Otolith-based studies of the thermal ecology of northern salmonids

这里提出的研究将主要集中在两种加拿大标志性鱼类的继续研究上，北极鲑（Salvelinus alpinus）和大西洋鲑（Salmo salar），它们被视为运动和自给渔业的价值，并且由于它们作为其所居住环境的关键物种的生态地位而被认为是生态系统变化的有用指标。预计这两个物种都将受到气候变化的严重负面影响。事实上，越来越多的证据表明，两者都已经受到气候变化的重大影响，这些变化要么是由海洋变暖直接造成的，要么是由主要猎物资源的分布变化间接造成的。为了准备好应对气候变化的挑战，为这些物种制定缓解管理策略，需要提高这两个物种相对于其他可能的竞争物种（如Brook charr (S. fontinalis)）的热生态知识。这里提出的研究将通过关注以下研究来解决这一知识差距：b[1]了解竞争的北方鲑鱼（例如，北极鲑、大西洋鲑和布鲁克鲑）在温度使用方面的差异，这些差异的生理和生长后果，以及种群内个体之间的差异如何有助于缓冲种群免受温度变化的直接后果；并且，通过实验交叉验证所使用技术的关键假设，[2]改进了过去和现在用于北方鱼类热生态研究的氧同位素分析工具。因此，研究将有助于保持加拿大科学在快速发展的耳石稳定同位素微化学领域的前沿地位。研究将结合前沿的实验室方法和实地工作，以优化时间和资源。将沿着南北梯度在一些北部地点进行调查，包括：巴芬岛、努纳维克（魁北克北部）和努纳茨亚武特（拉布拉多）。这些研究也将对培养下一代受过训练的科学家和资源管理人员作出重大贡献。对于所研究的鲑鱼，获得的信息将提高对功能生物学关系的理解，从而使人们更好地了解生态系统变化的影响，并改善对受影响物种的科学管理。

Research proposed here will focus primarily on the continued study of two iconic Canadian fish species, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), valued as sport and subsistence fisheries and both considered as useful indicators of ecosystem change because of their ecological status as a keystone species in the environments they inhabit. Both species are projected to experience significant negative impacts from climate change. Indeed evidence is mounting that both are already being significantly affected by climate regime shifts either directly as a result of ocean warming or indirectly as a result of distributional shifts of key prey resources. Preparedness to meet the challenges of climate change through the development of mitigative management strategies for these species requires improved knowledge about the thermal ecology of both species relative to that of other possible competitor species such as Brook charr (S. fontinalis). Research proposed here will address that knowledge gap by focusing on studies that aim to: [1] understand differences in temperature use among competing northern salmonids (e.g., Arctic charr, Atlantic salmon, and also Brook charr), the physiological and growth consequences of those differences and how variation among individuals within populations may help buffer the population from the immediate consequences of temperature change; and, [2] improve the oxygen isotope analytical tools available for the study of northern fishes thermal ecology, both past and present, through experimental cross-validation of key assumptions of the techniques used. Studies will, therefore, help to maintain Canadian science at the forefront of the rapidly developing field of otolith stable isotope micro-chemistry. Research will combine cutting-edge laboratory methods with field work to optimize both time and resources. Investigations will be conducted in a number of northern locations along a north-south gradient, including: Baffin Island, Nunavik (northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (Labrador). The studies will also contribute significantly to the development of the next generation of trained scientists and resource managers. And for the salmonids studied, 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 the affected species.