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CONFERENCE PROGRAM

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Presentation # Date/ Location Session Authors Title

resentation 1Saturday 9:00Katimavik Room B

Rigler Lecture Pick, F. Blooming algae out of whack

Presentation 2Saturday 9:40Katimavik Room B

Stevenson Lecture Moore, J.W. Bi-directional connectivity in river networks

and watershed conservation

Presentation 3

Saturday 10:40Katimavik Room B

Joint Session

Smol, J.P.Kurek, J.Summers, J.C.Kirk, J.L.Muir, D.C.G. Wang, X.Evans, M.S.

Retrospective monitoring of the impacts of atmospheric deposition from oil sands development

Presentation 4


Joint Session

Gunn, J.Keller, W. Chookomolin Chookomolin Johnston, T.

Climate warming effects in sub-arctic rivers: building on traditional knowledge


Joint SessionTonn, W.ScrimgeourJones, N.

Reassessing habitat compensation of an arctic stream after 14 years: a half-full glass?

Presentation 6


Joint SessionTallman, R.Howland, K.Harris, L.N.

Polymorphism/ ecological speciation? – Arctic salmonoid ecotypes and resource development

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CCFFR GeneralReid, K.Nudds, T.Crawford, S.

Growing into an ecogenic approach to fisheries management in Canada: some tools and examples

Presentation 8

Saturday 13:00Katimavik Room A

Aquatic Sciences for Resource Development

Campana, S.E Adventures in the arctic: first steps towards avoiding the collapse of arctic lake trout

Presentation 9Saturday 13:00Janvier Room

Northern Science and Management Advances

Warner, L.Harper, P.Chiperzak, D.

A review of fisheries resources assessment methodology in the northern territories

Presentation 10


CCFFR GeneralPost, J.R.Arlinghaus, R.Ward, H.

Recruitment as an emergent property of juvenile ecology and life history evolution



Evans, M.S.De Boer, D.Jansen, K.Davies, M.Hazewinkel, R.Keith, H.McMaster, M.

Time trends in PAH’s in western Lake Athabasca and other lake sediments

Muir, D.



Chavarie, L.Howland, K.Harris, L.Gallagher, C.Tonn, W.

Sympatric polymorphism in lake trout in Great Bear Lake: extensive intra-lake morphological diversification at two spatial scale

Presentation 13


CCFFR General Mandrak, N. Changes in the Canadian freshwater fish fauna since 1973

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Ward, H.Post, J.Taylor, E.Sterling, G.

Assessing at-risk status of Athabasca River rainbow trout with poor resolution catch data



Guzzo, M.Cott, P.Chapelsky, A.Blanchfield, P.

Summer habitat and niche partitioning among predatory fish species in a sub-arctic lake

Presentation 16


CCFFR General

Neufeld, K.Poesch, M.Watkinson, D.Clayton, T.

Estimating capture probabilities of fishes experiencing severe changes in stream hydrology

Presentation 17



Palace, V.P.Friedrich, L.A. Halden, N.M.Pilgrim, N.L.Rasmussen, J.Ripley, L.Hontela, A.

Using selenium in otoliths to retrospectively build exposure models for three trout species



Callaghan, D.Blanchfield, P.Guzzo, M.Cott, P.

A spatiotemporal examination of lake trout spawning movements in northern boreal lakes

Presentation 19


CCFFR General Lennox, P.Rasmussen, J

Examining the link between fish biodiversity and biomass production in freshwater systems

Presentation 20



Zhu, X.Leonard, D.Howland, K.Carmichael, T.Tallman, R.

Fish community dynamics and environmental association: implication of decision making for sustainable fisheries in Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories



Dunmall, K.M.Mochnacz, N.Zimmerman, CReist, J.D.Lean, C.

Predicting the mechanism of establishment for Pacific salmon colonisations to the arctic

Presentation 22


CCFFR General Venturelli, P.Chezik, K.

The case for standardized base temperatures when applying degree-days to fish growth

Presentation 23 Saturday 14:40Katimavik Room A


Reist, J.Majewski, A.R,Atchison, S.P.MacPhee, S.A.

Marine fish communities in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

Young, R.J.



Harwood, L.A.Babaluk, J.A.

Overwintering and spawning areas of anadromous arctic char of the Hornaday River, NT


CCFFR General Samways, K.MCunjak, R.A.

An evaluation of marine-derived nutrient inputs from Atlantic anadromous fishes

Presentation Presentation 26



Veillard, M.Poesch, M.

Impacts of managed streams on the movement and bioenergetics of Rocky Mountain sculpin



Hyatt, C.Hille, K.Kovats, Z.Chisholm, V.

Monitoring design challenges for small lakes in Arctic watersheds


CCFFR GeneralCabana, G. Langevin, M.Glémet, H.

Sulfur isotopes as tracers of fish reliance on profundal detritic matter in lakes varying in hypoxia

Presentation 29



Maitland,B.M.Poesch, M.S.Anderson, A.E

Stream crossing assessment procedures as a tool for mitigating impacts on freshwater fish.

Presentation 30Sunday13:00Janvier Room


Swanson, H.Tonn, W. Johnston, J. Loseto, L. Power, M.Reist, J.

Trophic ecology of coastal fishes from Phillips Bay, Yukon Territory

Presentation 31


CCFFR GeneralHérault, A.Cabana, G.Rodríguez, M.

Bioenergetic efficiency of stocked brook char as revealed by isotopic turnover

Presentation 32



Cahill, C.Baki, A. Courtice, G.Erwin, A.Howland, K.Hulsman, M.Lunn, B.Noddin, F.Tonn, W.Uherek, C.Zhu, D.

Assessing responses of fish to habitat enhancement in barren lands streams



Morinville, G.Landry, F.Lee, C.

Successful creation of functional fish habitat as compensation for loss in a sub-arctic watershed

Presentation 34


CCFFR GeneralOligny-HébertEnders, EBoisclair, D

Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) metabolic response to daily fluctuations of temperature

Presentation 35 Saturday 16:20Katimavik


Cahill, C.Tonn, B.

Modelling the potential effects of climate change on Arctic grayling in Alberta

Room A

Presentation 36 Saturday 16:20Janvier Room


Robertson, D.Vecsei, P. Fitzsimons, J. Hood, A.

How many lake trout are in a small northern lake anyway?

Presentation 37Saturday 16:40Katimavik Room B

CCFFR GeneralPegg, J.Britton, J.R.Andreou, D.

Non-native invasive fish parasites in UK fisheries: perspectives oncology and management

Presentation 38



Tallman, R.F. Homage to Peter Larkin: Canadian arctic fisheries – an essay for northern ecologists



Johnston, T.A.Gunn, J.M.Keller, W.

The fish and fisheries of Ontario’s subarctic

Sunday 9:00Katimavik Room A

Management of Aquatic Resources through Aboriginal and Local Knowledge

Costello, A.Vogt, E.Lough, J.

Kitimat: The town that industry built and is still building... but is there room for trout?

Presentation 41 Sunday 10:40Janvier Room CCFFR General Imrie, K.L.

Tallman, R.F.Trophic shift of Arctic char with the arrival of capelin in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut

Presentation 42Sunday 9:00Katimavik Room B

SCL General

Snow, A. Vandenberg, JChisholm, V.Hood, A.

Water quality modelling in northern Canada

Presentation 43Sunday 9:20Katimavik Room A


Stevens, C.Popowich, R.O’Neil, J.Swift, D.Adjun, B.

Community stewardship and low-flow channels for an Arctic char run in Nunavut, Canada

Presentation 44 Sunday 11:00Janvier Room CCFFR General Crook, K.

Davoren, G.

Influence of fish density and predator behaviour on anti-predator responses of capelin (Mallotus villosus)

Presentation 45Sunday 9:20 Katimavik Room B

SCL General

Hille, K.Kovats, Z.Harris, K.Hood, A.

How important is the littoral zone in shallow northern lakes?



Chiperzak, D.Warner, L.

Use of traditional knowledge in environmental assessments: is it really that hard?

Presentation 47 Sunday 11:20Janvier Room CCFFR General Maxner, E.

Davoren, G.

Intrinsic factors that effects the timing of arrival of capelin (Mallotus villosus) to the spawning grounds


SCL GeneralBolduc, P.Bertolo, A.Pinell-Alloul, B

Macrophytes structural complexity effect on zooplankton communities structure


CCFFR GeneralPanayi, D.Vecsei, P.Ash, G

Fisheries studies at Bluefish Hydro, Yellowknife

Presentation 50 Sunday 10:20Janvier Room CCFFR General Downs, K.

Davoren, G.

Functional relationships between multiple predators and capelin densities in coastal Newfoundland


SCL General

Jardine , T.Baulch, H.Janz, D.Weber, L.Steeves, K.Keeping, D.Bast, M.West, R.

Biological response to flooding in the Saskatchewan River


CCFFR General

He, X.Wilson, C.Wellband, K.Heath, D.

Transcriptional profiling of two Atlantic salmon strains for potential reintroduction in Lake Ontario

Presentation 53 Sunday 9:00Janvier Room CCFFR General

Faithful, J.Azim, E.Chisholm, V.

In-situ automated monitoring of diel physico-chemical fluctuations in northern lakes

Sunday 10:40Katimavik Room B

SCL General

Thienpont, J.Perreault, J.Armstrong, T.Kokelj, S.Blais, J.Smol, J.Pisaric, M.

Assessing the timing and impact of recent lake expansion in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary


CCFFR GeneralZhang, F.Reid, K.Nudds, T.

Effects of walleye predation on recruitment dynamics of Lake Erie yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Sunday 9:20Janvier Room CCFFR General Tran, L.

Reist, J.Life-history differences in Dolly Varden charr (Salvelinus malma) mercury concentrations


SCL General

MacLeod, J.Keller, W.Gunn, J.Patterson, A.

Chemical properties of lakes in the Ring of Fire and northwestern Ontario


CCFFR General

Rennie, M.D.Claramunt, R.Weidel, B.Dunlop, E.

Changes in habitat occupancy among Great Lakes lake whitefish populations


CCFFR General Chapman, P.M Are Arctic fish and their prey more sensitive to contaminants than in temperate regions?


SCL GeneralKielstra, B.Arnott, S.Gunn, J.

Thinking outside the lake: multiple scales of amphipod recovery

Presentation 61 Sunday 11:40Janvier Room CCFFR General Davoren, G.

Halden, N.Population structure of Newfoundland capelin inferred from otolith chemistry


Sakamoto, K.Dew, W.A.Hecnar, S.J.Pyle, G.G.

Effects of lampricide on the olfactory response of lake sturgeon (Acipenserful vescens)

Presentation 63 Sunday 11:40Katimavik

SCL General Luek, ARowan, D.

Limnology of coal mining end-pit lakes in Alberta, Canada

Room B Rasmussen, J.


CCFFR General

Wilson, K.L.Matthias, B.Barbour, A.B. Ahrens, R.N. Tuten, TAllen, M.S.

Estimating von Bertalanffy growth from multiple sample gears in size-structured populations

Presentation 65Saturday15:40Janvier Room

CCFFR GeneralMcCandlessPaterson, M.Vaughan, S.

Experimental Lakes Area and IISD: a new chapter for ELA research


SCL General

Poulain, A.J.Chiasson-Gould, S.Blais, J.

Dissolved organic matter kinetically controls Hg bioavailability to bacteria

Presentation 67Sunday 13:20 Katimavik Room A

CCFFR GeneralRosenfeld, J.SBeecher, H. Ptolemy, R.

Instream flow predictions from frequency vs. bioenergetic-based habitat suitability curves

Sunday 13:20 Janvier Room CCFFR General

Geisler, M.ERennie, M.Gillis, D.

Dreissenid mussels: potential threat to walleye (Sander vitreus) habitat?


SCL General Darwish, T.Machtans, H.

Slimy sculpin and arsenic – can they co-exist?


CCFFR GeneralPapenfuss, J.Venturelli, P.Cross, T.

Managing water levels in the Namakan reservoir: effects on walleye spawning habitat

Sunday 13:40 Janvier Room CCFFR General Vecsei, P.

Panayi, D. The Coregonid fishes of Bluefish Lake


SCL General

Korosi, J.Griffiths, K.Douglas, M.S.Michelutti, N.Smol, J.P.Blais, J.

Does ice cover regime influence sedimentary mercury accumulation in high arctic lakes?


CCFFR General

Harvey-Lavoie, S.Cooke, S. Boisclair, D.

Northern pike daily movement patterns in a natural and a regulated hydro peaking river

Sunday 14:00 Janvier Room CCFFR General

Ofukany, A.James, L.Shurgot, C.Vicente, D.Christensen, B

Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) populations in the Fond du Lac River, Saskatchewan


SCL General

Blais, J.M.Houben A.Eickmeyer, D.Deison, R.Kokelj, S.Kimpe, L.E.Smol, J.P.

Atmospherically-derived contaminants in lakes affected by thermokarstin the Mackenzie delta uplands, NT


CCFFR GeneralSatre, N.Bourque, G.Boisclair, D.

Comparison of sampling methods to develop fish habitat use models of a Manitoba reservoir

Presentation 77 Sunday 14:20 CCFFR General Stefura, C. Arctic Grayling in the Upper Pembina River

Janvier Room O’Neil, J.Monk, K. System – a population on the edge


SCL General

Mahboob, S.Al-Misned, F.AlGhanim, K.Ahmed, Z.

Effect of dietary protein levels on the growth performance and nutrient utilization in fingerlings of Catla catla


CCFFR GeneralSereda, J.Pollock, M. McMaster, G.

Re colonization of bigmouth buffalo in the Upper Qu’Appelle River


Chapman, P.MMcPherson, C.Elphick, J.

Assessing effects of TDS from the Snap Lake Diamond Mine to freshwater fish and their prey


SCL General

Robidoux, M. Merante, A. Derry, A.M. Arts, M.T. Kainz, M. del Giorgio, P.

Ecological response to altered basal resources in a zooplankton metacommunity

Presentation 82


CCFFR General

Remnant, R.Cooley, M.Macdonald, D.Coughlin, W.Swanson, G.

Manitoba’s Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP)

Presentation 83Sunday 15:00Janvier Room CCFFR General

Al-Ansari, A.Blais, J.Saleem, A.Kimpe, L.E.Trudeau, V.

The detection of estrone and 17 beta-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) in fish.


SCL GeneralBassa. S.Makanga, B.Bugeny, F.W.

Appropriate hook size and bait for exploiting Nile perch, Lates niloticus L. in Lake Victoria (East Africa)

Presentation 1: Blooming algae out of whackSaturday 9:00 Katimavik Room B Rigler LectureFrancis [email protected] Department, University of OttawaAlgal communities at the base of aquatic ecosystems are typically highly diverse and dauntingly complex. However, at times select taxa come to dominate biomass and primary production enabling us to develop predictions, in the “Riglerian” sense, and to identify causal mechanisms. Cyanobacteria are one broadly predictable group that comes to dominate both extremes of the trophic gradient of lakes. In oligotrophic to mesotrophic waters tiny cells at the limit of the light microscope do the bulk of the primary production: the ubiquitous picocyanobacteria are rarely nutrient limited and more often under top down control. At the other extreme in nutrient enriched lakes cyanobacteria dominate in the form of larger often bloom-forming taxa with members notorious for the production of hepatotoxins and neurotoxins with negative effects on wildlife, human health and regional economies. Around the world including Canada, cyanobacterial blooms appear to be on the rise largely as a result of ongoing eutrophication and likely exacerbated by climate warming or changes in food web structure. However why some blooms are toxic and others are not is more difficult to predict. This talk will focus on my current challenges with students and colleagues in determining the who, the where, the when and most importantly the why of toxigenic cyanobacteria. This involves an expanding tool box of limnological and phycological approaches with novel applications of molecular biology and analytical chemistry - and this against a backdrop of lengthening field seasons and expanding public outreach.

Presentation 2: Bi-directional connectivity in river networks and watershed conservationSaturday 9:40 Katimavik Room B Stevenson LectureJonathan [email protected] Simon Fraser University, Earth to Ocean Research Group, Burnaby, BC Movements of water, materials, and animals can connect dendritic river networks. These connections occur in both upstream and downstream directions. Gravity moves water and the materials it carries, downstream from headwaters towards the ocean. In addition, migratory fishes such as anadromous salmon can connect downstream habitats to upstream habitats. These connections can operate on large spatial scales; especially so in Canada that contains many of the remaining large intact river systems in the world. In many watersheds, First Nations, commercial, and recreational fisheries harvest migratory salmon whose life-history cycle unfolds over hundreds if not thousands of kilometers. My research group has been studying the Skeena River and Fraser River systems; large watersheds in British Columbia, Canada. In these watersheds, we have been examining the implications of these bi-directional linkages for the stability and productivity of salmon and their fisheries. Our research suggests that the dendritic structure of river networks may confer stability to river populations. However, anthropogenic alterations are poised to further degrade habitats throughout these watersheds. Simple scenarios of watershed degradation illustrate that upstream and downstream degradation could lead to cascading consequences that spread throughout watersheds. Conserving the productivity and stability of natural resources in watersheds may necessitate aligning scales of policy and management with the scale of watershed dynamics.

mailto:[email protected]


Presentation 3: Retrospective monitoring of the impacts of atmospheric deposition from oil sands developmentSaturday 10:40 Katimavik Room B Joint SessionJohn Smol, Joshua Kurek, Jamie Summers, Jane Kirk2, Derek Muir2, Xiaowa Wang2, and Marlene S. Evans2

[email protected] Biology Department, Queen’s University; Environment Canada/Aquatic Contaminants Research Division2

The lack of past systematic monitoring within the Athabasca oil sands (Alberta) requires indirect approaches, such as paleolimnology, to determine pre-development conditions and pollution trajectories. Here, we summarize our paleolimnological assessments to date of contaminants, primary production, and invertebrate bio indicators in a strategically-selected set of 11 study lakes. Increased alkylated PAHs and DBTs are robust markers of the expansion of oil sands operations. Higher lake primary production at all study sites after ~1980 coincides with rising oil sands production and warmer-than-average temperatures. Generally, our bio indicators show responses to greater primary production. The timing and nature of assemblage changes suggest that oil sands operations and climate warming may be contributing jointly to enhanced production at several of the most impacted sites. Our multi-proxy data, collected across a broad spatial(>100 kms) and temporal (last two centuries) scale, reveal how paleolimnological techniques can be used to enhance monitoring programs and provide necessary environmental perspective.

Presentation 4: Climate warming effects in subarctic rivers: building on traditional knowledgeSaturday 11:00 Katimavik Room B Joint SessionJohn Gunn, W. Keller, A. Chookomolin2, G. Chookomolin2, and T. [email protected] Freshwater Ecology Unit, Laurentian University; Weenusk First Nation2

The Hudson Bay rivers are important sources of food for coastal First Nations communities in the form of anadromous stocks of whitefish and brook trout. These migratory fish feed heavily in the marine environment before returning to the freshwater to reproduce and overwinter. Anadromous fish are not only a highly nutritious food source but they also tend to have lower levels of Hg and other contaminants than do freshwater forms. Current climate models suggest that these northern ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperature changes through rapidly rising air temperatures as well as the loss of the moderating effects of sea ice. Expected increases in evaporation and a shift to more rain in winter and earlier spring runoff, as well as the potential release of Hg from melting permafrost and drying wetlands, all combine to create uncertainty and worry about the future of these valuable anadromous stocks. However, the precision of model predictions in such complex systems can be very low and there is a pressing need for more direct survey data and monitoring of trends. Here, traditional knowledge (TK) can provide the important starting points for such studies, and local observations can also profoundly change the questions ecologists ask. For example, in the Sutton River, local community members identified warming and drying trends that have been associated with recent mortality impacts on migratory trout (Gunn and Snucins 2010, Hydrobiologia 650:79-84), but they also suggested that the habitat in the river was changing ( more weed growth) and that northern pike were now abundant in this famous brook trout river. The arrival or expansion of pike, a potential competitor or predator, with a wider thermal tolerance than trout, represents a phenomenon much like the northern movement of warm water smallmouth bass into coldwater lake trout lakes. This presentation provides preliminary findings from a collaborative project designed to follow up on these local observations by conducting a detailed thermal survey of this 120 km river and a sampling of pike throughout the system for analysis of Hg and stable isotopes.



Presentation 5: Reassessing habitat compensation of an arctic stream after 14 years: a half-full glass?Saturday 11:20 Katimavik Room B Joint SessionWilliam Tonn, Garry Scrimgeour, Nicholas Jones [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources2

Determining how long effective habitat compensation should take is a challenge for resource managers in Canada. Using natural streams as references, we examined the short- (1-3 years) and longer-term (14 years) effectiveness of a 3.4-km constructed stream in the NWT Barren lands. Various forms of organic matter remained below-reference levels after 14 years, although there were some improvements in riparian vegetation and coarse particulate organic matter. Leaf processing rates converged with those in reference streams after 14 years, but reference streams still had superior leaf retention abilities. By Year 14, macro-invertebrate composition showed some convergence with reference streams, although densities generally lagged. Growth of young-of-year arctic grayling increased over the early years, but remained well below contemporary reference-stream levels. Our data thus revealed improvements in some performance metrics by Year 14, but other metrics still fell short, relative to reference streams, raising questions about how and when to define successful compensation.

Presentation 6: Polymorphism/ecological speciation? – Arctic salmonoid ecotypes and resource developmentSaturday 11:40 Katimavik Room B Joint SessionRoss Tallman, Kimberly Howland, Les N. [email protected] and Oceans CanadaOur research has shown that charrs in the Canadian arctic such as lake char and arctic charr have intra-specific ecotypes with distinct life cycles and substantial differences in vital rates. Lake charrs in Great Bear Lake have 5 distinct morphs which appear to occupy different trophic niches. Arctic charr show both anadromous and resident non-migratory forms as well as land locked populations. We consider the ecological roles of these forms, their variation in productivity and whether they are indicative of a process of speciation or reflect only phenotypic plasticity. The term ecological speciation has been used to describe a process of intra-specific differentiation in the absence of geographical barriers. Ecological speciation has significant implications for the management of fisheries because production parameters such as growth and reproductive output could change during the process of differentiation. We outline the importance of considering whether ecological speciation processes are occurring in harvested species.

Presentation 7: Growing into an ecogenic approach to fisheries management in Canada: some tools and examplesSaturday 13:00 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralKevin Reid, Tom Nudds, Stephen Crawford2

[email protected] Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph; Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association2

Henry Regier defined ecogeny as a complex field of study that subsumes implicitly-shared conceptual and practical traditions in ecology, economics, ekistics, ecosophy and other eco-studies. Interdisciplinary approaches to fisheries assessment and management, and the emergence of new tools and techniques, are contributing to move fisheries management toward an ecogenic approach. The tools of an ecogenic approach to fisheries management include the incorporation of aboriginal, local and expert knowledge via hierarchically structured Bayesian Belief Networks, participatory modelling, value of information analysis, adaptive management and decision analysis. The utility of these tools for the integration of knowledge from a wide range of disciplines into fisheries assessment and management is discussed. Examples of the application of these tools from elsewhere, and from our own work in the Great Lakes and Lake Nipigon are used to outline the benefits of using these tools and techniques to grow into the ecogenic approach toward fisheries management.




Presentation 8: Adventures in the arctic: first steps towards avoiding the collapse of arctic lake troutSaturday 13:00 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentSteven [email protected] Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NSLake trout are the most abundant freshwater fish in the Canadian arctic, and are rapidly becoming as much of a target for recreational fishers as they are further south. However, there is virtually no assessment or management of catches, despite the suspicion that the thousands of lake populations are slow-growing and very sensitive to overfishing. As a first step towards building a pan-arctic assessment and management strategy, we launched an expedition to sample lake trout populations in the western arctic. This is our story...

Presentation 9: A review of fisheries resources assessment methodology in the Northern TerritoriesSaturday 13:00 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesLucas Warner, Paul Harper, Doug Chiperzak [email protected] Consulting Ltd.Assessment of fisheries resources, to support applications for exploration and resource extraction permits and licences, has been a requirement in Canada since the implementation of the federal Fisheries Act. Provincial acts and regulations were later established and standards fisheries resources assessment methodology was developed. However, no assessment standards were created for Canada’s northern territories. This forced biologists to adapt and apply standards and methodology from other jurisdictions. The short open water season and extreme remoteness, coupled with the prohibitively high costs, further confounded this issue. In this study, we reviewed fisheries resources assessment methodology from multiple provinces and investigated how they were adapted and applied for use up north. We analyzed fish habitat and fish catch data to evaluate the effectiveness and robustness of each approach. We recommend the development of standard fisheries resources assessment methodology for Canada’s northern territories.

Presentation 10: Recruitment as an emergent property of juvenile ecology and life history evolutionSaturday 13:20 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralJohn Post, Robert Arlinghaus2, Hillary Ward2

[email protected] Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Calgary; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland fisheries and Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin2

Estimating recruitment at low population density is difficult yet it is very important if we are to avoid recruitment overfishing and collapse of harvested stocks. Stated differently, we need to know the degree of compensation inherent in populations as they are harvested to lower densities. There are several interacting processes that in the aggregate determine the degree of compensation involving ecological processes acting on juvenile stages and evolved life history traits. In this talk we explore how the degree of compensation to harvest is modified by ecological, physiological and behavioural processes and life history traits. A Beverton-Holt like stock-recruitment pattern emerges from these processes, but the degree of compensation (i.e. slope near the origin) varies with the interactions among these processes and evolved life history traits across species.




Presentation 11: Time trends in PAH’s in western Lake Athabasca and other lake sedimentsSaturday 13:20 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentMarlene Evans1, Dirk De Boer2, Kim Jansen2, Martin Davies3, Roderick Hazewinkel4, Heather Keith4, Mark McMaster1, Derek Muir1

[email protected] Environment Canada/Aquatic Contaminants Research Division1; Department of Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan2; Hatfield Consultants3; Alberta Environment4

Researchers investigating PAH concentrations in Athabasca River delta and lake sediments have reached opposing conclusions as to oil sands influences; contradictions can be explained by where, when and what methods were used. While increased PAH concentrations have been reported for delta surface sediments over 1998-2007, we found no such evidence over 1998-2012 when analyses were based on compounds measured in all years, nor was there a evidence of a recent PAH increase in the 1926-2009 record preserved in a sediment core from western Lake Athabasca. With the exception of Shipyard Lake, PAH concentrations in surface sediments in development area lakes and monitored under RAMP were similar to concentrations observed in the Athabasca delta. As development area sediments were collected in support of benthos studies and over several centimeters depth, concentrations represent several-year averages. PAHs were present in measureable quantities in fish, and highlights of these findings are presented.

Presentation 12: Sympatric polymorphism in lake trout in Great Bear Lake: extensive intra-lake morphological diversification at two spatial scaleSaturday 13:20 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesLouise Chavarie, K. Howland2, L. Harris2, C. Gallagher2, and W. [email protected] Department of Biology, University of Alberta; Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada2

Post-glacial lakes, common feature in northern landscapes provide favorable ecosystems for studying intra-specific diversity in fishes. Great Bear Lake with its large size and virtually pristine, recently colonized cold water habitats provides unique opportunities for Lake Trout diversification. Previous work identified three common morphotypes in the shallow-water habitat of Great Bear Lake, displaying differences in head shape and fins and a fourth rarer group. The lack of body shape variation among groups combined with the size the lake, lead us to investigate geographic morphological patterns the five arms of Great Bear Lake. Genetic and morphological distance matrices were also compared to investigate potential parallel patterns, and suggested phenotypically plastic responses to distinct environments. Inter-arm morphological variation in body shape within morphotypes reveals another layer of diversity across this large and heterogeneous northern lake. Despite increasing attention to intraspecific polymorphism in post-glacial lakes, the extent of the potential for radiation remains unknown.

Presentation 13: Changes in the Canadian freshwater fish fauna since 1973Saturday 13:40 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralNicholas [email protected] Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans CanadaThe freshwater fish fauna of Canada, and our understanding of it, has changed substantially since 1973. In 1973, 181 species were established in Canada; whereas, at least 209 species are currently known to be established. The composition of the fauna has changed as some species have become extinct (2 species) and some species have been only recently discovered (9 species), while others have invaded Canadian waters and become established (at least 10 species). The greatest changes in the fish fauna have occurred geographically in the Great Lakes basin and taxonomically in the Cyprinidae. Changes relevant to Canada in the recently published 2013 AFS Names list will be discussed. There is still much potential for further changes in our fish fauna as ongoing taxonomic uncertainties in many taxa, including Petromyzontidae, Cyprinidae, Ictiobus, Coregonus, Gasterosteidae and Cottus, are resolved and as invading species continue to become established.



Presentation 14: Assessing at-risk status of Athabasca River rainbow trout with poor resolution catch dataSaturday 13:40 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentHillary Ward, John Post, Eric Taylor2, George Sterling3 [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia2; Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development3

In most systems, there is rarely enough information to develop accurate predictions for assessing the rate of population change for a species across a wide spatial scale. However, managers and policy makers must be able to estimate demographic statistics and understand how uncertainty in the data affects uncertainty in policy advice. We use a system (Athabasca River Rainbow Trout) as an example of how uncertainty in demographic rates of change can be better included in policy making, with a specific focus on the quantitative criteria used by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Athabasca river rainbow trout are one of the only native rainbow trout populations east of the continental divide and populations in this drainage are at reduced abundances due to natural low productivity, introgression with hatchery fish, competition with non-native species, habitat degradation from resource extraction and historical overfishing.

Presentation 15: Summer habitat and niche partitioning among predatory fish species in a sub-arctic lakeSaturday 13:40 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesMatthew Guzzo, Pete Cott2, Andrew Chapelsky3, Paul Blanchfield3

[email protected] of Manitoba; Wilfred Laurier University2; Fisheries and Oceans Canada3

Lakes in the Canadian north are expected to become increasingly impacted by climate change and industrial activities. Many northern lakes support fish species of commercial, aboriginal, and recreational value. As such, there is a need to understand the interactions between fish and their habitats in order to protect and manage fish populations in the future. We used acoustic telemetry and stable isotopes to determine the habitat use, movements, and dietary niches of three predatory fishes, burbot (Lota lota), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and northern pike (Esox lucius), in a sub-arctic lake. Burbot and lake trout occupied greater mean daily depths than northern pike, but did not differ from one another. Home range and stable isotope analysis indicated no significant overlap in spatial distribution or dietary niches among our study species. Understanding how predatory fish partition habitat and food sources can aid in predicting the effects of future disturbances on northern lakes.

Presentation 16: Estimating capture probabilities of fishes experiencing severe changes in stream hydrologySaturday 14:00 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralKenton Neufeld, Mark Poesch, Doug Watkinson and Terry [email protected] University of Alberta The Milk River in southern Alberta receives the majority of its summer flow via an inter-basin transfer from the St. Mary’s River, drastically altering the hydrologic regime and in-stream habitats for fishes during this period. We are using the Milk River as a model system to understand how hydrologic alteration may affect capture probabilities of freshwater fishes and impact in-stream monitoring programs. We estimated capture probabilities and population size of fishes in the Milk River with and without augmentation using both depletion surveys with seine nets and mark recapture techniques. In-stream enclosures were created to estimate differences between closed and open systems. We hypothesized that capture probabilities would increase when augmentation ceased due to increased confinement. Preliminary results suggest species specific differences in capture probabilities between augmented and non-augmented systems, demonstrating the need to estimate temporal differences in capture probabilities when conducting long-term monitoring programs in streams undergoing hydrologic alterations.




Presentation 17: Using selenium in otoliths to retrospectively build exposure models for three trout speciesSaturday 14:00 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentVince Palace, Friedrich, L.A.2, Halden, N.M. 2, Pilgrim N.L.3, Rasmussen J.B.3, Ripley L.4, and Hontela A.2

[email protected] Stantec Consulting Ltd.-Winnipeg; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba2; Water Institute for Sustainable Environments, University of Lethbridge3; Allison Creek Brood Trout Station4

Otoliths provide the best means for aging fish but micro chemical analysis can also be used to determine exposure to trace elements. Relationships between concentrations of selenium (Se) in otoliths annual growth zones and ovaries were explored to develop a model that would allow concentrations of Se in ovaries in past years to be derived. Adult female rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook (Salvelinus fontinalis) and cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) trout exposed to Se methionine in the diet at 1.5 (reference), 13 or 35 μg/g for 5 months prior to spawning were used to develop the models. Concentrations of Se in otoliths varied among the species, but significant regression models were established for each. This study provides evidence that Se concentrations in ovaries can be reconstructed from otoliths. Additional field studies are required to validate the models in other species.

Presentation 18: A spatiotemporal examination of lake trout spawning movements in northern boreal lakesSaturday 14:00 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesDavid Callaghan, Paul J Blanchfield2, Matthew Guzzo,3 Pete Cott4

[email protected] Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba; Experimental Lakes Area, Fisheries and Oceans Canada2; Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba3; Wilfred Laurier University4

Lake trout (Salevinus namaycush) typically spawn in the fall on distinct shoals along windswept shores. What drives lake trout to choose and discriminate among suitable spawning sites is still largely unknown. Using an acoustic telemetry positioning system, we examined the movement of lake trout in relation to habitat quality and spawning opportunities in a typical northern lake (Alexie Lake, NWT). We characterized spawning substrate and developed a wind-based fetch model, a surrogate for wave energy, to test whether the spatial distribution of spawning lake trout was related to the spatial gradient of spawning site quality. Suitable spawning substrate was not limited in Alexie Lake. As a result, lake trout site use was widely distributed and not limited to shoals facing predominate wind direction. Analyses are currently underway to examine the reproductive strategies of lake trout and the influence of spawning habitat quality on site selection and hatch success.

Presentation 19: Examining the link between fish biodiversity and biomass production in freshwater systemsSaturday 14:20 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralPreston Lennox, Rasmussen, [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AlbertaWhile previous research suggests a positive relationship exists among biodiversity and biomass production, a lack of empirical evidence has kept researchers in debate over the true nature of the relationship in freshwater ecosystems. To investigate this relationship further, a combination of lentic and lotic systems will be sampled from within each of three geographical regions of Canada (BC-AB, ON-QC, NL-Lab), throughout summers from 2013-2015. Abundance, biomass, species, and size structure data will be collected via a combination of sampling methods, including index netting, beach seining, and boat and backpack electrofishing. Trophic relationships, food web structure and habitat use will be assessed and analyzed using a stomach content and stable isotope analysis. This study will be among the first to empirically quantify the relationship between biodiversity and biomass production in freshwater ecosystems, enabling researchers and managers to more accurately predict how shifts in biodiversity will affect fish biomass production.




Presentation 20: Fish community dynamics and environmental association: implication of decision making for sustainable fisheries in Great Slave Lake, Northwest TerritoriesSaturday 14:20 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentXinhua Zhu, Deanna Leonard, Kimberly Howland, Theresa Carmichael, and Ross [email protected] and Arctic Region, Fisheries and Oceans CanadaAn ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) framework for decision making requires the development of ecological indicators that allow anthropogenic impacts on fish and fisheries to be detected and managed against the background of natural variation. Great Slave Lake (GSL) connects the two largest river systems in the NWT (Slave and Mackenzie), and its environmental productivity is largely influenced by water regulation at the Bennett Dam at the headwater of the Peace River, arctic climate variability, and the activity of impact of commercial, aboriginal and recreational (CRA) fisheries. Combined with environmental data and fishery production, the GSL species-specific biomass-per-unit-effort (BPUE) metrics of fish communities are potentially useful indicators because of their theoretical foundation and practical utility. To evaluate the fish community dynamics and environmental association, we explored the BPUE datasets surveyed in the main basin of the lake during July-August, 2012-2013. A total of 121 effective gillnet samples were taken by using pelagic (49 sets in 5 m below the surface), mid-water (15 sets in 20 m deep) and benthic sets (57 sets in the bottom), which covered the water body of 2.5~73.8 m deep and commercial fisheries administrative areas IW, IE, II and III. By using a combination of multivariate analyses, site depth (F=16.66, p<0.001), gear depth (F=6.41, p<0.001), temperature (F=4.43, p<0.001) and turbidity (F=3.78, p<0.001) have been identified as driving environmental variables differentiating the spatial distribution fish communities dominated by Lake Whitefish (32%) and Ciscoes (14%) over the studied areas. Of 23 fish taxa identified, the prey-predator pairs of fish communities were spatially assembled by the four forcing variables mentioned above, suggesting that environmental modification generally has had a stronger effect on the structures and functions of fish communities than the change of commercial harvest alone. Monitoring anthropogenic impacts on structuring fish communities has implications for ensuring the fish community diversity and sustainability of fish production in the northern larger lacustrine ecosystems.

Presentation 21: Predicting the mechanism of establishment for Pacific salmon colonisations to the arcticSaturday 14:20 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesKaren Dunmall, N. Mochnacz2, C. Zimmerman3, J.D. Reist2, and C. Lean4

[email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba; Fisheries and Oceans Canada2; United States Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska3; Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, Alaska4

Warming temperatures may be influencing distributional shifts by non-native fishes in the arctic; however, our understanding of the ecological implications of colonisations is limited. Vagrant chum and pink salmon appear to be increasing in abundance and distribution in the Canadian arctic, and could colonize new habitats. These species have the potential to interact with native chars as substrate-spawning salmonids in the arctic typically require hyporheic flow or groundwater springs in viable spawning habitat, which may be limited in availability. Potential species-specific differences in optimal hyporheic temperatures, however, may spatially separate these fish both regionally and at the watershed level. A trait-based approach provides insight into the risk of interaction between colonizing Pacific salmon and native riverine chars in arctic freshwater ecosystems. The association of species-specific hyporheic temperatures with the mechanism of establishment for colonizers is used to assess this risk. Proactive management strategies could integrate hyporheic temperature monitoring into current efforts to better understand and adapt to dynamic arctic ecosystems.

Presentation 22: The case for standardized base temperatures when applying degree-days to fish growthSaturday 14:40 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralPaul Venturelli, Kyle Chezik 2

[email protected] University of Minnesota; Simon Fraser University2




Degree-days measure the amount of thermal energy that is available for growth. Degree-day calculations incorporate a base temperature (To) below which fish growth is effectively zero. The degree-day approach is growing in popularity but there is currently no convention for choosing a To. We also don’t know how much our ability to describe growth depends on To. Here, we use conceptual models and a large database of growth data to show that I) To matters little in a within-population study, ii) To can matter a great deal in an among-population study (e.g., counter gradient growth), and iii) there is ample scope for assigning species to one of four To standards: 0, 5, 10 and 15ºC. Standardization simplifies the task of choosing a To, facilitates comparative studies, and promotes the use of degree-days in future studies.

Presentation 23: Marine fish communities in the Canadian Beaufort SeaSaturday 14:40 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentJim Reist, Andrew Majewski, Sheila Atchison, Shannon MacPhee, Robert [email protected] Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MBThe Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment (BREA) identified significant gaps in the scientific and local stakeholder understanding of the Beaufort Sea ecosystem, one of which was baseline knowledge of offshore fishes. In 2012 and 2013, bottom and mid-water trawling methods were used in combination with hydro acoustics to describe the fish community across the Canadian Beaufort Sea at depths ranging from 20-1500m. Fish occurrence, relative abundance and diversity were linked with available habitats through the collection of oceanographic parameters, substrate composition and food web structure. Fish diversity decreases with depth into offshore waters. Overall diversity remains similar across the shelf and slope of the southern Beaufort Sea eastwards into Amundsen Gulf, however, species composition differs. The fish community on the shelf and upper slope is dominated by arctic cod, a bentho-pelagic species. Most other fishes are benthic in habit. Fish diversity and habitat associations have implications for human activities in this Arctic sea.

Presentation 24: Overwintering and spawning areas of anadromous arctic char of the Hornaday River, NTSaturday 14:40 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesLois Harwood, John A. [email protected] Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MBTo identify overwintering and spawning locations of arctic char of the Hornaday River, NT, an important subsistence resource of the residents of Paulatuk, NT, community technicians deployed external radio tags on 30 char in late summer 1995 and 1999. Ground and aerial tracking over 14 months revealed 92% of the tagged char ultimately overwintered in deep, ground-water fed reaches of the Hornaday River between Coalmine and Akluk Creek, three of these in consecutive years. Another important overwintering site was found in a deep channel on the west side of the Hornaday River estuary in 1999. Spawning sites were implicated for at least three of the same deep, groundwater-fed holes on the main stem Hornaday. Identification of these critical habitats and their relative importance has contributed to an emerging list of areas for which monitoring habitat quality is warranted, especially given current interest in mineral development in this watershed.



Presentation 25: An evaluation of marine-derived nutrient inputs from Atlantic anadromous fishesSaturday 15:20 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralKurt Samways, Richard A. [email protected] University of New Brunswick, Canadian Rivers InstituteAtlantic salmon and other anadromous fishes represent a major vector for transporting marine-derived nutrients (MDN’s) to eastern North American rivers. Returns of anadromous fishes have declined dramatically in the past century, reducing the delivery of MDN’s to Atlantic rivers. We set out to measure net nutrient flux associated with fishes in Atlantic rivers to determine if there are MDN subsidies equivalent to those delivered by salmon on the Pacific coast. We used the natural variation in spawned biomass of Atlantic salmon, alewives, smelt, and lamprey, among years to test the hypothesis that anadromous fish are a significant source of nutrients. Preliminary results show a decline of 2251 returning salmon (from 2452 to 201) equates to losses of 2120 and 199 kg of nitrogen and phosphorous respectively. We found that temporal variation in MDN subsidies occurred because of variation in species composition, abundance, spawning strategy, and life history of anadromous fishes.

Presentation 26: Impacts of managed streams on the movement and bioenergetics of Rocky Mountain sculpinSaturday 15:20 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentMarie Veillard, Mark Poesch2

[email protected] University of Alberta; Fisheries and Oceans Canada2 In southern Alberta, river alterations are a way to meet human demands for water primarily for irrigation. Due to the demand for surface water extraction, there is a need to study the effects of managed stream flows on freshwater fish communities. The focus of this project is to understand the bioenergetics and movement of Rocky Mountain sculpin (RMSC) in three rivers with drastically different flow regimes. Using PIT tag movement data and swim performance testing, a comparison of RMSC movement and physiology in Lee Creek (natural system) and two managed rivers: St. Mary River (diverted) and Milk River (augmented) will provide information on the energetic costs of survival related to stream flow. This study will inform recovery actions, as RMSC is a threatened species in both Canada and Alberta.

Presentation 27: Monitoring design challenges for small lakes in arctic watershedsSaturday 15:20 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesCrystal Hyatt, Kelly Hille, Zsolt Kovats, Veronica Chisholm2

[email protected] Associates Ltd; De Beers Canada Inc. 2

The Gahcho Kué (GK) Project is a proposed diamond mine located at Kennady Lake, 280 km northeast of Yellowknife. The project is currently in the licensing and permitting phase. The baseline program for the GK project was initiated in 1996. Recent detailed baseline studies included collection of water and sediment quality, plankton and benthic invertebrate data in Kennady Lake, downstream lakes, nearby lakes and reference lakes. The greatest challenge for the GK baseline program has been the selection of suitable reference lakes. From a plankton perspective, baseline results indicate generally similar communities among lakes, but a wide range of variation in the level of productivity. The variation observed in productivity is expected to present a challenge for monitoring program design. An approach to designing the plankton-specific component of the Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program that will account for this variation will be presented.




Presentation 28: Sulfur isotopes as tracers of fish reliance on profundal detritic matter in lakes varying in hypoxia CANCELLEDSaturday 15:40 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralGilbert Cabana, M. Langevin, H. Glé[email protected] Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresGrowing evidence suggests that benthic prey from the hypolimnion (e.g. chironomid larvae) constitute an important food source to lake food webs. These organisms can have very negative δ13C, distinct from benthic littoral and pelagic food sources, which have been hypothesized to be related to microbial recycling of methane. “Traditional” two-end member models cannot resolve this three food-source problem, leaving the interpretation of data ambiguous. We show that the δ34S of primary consumers can be used to successfully distinguish deep sedimentary food sources from zoo planktonic or littoral sources in a three-sources/two-isotopes model. In twelve boreal lakes we observe variable contributions (0-71%) of hypo limnetic sedimentary matter to fish communities. S and C recycling are evident in lakes with important hypo limnetic oxygen deficits. Inclusion of C and S in the mixing model leads to very different inferences about the relative importance of pelagic vs. littoral sources compared previous models using C alone.

Presentation 29: Stream crossing assessment procedures as a tool for mitigating impacts on freshwater fish.Saturday 15:40 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentBryan Maitland, Mark S. Poesch, Axel E. [email protected] Foothills Research Institute, University of AlbertaResearch has shown negative impacts on fish populations from the cumulative effects of natural resource industry activities, particularly where infrastructure (resource roads, pipelines, etc.) intersects streams. To evaluate the effectiveness of assessment methods in determining impacts to freshwater fishes, we examined stream crossing structures in relation to fish communities and aquatic habitat in West-Central Alberta. We collected data in the Simonette watershed at 33 sites above and below culverts, bridges and crossing-free reaches on fish abundance and used these to assess factors influencing fish community composition. Regional land use data were used in relation to fish presence data to identify potential impacts through time. Preliminary results indicate that stream crossings can have a large impact on freshwater fish community structure, and suggest that culvert removal and best management practices need to account for landscape-scale pressures and cumulative effects to help mitigate potential harm to freshwater ecosystems.

Presentation 30: Trophic ecology of coastal fishes from Phillips Bay, Yukon TerritorySunday 13:00 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesHeidi Swanson, B. Tonn2, J. Johnston, L. Loseto, M. Power, and J. Reist3

[email protected] of Biology, University of Waterloo; Biological Sciences, University of Alberta2; Fisheries and Oceans Canada3

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been collecting fish samples from coastal areas of the Beaufort Sea since the 1980’s to support regional monitoring efforts. Many of these samples were analyzed for stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, but quantitative analyses of trophic ecology of fishes, interrelationships among fishes, and food web structure were not performed until very recently. In this presentation, we explore the trophic ecology of the Phillips Bay coastal fish community. Isotope ratios indicate that the fish community spans approximately four trophic levels, and that there is considerable variability in the use of marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments among the eleven species studied. There have been temporal changes in isotope ratios in some partially anadromous species that indicate changing use of marine vs. freshwater environments with implications for energy storage and condition. We discuss these results in the context of current and future environmental change.



Presentation 31: Bioenergetic efficiency of stocked brook char as revealed by isotopic turnoverSaturday 16:00 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralAdeline Hérault, Gilbert Cabana, and Marco A. Rodrí[email protected] Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières; Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL)Brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) stocking is extensively used in eastern Canada to enhance populations and increase fishing success. These goals are intimately linked to fish bioenergetics as increased growth and activity (catch ability) are favored by managers. We tested the hypothesis that growth efficiency, a key physiological and ecological variable, can be measured by comparing total stable isotope turnover in muscle and liver to that achieved by growth dilution alone. This approach is based on the observation that fish from aquaculture, which are fed marine-based pellets (δ13C=-19‰) have very different isotopic signatures compared to native fish living in these soft-water oligotrophic lakes (δ13C=-32‰). We followed post-introduction isotopic depuration during six months in six lakes situated on the Canadian Shield (Quebec). Results showed that char bioenergetics were greatly influenced by competition and that growth efficiency measured by isotopic mass balance dramatically increased from lakes dominated by sucker to lakes devoid of them.

Presentation 32: Assessing responses of fish to habitat enhancement in barren lands streamsSaturday 16:00 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentCahill, C., Baki, A., Courtice, G., Erwin, A., Howland, K., Hulsman, M., Lunn, B., Noddin, F., Tonn, W., Uherek, C., and D. [email protected] Departments of Biological Sciences and Civil Environmental Engineering, University of AlbertaIn fall 2011, Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. undertook a fish habitat compensation project to offset habitat losses due to mining in the Barren lands region, Northwest Territories. The compensation site featured one larger and three small, headwater lakes originally connected by streams impassable to fish. One choke-and-pool and two gabion-weir fish passes were built to increase inter-lake connectivity to enhance the productive capacity of this pristine system. Our objectives were to determine if (1) fish ≥ 150mm migrated through fish passes, and (2) fish use of fish passes was comparable to reference streams. We used passive integrated transponder antennae, electro-fishing, and visual surveys to evaluate our objectives for two summers post-construction. Results suggest the choke-and-pool fish pass allowed for fish movement and use, while gabion-weir fish passes limited fish movement and use when compared to reference streams. We recommend against using gabion-weir fish passes in arctic headwater lake-stream systems, particularly when stream flow is limited.

Presentation 33: Successful creation of functional fish habitat as compensation for loss in a sub-arctic watershedSaturday 16:00 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesGeneviève Morinville, François Landry2, Claudine Lee3

[email protected] ERM Rescan, Toronto and Vancouver2; Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation, Yellowknife, NT3

A diversion channel was constructed in 1997 as compensation for loss of stream habitat during development of the Ekati Diamond Mine, NT. Like all sub-arctic streams of the area, this diversion channel freezes in winter and is only used by fish during the open-water season (late May to October). An annual monitoring program was established in 1999 to assess the effectiveness of the channel in providing functional fish habitat, and continued through to 2012. Effectiveness was assessed, in part, by comparing productivity of the channel with two nearby natural streams. Results from the monitoring program will be discussed, demonstrating the channel’s success at providing compensatory and functional fish habitat (spawning, egg incubation and rearing) for arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), the predominant species utilizing the channel. Key lessons learned will also be discussed in the context of applying these findings towards future constructed channel projects.




Presentation 34: Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) metabolic response to daily fluctuations of temperatureSaturday 16:20 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralHélène Oligny-Hébert, Eva Enders2, and Daniel [email protected] Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL) and Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Québec, QC2

A study conducted on one river’s Atlantic salmon parr recently shown that common procedures used to measure standard metabolic rates (SMR) consisting of acclimating fish to constant temperatures may underestimate SMR of fish facing daily fluctuations of temperature in natural environments (Beauregard et al. 2013). Mean temperature of acclimation and thermal history may also influence metabolic response to daily temperature fluctuations. Our study objectives were to compare metabolic responses of parr acclimated to different thermal regimes, to assess if metabolic responses differ between parr originating from rivers having different thermal regimes and to quantify the metabolic response to daily fluctuations of temperature on standard metabolic rates models. SMR of Atlantic salmon parr from two rivers acclimated to various thermal regimes were estimated using intermittent-flow respirometry. Results indicate that some populations may have adapted their metabolism to face high values of temperature fluctuating daily.

Presentation 35: Evaluating ecosystem function before and after habitat compensation in the Canadian arcticSaturday 16:20 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentCahill, C. and W.M. [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of AlbertaConcerns regarding effects of climate warming on aquatic ecosystems often focus on stenothermic coldwater organisms near the southern limits of their distribution. Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is a northern coldwater fish that reaches its southern geographical limit in Alberta (except for disjunct remnant populations in Montana), where it is a Species of Special Concern. Our objectives were to 1) project future air temperature trends across the range of grayling in Alberta, 2) identify the resulting thermally suitable habitat , and 3) relative to its current distribution, quantify landscape level losses of thermally suitable habitat for grayling over three time periods (2010-2039, 2040-2069, and 2070-2099), using an ensemble of 15 General Circulation Models recommended for use in Alberta. Modelling results suggest anthropogenic warming will greatly reduce the amount of thermally suitable habitat available to Arctic Grayling in Alberta during this century, and could increase its extirpation risk in many areas.

Presentation 36: How many lake trout are in a small northern lake anyway?Saturday 16:20 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesDale Robertson, Vecsei, P., Fitzsimons, J., and Hood, A. 2

[email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.; De Beers Canada Inc. 2

Snap Lake is an oligo-mesotrophic lake characterized by low to moderate nutrient levels, which limit productivity, and has relatively high dissolved oxygen levels. Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is the key fish species in the aquatic food chain in Snap Lake. Understanding the effects of ongoing fish sampling programs on the relative abundance of Lake Trout requires an estimate of the number of Lake Trout in Snap Lake. A study was initiated in 2012 to estimate the size of the population of Lake Trout such that the effects of lethal programs can be calculated. A mark-recapture method of population estimate was initiated in summer 2012 using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and secondary fin clips to mark fish. Fish were captured using angling with single barbless hooks. The recapture phase was completed in summer 2013. An estimate of the number of Lake Trout in Snap Lake will be calculated.




Presentation 37: Non-native invasive fish parasites in UK fisheries: perspectives oncology and managementSaturday 16:40 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralJosephine Pegg, J. Robert Britton and Demetra [email protected] FSBI, Bournemouth UniversityIn the UK, the transfer of fish between inland waters is strictly regulated to prevent introductions of inappropriate species, such as non-native fish and the pathogens they host. However, despite enforcement, fish introductions still occur and have resulted in a number of non-native fish parasites also being introduced, particularly in recreational lake fisheries. Whilst the precautionary principle suggests these parasites should be strictly managed to inhibit their spread into the wider environment, evidence is increasingly showing high variability in their pathogenicity. What is apparent, however, is that a small proportion of these parasites can incur serious consequences for native fish hosts. Consequently, here we will discuss the ecological and pathological consequences of a range of non-native fish parasites, with a particular focus on population and ecosystem level effects. We draw out the key lessons for fishery management policy and practises that will have relevance at the global scale.

Presentation 38: Homage to Peter Larkin: Canadian arctic fisheries – an essay for northern ecologistsSaturday 16:40 Katimavik Room A Aquatic Sciences for Resource DevelopmentRoss [email protected] Fisheries and Oceans CanadaScientific assessment of Canadian Arctic fisheries has many difficulties due to species biology, remoteness, geographical scale, political complexity, arctic patchiness and other factors. The late Peter Larkin wrote a broad overview of the difficulty and scientific complexity of managing the world’s fisheries 35 years ago that described our lack of understanding in many key aspects of biology and fishery dynamics. Upon reflecting to arctic fisheries many of the issues presented by Larkin remain relevant. This paper outlines the challenges facing northern ecologists in the science of fisheries biology and assessment.

Presentation 39: The fish and fisheries of Ontario’s subarcticSaturday 16:40 Janvier Room Northern Science and Management AdvancesTom Johnston, John Gunn, Bill [email protected] Ministry of Natural Resources, Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, Laurentian UniversityIn 2010 Ontario passed the Far North Act laying out a plan for future development and management of this region (roughly north of 51 degrees N). Ontario’s Far North makes up 40% of the province and is a sparsely-populated, subarctic region with limited access and development. It is a very wet landscape with thousands of lakes and wetlands, large river systems, and Ontario's only marine coast. These aquatic ecosystems and their fish communities have received far less research and monitoring attention than their counterparts to the south. Though most are still in relatively pristine condition, the combination of climate change and proposed northern development (mining, hydroelectric generation, transportation corridors) may soon change this. This presentation will provide an overview of the fish resources of Ontario’s Far North, the research and monitoring efforts currently directed at them, and the research needs of the future as northern development progresses.




Presentation 40: Kitimat: The town that industry built and is still building... but is there room for trout?Sunday 9:00 Katimavik Room A Management of Aquatic Resources through Aboriginal and Local KnowledgeAllan Costello, Eric Vogt2, Jeff Lough3 [email protected] Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia; Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia2; BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations3

The town of Kitimat, British Columbia has had a long history of resource development. It is a planned community (built in the 1950’s by aluminum giant Alcan) that has been the site of much subsequent forest harvest and industrial development. As one of the primary deep water ports on the north Pacific Coast, a new wave of industrial interest (primarily LNG and oil pipelines) is headed for Kitimat as a potential “gateway” to lucrative Asian markets. With such interest, some are concerned about the pace of development and potential effects on local ecosystems. In this talk, I will review current research on the status of Kitimat River coastal cutthroat trout, a population of regional concern. Kitimat cutthroat trout have been understudied to date and we are using telemetry and genetic tools to identify critical habitats and life history diversity, as well as the factors limiting productivity in the watershed

Presentation 41: Trophic shift of Arctic char with the arrival of capelin in Cumberland Sound, NunavutSunday 10:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralKendra Imrie, Ross F. Tallman2

[email protected] University of Manitoba; Fisheries & Oceans Canada2

In the Canadian arctic, arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is an important species for both subsistence and commercial fisheries, and the appearance of capelin (Mallotus villosus) – a marine forage fish – in Cumberland Sound within the past decade led to questions of food web and population-level effects on arctic char. Two populations of arctic char were sampled for biological data, stomachs, and muscle tissue for stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) from 1998 to 2011. Stomach contents revealed capelin newly present in char diet in 2011, a shift from a primarily invertebrate-based to a fish-based diet. Stable isotope ratios were variable over the same period. Changes in von Bertalanffy growth model parameters were observed between pre- and post-capelin feeding years, implicating a possible effect of capelin foraging on growth. This study is the first documentation of Cumberland Sound arctic char feeding on capelin and is likely evidence of widespread food web change.

Presentation 42: Water quality modelling in northern CanadaSunday 9:00 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralAlison Snow, Jerry Vandenberg, Veronica Chisholm and Alexandra Hood2 [email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.; De Beers Canada2

Because the Northwest Territories is dominated by water, a large part of environmental assessments for new developments involves predicting how aquatic resources will be affected by proposed projects. As an example, the proponent may need to answer the following question: how will changes in water quality related to water releases from a project impact fish health? Water quality models are often developed to support the environmental assessment process. The objectives of this presentation are to describe the models developed to predict water quality in Kennady Lake, NWT for the De Beers Canada Inc. Gahcho Kué Project and in Snap Lake, NWT for the De Beers Snap Lake Mine. The presentation includes an explanation of inputs required for model development, a demonstration of the ability of the models to track trends in water quality, and a discussion of challenges associated with data limitations in the North, especially modelling ice cover.




Presentation 43: Community stewardship and low-flow channels for an Arctic char run in Nunavut, CanadaSunday 9:20 Katimavik Room A Management of Aquatic Resources through Aboriginal and Local KnowledgeCam Stevens, Popowich, R., O’Neil, J., Swift, D., and B. Adjun2

[email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.; Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association – Hunters’ and Trappers’ Organization2

Nulahugyuk Creek supports a historically significant arctic char run where local knowledge suggests a recent decline due to lower flows. We partnered with the community of Kugluktuk to I) better understand the status of the run; and ii) create low-flow channels using traditional rock weir and engineering methods. Over the 18-d period, the run peaked early when flows were highest: 95 adults captured July 5, versus two adults captured July 21 when flows decreased by 50%. Mortality from stranding was high (>8% tagged fish) and only a small percentage of tagged fish moved upstream. Low speeds were also observed (1.3km/d). Environmental conditions included warm, shallow water and many barriers. In response we identified five problem locations where boulders were removed by hand and placed to direct flows and fish. Post-manipulation, water levels increased 70% and upstream movements were observed. The community-based approach provides a novel solution for a changing north.

Presentation 44: Influence of fish density and predator behaviour on anti-predator responses of capelin (Mallotus villosus)Sunday 11:00 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralKevin Crook, Gail [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of ManitobaIn the northwest Atlantic, capelin (Mallotus villosus) is the dominant forage fish species, providing an abundant prey source for numerous predator species. We investigated the influence of common murre (Uria aalge) behaviour and capelin density on the anti-predator responses of capelin using stationary video cameras at persistently used demersal (15-40 m) spawning sites. Acceleration responses by capelin were 7-11 times more likely when murres displayed active (i.e. attempted contacts, approaches) versus passive (i.e. search, travel) foraging behaviours. Acceleration also was 5-6 times more likely when capelin were aggregating in schools relative to low density shoals or solitary individuals. Despite the dominating presence of high density schools (91 % of total capelin observed), 69% of active foraging behaviours by murres was exhibited on individual capelin. These results highlight the potential for murre predation to impact capelin populations if low biomass precludes the formation of high density schools required for predator defense.

Presentation 45: How important is the littoral zone in shallow northern lakes?Sunday 9:20 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralKelly Hille, Zsolt Kovats, Katherine Harris, Alex Hood2


Snap Lake receives nutrients and major ions from treated mine water from the Snap Lake Diamond Mine. Results to date indicate an enrichment effect in the plankton and deep water benthos, but no phosphorus enrichment. These results suggest that the littoral zone may be intercepting phosphorus. A three-year special study was initiated in 2012 to investigate this possibility and to evaluate changes in attached algal communities that have occurred since a 2004 baseline study. Snap Lake and a nearby reference lake, Northeast Lake, were sampled in late summer 2012 and 2013. Preliminary results from these two sampling years will be presented and compared to baseline data collected in 2004. Method challenges, learnings, and program improvements will be discussed along with the importance of considering littoral productivity in shallow northern lakes.




Presentation 46: Use of traditional knowledge in environmental assessments; is it really that hard?Sunday 9:40 Katimavik Room A Management of Aquatic Resources through Aboriginal and Local KnowledgeDoug Chiperzak, Lucas [email protected] Stantec Consulting Ltd.The use of traditional knowledge in environmental screenings and assessments is now a standard practice and requirement in Canada and especially important in northern Canada. Using traditional knowledge effectively in environmental assessments is often considered difficult to do and often done poorly. Baseline studies in support of environmental assessments are generally short in duration, have limited seasonal data and at times little previous baseline information. Applying traditional knowledge effectively in environmental assessments can add rigour to these assessments by providing information; over a broader time span, on seasonality attributes of species and use of habitat, importance to harvesters, abundance and other parameters. This paper will present some of the pitfalls making it difficult in utilizing traditional knowledge and suggestions on how to better utilize this knowledge in environmental assessments.

Presentation 47: Intrinsic factors that effects the timing of arrival of capelin (Mallotus villosus) to the spawning groundsSunday 11:20 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralEmily Maxner, Gail [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of ManitobaCapelins are an important forage fish species in the Northwest Atlantic and, thus, the primary prey species of many top predators. Capelin undergoes extensive inshore migrations from offshore wintering areas to coastal spawning grounds in the spring where the timing of inshore arrival is highly variable. We investigated the influence of size (length, mass) along with otolith-based measures of age and spawning experience of capelin collected regularly at spawning sites during 2011 and 2012 on the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Using AIC analyses, we predicted that non-linear models best explained arrival times, while length and age best predicted the timing of arrival. These results are important for the management of this critical forage fish species because selective harvesting by the fishery of early arriving, larger and older fish may lead to shifts in population structure and further variability in the timing of spawning.

Presentation 48: Macrophytes structural complexity effect on zooplankton communities structureSunday 9:40 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralPatricia Bolduc, Andrea Bertolo, Bernadette [email protected] Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Université de Montréal; Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL)Macrophytes play an important role as a refuge for zooplankton against predation in shallow lakes. Our objectives were to investigate on the relationship between structural complexity of macrophyte communities and diversity (functional and taxonomic) of zooplankton communities. Our study sites were located in Lake St-Pierre (Quebec), a fluvial shallow lake. We selected 26 plots at the mouth of Saint-François River, one of the tributaries of Lake St-Pierre, in a way to create a gradient of structural complexity of macrophytes communities. Using novel spatial statistical analysis, our preliminary results suggest that zooplankton community’s composition and distribution is influenced by macrophyte's density. Further analysis should shed light on the relationship between functional diversity of zooplankton communities and other components of macrophyte community’s structural complexity.




Presentation 49: Fisheries studies at Bluefish Hydro, YellowknifeSunday 10:20 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralDamian Panayi, Paul Vecsei, Gary [email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.The Bluefish Hydro facility is owned and operated by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) and is located on the Yellowknife River. A dam constructed in 1940 was replaced in late 2012 with a new dam 0.4 km downstream. The intervening area was flooded and is now part of Bluefish Lake. Baseline studies and monitoring of fish populations in Bluefish Lake have revealed unexpected species, including Pigmy Whitefish and morphs of Cisco. Pre-flooded mercury baseline for Lake Trout and Northern Pike indicate that mercury levels are within acceptable levels, and monitoring of Slimy Sculpin is underway to detect changes after flooding. Small bodied fish were monitored, some of which quickly colonized the flooded area. Migration of Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish and Cisco from Prosperous Lake into the lower reaches of the Yellowknife River was monitored by snorkeling, where egg sites of adfluvial Lake Trout were documented.

Presentation 50: Functional relationships between multiple predators and capelin densities in coastal NewfoundlandSunday 10:20 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralKatie Downs, Gail [email protected] of Biological Sciences, University of ManitobaTo forage efficiently, marine predators require a threshold density of fish, We used AIC analyses to identify the most plausible shape of the relationship between predator and capelin densities [linear, sigmoidal, hyperbolic, null (i.e. slope = zero)] during July-August, 2009-2012. All predators exhibited a threshold response to capelin density; however, the null model was the best fit for plunge-diving (gannets) and pursuit-diving seabirds (shearwaters), possibly due to shifting prey preferences and/or difficulties finding capelin. The most plausible model for another pursuit-diving seabird (murres) was hyperbolic, whereas sigmoidal and linear models were plausible for baleen whales. A breakpoint analysis estimated capelin threshold densities for all predator species to be 0.008 g/m3. This suggests a minimum capelin biomass is required to for multiple predator species to aggregate. This threshold provides a precautionary guideline for the ongoing fishery during capelin spawning in coastal Newfoundland, for which capelin biomass is unknown.

Presentation 51: Biological response to flooding in the Saskatchewan RiverSunday 10:20 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralTim Jardine, Helen Baulch, David Janz, Lynn Weber, Kean Steeves, Don Keeping, Marcy Bast, Rick [email protected] School of Environment and Sustainability, University of SaskatchewanTo investigate the timing and magnitude of the biological response to flooding, we initiated a semi-controlled study at the EB Campbell hydroelectric facility on the Saskatchewan River. We logged dissolved oxygen concentrations in the reservoir, the river below the dam, and a spillway that is periodically inundated during high flows, and examined the condition and energy stores of juvenile yellow perch inhabiting these three habitats. Heavy rains in late June in the Rocky Mountain headwaters produced a massive flood pulse, leading to the highest peak daily flows since river regulation began in the 1960s. Reservoir drawdown in anticipation of this flood peak led to an anoxic event upon refilling that lasted for three days, likely due to high biological oxygen demand from decaying organic matter. Higher fish condition in the reservoir prior to the flood suggests a highly productive system that may have contributed to this organic matter load.



Presentation 52: Transcriptional profiling of two Atlantic salmon strains for potential reintroduction in Lake OntarioSunday 10:40 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralXiaoping He, Chris Wilson2, Kyle Wellband, Daniel [email protected] Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor; Aquatic Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University2

One of the major challenges facing conservation biology is characterizing the genetic variation underlying adaptation to different environments. Gene expression is the process whereby genomic information is converted into phenotype, and quantitative variation in gene expression is linked to variation in phenotype. Therefore, identifying gene transcription profiles that provide fitness benefits in specific environments would promote more effective species reintroduction and hence conservation in general. In this study, we developed a custom oligonucleotide microarray consisting of 380 gene elements for Atlantic salmon and used this microarray to measure gene transcription in gill tissue for two Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) strains currently being reintroduced into Lake Ontario: LaHave (anadromous) and Sebago (landlocked). Then, we partitioned strain difference variance into selection versus genetic drift effects. This work provides insight into how to combine population genetics with gene expression to guide salmon conservation and reintroduction efforts.

Presentation 53: In-situ automated monitoring of diel physico-chemical fluctuations in northern lakesSunday 9:00 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralJohn Faithful, Ekram Azim and Veronica Chisholm2


Diel monitoring of physico-chemical parameters in lakes, especially dissolved oxygen, can provide useful information on in-lake metabolism. We describe an automated in situ monitoring technique for a proposed northern mining development located in a headwater lake in the Lockhart River watershed to track diel in-lake physico-chemical status as a supporting tool for effects monitoring. Slight increases in nutrient concentrations in the receiving lakes due to mining activities, and late winter low dissolved oxygen concentrations may exert/result in oxic stress on biota. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the diel physico-chemical regime is required to: understand and monitor how these changes/processes impact lake productivity and winter oxygen demand; and, to manage the mine operation appropriately to mitigate potential adverse effects to the receiving environment. Two years of baseline diel physico-chemical data collected through the late winter and freshet period in two relatively shallow headwater lakes will be presented and discussed.



Presentation 54: Assessing the timing and impact of recent lake expansion in the Mackenzie Bison SanctuarySunday 10:40 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralJoshua Thienpont1, Joelle Perreault2, Terry Armstrong3, Steve Kokelj4, Jules Blais5, John Smol6, Michael Pisaric1

[email protected] Department of Geography, Brock University; Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University2; Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories3 Geoscience Office, Government of the Northwest Territories4; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa5; Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab, Queen’s University6

In recent decades, lakes in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary (MBS) near Fort Providence, NT, have experienced significant, rapid expansion, to the extent that they have begun to encroach on preferred wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) habitat, encouraging an out-migration from the core of the MBS. The cause(s) of these water-level changes remain unknown, and with respect to both wildlife and ecosystem management, it is important to understand whether this is related to regional climate change or part of a longer-term cycle. We will present the results of our paleolimnological investigation, including the analysis of sedimentary diatoms and stable isotopes, in order to infer changes in water level over the last several hundred years. Lake sediments are also being utilized to track changes in mercury and organic matter, as there is considerable concern regarding the potential for loading to these aquatic systems following the inundation of large areas of terrestrial vegetation.

Presentation 55: Effects of walleye predation on recruitment dynamics of Lake Erie yellow perch (Perca flavescens)Sunday 11:00 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralFan Zhang, Kevin Reid2, Tom [email protected] Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph; Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association2

The importance of trophic interactions to fish recruitment dynamics is widely acknowledged. To investigate whether predation has strong effects on recruitment, the relative impact of predator and spawning populations on recruitment dynamics was studied using time series data (1981-2010) of yellow perch and walleye in the west, central and east basins of Lake Erie. There was significant negative correlation between yellow perch recruitment and age-2 walleye abundance in the previous year, consistent with predation by age-1 walleye on yellow perch juveniles. Four models (two included predation effects, two did not) were compared, and models with predation effects had significantly lower AIC than the others. At finer temporal and spatial scales, the predation effects were stronger in the 2000s and 1980s than in the 1990s, and stronger in the west and west-central basins than in the east-central and east basins of Lake Erie.



Presentation 56: Life-history differences in Dolly Varden charr (Salvelinus malma) mercury concentrationsSunday 9:20 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralLilian Tran1, Jim Reist2, and Michael Power1

[email protected] of Waterloo1; Fisheries and Oceans Canada2

The study examines life-history differences in total mercury (THg) in Dolly Varden charr (DVCH) from the Babbage River, Yukon Territory. DVCH within the river exist as isolated headwater, ad fluvial resident and anadromous forms that differ in age, size and age-at-maturity. Using archival muscle tissues from 1988 and 1991, THg and stable isotope measures were obtained for a representative sample of all forms. Analyses indicated that [THg] varied significantly among forms with isolates having the lowest, 22.1±6.5 ng/g ww (mean±standard deviation), followed by residents at 56.0±9.6 ng/g ww, and anadromous at 107.8±5.5 ng/g ww. These differences contrast with those reported for other congeneric species (i.e., Arctic charr (S. alpinus); lake trout (S. namaycush), where anadromous fish are typically less contaminated than non-anadromous fish. Size and trophic differences correlate with THg differences and, though worth more research, point to the importance of trophic level for determining among-form differences in THg for DVCH.

Presentation 57: Chemical properties of lakes in the Ring of Fire and northwestern OntarioSunday 11:00 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralJosef MacLeod, Bill Keller, John Gunn, Andrew [email protected] Laurentian UniversityGiven the enormous interest in potential mining development in the Ring of Fire area, we must immediately enhance our baseline knowledge of the water chemistry of northern lakes in order to provide a reference with which to effectively assess future impacts. A series of aquatic science surveys has revealed that Ring of Fire area lakes exhibit highly variable water chemistry and possible dystrophic characteristics, the patterns of which appear to be decoupled from bedrock geology. A much broader survey of northwestern Ontario lakes identified Precambrian shield lakes with higher ionic strengths than nearly all previously surveyed shield lakes. Factors which may be influencing these conditions, including permafrost, organic overburden and eroding glacial end moraines will be discussed. Future environmental assessment and monitoring programs within the Ring of Fire and across northern Ontario must account for this variability by selecting more and carefully chosen sampling sites.

Presentation 58: Changes in habitat occupancy among Great Lakes lake white fish populationsSunday 11:20 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralMichael Rennie, Randy Claramunt2, Brian Weidel3, Erin Dunlop4

[email protected] Department of Fisheries and Oceans/University of Manitoba; Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, Michigan Department of Natural Resources2; Lake Ontario Biological Station, US Geological Survey3; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University4

Reported changes in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) depth distribution on the Great Lakes are largely anecdotal and reports from the scientific literature have been inconsistent. In this study, we investigated temporal changes in Lake Whitefish depth-of-capture from populations representing all five of the Great Lakes using government agency survey data. Though most Great Lakes populations showed evidence of punctuated shifts in depth-of-capture coincident with Dreissenid establishment, the direction of the shift (deeper vs. shallower) and magnitude varied considerably among populations. In most cases, lake whitefish tended to occupy deeper depths following Dreissenid establishment, sometimes followed by a second shift to more shallow habitats. Unlike punctuated changes in lake whitefish habitats following Dreissenid establishment elsewhere in the Great Lakes, populations in Lake Superior suggest a gradual trend towards shallower spring depths and no discernable temporal pattern during summer surveys.




Presentation 59: Are Arctic fish and their prey more sensitive to contaminants than in temperate regions?Sunday 11:40 Katimavik A Room CCFFR GeneralPeter [email protected] Associates Ltd.Relative sensitivity of Arctic marine fish to contaminants compared to temperate fish remains to be tested. Toxicity tests with marine invertebrates indicate that sensitivities are similar although toxic effects can take longer to manifest due to colder temperatures that retard metabolic activities and chemical reactions, and to greater surface-to-body ratios. Field and laboratory studies in Arctic freshwater environments do not show the lag time in expression of toxic effects found in marine environments, probably due to less constant cold water conditions. Based on field and laboratory studies, freshwater fish and their prey have similar sensitivities to contaminants in Arctic and temperate waters. Thus, the CCME water quality guidelines and ambient exposure and toxicity modifying factors (e.g., increasing hardness ameliorating the toxicity of some substances) can be applied to determine conservatively protective benchmarks for Arctic freshwater environments below which toxicity is unlikely to occur and above which toxicity may occur.

Presentation 60: Thinking outside the lake: multiple scales of amphipod recoverySunday 11:20 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralBrian Kielstra, Shelley Arnott, and John Gunn2

[email protected] Department of Biology, Queen’s University; Living with Lakes Centre, Laurentian University2

Tracking recovery in disturbed environments requires the consideration of many spatial and temporal scales. We assessed landscape barriers to recovery for the ubiquitous indicator, Hyalella azteca, at multiple scales in the region of Sudbury, Canada. A 40 lake presence-absence survey suggests that conductivity/alkalinity gradients are important predictors of colonization, likely changing the relative toxicity of metals to H. azteca. Two finer-scale studies assessed spatially varying sub catchment and chemical characteristics that could provide habitat hot-spots for colonization during early recovery stages. More H. azteca were associated with increased macrophyte cover but less woody debris cover. More terrestrial vegetation cover interacted with these variables to increase abundance. As labile concentrations of Ni, Cd, and Zn decreased, H. azteca abundance increased, associated with greater ionic strength and aromatic organic matter content. Using H. azteca as an indicator suggests that overall lakes are improving; however their sub catchment characteristics may impede or aid within-lake recovery.

Presentation 61: Population structure of Newfoundland capelin inferred from otolith chemistrySunday 11:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralGail Davoren, N. Halden2

[email protected] Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences2, University of ManitobaCapelin (Mallotus villosus) is a marine forage fish with large-scale movements between coastal spawning and offshore nursery/winter areas on the Newfoundland shelf. During 2009, we collected capelin (n=100) from warm, beach and cool, deep water (15-40 m) spawning habitats in two regions ~200 km apart. We quantified age-specific trace element concentrations in otoliths of age 3 fish to examine whether fish from different regions and spawning habitats mix throughout their lifespan (i.e. no chemistry differences). Otolith Sr and Ba did not differ between regions (p<0.05), but Sr was higher in deep water relative to beach spawning fish during the larval (p=0.038) and spawning migration periods (p=0.011). Larval Sr and Ba resulted in successfully classifying fish spawning in different habitats (71%) and explained most of the variation in otolith chemistry. Therefore individuals spawning in different habitats appear to experience different environmental conditions during larval dispersal and spawning migration, revealing undocumented population structure.




Presentation 62: Effects of lampricide on the olfactory response of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)Sunday 9:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralKathy Sakamoto, WA Dew2, SJ Hecnar, and GG Pyle2

[email protected] Lakehead University; University of Lethbridge2

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), once abundant in the Great Lakes, have not recovered to historic populations despite restoration efforts. Lake sturgeons live in low light conditions and thus rely on chemical senses for a variety of behaviours. This study examined the sub-lethal effects of lampricide (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol, or TFM) on the olfactory senses of young-of-the-year lake sturgeon. Electro-olfactography, a neurophysiological measure of olfaction, revealed that exposure to TFM concentrations and durations comparable to standard sea lamprey control treatment significantly reduced their ability to smell L-alanine, taurocholic acid and a food cue, suggesting that TFM has a general inhibitory effect on the olfactory system. Behavioural feeding trials showed that lake sturgeon exposed to TFM ate significantly less than control animals. These results demonstrate that TFM, commonly applied to control sea lamprey populations, affects the olfactory system of lake sturgeon, a species-at-risk.

Presentation 63: Limnology of coal mining end-pit lakes in Alberta, CanadaSunday 11:40 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralAndreas Luek, D Rowan2, and JB [email protected] University of Lethbridge; Atomic Energy of Canada Limited2

We compared end-pit lakes from abandoned coal mines in Alberta to end-pit lakes from various types of mines around the world in an effort to characterize differences in physical, chemical and biological parameters. We aim to highlight challenges for the integration of these lakes into the natural environment. Pit lakes exhibit small surface area to depth ratios due to steep walls and have small littoral zones. Water quality is often poor with high input of metals and metalloids from waste rock leachate. Pit-lakes often have low pH and significant salinity and temperature gradients leading to lakes with monimolimnions. Acidic end-pit lake remediation designs utilize meromixis for chemical reduction processes in low-oxygen environments. However, Alberta lakes, due to higher latitudes and associated colder temperatures, are very often dimictic, while their pH is circumneutral to alkaline. Therefore, end-pit lakes from coal mining in Alberta require different approaches for the treatment of aquatic contaminants.

Presentation 64: Estimating von Bertalanffy growth from multiple sample gears in size-structured populationsSunday 13:00 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralKyle Wilson, Brian Matthias2, Andrew B. Barbour2, Robert N. Ahrens2, Travis Tuten2, Micheal S. Allen3

[email protected] Biological Sciences, University of Calgary; Fisheries and Aquatic, Sciences Program, University of Florida2; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute3

The von Bertalanffy (VB) growth equation is commonly used to estimate individual fish growth. Due to ontogeny, young/small fish are often sampled by different gears than old/large fish. We developed a simulation to test how combining samples from two gears (‘small fish’ and ‘large fish’ gears) with different size-based selectivity influences VB model estimation. Simulations assumed individuals grew according to a given VB model and individuals were randomly sampled with two sampling gears; age-length was known with certainty. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to fit VB growth model to age-length samples from the ‘large fish’ gear and from combining samples from both gears. In most scenarios, the ‘combined’ approach was less biased, and in every scenario ‘combined’ gears substantially increased precision. We applied this approach to re-estimate VB growth in a black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus fishery from 2006-2012 highlighting that combining fish samples from multiple gears can improve growth estimates.




Presentation 65: Experimental Lakes Area and IISD: A New Chapter for ELA ResearchSaturday 15:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralMatthew McCandless, Michael Paterson, Scott [email protected] Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in northwestern Ontario has been the site of important research that furthered understanding of a wide range of subjects and informed environmental protection legislation around the world. Since May 2013 the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has been negotiating with Canada and Ontario to take over ELA operations on March 31, 2014.ELA is unique among the world’s leading freshwater research facilities. It is the only place where it is possible to conduct whole-lake experiments. The opportunity to join forces with IISD offers an opportunity to strengthen efforts to improve global freshwater management by directly applying world-class scientific research to create innovative policy solutions for regional and global water management.This presentation outlines the future of ELA under IISD management, and how IISD plans to keep ELA research operations going with minimal interruption, while working to expand ELA’s capacity in new area.

Presentation 66: Dissolved organic matter kinetically controls Hg bioavailability to bacteriaSunday 13:00 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralA.J. Poulain, Chiasson-Gould, S., Blais, [email protected] of Biology, University of Ottawa Predicting the bioavailability of inorganic mercury to bacteria that produce the potent neurotoxin methylmercury remains one of the greatest challenges in predicting the environmental fate and transport of Hg. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) affects mercury methylation due to its influence on cell physiology (as a potential nutrient) and its influence on HgII speciation in solution (as a complexing agent). We assessed the role of DOM on HgII bioavailability to a bacterium under oxic pseudo- and non-equilibrium conditions, using defined media and field samples spanning a wide range of DOM levels. We showed that HgII was considerably more bioavailable under non-equilibrium conditions than when DOM was absent or when HgII and DOM had reached pseudo-equilibrium prior to cell exposure. Our data suggest that the bulk of mercury incorporation in aquatic food webs would occur within hours following its deposition from the atmosphere.

Presentation 67: Instream flow predictions from frequency vs. bioenergetic-based habitat suitability curvesSunday 13:20 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralJordan Rosenfeld, Beecher, H.2, and Ptolemy, [email protected] Ministry of Environment; Washington Department of Wildlife2

Predictions of optimal flows using PHABSIM, and the consequences of water withdrawals for fish populations, are extremely sensitive to the shape of velocity and depth habitat suitability curves (HSCs). HSCs therefore need to accurately reflect the fitness (or population level) consequences of habitat use. Frequency-based habitat suitability curves are based on the observed frequency of use of different velocity and depth micro-habitats by the target species. However, HSCs may be misleading for territorial taxa if subdominants occur at high densities in suboptimal (i.e. low-velocity) habitats through competitive displacement. We compared instream flow predictions generated using frequency vs. bioenrgetic-based HSCs for juvenile coho to evaluate the potential for frequency-based curves to underestimate optimal juvenile rearing flows. Results demonstrate the potential for serious underestimation of optimal flows using frequency-based habitat suitability curves for territorial species, and support the additional use of generic bioenergetic habitat suitability curves for more robust flow assessments.




Presentation 68: Dreissenid mussels: potential threat to walleye (Sander vitreus) habitat?Sunday 13:20 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralMarianne Geisler, Michael Rennie, and Darren [email protected] University of Manitoba/Fisheries and Oceans CanadaThe invasion of non-native dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis) has caused habitat alteration in North American aquatic ecosystems and data from the Great Lakes suggest negative effects on valuable walleye fisheries. The potential dreissenid invasion of Ontarian and Manitoban lakes threatens the livelihood of commercial fishers and camp operators. Preliminary results show that dreissenid mussels tend to increase water clarity in lakes where they become established and this increased light penetration has the potential to force walleye into sub-optimal habitat, but variation among lakes is high. We will describe additional factors that contribute to this variation with the ultimate goal of merging the model of dreissenid effects on light with one relating light to walleye yield. Forecasting the effects of dreissenid-induced changes in water clarity on walleye yield will benefit resource managers by protecting the recreational and commercial harvest of walleye.

Presentation 69: Slimy sculpin and arsenic – can they co-exist?Sunday 13:20 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralTamara Darwish, Hilary [email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.Fish inhabiting the waters downstream of Giant Mine, an abandoned gold mine, are exposed to elevated levels of bioavailable arsenic in both water and sediment. Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) captured downstream of Giant Mine have consistently had higher arsenic tissue concentrations relative to sculpin captured in uncontaminated areas. To determine whether exposure to arsenic was having an effect on the growth and survival of the local fish population, the health of five populations of sculpin was assessed. One population comprised individuals from a near-field exposure area; two populations comprised individuals from far-field exposure areas; and, two populations comprised individuals from reference areas. Measurements included body size, survival, and reproduction. Slimy sculpin liver and gonad weight were found to differ among populations, irrespective of whether individuals originated from an arsenic-exposed or reference population. Despite elevated arsenic concentrations no obvious response in the survival or reproduction of the fish population was evident.

Presentation 70: Managing water levels in the Namakan reservoir: Effects on walleye spawning habitatSunday 13:40 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralJason Papenfuss, Paul Venturelli, Tim Cross2

[email protected] Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources2

The most recent water level management policy (rule-curve) in the Namakan Reservoir was established in 2000 by the International Joint Commission and was intended to strike a balance between benefits to plants and animals in the reservoir and human water needs (e.g., hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and navigation). Walleye (Sander vitreus) are prevalent in the reservoir, sensitive to water levels, and ecologically, culturally, and economically important, making them an excellent species for studying the effects of rule-curves. To compare the effects of two rule-curves (1970-2000 and 2000-present), I used spatial modeling to estimate water depth and therefore seasonal habitat availability at various sites within the reservoir. The overall objective of the study was to determine if the most recent rule-curve has improved spawning habitat availability for walleye.




Presentation 71: The Coregonid fishes of Bluefish LakeSunday 13:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralPaul Vecsei, Damian [email protected] Associates Ltd.Fish surveys were undertaken at Bluefish Lake, Northwest Territories in 2012 and 2013. Bluefish Lake is a natural widening of the Yellowknife River and is approximately 26 km northeast of Yellowknife. The Bluefish Lake ichthyofauna has been isolated from Great Slave Lake for approximately 8000 years by topography. Sampling was done using bottom-set gillnets. Captures included an array of previously un-identified forms of ciscoes and eight Pygmy Whitefish (Coregonus coulteri). The Pygmy Whitefish caught in Bluefish Lake represent a significant range extension for this species in Canada.

Presentation 72: Does ice cover regime influence sedimentary mercury accumulation in high arctic lakes?Sunday 13:40 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralJennifer Korosi1, Katherine Griffiths2, Marianne Douglas3, Neal Michelutti3, John P. Smol2, Jules Blais1

[email protected] of Biology, University of Ottawa; Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab, Department of Biology, Queen’s University2; Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta3

Recent observations of rising mercury (Hg) concentrations in some arctic aquatic food webs appear inconsistent with anthropogenic emission patterns. Instead, it has been postulated that dramatic changes occurring in the Arctic as a result of recent climate warming (e.g. decreased ice cover, increased primary production) may be increasing Hg flux to aquatic ecosystems. We test this hypothesis using a paleolimnological approach for a strategically selected set of lakes in the Canadian High Arctic that have different climate and ice-cover regimes: 1) “warm” sites (early response to climate warming); 2) “cool” sites (later response to climate warming); 3) ice-dominated sites (minimal responses to recent warming); 4) historically warm sites (oases). We analyzed algal diatoms and primary production in cores as markers of these different limnological scenarios of recent warming to compare with Hg deposition profiles. This study will provide insights into how Hg trajectories in lakes are influenced by recent warming.

Presentation 73: Northern pike daily movement patterns in a natural and a regulated hydropeaking riverSunday 14:00 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralSimonne Harvey-Lavoie, Steven Cooke2, and Daniel [email protected] Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, NSERC HydroNetGroupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL); Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University2

Flow condition is a crucial determinant of the habitat selection by river fish. Even so, very few studies address flow as key factor explaining fish behaviour. The present study aims at acquiring knowledge on the movement of northern pike in response to frequent and drastic changes in river flow. To achieve this goal, a comparative study has been designed in two rivers subjected to highly different flow patterns. Data on northern pike daily movement were collected on forty individuals in both Mississagi River, regulated by a hydro peaking dam, and Aubinadong River, a natural free-flowing control river. Using radio-telemetry equipment, the position of tagged individuals was recorded many times daily in order to assess fish movements in changing flow conditions. Results show that fish can adapt their behaviour in regard to flow conditions. This study provides new knowledge on how fish cope with frequent flow changes in their habitat.




Presentation 74: Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) populations in the Fond du Lac River, SaskatchewanSunday 14:00 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralA. Ofukany, L. James, C. Shurgot, D. Vicente, and B.L. [email protected] Golder Associates LtdArctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in the Fond du Lac River, Saskatchewan, are considered ecologically, culturally, socially, and economically important to local First Nations and other stakeholders. Our objective was to determine the current status and life history requirements of Arctic grayling populations in the Fond du Lac River between Black Lake and Middle Lake. Surveys completed between 2010 and 2012 included radio telemetry movement studies, mark-recapture population estimates, spring spawning surveys, and aquatic habitat surveys. Telemetry data indicates that Arctic grayling in this section of the river make only small, localized movements. Three populations of Arctic grayling were identified based on the presence of falls and other high-velocity barriers to fish movement. None of these populations appear to be in decline. A number of spawning locations were identified within the river; suitability of existing spawning habitat was characterized and evaluated based on water depths, velocities, and substrate types.

Presentation 75: Atmospherically-derived contaminants in lakes affected by thermokarstin the Mackenzie delta uplands, NT Sunday 14:00 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralJules Blais, Adam Houben, David Eickmeyer, Ramin Deison, Steve Kokelj2, Linda E. Kimpe, John P. [email protected] Department of Biology, University of Ottawa; Government of Northwest Territories, NT Geoscience Office, Yellowknife2; Department of Biology, Queen’s University3

Canada’s western arctic is one of the most rapidly warming places on Earth. In the Mackenzie delta uplands area, NWT, warming has resulted in an increased rate of talik expansion beneath lakes, causing retrogressive thaw slumps to form along the shorelines of many of the thousands of small lakes. These thaw slumps have been increasing in size and number, and are having a dramatic impact on the limnology of the adjacent lakes. Here we summarize the limnetic changes associated with retrogressive thaw slump development, focusing on their impact on mercury and persistent organic pollutants. In slump-affected lakes, pH and dissolved organic carbon was lower in slump-affected lakes. Surface sediments of slump-affected lakes contained lower organic carbon, lower metals, and higher inorganic sedimentation rates than sediments in reference lakes. We observed higher total organic carbon (TOC)-normalized concentrations of several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) than nearby reference lakes unaffected by thaw slumps. Inorganic sedimentation rates were positively related to contaminant concentrations. Collectively, these results suggest that the influx of siliciclastic material reduces organic carbon in slump-affected lake water, resulting in higher concentrations of POPs on the residual sedimentary organic matter. This explanation is further corroborated by an inverse correlation between sedimentary POP concentrations and TOC content of the lake water.



Presentation 76: Comparison of sampling methods to develop fish habitat use models of a Manitoba reservoirSunday 14:20 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralNathan Satre, Guillaume Bourque, Daniel [email protected] Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, NSERC HydroNet,Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL)Presently, government and industry are seeking clear definitions and effective means of measuring and predicting production metrics of fish habitat. This study seeks to address this question by comparing gillnet, seine and electrofishing methods in order to determine which method gives the best model of CPUE (abundance per unit effort) based on habitat variables. Throughout the summer of 2012, fish communities from 43 littoral sites were sampled from Lac du Bonnet, a reservoir in southeastern Manitoba. In addition, a habitat survey was conducted in order to characterize the habitat types of the sampling locations. Using these data sets along with a series of statistical analyses, we look to find the method that best portrays the relationship between local habitat variables and fish capture in this system, and furthermore present a framework that can be applied in reservoir systems throughout Canada.

Presentation 77: Arctic grayling in the Upper Pembina River System – a population on the edgeSunday 14:20 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralCorey Stefura, Jim O’Neil and Ken [email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.In 2002 and 2003, a joint study by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and the Alberta Conservation Association concluded that the Arctic grayling population in the upper Pembina River watershed had likely collapsed. The upper Pembina River study area has been impacted by oil and gas activity and associated road access since the opening of the West Pembina Oilfield in the early 1960s. In 2011, Northern Lights Fly Tyers/Trout Unlimited Canada, with volunteer assistance from Golder Associates Ltd., initiated a five-year project to complement the 2002-2003 study. The study was designed to collect scientifically valid data, within the limitations of a volunteer-based survey, and a limited budget. Since 2011, several field programs have been initiated, including deployment of water temperature loggers, a volunteer angling program, a spring spawning counting fence, and a preliminary assessment of potential overwintering pools.

Presentation 78: Effect of dietary protein levels on the growth performance and nutrient utilization in fingerlings of Catla catlaSunday 14:20 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralShahid Mahboob, Fahad Al-Misned, K. AlGhanim and Z. [email protected] of Zoology, College of Science P.O.Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaThe effect of different dietary protein levels on growth performance and nutrient utilization were studied in fingerlings of Catla catla for 90 days. Six experimental diets with protein levels of 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 g kg-1 with respective digestible protein (DP) contents of 242.6, 293.5, 341.6, 392.6 and 442.5 g kg-1 were evaluated and six treatments were designated, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively, in triplicate. Each experimental tank (100-L) contained ten fingerlings of approximately the same weight (10.6 ± 0.6 g). The fish were fed twice daily. Significantly higher (P< 0.05) absolute growth and thermal growth coefficient, and lower feed conversion ratios (FCR) were observed in T3–T5 than T1 and T6. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein productive values (PPV) were highest in T3 and lowest in T6. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) apparent protein digestibility was perceptible in T3–T5.




Presentation 79: Re colonization of bigmouth buffalo in the Upper Qu’Appelle RiverSunday 14:40 Katimavik Room A CCFFR GeneralJeff Sereda, Mike Pollock, Glen [email protected] Water Security Agency, SaskatchewanBigmouth buffalo were eliminated from the Upper Qu’Appelle River (UQR) Saskatchewan in the 1960’s following a winterkill event. Water elevation and flow in the UQR is highly managed and may have impacted the ability of buffalo to recolonize and/or reproduce in the area. A study was initiated to determine the influence water management may have on the buffalo in this region. The UQR was fished extensively throughout the spring and summer of 2013. A large population of spawning adults was located and 250 individuals were captured and biological data recorded. Fish mass had a range of 2.5-13 kg and fish age ranged from 8-20+ years. Age and/or size classes were not missing in our sample. Population age and size structure was not correlated with reservoir elevation (i.e. water management) over 20+ years. Preliminary results indicate buffalo have recolonized the area and water management has not impeded reproduction.

Presentation 80: Assessing effects of TDS from the Snap Lake Diamond Mine to freshwater fish and their preySunday 14:40 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralPeter Chapman, Cathy McPherson, and James Elphick2 [email protected] Golder Associates Ltd.; Nautilus Environmental2The total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of Snap Lake water is increasing due to deep, relatively saline connate water released with treated mine water into Snap Lake. Toxicity of TDS to aquatic biota is dependent on its specific ionic composition. Thus, although available literature indicated that resident biota should not be adversely affected by TDS concentrations of 500 mg/L or greater testing with representative fish and their prey was required to determine an appropriately protective site-specific water quality objective. Laboratory toxicity tests were conducted with the most sensitive life-stages of two fish species found in the lake (Arctic grayling and lake trout): egg fertilization, hatching, and fry development. Laboratory toxicity tests measuring acute and chronic endpoints were also conducted with key components of the lake food chain (algae, plankton, and benthos). All biota tested had tolerances above 500 mg/L and, except for two water flea species, also had tolerances above 1000 mg/L.

Presentation 81: Ecological response to altered basal resources in a zooplankton metacommunitySunday 14:40 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralM.A. Robidoux1, A. Merante1, A.M. Derry1, M.T. Arts2, M. Kainz3, and P. del Giorgio1

[email protected]é du Québec à Montréal1, Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute2; WasserCluster-Luz, Lunz Am See, Austria3

The presence of phenotypic variation across landscape gradients can be important for local community responses to environmental change. We considered zooplankton communities that exist along a landscape gradient in DOC, and experimentally tested how local responses in a lake with intermediate DOC are different from responses of potential regional migrants from dark (DOC-rich) and clear (DOC-poor) lakes to humic enrichment. We conducted two factorial-design field experiments (total 5000-L x 60 enclosures) in summer 2012. We found that humic enrichment (even with nutrient addition) suppressed diversity, biomass, and nutritional state of zooplankton. There was phenotypic variation in calanoid copepods among dark and clear source lakes, but this was evident under clear-water conditions not humic conditions. Our results suggest that altered terrestrial inputs to lakes that are predicted to occur with climate change could impact local food webs, but that these impacts could potentially be modulated by adaptive variation in the metacommunity.




Presentation 82: Manitoba’s Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP)Saturday 15:40 Katimavik Room B CCFFR GeneralRichard Remnant1, Megan Cooley1, Don Macdonald2, Warren Coughlin3, Gary Swanson3

[email protected]/South Consultants Inc.; Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship2; Manitoba Hydro3

Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship (MCWS) and Manitoba Hydro initiated the Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) in 2008. CAMP is a long-term, systematic and system-wide aquatic monitoring program implemented across Manitoba Hydro’s hydraulic operating system. CAMP integrates components of existing MCWS and Manitoba Hydro long-term monitoring programs and was designed to document the environmental condition of waterways affected by Manitoba Hydro’s hydraulic operating system and facilitate a better understanding over time, of the environmental effects of hydroelectric operations. CAMP includes sampling of key physical, chemical, and biological components of the aquatic environment with emphasis on components that are potentially affected by hydroelectric regulation. The major components monitored under CAMP are: hydrometrics; aquatic habitat; water quality; sediment quality; phytoplankton; benthic macro invertebrates; fish communities; and mercury levels in fish. CAMP includes eight regions and 46 water bodies (either on- or off-system) that encompass Manitoba Hydro’s hydraulic operating system.

Presentation 83: The detection of estrone and 17 beta-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) in fish.Sunday 15:00 Janvier Room CCFFR GeneralAhmed Al-Ansari, Jules Blais, Ammar Saleem, Linda E. Kimpe, Vance [email protected] of Biology, University of OttawaSteroidal estrogens are typically reported in very low concentrations in the environment, yet they are top of the list of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals due to their high estrogenic activity in non-target aquatic species like fish and frogs. These steroidal estrogens include estrogen itself (17β-estradiol), its metabolite estrone, and 17α-ethinylestradiol, the synthetic constituent of oral contraceptives. We examined the presence of these steroidal estrogens in the environment first by deriving an optimized method for the extraction and quantitation of these steroids with low detection and high recovery rates by GC-MS in negative chemical ionization mode following derivatization with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride. Secondly, we demonstrated the bioaccumulation of the synthetic steroid 17 beta-ethinyl estradiol in wild-caught fish from the St. Clair River, Ontario, Canada. Finally, we modeled the uptake and elimination of 17 beta-ethinyl estradiol in fish to determine the major pathways of its exposure to fish in the environment. We conclude that the direct measurement of 17 beta-ethinyl estradiol accumulation by fish in the environment may prove instructive for exposure assessments of this chemical.

Presentation 84: Appropriate hook size and bait for exploiting Nile perch, Lates niloticus L. in Lake Victoria (East Africa)Sunday 15:00 Katimavik Room B SCL GeneralSamuel Bassa, Boniface Makanga, and Fredrick W. B. [email protected] Resource Research Institute, Jinja, Uganda Hook and line is one of the major fisheries gear that target the Nile perch. In recent past Nile perch declined from 307,000 to 266,000 t as the number of hooks and line increased from 250,000 to 2,700,000 in (2000-2010). This study was undertaken in the Napoleon Gulf in 2009 in order to recommend appropriate hook size for harvesting the Nile perch. Length and weight of the species and type of bait data was collected; this targeted fishermen with hook sizes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Hooks of sizes 7, 8 and 9 harvested fish above the minimum legal slot size of 50 cm TL of the Nile perch and the Mormyrus kannume merged as the suitable bait.




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