Otolith-based studies of the thermal ecology of northern salmonids

这里提议的研究将主要侧重于继续研究加拿大的两个标志性鱼种--北极鲑鱼(Salvelinus Alpinus)和大西洋鲑鱼(Salmo Salar)，这两种鱼被视为休闲渔业和自给性渔业，都被认为是生态系统变化的有用指标，因为它们在所居住的环境中作为关键物种的生态地位。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，这两个国家已经受到气候制度变化的重大影响，气候变化直接是海洋变暖的结果，也是关键猎物资源分布转移的间接结果。要准备好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，需要更好地了解这两个物种相对于其他可能的竞争物种的热生态，如Brook charr(S.fontinalis)。这里提议的研究将通过以下研究弥补这一知识差距：[1]了解相互竞争的北方鲑鱼(如北极鲑鱼、大西洋鲑鱼和小溪鲑鱼)之间利用温度的差异，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直接后果的影响；以及，[2]通过对所使用技术的关键假设进行实验交叉验证，改进可用于研究过去和现在北方鱼类热生态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量化学领域的领先地位。研究将把尖端的实验室方法与实地工作结合起来，以优化时间和资源。将在沿南北梯度的若干北部地点进行调查，包括：巴芬岛、努纳维克(魁北克北部)和努纳齐亚武特(拉布拉多)。这些研究还将对培养下一代训练有素的科学家和资源管理人员作出重大贡献。对于所研究的鲑鱼类，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，并改进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.**