Resource Guide to the Natural and Cultural
History of Cameron, Cyprus, Horse and
Marr Lakes
Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario, Canada
Scott R. Parker
July 2012
Version 1.0
Sources of Knowledge
P.O. Box 18
Tobermory, Ontario, Canada N0H 2R0
www.sourcesofknowledge.ca
Sources of Knowledge Technical Reports in Social and Ecological Sciences
Report 004
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Parks Canada for providing access to data and archival reports. I also extend my
gratitude to both Frank Brunton and Daryl Cowell for sharing their insight on the geology and
geomorphology of the area. Thanks as well to Jeff Truscott for developing the lake maps and
Cavan Harpur for reviewing the fish section.
Recommended citation
Parker S.R. 2012. Resource Guide to the Natural and Cultural History of the Cameron, Cyprus,
Horse, and Marr Lake Watershed, Bruce Peninsula National Park. Sources of Knowledge,
Tobermory, Ontario
Cover photo of Cyprus Lake by Willy Waterton.
1
Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3 2. Climate..................................................................................................................................... 3 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................. 4 3. 4. 5. 6. Geology and Geomorphology ................................................................................................. 4 Water Chemistry ...................................................................................................................... 8 Physical Limnology ............................................................................................................... 11 Ecology .................................................................................................................................. 13 Fishes ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Amphibians and Reptiles .......................................................................................................... 14 Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................................................................ 14 Birds .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Mammals................................................................................................................................... 16 Diatoms ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Aquatic Plants ........................................................................................................................... 17 Aquatic Invasive Species .......................................................................................................... 17 7. Cultural Context .................................................................................................................... 18 Fish Regulations........................................................................................................................ 19 Fish Consumption Guidelines ................................................................................................... 20 8. Additional Resources............................................................................................................. 21 9. References ............................................................................................................................. 22 Appendix 1. Carbon dioxide-bicarbonate-carbonate equilibrium and marl formation................. 25 Appendix 2. Alkalinity and Buffering .......................................................................................... 26 Appendix 3. Lake maps (prepared by Jeff Truscott) .................................................................... 27 Appendix 4. Fish habitat characteristics ....................................................................................... 30 2
1. Introduction
This guide provides an overview of the natural and cultural history of the Cameron-CyprusHorse-Marr Lake complex in the northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. The lakes are
associated with Bruce Peninsula National Park (BPNP) and are often explored and studied by
individuals and students with an interest in aquatic ecology. This guide was produced by Sources
of Knowledge as a resource to support future learning and project planning as well as satisfy
general interest.
The west shore of Cameron Lake has residential and limited commercial development, while the
east shore is undeveloped and is part of BPNP. Cyprus Lake is entirely within BPNP and on its
southeast shore is a 242 site campground that accommodates  60,000 user nights/year. Horse
and Marr Lakes are also within BPNP. Although they have little development (i.e., only hiking
trails that receive about 80,000 visitors/year), they are downstream from potential concerns such
as nutrient loading and invasive species introductions.
2. Climate
The Bruce Peninsula has a humid cool temperate climate with warm summers (mean of 16.8oC)
and cool winters (mean of -6.7oC) (Figure 1). The summer months are dominated by hot, humid
air masses originating in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Winters have an increase in
Pacific air, which is displaced over the season by cold Arctic currents (S.L. Ross Environmental
Ltd. et al. 1989). Precipitation occurs throughout the year but tends to be highest in the fall from
September through November. Lake Huron and Georgian Bay buffer macroclimatic extremes
and tend to prolong mild temperatures in the fall and cooler temperatures in the spring.
Figure 1. Average wind speed and direction (A) and temperature and precipitation (B) patterns from data collected
at the Cyprus Lake weather station from 1995-2005.
Average Monthly Temperature and Precipitation 1995‐2005
20.00
100.00
80.00
70.00
10.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
0.00
30.00
(MM)
5.00
Precipitation Temperature (Degrees Celcius) 90.00
15.00
20.00
‐5.00
10.00
December
October
November
August
September
July
June
May
April
March
February
0.00
January
‐10.00
M o nth o f Year
Temperature (Degrees Celcius)
A
Precipitation (MM)
B
Climate change models for the area (Scott and Suffling 2000, Suffling and Scott 2002) suggest
that by 2050 temperature may increase between 1 to 6oC in spring, 1 to 5oC in summer, 2 to 3oC
in fall, and 2 to 7oC in winter. Precipitation is projected to change from +6 to +24% in spring, 3
14 to +6% in summer, -23 to +7% in fall, and –2 to +17% in winter, with a trend towards more
violent events (e.g., thunder storms vs. periods of light showers) and increased lake effect snow
in winter (e.g., due to less ice coverage on Lake Huron). It is anticipated that such changes will
affect inland lake surface water temperatures and lake levels (e.g., increased evaporation, less
precipitation, “flashy” precipitation events) and may affect biodiversity as well. Figure 2
highlights some trends in the recent climate record for the area. Most months are variable and
difficult to detect a statistically significant trend; however, figure 2 illustrates an increase for the
months shown.
Figure 2. Examples of changing temperature and precipitation values for the area.
AirQuality
Air quality in the area is affected by contaminants transported from other locations in the
province and the northwest and eastern United States. Although precipitation in the area is
considered acidic (Table 1), the widely recognized impacts associated with “acid rain” on lakes
appear to be buffered by the dolostone bedrock (Appendix 2).
Table 1. Annual mean acid deposition data from Environment Canada centred in BPNP for 1993-2002
Wet Sulphate
Wet Sulphur
Wet Nitrogen
Critical Loads
pH
(kg/ha/yr)
(kg/ha/yr)
(kg/ha/yr)
(equivalents/ha/year)
4.5
18.3
6.1
8.0
854
An air quality study was completed by the provincial government that involved a Mobile Air
Quality Index (AQI) Unit located in BPNP from July 13 to 25, 2001 (Ministry of the
Environment 2002). The unit detected relatively high ozone (O3) concentrations of 89 parts per
billion (ppb) (i.e., 80 ppb is provincial ambient air quality criterion, AAQC) when the air flow
was from Michigan and Ohio and relatively high sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration of 30 ppb
when the air flow was from the north, including Sudbury.
3. GeologyandGeomorphology
The geological character of the area is the product of over 450 million years of change. The
surface bedrock consists of dolostone, which was originally deposited as calcareous sediments in
4
a shallow Silurian aged sea (443-417 million years ago). Today’s escarpment was the coastal
waters of the sea, where coral reefs, subtidal crinoidal shoal complexes and shallow lagoonal
snail and megalodontid bivalve muddy environments formed, as well as an area of periodic
drying.
Figure 3 provides a modern interpretation of the upper bedrock stratigraphy in the area (Brunton
2009, Brunton and Brintnell 2011, Cramer et al. 2011). The surface bedrock along the Georgian
Bay shore is Guelph Formation with Eramosa below that. Further inland these layers have been
eroded and by the eastern side of Cyprus Lake the surface bedrock is Goat Island. This layer has
low transmissivity (i.e., somewhat impervious to water percolation). Where bedrock fractures
have formed, these joints provide opportunity for subsurface water flow (e.g., Horse Lake sink).
Gasport is the next layer and is recognized for its large aquifers and karst conduits that occur at
sequence boundaries or break in sedimentation. Penetrative karstic vertical joints through the
formation have created such important regional caves as Root Cave.
Multiple glaciations over the past 2 million years have sculpted the landscape. The last major
glaciation was the Wisconsin and lasted from about 100,000 to 10,000 years before present
(B.P.). Glacial striations and fractures are evident in many locations in the area (e.g., Cowell
1977). The limited amount of glacial sediments (e.g., till, glacio-fluvial) is believed to be due to
catastrophic subglacial meltwater events which stripped off most of the sediment (Kor and
Cowell 1998, Cowan and Sharpe 2007). Pockets of lodgement type till can still be found in the
area, most obviously in the silt to sandy till south of Cameron Lake (S.L. Ross Environmental
Ltd. et al. 1989).
Following deglaciation (i.e., 13,000 years B.P.), glacial and post-glacial lakes occupied the
region and evidence of their remnant shorelines remain. Lake level fluctuations are detailed in
several reports (e.g., Blasco 2001, Cowan and Sharpe 2007, Lewis et al. 2008, Kor et al. 2012)
and to be fully understood they require an appreciation of isostatic rebound and climate change.
For reference the current Lake Huron lake level is 176 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Pro-glacial
Lake Algonquin (i.e., 11,500 – 11,000 years B.P.) features 240 m a.s.l. and hence completely
inundated the area. Following this, lake levels declined, attaining an elevation of 101 m a.s.l.
around 9,000 B.P. and water flowed northward through an outlet in North Bay (n.b., a period of
hydrologic closure did occur as well). Subsequent isostatic rebound at the North Bay outlet
caused the lake levels to rise at an equivalent rate, reaching a high of 190 to 195 m a.s.l. around
5,500 B.P. (i.e., Nipissing phase) (ibid.). Again the area would have been inundated during this
period. With the North Bay outlet rising, the lake eventually overflowed at Chicago and Port
Huron-Sarnia. Erosion at Port Huron-Sarnia was faster than Chicago and the lake flow patterns
and levels eventually became what they are today. The relic sand dunes found south of Cameron
Lake were formed during the Nipissing stage. Marr Lake was a bay in Georgian Bay, which was
cut off by a series of storm beaches.
Cameron, Cyprus, Horse and Marr Lakes lie in a bedrock trough between Dorcas Bay and
Georgian Bay. Drainage in this watershed is considered fluvio-karst (Cowell 1977, Cowell and
Ford 1983, S.L. Ross Environmental Ltd. et al. 1989). Unlike most of the watersheds in the
northern peninsula, the water flows into Georgian Bay versus Lake Huron proper. Cameron
5
flows into Cyprus and Cyprus into Horse via surface flow and Horse flows into Marr and Marr
into Georgian Bay via subsurface flow (Figure 4). More specifically, Horse Lake drains through
a series of sinkholes and reappears 90 minutes later in one of four springs in Marr Lake. This
was proven by Daryl Cowell using a rhodamine WT dye test in 1973 (Cowell 1977). Marr Lake
drains through the cobble beach into Georgian Bay.
Figure 3. Revised Silurian stratigraphy and its karst characteristics (Brunton 2009, Brunton and Brintnell 2011,
Cramer et al. 2011) for the Cameron-Cyprus Lake area. The surface bedrock varies with location. Eramosa and
Guelph Formations are found along the Georgian Bay shoreline but they have been eroded further inland. Goat
Island Formation and has low transmissivity (i.e., more impervious to dissolution by water). Gasport Formation is
the main “confined” bedrock aquifer.
Formation
Karst Aquifers
Guelph
Aquifer
Eramosa
(Reformatory Quarry member)
Upper is an aquifer
Lower is an aquiclude
Surface at Cyprus
Lake through
Cameron Lake
(above layers eroded)
Goat Island
(lower was previous Amabel)
Lower transmissivity
Younger Formations
Gasport
(previous Amabel)
Main aquifer
Lions Head
(some part of Rochester)
(forms the base of many of the
significant regional caves)
Irondequoit
(previous Amabel)
Lower transmissivity
Rockway
Minor aquifer
Surface at Georgian
Bay coast to Cyprus
Lake.
↓
Merritton / Fossil Hill
St. Edmund
Wingfield
Dyer Bay
Cabot Head
Regional aquiclude
Manitoulin
Aquifer
Older Formations
6
7
Figure 4. Lake overview and water flow direction (prepared by J. Truscott)
The lakebeds are composed of a diversity of material including sand, silt, cobble/boulder, and
bedrock. Most notably marl (i.e., calcium carbonate precipitate, Appendix 1) is deposited like a
veneer atop the lakebed material. Lake morphology is described in Table 2.
Table 2. Lake morphology.
Depth Max
Lake
(m)
Cameron Lake
15.0
Cyprus Lake
7.85
Horse Lake
1.5
Marr Lake
1.5
Depth Mean
(m)
4.39
3.78
0.5
1.0
Perimeter (km)
8.6
5.3
2.3
0.9
Area
(km2)
1.57
0.74
0.13
0.05
Volume
(106 x m3)
6.59
2.56
4. WaterChemistry
The chemistry of the lakes (Tables 3 and 4) is primarily influenced by the contribution of
dissolved dolostone bedrock (i.e., CaMg(CO3)2). The main force behind the dissolving of
bedrock is the amount of CO2 in the water (including ground water) which forms a weak
carbonic acid (i.e., CO2 + H2O H2CO3). Appendix 1 and 2 explain the dissolution and marl
formation processes. Of note, major ions are reported in milligrams/litre, mg/l (parts per million),
whereas nutrients and metals are mostly described in concentrations of micrograms/litre, µg/l
(parts per billion).
Phosphorus (P), in particular the more soluble phosphate form (i.e., orthophosphate, PO43-),
appears to be the limiting nutrient in the lakes. This is common in many freshwater systems. In
other words, the concentrations of other nutrients such as nitrogen, carbon, sulphur, iron, or
potassium could be available in limitless supply, but primary productivity (e.g., phytoplankton or
plant growth) stops once the phosphorus supply runs out. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient and
can be found in the nucleic acids of DNA or RNA and in the ADP and ATP of biochemical
pathways for respiration(Wetzel 2001). Nearly all (>90%) the phosphorus from natural sources,
such as bedrock, ends up in the lakebed largely because its binds with clays which have a high
phosphorus holding capacity. The other 10% or so of natural source enters the lakes as soluble
phosphate. Phosphorous from human origin, such as improper septic or sewage treatment
systems, is mostly (>90%) in a soluble phosphate form. Since algae utilize soluble phosphate as
a nutrient, human sources are usually the main culprit in algae blooms and lake enrichment
(Mackie 2004).
8
Text Box 1. Tipping points: Chesley Lake.
The impacts associated with increased nutrient loading to freshwater systems is well studied (e.g., Charlton et al.
1993, Scheffer 2004, Janse et al. 2010). In a simple model lakes exist in one of two states: 1) clear with submerged
macrophytes (larger aquatic plants); or, 2) turbid dominated by phytoplankton. The following figure is modified
from Scheffer et al. (2001) and further explains the two states by illustrating that: 1) as nutrients increase water
turbidity increases; 2) that macrophytes reduce turbidity; and, 3) macrophytes disappear at a critical turbidity (e.g.,
shaded by algae).
Chesley Lake, near Allenford (Bruce County), crossed the critical turbidity threshold becoming an algal
(phytoplankton) dominant state. Werner provides details (Werner 2003, Werner et al. 2005). In brief, nutrients from
agriculture and shoreline development coupled with deliberate macrophyte removal facilitated algal dominance and
blooms. Algae increased turbidity and shaded macrophyte growth. When the algal blooms settled, the increased
bacterial decomposition (i.e., increased respiration) caused anoxic (i.e., absence of oxygen) conditions in the
lakebed. Anoxic conditions create a situation that allows phosphorus, which is normally trapped in the lakebed, to
become available again, thus internally loading phosphorus back into the lake. This provided a positive feedback by
providing more phosphorus for algal growth. Managing this situation has been difficult and interventions have
included the installation of a large aerator to pump oxygen to depths to avoid anoxia. Chesley Lake is also
experiencing the affects of zebra and quagga mussel introduction. There are obvious lessons to learned from this
experience.
Nitrogen is also an important nutrient to consider. It can be found in the nucleic acids of DNA or
RNA and the amino acids of protein. Although the atmosphere (78%) and dissolved gas in water
(~50%) contains high amounts of nitrogen (N2), this form must be fixed first for use by most
phytoplankton and macrophytes (aquatic plants) (Mackie 2004). Blue-green algae can convert N2
into ammonia (NH3) through the process of nitrogen fixation. Ammonia is also supplied to lakes
9
from decomposing organic matter and in the excrement of organisms. However, most autotrophs
including phytoplankton and macrophytes need nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH4+),
nitrate (NO3-), or nitrite (NO2-). The ammonification process converts ammonia to ammonium
(i.e., NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4OH ↔ NH4+ + OH-) and nitrification converts ammonium to nitrate
(NO3) (i.e., NH4+ → N2O → NO2 → NO3). Total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) (Table 3) is the sum
of organically bound nitrogen (e.g., protein, urea), ammonia and ammonium and is a
conventional measure of the amount of nitrogen available to algae and plants. Total nitrogen is
the sum of inorganic nitrogen (i.e., ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite) and organic nitrogen.
Measuring total phosphorus and total nitrogen is a common practice in monitoring programs. It
requires “digesting” (i.e., heat and acid) an unfiltered water sample to free the elements already
bound in organic matter. So rather than monitoring for a single form of the nutrient (e.g.,
phosphate or nitrate), which may already be sequestered into organic matter, the analysis of
“total” breaks everything to its elemental form and provides a simple measure for detecting
trends.
Specific
Conductivity
pH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Turbidity
Chlorophyl-a
Chloride
Sulphate
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Potassium
Silica
Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen
Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Table 3. Example (mean) major ion and nutrient concentrations.
uS/cm
288
Unit
8.7
mg/l
10.3
NTU
1
ug/L
1.4
mg/l
1.6
mg/l
5.8
mg/l
29.8
mg/l
21.4
mg/l
0.5
mg/l
0.2
mg/l
3.9
mg/l
0.4
mg/l
0.4
ug/l
12.9
Cyprus Lake
268
8.5
10.9
0.8
1
1.7
5.2
31.5
20.2
0.6
0.2
2.6
0.4
0.4
12.6
Horse Lake
270
8.5
10.9
0.8
1
1.7
5.2
30.0
21.0
0.6
0.2
3.0
0.6
0.6
9.0
Marr Lake
294
8.8
12.0
0.7
1
1.3
4.4
28.5
24.5
0.6
0.2
5.7
0.7
0.7
4.7
Cameron Lake
Currently the watershed would be classified as an oligo-mesotrophic system, based on total
phosphorus concentrations and oligotrophic based on algal biomass (Chlorophyll a). Most of the
inland waters are oligotrophic. Oligotrophic is indicative of low nutrient and low plant growth
conditions, whereas, eutrophic is indicative of high nutrient and high plant growth, mesotrophic
is somewhere between.
The observed elevated concentrations of phosphorus may be attributed to residential
development in Cameron Lake (McCrea and Cowell 1991). Although, the Cyprus Lake
campground operates on a sewage holding tank and pump out basis (removed to Tobermory
sewage lagoon), in 2012 a sewage treatment facility was installed to manage waste from the Yurt
toilet and shower facility with treated effluent directed towards Cyprus Lake.
Biannual water chemistry data since 2007 for Cyprus Lake is available through BPNP’s
ecological monitoring program (Parks Canada 2011). Historic data sources include: Cowell
(1977), McCrea and Cowell (1991), Werner (2003), and Harpur (2010).
10
Gallium
ug/l
8
0
Cyprus Lake
0
2.5
0.4
6.5
4
0
0
0
0
0
0.3
5.8
0
Zinc
Iron
ug/l
0.3
Vanadium
Copper
ug/l
0
Uranium
Chromium
ug/l
0
Thallium
Cobalt
ug/l
0
Strontium
Cadmium
ug/l
0
Selenium
Bismuth
ug/l
0
Antimony
Beryllium
ug/l
4.3
Rubidium
Barium
ug/l
7.1
Lead
Boron
ug/l
0.4
Nickel
Arsenic
ug/l
4.3
Molybdenum
Aluminum
ug/l
0
Manganese
ug/l
Cameron Lake
Lithium
Silver
Table 4. Example (mean) metal concentrations. There are no exceedences to the Canadian
Environmental Quality Guidelines (http://st-ts.ccme.ca/).
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
ug/l
Cameron Lake
0.2
1.6
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
30.4
0
0.1
0.2
2.1
Cyprus Lake
0.2
2.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
27.8
0
0.1
0.2
3
5. PhysicalLimnology
Surface water temperature varies from 0°C in winter (100% ice coverage) to 25°C (and
occasional higher) in the summer. A thermal gradient can form (i.e., warmer surface waters
gradually get cooler with depth) in Cameron and Cyprus Lakes. This gradient can reach a point
in Cameron where the lake stratifies into distinct layers. In summer there is a layer of warmer
less dense surface water and a layer of colder denser deep water. These two layers are like “oil
and vinegar” and do not readily mix until the surface water cools in the fall and becomes
uniformly dense again. The surface layer is referred to as the epilimnion, the deep water as the
hypolimnion and the transition zone the metalimnion or thermocline. Since the hypolimnion
forms below the photic zone where sunlight can drive primary productivity (i.e., oxygen
production) and the deep waters do not have direct contact with the atmosphere, oxygen is not
added to the hypolimnion during the stratification period. Although not observed in the area,
summer oxygen depletion can occur in some lakes (see Text Box 1) and larger predatory fish are
usually the most vulnerable. Similarly, shallow lakes such as Marr and Horse can experience a
“winter kill” condition when ice coverage completely caps the surface and oxygen in these lakes
with less volume becomes depleted. Of note, freshwater is its densest at 4°C, that’s why ice
floats on the surface, and this is the temperature that makes mixing of the water column easiest
because of the uniform density. The stratification process characterizes Cameron as “dimictic”.
Given the shallower depths and surface area (i.e., sufficient for wind driven mixing),
stratification is not maintained in Cyprus in the summer. Cyprus, Horse and Marr are
characterized as “polymictic”, as they continually mix.
11
There is little information on waves, seiches and currents for the lakes. Langmuir spirals, parallel
streaks of foam, are commonly observed on windy days. These spiral circulation cells are
generated by the force of wind on the surface waters and the foam is trapped where the water
downwells.
Figure 5. This airphoto shows the dramatic change in lake levels (>2m) at Horse Lake between 1966 and 2006. The
change relates to the relationship between beaver activity and karstic processes at the sinkholes.
As a further comment on the foam found in Langmuir spirals and the windward shore, the
question of its origin is frequently raised. Surface active agents, often called surfactants, are
compounds that reduce the surface tension of the molecules at the lake-air interface, creating
conditions for bubble formation when the surface water is vigorously mixed by waves. Some
dissolved organic carbon, such as carboxylic fatty acids from plant lipids and lignins from wood,
are natural surfactants and suspected to be the main source of foam in this area. However,
synthetically produced surfactants are also found in detergents, shampoo, toothpaste, etc... As a
quick test, if the lake foam has a floral odour it is mostly likely attributed to a human source,
natural sources have an earthy smell. Of note, early detergents contained nonbiodegradable and
persistent surfactants and phosphate softeners to reduce water hardness and improve the
effectiveness of the surfactants. These phosphates lead to significant lake nutrient enrichment
problems. Modern detergents now limit or exclude phosphates and contain biodegradable linear
12
alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants (e.g., lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth). Other synthetic
surfactants are used by industries (e.g., wetting agents, dispersants, antistatic agents, etc...) and
are cause for concern, but these are not present in this area.
As part of the BPNP monitoring program a HOBO lake level logger
(http://www.onsetcomp.com/) is maintained in Cyprus Lake. As observed since 2008, water
levels in Cyprus Lake fluctuate approximately 22 cm seasonally from a late-spring high to midsummer low and are affected by precipitation patterns.
The average late spring and summer discharge from Cyprus Lake to Horse Lake is estimated at
0.16 m3/s and results in a hydraulic residence time of ~180 days in Cyprus Lake. Information for
the other lakes has not been estimated.
The surface area of each lake was digitized using air photos from 1966 and 2006. Of all the
lakes, only Horse Lake showed a significant change in surface area (Figure 5) during this period.
This change is generally attributed to the relationship between beaver activity and karstic
sinkhole processes (Cowell 1977).
6. Ecology
The ecology of the area is the result of many factors, including: climate; peninsular geography;
poor, thin soils; dolostone bedrock; fire and settlement history; karst-influenced hydrology; and
post-glacial history. The species of the area form a rich mosaic with northern and southern
affinities, including many rare, range-restricted, and disjunct species (S.L. Ross Environmental
Ltd. et al. 1989).
Fishes
The fish assemblage is characteristic of shallow warm water lakes. Cyprus and Cameron are one
of the few inland lakes in the region with a Centrarchid (bass) community. Smallmouth Bass and
Walleye are the main top predators. Bluntnose Minnow, Common Shiner and Mimic Shiner are
the main prey species and White Sucker is a large bodied planktivore. Table 5 provides a
summary of fish presence and Appendix 4 describes their habitat characteristics.
Recently, Cavan Harpur completed a study of the change in fish communities of the inland lakes
of the northern Bruce Peninsula between 1973-74 and 2007-08 (Harpur 2010). In general, he
observed an increase in the proportion of small-bodied wetland species, which are tolerant of
higher temperatures and lower oxygen levels. Coincidently, Jeff Truscott completed a study on
beaver colonization in the BPNP area (excluding the Cameron-Cyprus watershed) and reported
an increase in the density of beaver colonies, the number of beaver influenced wetlands, and wetland
surface area (Truscott 2011). Essentially both Harpur and Truscott demonstrate there is a trend
within BPNP towards more wetlands and wetland communities.
13
Although several species of fish were stocked in Cyprus and Cameron, including Rainbow Trout,
only Walleye and Smallmouth Bass remain today.
An additional observation and possible area of further exploration relates to the presence of
Logperch. Of all the inland lakes in the region, this species is only found in this watershed. This
watershed happens to be the last to be inundated by Lake Huron (Nipissing high) and thus may
have coincided with Logperch coastal colonization.
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Yellow Perch
●
White Sucker
●
Walleye
●
Smallmouth Bass
●
Sand Shiner
Mimic Shiner
●
Rock Bass
Logperch
●
Pumpkinseed
Johnny Darter
●
Northern Redbelly Dace
●
Iowa Darter
●
Common Shiner
●
Central Mudminnow
●
Brook Stickleback
Cameron Lake
Cyprus Lake
Horse Lake
Marr Lake
Blacknose Shiner
●
Banded Killifish
Bluntnose Minnow
Table 5. Fish distribution in the lakes (Harpur 2010).
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
AmphibiansandReptiles
The most comprehensive inventory of amphibians and reptiles was completed by Fred Schueler
(Schueler et al. 1992). This inventory confirmed the following species in the watershed:
redbacked salamander, yellow spotted salamander, bluespotted salamander, eastern newt,
mudpuppy, American toad, spring peeper, wood frog, pickerel frog, bull frog, green frog, leopard
frog, midland painted turtle, snapping turtle, garter snake, northern water snake, milk snake,
green snake, ringneck snake, brown snake, ribbonsnake and massasauga rattlesnake. There are
anecdotal records for queen snakes from the straits between Cameron and Cyprus, but this author
has been unable to verify. As well, the perceived decline in bull frogs may be attributed to
Walleye stocking.
BenthicInvertebrates
Benthic invertebrate assemblage is annually monitored through a kick and sweep survey as part
of the park’s ecological integrity monitoring program. Table 6 is based on data provided by Dr.
Stephen Marshal and Steve Paeiro, University of Guelph, as part of the monitoring program for
the sites near the outflows of Cameron and Cyprus Lake in 2007.
14
Table 6. Benthic species confirmed during kick and sweep survey in 2007 by Steve Paeiro. More data is available
within the park ecological integrity monitoring program, however it is generally not taken to the lowest taxonomic
level.
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Amphipoda (Scuds)
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Coleoptera
Decapoda
Decapoda
Diptera
Diptera
Diptera
Diptera
Diptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Anisoptera)
Odonata (Zygoptera)
Odonata (Zygoptera)
Odonata (Zygoptera)
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Talitridae
Dytiscidae
Elmidae
Elmidae
Dytiscidae
Dytiscidae
Dytiscidae
Dytiscidae
Elmidae
Psephenidae
Elmidae
Elmidae
Astacidae
Astacidae
Ceratopogonidae
Chironomidae
Chironomidae
Ceratopogonidae
Chironomidae
Caenidae
Baetidae
Leptophlebiidae
Ephemeridae
Ephemerellidae
Ephemerellidae
Ephemeridae
Leptophlebiidae
Ephemeridae
Baetidae
Baetidae
Ephemeridae
Heptageniidae
Heptageniidae
Ephemeridae
Aeshnidae
Aeshnidae
Aeshnidae
Corduliidae
Gomphidae
Gomphidae
Macromiidae
Corduliidae
Corduliidae
Libelludidae
Coenagrionidae
Coenagrionidae
Coenagrionidae
Helicopsychidae
Limnephilidae
Leptoceridae
Leptoceridae
Leptoceridae
Polycentropidae
Limnephilidae
Hyalella
Coptotomus
Dubiraphia vittata
Dubirhaphia
Heterosternuta
Heterosternuta pulcher
Heterosternuta wickhami
Hydroporus
Macronychus glabratus
Psephenus
Stenelmis
Stenelmis crenata
Orconectes propinquus (Girard)
Orthomectes
Bezzia/Palpomyia
Chironominae - Asheum
Chironominae - Glyptotendipes
Probezzia
Tanypodinae
Caenis
Centroptilium
Choroterpes
Ephemera sp.
Ephemerella
Eurylophella
Hexagenia
Leptophlebia
Maccaffertium
Procleon
Procloeon
Stenacron
Stenacron
Stenonema
Stenonema femorata
Aeshna
Basiaeschna
Boyeria
Epitheca
Gomphus
Hagenius brevistylus
Macromia
Neurocordulia yamaskensis
Somatochlora
unidentified early instar nymph
Argia
Early instar nymph - unidentified
Enallagma
Helicopsyche
Hydatophylax
Mystacides
Nectopsyche
Oecetis
Polycentropus
Pyncopsyche
Benthic organisms play a significant role in energy and nutrient cycling in lake ecosystems. One
need only look to Lake Huron to see the impacts of introduced dreissenid mussels are having on
the benthic community (e.g., loss of Diporeia) and the whole lake (e.g., Nalepa et al. 2009).
From Table 6, species in the order Ephemeroptera and Amphipoda in particular, play a key role
in recycling detritus and as food resource for fishes, thus linking the energy and nutrients of the
15
lakebed with the open water ecosystem. Hexagenia sp. are often used as indicators of oligo-meso
trophic conditions as they are sensitive to oxygen depletion.
An inventory of molluscs, including snails and mussels, has not been completed in the area. Two
crayfish species are commonly observed in the lakes, Orconectes virilis and Orconecties
propinquus. The author also suspects Fallicambarus fodiens is present given the presence of mud
“chimneys” found in the strait between Cameron-Cyprus. A handy identification guide to
Ontario crayfish is available on-line (http://www.ontarionature.org).
Birds
There are several hundred species of birds that reside or migrate through BPNP (e.g., Geomatics
International Inc. 2005, http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas). Examples of species more commonly
observed on the area lakes include: common loon, red-breasted merganser, common merganser,
bufflehead, common goldeneye, mallard, belted kingfisher, common tern, Caspian tern, redwinged blackbird, Canada goose, herring gull, ring-billed gull, and great blue heron. Both the
Owen Sound Field Naturalist (http://owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca) and the Bruce Peninsula Bird
Observatory (http://bpbo.ca) maintain a bird list for the area.
Mammals
There are 40 mammal species in BPNP and vicinity (Young et al. 1996). Aquatic species
observed in the lakes include muskrat, beaver and river otter. Mink, fisher, coyote, red fox,
raccoon, black bear, long-tailed weasel, meadow vole, meadow jumping mouse, white-tailed
deer, red squirrel, northern long-eared bat, and eastern red bat may also be found near the lakes.
Diatoms
Diatoms are a group of algae (phytoplankton) characterized by the fact they incorporate silica
(hydrated silicon dioxide) within their cell walls forming a frustule. The frustule’s shape is used
to identify the species, even centuries after it has been buried in lakebed sediments. The diatom
species present provides some indication of water quality and conditions. For these reasons,
paleolimnological studies of diatom presence in lakebed sediments is often conducted to detect
change in water quality. A reconstruction of 200 years of trophic changes in Cyprus Lake (and
other lakes in the region) was completed in 2002-03 by Dr. Petra Werner (Werner 2003, Werner
et al. 2005). Change was detected due to settlement activity, but water quality is still considered
good and the campground did not appear to have significantly increased nutrient loads. Presettlement lakes were dominated by benthic taxa, mainly small Achnanthes spp., small
Fragilaria spp., and Navicula spp., and suggestive of high macrophyte abundance and low
nutrients. Post-settlement/logging (ca. 1860) increase of planktonic taxa, such as Cycoltella
commensis, are observed and suggestive of a change in habitat and water quality.
16
AquaticPlants
With over 872 vascular plants in the region, of which 178 are non-native (Kaiser 1994), the list
for the area would be significant. To maintain a focus on the lake system, a list of the most
common aquatic and semi-aquatic vascular plants is provided on Table 7.
Table 7. A short list of the aquatic and semi-aquatic plants of Cameron, Cyprus, Horse and Marr Lake system.
Open water
 Various leaved water-milfoil
 Stonewort (Chara sp.)
 Common bladderwort
 Floating pondweed
 Bullhead lilly
 Fragrant water-lily
Emergent
 Common reed
 Hard-stemmed bulrush
 Water-parsnip
 Soft-stemmed bulrush
 Common cattail
 Water spike rush
Shore
 Canada blue-joint
 Royal fern
 Silky dogwood
 Sweet gale
 Shrubby cinquefoil
 Red-oiser dogwood
 Hairy-fruited sedge
 Beaked spike-rush
 Joe-pye-weed
 Hairy panic grass
AquaticInvasiveSpecies
The watershed is currently considered to be “aquatic invasive species free”. In the absence of any
direct management actions the inland lakes remain vulnerable to invasive species introductions.
Table 8 identifies those species in the region, primarily from Lake Huron, which are of most
concern and would have a considerable negative impact. Translocation of species may be
intentional (e.g., as bait (e.g., as bait, Keller and Lodge 2007), but is often unintentional (Johnson
et al. 2001, Puth and Post 2005, Rothlisberger et al. 2010), with organisms carried in bilge water
and bait buckets as well as attached to boat hulls. Thus, every time a sea kayak or canoe is
brought into Cameron or Cyprus Lakes after being used in another water body, there is the
possibility that it will transfer an aquatic invasive species.
There is a long history of fish stocking in the area, and not surprisingly, needs to be considered in
invasive species discussions. It appears that Smallmouth Bass may not have been present in
Cameron and Cyprus Lakes prior to stocking in the 1940s and 1950s and the same can be said
for Walleye prior to stocking in the early 1970s (Beak Consultants Ltd. 1990). Rainbow Trout
was stocked on several occasions, including 1969, and Brook Trout was stocked in Cameron but
didn’t succeed (unpublished OMNR records).
17
Table 8. Aquatic invasive species threat to Cyprus Lake and potential vectors (C. Harpur,
personal communication) Invasive Species
Alewife
Common Carp
Curly-Leaved Pondweed
Eurasian Water-milfoil
European Common Reed
European Gammarid
Fishhook Waterflea
Goldfish
Purple Loosestrife
Quagga Mussel
Rainbow Smelt
Red Mysid
Round Goby
Rusty Crayfish
Sea Lamprey
Spiny-tailed Waterflea
Threespine Stickleback
Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
Water Hyacinth
Water Lettuce
Water Spangles
Watercress
Zebra Mussel
Bait
Aquarium/
Ornamental






Recreational
Boats




Scientific
Research


 
















 
































Colonization
Threat
Low
Low
High
High
High
Low
High
Moderate
Moderate
High
Low
Low
Moderate
High
Low
High
Low
Moderate
Moderate
Low
Low
Low
High
7. CulturalContext
The northern peninsula has been occupied by people since the Paleo Period (11000 B.P. to 9000
B.P). Much of the early occupation was believed to be nomadic and along the coast. The Archaic
Period (9000 B.P. to 2500 B.P.) is characterized by the use of lithic (stone tool) materials and
many of the surveys of the area have focussed on the former Lake Nipissing shoreline and the
maritime adaptation of the culture (Heritage Quest Inc. 1994). The Woodland Period (2800 B.P.
– 400 B.P.) is characterized by ceramics and interactions of Odawa and Iroquoian populations is
evident (Heritage Quest Inc. 1994, Molnar 1997).
In the vicinity of BPNP there are 165 registered archaeological sites and they represent a
continuum of human activity for the past 9,500 years (Heritage Quest Inc. 1994) . The first
archaeological survey of the area was completed in 1972 and failed to produce any finds. In
1973, a more intensive survey was completed and of particular importance was the discovery of
three aceramic (i.e., possibly Archaic period) chipping station sites along the bedrock ridges to
the west of Marr Lake. To date, there are no known archaeological sites in the interior of the
area. A portage trial into Cameron Lake from Dorcas Bay was noted in 1880 (Hamalainen et al.
1973).
18
In 1855 the township was surveyed. Cyprus Lake was named to commemorate the island of
Cyprus being ceded to Great Britain as associated with the Crimean War, 1854-56. Cameron
Lake, originally named Lake Kent, was named after John Cameron of Southampton a man well
known to people throughout the peninsula during the early days of settlement (Robertson 1906).
In 1870 the Cook and Brother Logging Company, one of Canada`s largest companies in the late
19th century, were issued a license to log. Pine was most prized and in their first year almost
89,000 cubic feet of white pine was removed from St. Edmunds Township. They established a
logging shanty at the west end of Cameron Lake and a road from Bury Road to Dorcas Bay
(Kelly and Kischak 1992).
Logging coupled with wildfires, including a catastrophic one in 1908, transformed the landscape
from mature forest to early successional, with a significant loss of pine and hemlock in the
species composition (Suffling et al. 2003).
In 1968 Cyprus Lake Provincial Park was established, including a 242 site campground. No
showers or electrical hook-up were installed. In 1987, the provincial park was transferred to the
federal government to establish Bruce Peninsula National Park.
Motor boats are permitted on Cameron Lake, but gas powered motors are not permitted on
Cyprus, Horse or Marr Lakes. Canoes, kayaks, wind surfers, sail boats, etc... are permitted on all
the lakes. A significant concern relates to the fact that boats can be used on Lake Huron and
while they are still wet be re-launched in the area lakes, potentially introducing non-native
species.
The provincial government has identified Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) within
the area. Cameron Lake Dunes, Cameron Lake Fen, and Little Cove-Cave Point (encompasses
Horse and Marr Lakes) are life science ANSIs (Riley et al. 1996). Most of the area, with the
exception of Cameron Lake and its western shore, is within the Niagara Escarpment Plan area,
which also defines the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve
(http://www.escarpment.org). BPNP is also a “Dark Sky Preserve” recognized by the Royal
Astronomical Society of Canada (http://www.rasc.ca/ ).
FishRegulations
All the lakes are accessible to fishing and are managed under the Ontario Recreational Fishing
Regulations, not the Canada National Parks Act (Table 9).
19
Table 9. Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations for Cameron, Cyprus, Horse, and Marr Lakes.
Limits (S = Standard License, C= Conservation License)
Species
Open Season
Walleye
S - 4; not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in
Jan. 1 to Mar. 15 & 2nd Sat.
C - 2; not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.)
in May to Dec. 31
Smallmouth Bass
4th Sat. in June to Nov. 30
S–6
C-2
Yellow Perch
Open all year
S – 50
C - 25
Sunfish
Open all year
S – 50
C - 25

Live Bait: baitfish, leopard frogs, crayfish, and leeches can be used as per the provincial
regulations. It is illegal to release any live bait or dump the contents of a bait bucket,
including the water, into any waters or within 30 m of any waters.

Legal Baitfish Species: Blacknose shiner, Blackchin shiner, Bluntnose minnow, Brassy
minnow, Central stoneroller, Common shiner, Creek chub, Eastern blacknose dace,
Emerald shiner, Fallfish, Fathead minnow, Finescale dace, Golden shiner, Hornyhead
chub, Lake chub, Longnose dace, Mimic shiner, Northern redbelly dace, Pearl dace,
Redfin shiner, River chub, Rosyface shiner, Sand shiner, Spotfin shiner, Spottail shiner,
Striped shiner, Longnose sucker, Northern hog sucker, Shorthead redhorse, Silver
redhorse, White sucker, Central mudminnow, Lake herring (cisco),Trout-Perch, Brook
stickleback, Ninespine stickleback, Threespine stickleback, Mottled sculpin, Slimy
sculpin, Blackside darter, Fantail darter, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Least darter,
Rainbow darter, River darter, Tessellated darter, and Logperch
FishConsumptionGuidelines
The provincial government monitors and publishes fish consumption guidelines for Cameron and
Cyprus Lakes (Ministry of the Environment 2011). The guidelines are based on an assessment
various species and sizes (Table 10). Only mercury is tested for in the fish tissue from these
lakes, where the risk warrants it, other contaminants are tested for in other lakes. Mercury
bioaccumulates in fish muscle. Of note, larger Walleye (> 40 cm) and Smallmouth Bass (> 35
cm) from Cyprus Lake should not be eaten by the sensitive population (i.e., women of
childbearing age and children under 15).
20
Table 10. Fish consumption guidelines based on an assessment of mercury concentrations (Ministry of the
Environment 2011). The table provides the number of meals per month for various fish sizes. Each meal represents a
percentage of monthly intake (e.g., 1 meal of a fish with a value of 4 = 25% of recommended intake).
A. Cyprus Lake
B. Cameron Lake
8. AdditionalResources
Several on-line resources provide additional background and reference material (Table 11).
21
Table 11. Additional resources
Name
Description
A. Background Reports
CPAWS,
An atlas of the northern Bruce Peninsula to
Community Atlas
support conservation planning.
Sources of
Forum proceedings provide locally focussed
Knowledge
papers on geology, archaeology, oral history,
Proceedings
GIS, birds, fishes, plants, planning, etc...
State of the Park
Parks Canada report based on monitoring
report
ecological integrity and visitor experience
Lake Huron
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
provides additional resources and reports on
such things as invasive species and restoration.
B. Data
Air Photos and Maps Bruce County “Map Factory”, build a map
complete with ownership and high resolution
imagery.
Geological Maps
Ontario Geological Survey Google Earth based
geological maps for Ontario.
Species Data
Natural Heritage Information Centre contains
biodiversity and natural area data.
URL
http://wildlandsleague.org/display.aspx?
pid=72&cid=225
http://www.sourcesofknowledge.ca/
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pnnp/on/bruce/plan.aspx
http://www.lakehuron.on.ca/
http://216.110.239.69:615/website/Bruce
CountyLocator/locator.asp
http://www.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mines/ogs
_earth_e.asp
http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/
9. References
Beak Consultants Ltd. 1990. Sport Fish Management Study - Bruce Peninsula National Park. . BEAK Ref. 2545.1,
Canadian Park Service.
Blasco, S. M. 2001. Geological history of Fathom Five National Marine Park over the past 15,000 years. Pages 4562 in S. Parker and M. Munawar, editors. Ecology, Culture and Conservation of a Protected Area: Fathom
Five National Marine Park, Canada. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Brunton, F. R. 2009. Project Unit 08-004. Update of Revisions to the Early Silurian Stratigraphy of the Niagara
Escarpment: Integration of Sequence Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Hydrogeology to Delineate
Hydrogeologic Units.
Brunton, F. R. and C. Brintnell. 2011. Project Unit 08-004. Final Update of Early Silurian Stratigraphy of the
Niagara Escarpment and Correlation with Subsurface Units Across Southwestern Ontario and the Great
Lakes Basin. Ontario Geological Survey, .
Charlton, M. N., J. E. Milne, W. G. Booth, and F. Chiocchio. 1993. Lake Erie offshore in 1990 - restoration and
resilience in the central basin. Journal of Great Lakes Research 19:291-309.
Coker, G. A., C. B. Portt, and C. K. Minns. 2001. Morphological and Ecological Characteristics of Canadian
Freshwater Fishes. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2554:iv+89p.
Cowan, W. R. and D. R. Sharpe. 2007. Surficial geology of the Bruce Peninsula, southern Ontario. Ontario
Geological Service.
Cowell, D. W. 1977. Karst Geomorphology of the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario. McMaster University, Hamilton.
Cowell, D. W. and D. C. Ford. 1983. Karst hydrology of the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. Journal of
Hydrology 61:163-168.
Cramer, B. D., C. E. Brett, M. J. Melchin, P. Ma¨nnik, M. A. Kleffner, P. I. McLaughlin, D. K. Loydell, A.
Munnecke, L. Jeppsson, C. Corradini, F. R. Brunton, and M. R. Saltzman. 2011. Revised correlation of
Silurian Provincial Series of North America with global and regional chronostratigraphic units and
d13Ccarb chemostratigraphy. Lethaia 44:185-202.
Geomatics International Inc. 2005. Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park Avifaunal
Conservation Plan. Prepared for Parks Canada, Tobermory, Ontario.
Hamalainen, P., V. Pelshea, and D. Spittal. 1973. Bruce Peninsula: Archaeological Survey, 1973. Ontario
Government.
Harpur, C. 2010. Assessing the natural variability in the fish communities of the lakes of the northern Bruce
Peninsula. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
22
Heritage Quest Inc. 1994. Review and Assessment of Known Archaeological Resources on the Bruce Peninsula,
Grey and Bruce Counties, Ontario. Prepared for Parks Canada, Kingston, Ontario.
Janse, J. H., M. Scheffer, L. Lijklema, L. Van Liere, J. S. Sloot, and W. M. Mooij. 2010. Estimating the critical
phosphorus loading of shallow lakes with the ecosystem model PCLake: Sensitivity, calibration and
uncertainty. Ecological Modelling 221:654-665.
Johnson, L. E., A. Ricciardi, and J. T. Carlton. 2001. Overland dispersal of aquatic invasive species: A risk
assessment of transient recreational boating. Ecological Applications 11:1789-1799.
Kaiser, J. 1994. The Flora of the Bruce Peninsula National Park and Vicinity, including the Tobermory Islands.
Prepared for Parks Canada, Tobermory, Ontario.
Keller, R. P. and D. M. Lodge. 2007. Species invasions from commerce in live aquatic organisms: Problems and
possible solutions. BioScience 57:428-436.
Kelly, C. and V. Kischak. 1992. A Land Use Study of the Bruce Peninsula with Emphasis on St. Edmunds
Township. Parks Canada.
Kor, P. S. G. and D. W. Cowell. 1998. Evidence for catastrophic subglacial meltwater sheetflood events on the
Bruce Peninsula, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 35:1180-1202.
Kor, P. S. G., D. W. Cowell, P. F. Karrow, and F. J. R. Kristjansson. 2012. The Cabot Head Archipelago: evidence
of glacial Lake Algonquin on the Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
49:576-589.
Lewis, M., C.F., P. F. Karrow, S. M. Blasco, F. M. G. McCarthy, J. W. King, T. C. Moore, and D. K. Rea. 2008.
Evolution of lakes in the Huron basin: Deglaciation to present. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management
11:127 - 136.
Mackie, G. 2004. Applied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts, 2nd Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque,
Iowa.
McCrea, R. C. and D. W. Cowell. 1991. Surface water quality of Bruce Peninsula and Fathom Five National
Parks.in J. H. M. Willison, S. Bondrup-Nielsen, C. Drysdale, T. B. Herman, N. W. P. Munroe, and T. K.
Pollock, editors. Science and the Management of Protected Areas, May 14-19, 1991. Elsevier Acadia
University, Nova Scotia.
Ministry of the Environment. 2002. Georgian Bay Air Quality Study 2001. Environmental Monitoring and
Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto.
Ministry of the Environment. 2011. Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish, 2011-2012. Ontario Ministry of the
Environment, Toronto.
Molnar, J. S. 1997. Interpreting fishing strategies of the Odawa. University at Albany, SUNY.
Nalepa, T. F., D. L. Fanslow, and G. A. Lang. 2009. Transformation of the offshore benthic community in Lake
Michigan: recent shift from the native amphipod Diporeia spp. to the invasive mussel Dreissena
rostriformis bugensis. Freshwater Biology 54:466-479.
Parks Canada. 2011. Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada: State of the Park Report 2010. Gatineau, Quebec.
Puth, L. M. and D. M. Post. 2005. Studying invasion: have we missed the boat? Ecology Letters 8:715-721.
Riley, J. L., J. V. Jalava, and S. Varga. 1996. Ecological Survey of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
Volume I. Significant Natural Areas. Volume II. Technical Appendices., Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, Southcentral Region., Peterborough, Ontario.
Robertson, N. 1906. The History of the County of Bruce and of the Minor Municipalities Therein, Province of
Ontario, Canada. William Briggs, Toronto.
Rothlisberger, J. D., W. L. Chadderton, J. McNulty, and D. M. Lodge. 2010. Aquatic Invasive Species Transport via
Trailered Boats: What Is Being Moved, Who Is Moving It, and What Can Be Done. Fisheries 35:121-132.
S.L. Ross Environmental Ltd., Mosquin Bio-Information Ltd., and Horler Information Inc. 1989. Bruce Peninsula
National Park Biophysical Survey. Canadian Parks Service, Tobermory.
Scheffer, M. 2004. Ecology of shallow lakes. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA.
Scheffer, M., S. Carpenter, J. A. Foley, C. Folke, and B. Walker. 2001. Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems. Nature
413:591-596.
Schueler, F. W., D. M. Tomes, and A. Karstad. 1992. Herpetology of the Outer Bruce Peninsula, Volume 1:
Introduction & Site Accounts. Parks Canada, Tobermory.
Scott, D. and R. Suffling. 2000. Climate Change and Canada's National Park System: A screening level assessment.
Adaptation and Impacts Research Group, Environment Canada, and University of Waterloo.
Suffling, R., M. Evans, and A. Perera. 2003. Presettlement forest in soutern Ontario: Ecosystems measured through
a cultural prisim. The Forestry Chronicle 79(3):485-501.
Suffling, R. and D. Scott. 2002. Assessment of climate change effects on Canada's National Park system.
Environmental monitoring and assessment 74:117-139.
Truscott, J. 2011. Beaver (Castor canadensis) colonization, wetland community change and resilience: Bruce
Peninsula National Park. Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC.
23
Werner, P. 2003. Reconstructing trophic state changes for shallow and deep lakes in a limestone region of Ontario,
Canada, using paleolimnological indicators. AAT NQ86248. Queen's University, Kingston
Werner, P., M. Chaisson, and J. P. Smol. 2005. Long-term limnological changes in six lakes with differing human
impacts from a limestone region in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Lake and reservoir management 21:436452.
Wetzel, R. G. 2001. Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, 3rd Edition. Academic Press, San Diego.
Young, V. H., R. E. Elliot, E. Hofstede, J. S. Dobbyn, and R. E. Harris. 1996. Bruce Peninsula National Park
Mammal Inventory. Volume IV. Final Report., Prepared for Parks Canada by LGL Ltd., Tobermory,
Ontario.
24
Appendix1.Carbondioxide‐bicarbonate‐carbonate
equilibriumandmarlformation
Four forms of carbon dioxide in freshwater:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)
Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
Carbonate (CO3-2)
The first form, C02, is required by plants (e.g., algae) for photosynthesis and with the other
forms, plays an important role in affecting lake pH, alkalinity and buffering capacity.
Equation 1. Carbon dioxide readily combines with water to form carbonic acid (e.g., rain water
pH about 5.6). The symbol “↔” indicates that it is an equilibrium formula.
CO2 + H20 ↔ H2CO3
Equation 2. Carbonic acid weakly dissociates into bicarbonate and carbonate. The carbonate can
only exist in waters greater than pH 8.2.
H2CO3 ↔ HCO3- + H+ ↔ CO3-2 + 2 H+
Equation 3. As carbonic acid flows through the soil and comes into contact with limestone, it
reacts with the calcium carbonate to put calcium and bicarbonate ions into solution.
H2CO3 + CaCO3 → Ca2+ + 2 HCO3Equations 4 and 5. Marl formation. Calcium and bicarbonate ions react to form soluble calcium
bicarbonate with equilibrium carbon dioxide. At pH levels greater than 8.2 any CO2 removed
from the water by off-gassing or photosynthesis will cause calcium carbonate to precipitate out
forming marl.
Ca2+ + 2 HCO3- ↔ Ca(HCO3)2
Ca(HCO3)2 ↔ CaCO3 ↓+ H2O + CO2
calcium
bicarbonate
calcium
carbonate
precipitate
Used by plants
25
Appendix2.AlkalinityandBuffering
1. Hardness
The concept originated in earlier days to describe the soap consuming power of water. That is
hard water (> 120 mg CaCO3/l) is “hard” to lather because the cations of calcium and
magnesium cause soap to precipitate. While soft water (<60 mg CaCO3/l) is relatively easy to
lather since little soap precipitates. Hardness relates to the cations of calcium, magnesium, and to
some extent iron, and is usually expressed as mg CaCO3. It includes, CaCO3, Ca(HCO3)2,
MgCO3, Mg(HCO3)2, CaSO4, MgSO4, CaCl2, and MgCl2. Of interest, boiling water converts the
carbonates (CO3-2) and bicarbonates (HCO3-) to carbon dioxide and calcium is deposited as
“scale”.
2. Alkalinity
Alkalinity is a measure of the ability to resist drops in pH. Resistance is due to the presence of
anions of carbonates, bicarbonates (and occasionally hydroxides). Again, hardness relates to
calcium and magnesium while alkalinity to carbonates and bicarbonates. The compounds that
contribute to alkalinity are: CaCO3, Ca(HCO3)2, MgCO3 and Mg(HCO3)2.
3. Buffering
The strong acids associated with acid rain, like sulphuric acid (H2SO4) or nitric acid (HNO3),
may be converted to much weaker acids like carbonic acid depending on the alkalinity of the
lake or river.
a. Hydroxides are converted to water:
H2SO4 + Ca(OH)2 → CaSO4 + H2O
b. Carbonates are converted to bicarbonates:
H2SO4 + 2 CaCO3 → CaSO4 + Ca(HCO3)2
c. Bicarbonates are converted to carbonic acid:
H2SO4 + Ca(HCO3)2 → CaSO4 + 2 H2CO3
26
Appendix3.Lakemaps(preparedbyJeffTruscott)
27
28
29
Appendix4.Fishhabitatcharacteristics
Data in the following table is sourced from Coker et al. (2001). The Ontario Freshwater Fishes Life History Database
(http://www.fishdb.ca/) is also a valuable resource.
Common
Name
Banded
Killifish
Trophic
Class
invertivore;
planktivore
Blackchin
Shiner
Tolerances
Environment
tolerant of low dissolved oxygen
and high water temperature (38°C);
moderately tolerant of turbidity
benthopelagic
invertivore
intolerant of turbidity, siltation and
loss of aquatic vegetation
benthopelagic
Bluntnose
Minnow
detritivore
benthopelagic
Brook
Stickleback
planktivore;
invertivore
Central
Mudminnow
invertivore
tolerant of siltation and organic
enrichment; moderately tolerant of
turbidity
tolerant of low dissolved oxygen,
acidity and alkalinity; intolerant of
turbidity; often only species
occurring in marginal habitats
low dissolved oxygen (<1 mg/L);
low pH; high water temperature
(29°C)
Common
Shiner
invertivore
tolerant of turbidity
benthopelagic
Iowa Darter
invertivore
intolerant of turbidity, but can
survive low dissolved oxygen (<1
mg/L
benthic
Johnny Darter
invertivore
benthic
Logperch
invertivore
tolerant of many organic and
inorganic pollutants; avoids
excessive siltation; moderately
tolerant of turbidity
moderately tolerant of turbidity
Longnose Gar
carnivore
tolerant of high water temperature,
turbidity and low dissolved oxygen
benthopelagic
benthic
benthic
benthopelagic
Habitat Characteristics
quiet, shallow, margins of lakes, ponds
and sluggish streams in areas with sand
and gravel substrates with patches of
aquatic macrophytes
nearshore of clear, vegetated lakes and
quiet pools and slow runs in creek and
small rivers with sandy substrates
sand and gravel bottom shallows of clear
lakes, creeks, rivers and ponds
small, boggy headwater streams, shallow
lake margins, ponds, and clear pools and
backwaters of creeks and small rivers.
Usually ass. with vegetation
heavily vegetated ponds, wetlands, bogs or
pools of small creeks and quiet, shallow
(0.5m) areas of lakes with mud and
organic substrates
pools near riffles in clear, cool creeks and
small to medium rivers, and nearshore in
clear-water lakes
clear waters of lakes, and slow flowing
pools of creeks and small to medium
rivers, having rooted aquatic vegetation
and organic to sand substrates
sandy, silty, gravelly, sometime rocky,
pools of creeks and small to medium
rivers, and sandy shores of lakes
sand, gravel, or rocky beaches in lakes and
over similar substrates in creeks and
rivers, avoiding silted areas and swift
currents
vegetated, sluggish pools, backwaters and
oxbows of medium to large rivers and
weedy, quiet shallows of warm lakes with
silty, sandy substrates, often near logs of
brush piles
30
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phytophils
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phytophils
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Speleophils
Spawning
Months
June-August
June-August
June-August
Guarders: Nest
spawners:
Ariadnophils
May-July
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phytophils
April-May
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Lithophils
May-June
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phyto-lithophils
April-June
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Speleophils
May-June
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Psammophils
May-June
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phytophils
May-June
Common
Name
Mimic Shiner
Trophic
Class
invertivore;
herbivore
Northern
Redbelly
Dace
Pumpkinseed
invertivore;
planktivore
Tolerances
moderately intolerant of turbidity
Habitat Characteristics
benthopelagic
sandy pools and creeks and small to large
rivers,open waters and quiet backwaters of
lakes
lakes, bogs, ponds and pools of creeks
with organic substrates and aquatic
vegetation, usually stained water
warm, shallows of lakes and ponds, quiet,
pools of creeks and small rivers, with
aquatic vegetation and organic debris
vegetated areas of shallow lakes and pools
of creeks and rivers
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phyto-lithophils
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phytophils
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Polyphils
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Lithophils
May-June
clear, gravel-bottom runs and flowing
pools of small to large rivers and shallow
(5-7m), rocky and sandy area of lakes
lakes (at depths up to 21m), and pools,
backwaters and runs of medium to large
rivers
pools and riffles of creeks and rivers,
warm shallow lakes and embayments of
larger lakes
lakes, ponds and pools of creeks and small
to large rivers with moderate aquatic veg.
And clear water
Guarders: Nest
spawners: Lithophils
May-June
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Litho-pelagophils
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Lithophils
Nonguarders: Open
substratum spawners:
Phyto-lithophils
April-June
benthopelagic
invertivore;
carnivore
moderately tolerant of turbidity
benthopelagic
Rock Bass
invertivore;
carnivore
benthopelagic
Smallmouth
Bass
invertivore;
carnivore
Intolerant of low dissolved oxygen
(<3 mg/L) and siltation; moderately
tolerant of turbidity; inhabit deep
water and remain in a condition of
semi-hibernation during the winter
moderately tolerant of turbidity;
intolerant of pH <6
Walleye
invertivore;
carnivore
moderately tolerant of turbidity
benthopelagic
White Sucker
invertivore;
detritivore
tolerant of pollution; moderately
tolerant of turbidity
benthic
Yellow Perch
invertivore;
carnivore
low dissolved oxygen; turbidity;
salinity; low pH
benthopelagic
benthopelagic
31
Reproductive Guild
Spawning
Months
June-July
Environment
May-July
May-August
April-June
April-May