Nunavut Research Institute Scientific Research License Renewal
The Ecology of Nunavut Aquatic Systems – Licence# 0501008N-M
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Roberto Quinlan
Department of Biology, York University,
4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
416-736-2100 x40076
rquinlan@yorku.ca
Team members: Andrew Medeiros, Raymond Biastoch, Christopher Luszczek
Summary of Research Endeavours in 2009
The Canadian Arctic contains a vast multitude of lakes and ponds which have served as
important sources of food and freshwater for the Inuit. Aquatic invertebrates make up a large portion
of the diet of fish and birds, and as such play a prominent role in these aquatic food webs. The future
functioning of Arctic aquatic systems is expected to change due to the influences of climate change and
human effects. However, much remains unknown about the composition, structure, and functioning of
these aquatic communities. The ability to predict and manage the effects of future climate change on
biotic communities depends on an understanding of contemporary ecosystem functioning. The object
of this research is to assess the diversity and distribution of aquatic insects in lakes and ponds across
mainland Nunavut, Canada. In order to achieve these goals, lakes and ponds were sampled during the
summers of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. We have collected aquatic insects (benthic invertebrates),
zooplankton, benthic algae, and water samples. The collection of this data will be useful as a
foundation for the development of Arctic biomonitoring programs.
From June 11 to July 20, 2009 we visited the community of Baker Lake. With the permission
of the Agnico-Eagle's Meadowbank mine, we utilized the mining road and traveled by all-terrain
vehicle (ATV) to access lakes and ponds up to 65 km outside of the community. From July 20 to
September 4, 2009, we conducted research in Iqaluit.
Field samples were taken from the shoreline of 28 lakes located near Baker Lake and 10 lakes
located near Iqaluit. Employing a kick-and-sweep method, insects were collected in a mesh net. A
five-minute transect using a Wisconsin net collected zooplankton. The shoreline of the water body was
mapped using a GPS unit. In addition, water chemistry and littoral sediment samples were collected.
A 2-litre water sample was taken for chemical analyses, including measurements of the concentration
of nutrients such as TP, TKN, NH3, SRP, dissolved compounds such as DOC, DIC, and dissolved ions
such as Cl, Na+, SiO3, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and other trace metals. This water sample was transported to the
Canadian Centre for Inland Waters (Burlington, Ontario) for analysis at the National Laboratory for
Environmental Testing (NLET). Using a YSI multi-parameter probe, environmental variables such as
water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential were
recorded at the time of field sampling.
The organisms collected are presently being identified and will be used to determine which
environmental variables are responsible for controlling species distributions and whether particular
species show a preference for certain aquatic habitats. This level of baseline understanding is essential
in order to predict the response of these communities to human influence.
In addition to this sampling, a goal of our team was to retrieve a piece of sampling equipment
which had been placed in a local lake two years prior. This equipment consisted of a chain of Hobo©
thermisters which had been recording temperature readings at various depths with hourly resolution.
These data will provide us with an accurate picture of how seasonal air temperature changes and
weather events influence the thermal structure of the lake. This data is important to collect as the
ecological structure of aquatic fauna is heavily influenced by temperature dynamics. Although we
expected difficulty in retrieving these recorders, the weather was cooperative and the experiment was a
success.
During the six weeks spent in Iqaluit (Jul 20 – Sept 4, 2009), sites along the Apex River and
Airport Creek were repeatedly sampled. This effort was part of an ongoing project to create and
implement a Benthic Invertebrate Monitoring Program, a joint effort of the Nunavut Research Institute
(NRI) and York University, to assess the ecological integrity of Arctic streams. While the use of
aquatic insects in environmental assessment has been used successfully in southern regions, research is
required to adapt aquatic biomonitoring protocols to the harsh Arctic conditions. In Iqaluit, we were
able to work with Mary Ellen Thomas and the staff of the Nunavut Research Institute, who provided us
with accommodations, lab space, and field support. Stream research was conducted by Jamal Shirley
(International Polar Year Coordinator), Andrew Medeiros (PhD candidate, York University), Ray
Biastoch (PhD candidate, York University), Chris Luszczek (MSc candidate, York University) and
NRI summer students. Our collaboration gave us access to helicopter time that was used to sample
distant streams and river, which constitute a reference collection of minimally disturbed stream sites.
Without this support, these reference samples would have been nearly impossible to gather.
Summary of Research Endeavours planned for 2010
The Canadian Arctic contains a vast multitude of lakes and ponds which have served as
important sources of food and freshwater for indigenous peoples and which continue to yield valuable
scientific information about potentially changing environmental conditions. The majority of freshwater
researchers have focused on temperate rivers and lakes, leaving Arctic regions under-researched.
Ecosystem structure and functioning in Arctic aquatic systems is expected to change under the
influence of human-induced climate change and other human impacts. However, much remains
unknown about the current composition of these communities. As interest in Arctic resources and
recognition of the Arctic’s sensitivity to climate change increase, it is essential to assess our northern
freshwater resources.
For the 2010 field season, our research will focus on lakes and rivers near Churchill in northern
Manitoba, and Nunavut communities such as Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake, and Iqaluit. Biological
and limnological characteristics of lakes will be examined across a regional latitudinal gradient.
Samples of the phantom midge Chaoborus will be collected and specially preserved to allow for DNA
analysis upon returning to Toronto. Such an analysis can determine similarities in DNA between
disparate populations of the phantom midge and present a centre of origin and a pattern of dispersal of
the midge across central Nunavut. This pattern of dispersal may divulge information regarding glacial
retreat in Nunavut and subsequent insect colonization of newly available habitat; determining rates of
aquatic invertebrate dispersal following the most recent deglaciation may provide insights into future
rates of northward dispersal of temperate taxa in a future warmer climate.
A float plane will provide access to lakes along a transect of lakes northward from Churchill,
MB towards the community of Arviat. Each lake will be sampled for water chemistry, zooplankton,
benthic invertebrates, and aquatic algae. Research has shown that there are dramatic environmental
changes, most notably temperature and precipitation, across the relatively short distance of the treeline.
As the Arctic climate is expected to warm, the characteristics of treeline and near-treeline lakes may
provide valuable insights as to how central Arctic aquatic ecosystems may change in response to
warmer climate.
In Arviat we intend to sample more lakes to add to our current dataset. The long trails outside
of Arviat provide access to many lakes far away from the town. This will assist in determining what
characteristics of lakes are influenced by landscape position and may indicate how watersheds may
change in the face of climate warming.
In Iqaluit, we have a number of research objectives. Continuing with the research that is a
collaboration between the Nunavut Research Institute and York University, potentially polluted streams
that flow through or near Iqaluit will be sampled at three sites each multiple times throughout the
summer and contribute to our multi-year data. Additionally, specific stream substrate habitats such as
moss, boulders, or pebble substrate will be sampled to determine if Arctic stream substrates host
different invertebrate communities, as occurs in temperate streams. This is critical information as the
resulting Arctic stream sampling protocols will be utilized by the Iqaluit community, and thus must be
explicit in regards to where a stream is sampled. These urban streams will be compared to a suite of
stream sites that are many kilometres from Iqaluit and thus are deemed to be minimally affected by
human activity, known as the reference collection. The reference collection quantifies naturally
occurring benthic invertebrates in the surrounding region; to adequately do this the collection requires
many stream sites. Therefore during our stay in Iqaluit, a helicopter and an ATV will be utilized to gain
access to distant streams outside of Iqaluit.