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加拿大的两个关键鱼种--北极鱼和大西洋鲑鱼，这两种鱼在各自的区域都是标志性的，都被认为是生态系统变化的有用指标。北极碳及其生态系统预计将经历许多严重的气候变化影响，这些影响将在许多层面上直接影响碳生物，并改变北极碳的生境，其后续间接后果预计将加剧直接的生物影响，并产生级联效应，对重要的北部碳渔业产生实质性影响。北方应对气候变化挑战的准备工作目前受阻于对气候影响(例如，气温升高)传递给北极碳碳的机制和碳碳“适应”能力的严重缺乏。这里的研究将解决已确定的知识差距，重点是[1]继续开发准确重建北极炭热历史所需的分析工具，从中可以推断生长和环境变化之间的[2]关系。将在沿南北梯度的若干北部地点进行研究，包括：埃尔斯米尔和巴芬群岛、努纳维克(魁北克北部)和努纳西亚武特(拉布拉多)。尽管研究很多，但对大西洋鲑鱼的海洋生态知之甚少。在鲑鱼的大部分地理范围内，已知影响生存和补充的一个因素是海洋温度对生长的影响。温度、生长和摄食量之间的关系表明，扩展为鲑鱼建立的海洋温度-生长联系将有助于更好地理解海洋摄食模式。为此，这项研究还将寻求利用尖端的稳定同位素方法来表征鲑鱼在海洋摄食模式和热栖息地使用方面的特定种群和生命阶段的差异。对于这两个物种来说，获得的信息将提高对功能生物学关系的理解，从而使人们能够更好地理解生态系统变化的影响，并改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.