentially alert us of disturbances before human-use species like bivalves (clams, mussels, etc.) and salmonare impacted. Unfortunately we can only use these communities in this way when intertidal communitydynamics are holistically understood. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the optimal methods toassess intertidal invertebrates along the Pacific Coast of Canada. This deficiency is especially prominent alongthe north coast of BC. Given the recently approved Pacific Northwest LNG terminal to be built on Lelu Island,near the mouth of the Skeena River, the Kitsumkalum Development Corporation (Kitsumkalum First Nation) isconcerned that the increased supertanker traffic associated with this LNG terminal will increase the risk ofminor and catastrophic fuel/LNG spills in their traditional territory. Even minor spills near productive bivalvebeaches would have devastating impacts upon the marine ecosystem, bivalve fisheries, and decrease foodsecurity for coastal and First Nations communities. A greater understanding of meiofauna along the north coastof BC will allow for more detailed monitoring, and detection of minor spills early enough to allow forremediation or alteration of human activities. This study will address this knowledge gap by assessing theoptimal taxonomic resolution and sieve size needed to effectively utilize intertidal meiofauna to detectdisturbances. These findings will improve our ability to study and monitor intertidal habitats along both theAtlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada; helping protect coastal ecosystems and commercial bivalve fisheries, aswell as enhancing food security for coastal and First Nation communities.

潮间带无脊椎动物，特别是小型动物（动物被保留在45微米的筛子上，但通过1毫米的筛子），可以成为监测和研究海洋系统的有力工具。在双壳类（蛤蜊、贻贝等）和鲑鱼等人类利用的物种受到影响之前，小型动物群落的变化可能会提醒我们注意干扰。不幸的是，只有在全面了解潮间带群落动态的情况下，我们才能以这种方式利用这些群落。目前，关于评估加拿大太平洋沿岸潮间带无脊椎动物的最佳方法缺乏知识。这一缺陷在不列颠哥伦比亚省北部海岸尤为突出。鉴于最近批准在靠近Skeena河口的Lelu岛上建造太平洋西北液化天然气终端，Kitsumkalum开发公司（Kitsumkalum First Nation）担心与该液化天然气终端相关的超级油轮交通量增加将增加其传统领土上发生轻微和灾难性燃料/液化天然气泄漏的风险。即使是在多产的双壳类海滩附近的轻微泄漏，也会对海洋生态系统、双壳类渔业造成毁灭性的影响，并降低沿海和第一民族社区的粮食安全。对不列颠哥伦比亚省北部海岸的小型动物有了更深入的了解，就可以进行更详细的监测，并及早发现轻微的泄漏，以便进行修复或改变人类活动。本研究将通过评估有效利用潮间带小型动物检测干扰所需的最佳分类学分辨率和筛孔尺寸来解决这一知识差距。这些发现将提高我们研究和监测加拿大大西洋和太平洋沿岸潮间带栖息地的能力；帮助保护沿海生态系统和商业双壳类渔业，以及加强沿海和第一民族社区的粮食安全。