Otolith-based studies of the thermal ecology of northern salmonids

这里提出的研究将主要集中在两个标志性的加拿大鱼类，北极红点鲑（Salvelinus alpinus）和大西洋鲑鱼（萨尔莫salar），价值为体育和自给性渔业，都被认为是生态系统变化的有用指标，因为它们的生态地位作为一个关键物种，在他们居住的环境的持续研究。预计这两个物种都将受到气候变化的重大负面影响。事实上，越来越多的证据表明，两者都已经受到气候状况变化的重大影响，无论是直接由于海洋变暖，还是间接由于主要猎物资源的分布变化。通过为这些物种制定缓解管理战略来应对气候变化的挑战，需要改进对这两个物种相对于其他可能的竞争物种（如溪红点鲑）的热生态学的了解。fontinalis）。这里提出的研究将通过关注旨在以下方面的研究来解决这一知识差距：[1]了解竞争性北方鲑鱼之间温度使用的差异（例如，北极红点鲑、大西洋鲑鱼和溪红点鲑），这些差异的生理和生长后果，以及种群内个体之间的变化如何有助于缓冲种群免受温度变化的直接后果;[2]改进用于北方鱼类热生态研究的氧同位素分析工具，包括过去和现在，通过实验交叉验证所使用的技术的关键假设。因此，研究将有助于保持加拿大科学在耳石稳定同位素微量化学快速发展领域的前沿。研究将联合收割机尖端的实验室方法与实地工作，以优化时间和资源。调查将在南北梯度沿着若干北方地点进行，包括：巴芬岛、努纳维克（魁北克北方）和努纳西亚武特（拉布拉多）。 这些研究还将大大有助于培养下一代训练有素的科学家和资源管理人员。对于所研究的鲑鱼，所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.**