A latitudinal investigation of ecosystem sensitivity to methylmercury bioaccumulation in fresh waters of the eastern Arctic

Over three years (2012 to 2015), we are comparing MeHg bioaccumulation in three study areas that cover a latitudinal gradient in ecosystem types in the Canadian Arctic, specifically Kuujjuaraapik (sub-Arctic taiga), Iqaluit (tundra) and Resolute Bay (polar desert). In water bodies from each of these study areas, we will investigate two key aspects of MeHg bioaccumulation, specifically MeHg bioavailability to benthic food webs and organism growth rates. Using a cross-ecosystem comparison to test these hypotheses, we will conduct the following in lakes and ponds from each study area: - Characterize the watersheds of study sites (geomorphology and physiography) through satellite image classification and digital terrain analysis in order to examine watershed influences on measured lake physico-chemistry, particularly levels of organic carbon and Hg in sediment and water; - Estimate bioavailable MeHg in sediment pore water using a novel technique (Diffusive Gradient in Thin films, or DGT); - Measure MeHg concentrations in benthic food webs (algae, invertebrates and fish); and - Estimate short-term growth rates in invertebrates and fish using tissue DNA and RNA content. Project results will provide a conceptual model of climate-related environmental processes that affect the exposure of Arctic freshwater fish to MeHg. This information is critical to understand how climate change is affecting temporal and geographic trends of Hg bioaccumulation in Arctic fish monitored by the NCP.


Mercury is a priority contaminant of the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) due to its prevalence in the Arctic and high levels found in some traditional food species. The main objective of this project is to investigate climate-related environmental controls on methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation in Arctic freshwater food webs. Recent evidence indicates that inorganic mercury (Hg) loadings to Arctic lakes decline with latitude; however, MeHg concentrations in benthic invertebrates and fish do not similarly decline along this gradient in Hg loading. These observations suggest that environmental factors may play an important role in ecosystem sensitivity to Hg bioaccumulation in the Canadian Arctic. We hypothesize that climate's dominant control on organic matter production affects two key aspects of MeHg bioaccumulation, specifically MeHg bioavailability to food webs and organism growth rates. In addition, a latitudinal water temperature gradient likely affects organism growth rates.

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Metadata Record Information

File Identifier
2e6a97db-1d28-4b92-8213-a0626ad8ab71 XML
Date Stamp
2022-01-21T04:13:44
Metadata language

eng; CAN
Character set
UTF8
Hierarchy Level
Series
Author
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada - Environment and Climate Change Canada ( Public inquiries centre )
Fontaine Building 12th floor, 200 Sacré-Coeur Blvd , Gatineau , Quebec , K1A 0H3 , Canada
1-800-668-6767
http://ec.gc.ca
 

Data identification

Date (Publication)
2013-05-29
Date (Creation)
2013-05-29
Status
On going
Metadata language

eng; CAN
Topic category
  • Environment
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Irregular
Spatial representation type
Vector
Originator
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; National Wildlife Research Centre (NWRC) - Chételat, John ( Research Scientist )
1125 Colonel By Drive , Ottawa , Ontario , K1A 0H3 , Canada
(613) 991-9835
(613) 998-0458
Distributor
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Canadian Cryospheric Information Network - Polar Data Catalogue ( Manager )
200 University Ave , Waterloo , Ontario , N2L 3G1 , Canada
(519) 888-4567 x32689

Keywords

Place

  • Iqaluit

  • Kuujjuaraapik

  • Resolute Bay
Theme

  • Arctic char

  • Growth rate

  • Sediments

  • Watershed

  • Climate change

  • Mercury

  • Food web

ECCC Information Category EN

  • Nature and Biodiversity - Contaminants

Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus

  • Toxicology

Business Functions

  • Assess Toxicity, Manage and Monitor for Environmental Presence of Hazardous Substances and Waste

  • Monitor / Assess Substance and Waste Levels in Air, Water, Soil, Biota

Geography

  • Quebec (QC)

  • Territories - Nunavut (NU)

external.theme.EC_Branch

  • Science and Technology Branch

external.theme.EC_Directorate

  • Wildlife and Landscape Science

external.theme.GC_Security_Level

  • Unclassified
 
Use Limitation

Open Government Licence - Canada ( http://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada )

Access Constraints
License
Use Constraints
License
Begin Date
2012-05-01
End Date
2015-03-31

Extent

N
S
E
W
thumbnail


 
 

Ref. system Reference Systems

Reference system identifier
EPSG / EPSG:4326 /
 

Distribution

Distribution Formats

Distribution format
  • XLS ( XLS )

 
Distributor
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada - Environment and Climate Change Canada ( Public inquiries centre )
Fontaine Building 12th floor, 200 Sacré-Coeur Blvd , Gatineau , Quebec , K1A 0H3 , Canada
1-800-668-6767
http://ec.gc.ca
 
 

Overviews

N
S
E
W
thumbnail


Keywords

Arctic char Climate change Food web Growth rate Iqaluit Kuujjuaraapik Mercury Resolute Bay Sediments Watershed
Business Functions
Assess Toxicity, Manage and Monitor for Environmental Presence of Hazardous Substances and Waste Monitor / Assess Substance and Waste Levels in Air, Water, Soil, Biota
ECCC Information Category EN
Nature and Biodiversity - Contaminants
Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus
Toxicology
external.theme.EC_Branch
Science and Technology Branch
external.theme.EC_Directorate
Wildlife and Landscape Science
external.theme.GC_Security_Level
Unclassified

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