Understanding the cumulative effects of stressors on fish populations using effects-based assessments

我的NSERC相关研究正在测试有关鱼类繁殖生活史的变异在物种对环境污染敏感性差异中所起作用的假设。对环境影响的解释取决于哨兵生物体反映当地条件的能力以及研究人员理解变化的相关性的能力。较小溪流和近岸海域的主要鱼种往往是小型鱼种，它们不遵循加拿大鱼种以前成功用于监测的典型的同步春季产卵策略。还没有人试图建立一般模型或对物种敏感性差异或生殖策略和时机差异对检测影响的能力的影响进行机械性理解。我们已经建立了必要的数据库、研究地点和方法，以便在这些领域取得重大进展。我的长期目标是扩大对鱼类繁殖战略的理解，并利用这种理解产生新的设计和战略，以实现环境保护目标。这笔赠款将审查a)繁殖战略与对污染物对种群水平影响的敏感性之间的关系，b)种群波动对环境变化的敏感性，以及c)将鱼类繁殖战略与其从暴露的长期后果中恢复的潜力联系起来。预测称，采用每个季节多个产卵的策略的鱼类将显示出对污染物的敏感性降低，随着时间的推移将更加稳定，比每年只产卵一次的物种恢复得更快。我们的研究正在提供有关加拿大鱼类繁殖的基线信息，并有助于对发展中国家鱼类物种的新知识。该计划正在领导开发一项新的研究设计、采样方法、解释指南和生态系统健康的观点。这些结果将使评估项目在物种选择、抽样设计和结果解释方面得到更好的指导。

My NSERC-related studies are testing hypotheses about the role that variation in fish reproductive life histories plays in species differences in sensitivity to environmental contamination. The interpretation of environmental impacts depends on the abilities of sentinel organisms to reflect local conditions and of the researchers to understand the relevance of changes. The dominant fish species in smaller streams and nearshore marine areas tend to be small-bodied species that do not follow the typical synchronous spring-spawning strategy common to Canadian fish species previously successfully used for monitoring. There have been no attempts to develop generalized models or a mechanistic understanding of species differences in sensitivity or the influence of differences in reproductive strategies and timing on the ability to detect impacts. We have developed the necessary databases, study sites and methodology to make significant advances in these areas. My long term objectives are to broaden the understanding of fish reproductive strategies, and to use this understanding to generate new designs and strategies for achieving environmental protection goals. This grant will examine the a) relationship between reproductive strategy and sensitivity to population-level impacts of contaminants, b) sensitivity of population fluctuations to environmental changes, and c) linking fish reproductive strategy with its potential for recovery from the long term consequences of exposure. Predictions are that fish with strategies involving multiple spawns per season will show reduced sensitivity to contaminants, will be more stable over time, and will recover more quickly than species that spawn only one time per year. Our studies are contributing baseline information on the reproduction of Canadian fishes and are contributing to new knowledge about fish species in developing countries. The program is leading the development of a new study designs, sampling approaches, guidance for interpretation and perspectives on ecosystem health. The results will lead to the development of better guidance for assessment projects in terms of species selection, sampling design and interpretation of results.