Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
State of fish State of fish in a St. Lawrence River in a St. Lawrence River under multiple pressures - 2011under multiple pressures - 2011
Marc Mingelbier Marc Mingelbier et al.et al.Quebec ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, CanadaQuebec ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Canada
MNRWMNRWP. Brodeur, R. Dumas, P. Brodeur, R. Dumas, P. Dumont, D. Hatin, P. Dumont, D. Hatin, Y. Mailhot, Y. Paradis, Y. Mailhot, Y. Paradis, N. VachonN. Vachon
Environment CanadaEnvironment CanadaJ. Morin, S. Martin, O. J. Morin, S. Martin, O. Champoux, S. Giguère Champoux, S. Giguère
ONEMA, FranceONEMA, FranceY. ReyjolY. Reyjol
UniversitiesUniversitiesINRS-ETEINRS-ETEUQACUQACUQTRUQTRU. LavalU. Laval
Non Gov. OrgNon Gov. OrgDUC - CICDUC - CICSABLSABLEtc.Etc.
2 /20Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
St. Lawrence river at a glanceSt. Lawrence river at a glance
• Large river - rank Large river - rank ~ 20th~ 20th• Length Length 3260 km long 3260 km long Danube, Volga & Danube, Volga & MurrayMurray• Watershed = 1.6 million km2Watershed = 1.6 million km2 ~~ Volga & Volga & MurrayMurray• Annual flow = 13 000 cms Annual flow = 13 000 cms Ganges & Ganges & MississippiMississippi
• ~ ~ 7.5 millions people mainly in the 7.5 millions people mainly in the SL watershed SL watershed
• Connection between GL & AtlanticConnection between GL & Atlantic
• Navigation channel Navigation channel > 250 m width> 250 m width
> 11.3 m depth> 11.3 m depth
• Dams Dams • Disrupt connection GL & AtlanticDisrupt connection GL & Atlantic• Water flow regulationWater flow regulation
• Altitude Altitude 70 m70 m 0 m = rapids 0 m = rapids
• Tide: 3 estuariesTide: 3 estuariesfreshwater E. + middle E. + marine E. freshwater E. + middle E. + marine E.
• High spatial heterogeneity:High spatial heterogeneity:• Lakes vs. narrow sections + archilelagosLakes vs. narrow sections + archilelagos• Major tributaries = Major tributaries = input + water bodies input + water bodies
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The St. Lawrence = a multi-rivers system !The St. Lawrence = a multi-rivers system !
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117 freshwater fish species in SL : resident + diadromous117 freshwater fish species in SL : resident + diadromous
• Develop applied research Develop applied research to field actions to field actions• ProtectionProtection• RestorationRestoration• ManagementManagement
• Many pressures Many pressures
• Clear degradationsClear degradations
Frédéric Back
5 /20Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
Yellow perch collapseYellow perch collapse
• Despite recommendations Despite recommendations since the 1990’ssince the 1990’s
• In 2010, 90% commercial In 2010, 90% commercial fishermen re-purchased fishermen re-purchased their licencestheir licences
Comm. landings (1976-2007)Comm. landings (1976-2007)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Année
Dé
ba
rqu
em
en
ts (
ton
ne
s)
Récoltecommerciale (t)
Récolte sportive (t)
Quota scientif ique commercial (30 t)
Quota scientif iquesportif (10 t)
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American eel declineAmerican eel decline
0
20
40
60
80
100
1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002
Année
% d
u m
axim
um
0,0
0,4
0,8
1,2
1,6
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
Cohorte
IFC
A
Individual mean weight for migrating silver eel
1,1
1,3
1,5
1,7
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Year
Me
an
we
igh
t (k
g)
Migration declinein Cornwall
Migration decline in tributaries
Increasing avg mass in fisheries
400 t
<50 t
Generalized fisheries decline (1920-2004)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
7 /20Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
A river system under pressure !A river system under pressure !
Since 1850: navigation, dredging & damsSince 1850: navigation, dredging & dams
Morin & Côté 2003Morin & Côté 2003
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Urban dvpt & agriculture !Urban dvpt & agriculture !
• Since 400 yrs, 80% wetlands lost in Montreal areaSince 400 yrs, 80% wetlands lost in Montreal area
• Eutrophication Eutrophication cyanobacteria cyanobacteria
• Effluents Effluents e.g. fish feminisation (oestrogen) + others e.g. fish feminisation (oestrogen) + others
D
E
L
T
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Invasive species: round goby Invasive species: round goby transfert energy + contaminant transfert energy + contaminant
?
??
?
?
ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/
10 /20Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
Fish : • Seine every 1 km shore• Gillnet every 1.5 sq. km • Time = every 5-7 years
+ habitat description
Fish monitoring in the SLR since 1995 (community + population)Fish monitoring in the SLR since 1995 (community + population)
Littoral Pelagic Channel
Seine Gillnet
Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011
Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)
1. N native species (n= 55)
2. N Catostomidae species (e.g. Catostomus catostomus)
3. N intolerant species (e.g. Hiodon tergisus)
4. % tolerant fish (e.g. Cyprinus carpio)
5. % omnivorous fish (e.g. Carpiodes cyprinus)
6. % insectivorous fish (e.g. Cyprinids; Notropis atherinoides)
7. % piscivorous fish (e.g. Esox lucius)
8. % phytophilous fish (e.g. Fundulus diaphanus)
9. Biomass native fish gillnet, excluding tolerant (e.g. Perca flavescens)
10. DELT (% fish with Deformations, Erosions, Lesions or Tumors)
Species occurrence
Relative abundance
Biomass
Special
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Index of Biotic Integrity Index of Biotic Integrity (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
Grondines-Donnacona
LacSt-Louis
Gentilly-Batiscan
LacSt-François
LacSt-Pierre
22
1
22
6
23
7
274
39
2
38
8
38
3
23
2
28
0
39
6
427
42
1
416
411
40
6
40
1
51
8
494
47
3
46
8
45
9
51
2
21
5
50
6
50
0
46
4
26
7
Archipel dulac St-Pierre
Ind
ice
d'in
tégri
té b
iotiq
ue (
IIB
)
Période 1 (1995 - 1997)Période 2 (2001 - 2006)
Absence de poisson
Moyenne
Faible
Très faible
Bonne
Excellente
RIVE SUD
Canal de rejetGentilly-2
RivièreSaint-Louis
Bank: South
Fragmentation
Industrial sewages
Bank erosion
No fish
Very weak
Weak
Medium
Good
Excellent
Period 1Period 2
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Index of Biotic Integrity : Index of Biotic Integrity : decrease between P1 and P2decrease between P1 and P2 (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)
128 km
10 km
111 km128 km51%
10 km4%
111 km45%
Period 1 (1995 - 1997)
177 km71%
22 km9%50 km
20%
Period 2 (2001 - 2006)Very weakVery weakWeakWeakMediumMediumGoodGoodExcellentExcellent
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Multiple pressures in the SLRMultiple pressures in the SLR
AgricultureAgriculture
Shore degradationShore degradation
HydrologyHydrology
Commercial navigationCommercial navigation
Commercial fisheriesCommercial fisheries
UrbanizationUrbanization
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Fish sampling
Habitat description
Pike spawning habitat
Approach: 1. Fish & habitat sampling 2. Modelling and mapping
2D modelling to quantify fish habitat2D modelling to quantify fish habitat
CurrentTemperatureVegetation
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2D modelling to quantify fish habitat2D modelling to quantify fish habitat
• Applications:Applications:• Reconstruction of historical seriesReconstruction of historical series• Test the effects of various climate scenarios (i.e. hot-dry vs hot-wet) Test the effects of various climate scenarios (i.e. hot-dry vs hot-wet) • Prepare a new water regulation plan Lake Ontario - SLR system based onPrepare a new water regulation plan Lake Ontario - SLR system based on
• Fish spring spawning habitatFish spring spawning habitat• Fish summer growing habitatFish summer growing habitat
• Protect habitat of endangered species Protect habitat of endangered species
ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/
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Copper Redhorse - A unique fish !!Copper Redhorse - A unique fish !!
• Occurs nowhere in the world except in Southern QuebecOccurs nowhere in the world except in Southern Quebec
• MoMoxostoma xostoma huhubbsi = bbsi = MOHUMOHU: 1/7 spp. of Moxostoma (Catostomidae): 1/7 spp. of Moxostoma (Catostomidae)
• First species designated endangered in Quebec Province in 1999First species designated endangered in Quebec Province in 1999
Atlas of essential habitats
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Success story with lake sturgeon - part 1/2Success story with lake sturgeon - part 1/2
• In 1970’s future was uncertain: overexploitation, small spawning ground, connectivity• Changes:
• New knowledge focused on biology & exploitation• Severe management individuals quotas, control of fishermen and wholesaler• Spawning habitats protected & restored
2011 = sustainable fisheries!! ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/
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Success story with lake sturgeon - part 2/2Success story with lake sturgeon - part 2/2
Riv. des Prairies: spawning site 8000 mRiv. des Prairies: spawning site 8000 m22
ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/
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ConclusionsConclusions
• State of fishState of fish• Large spectrum of responses due to high natural heterogeneityLarge spectrum of responses due to high natural heterogeneity• Signs of degradations in the SLRSigns of degradations in the SLR
• Fisheries collapsesFisheries collapses• Low IBI valuesLow IBI values• Goby invasionGoby invasion
• Signs of improvementsSigns of improvements• Sustainable population of lake sturgeonSustainable population of lake sturgeon• Stripped bass reintroduction Stripped bass reintroduction signs of success signs of success
• In the futureIn the future• Maintain research applied on managementMaintain research applied on management• Adapt monitoring to new realities (climate, invaders, new pollutants)Adapt monitoring to new realities (climate, invaders, new pollutants)• Refine 2D modelling with additional field data, land use, etc.Refine 2D modelling with additional field data, land use, etc.• Protect connectivityProtect connectivity• Improve water qualityImprove water quality
THANK YOU !THANK YOU !
ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/
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