Hydrologic control of thermal habitats in rivers

河流的温度受气候控制，例如，北部河流的温度在夏季变暖。然而，在河流内的特定地点，温度可能受到阴影、水深和许多其他因素的影响，包括支流的输入和向河流排放地下水。鱼类等动物利用当地河流的温度变化来躲避夏季的高温和冬季的结冰。这些温度避难所是如何通过进入河流或支流的地下水形成的，人们知之甚少。我们还没有开发出预测它们发生的工具，因此负责保护河流生态系统的自然资源管理者不知道在哪里找到这些关键的栖息地。我的研究考察了北方河流的温度是如何控制的。我正在绘制河流的温度图，以确定鱼类的温度避难所在哪里。我的目标是确定河流的物理特征和河流周围的景观，这些特征产生了创造温度避难所所需的条件。我可以用这些信息来建立模型，预测这些重要的鱼类栖息地最有可能出现在河流中的什么地方。最终，这项研究旨在帮助我们保护和保存我们的加拿大河流生态系统及其资源。

Temperatures in rivers are controlled by climate, e.g., river temperatures warm-up during summer in northern rivers.  However, at specific locations within a river, temperatures can be influenced by shading, water depth and many other factors including inputs of tributaries and the discharge of groundwater to the river.  Animals like fishes take advantage of local temperature variations in rivers to escape summer temperature highs and winter ice build-up.  How these temperature refuges are created by groundwater entering the river or tributary streams is poorly understood.  We haven't developed tools to predict their occurrence and therefore natural resources managers who are charged with protecting river ecosystems don't know where to find these critical habitats. My research examines how temperatures are controlled in northern rivers.  I am mapping temperatures along rivers to identify where temperature refuges for fishes occur.  My goal is to determine the physical features of the river and the landscape around the river that produce the conditions needed to create temperature refuges.  I can use such information for models that predict where these critical fish habitats most probably occur within a river.  Ultimately, this research is designed to help us protect and conserve our Canadian river ecosystems and their resources.