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

这里提出的研究工作将集中在两个关键的加拿大鱼类物种，北极红点鲑和大西洋鲑鱼，在各自的地区标志性的，都被认为是生态系统变化的有用指标。预计北极红点鲑及其生态系统将经历许多严重的气候变化影响，这将在许多层面直接影响红点鲑的生物学，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，并对重要的北方红点鲑渔业产生重大影响。由于严重缺乏对气候影响机制的了解（例如，温度升高）传递给北极红点鲑和红点鲑的“适应”能力。这里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。研究将沿着南北梯度在多个北方地点进行，包括：埃尔斯米尔群岛和巴芬群岛、努纳维克（魁北克省北方）和努纳齐亚武特（拉布拉多）。虽然研究很多，但对大西洋鲑鱼的海洋生态学知之甚少。在鲑鱼的大部分地理范围内，已知影响生存和补充的因素是海洋温度对生长的影响。温度，生长和口粮之间的关系表明，海洋温度的延伸，鲑鱼生长的联系建立将提高海洋喂养模式的理解。为此，这项研究还将利用最先进的稳定同位素方法，设法描述鲑鱼在海洋摄食模式和热生境利用方面的种群特异性和生命阶段差异。对这两个物种而言，所获得的信息将增进对功能性生物关系的了解，从而能够增进对生态系统变化影响的了解，并增进对受影响种群的科学管理。

Research work proposed here will focus on two key Canadian fish species, Arctic charr and Atlantic salmon, iconic in their respective regions and both considered useful indicators of ecosystem change. Arctic charr and their ecosystems are projected to experience many serious climate change impacts that will directly affect charr biology at many levels and alter Arctic charr habitats, with follow-on indirect consequences expected to compound the direct biological effects and cascade to create substantive impacts on important northern charr fisheries. 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 charr to 'adapt'. Research 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). Although much studied, little is known about the marine ecology of Atlantic salmon. Throughout much of the geographic range for salmon, an element known to affect survival and recruitment is the influence of marine temperature on growth. Relationships among temperature, growth and ration suggest an extension of the marine temperature-growth linkage established for salmon would be improved understanding of marine feeding patterns. To that end, this research will also seek to characterize stock-specific and life-stage differences in marine feeding patterns and thermal habitat use in salmon using cutting-edge stable isotope methods. For both species the acquired information will improve understanding of functional biological relationships, thereby permitting improved understanding of the implications of ecosystem change and improved science-based stewardship of affected populations.