• Arctic SDI catalogue
  •  
  •  
  •  

Spatiotemporal variation in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation along western Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada

PURPOSE:

Given the paucity of information on Arctic char along western Hudson Bay, in 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hosted an Arctic char workshop in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, bringing together local resource users, knowledge holders, and co-management groups (e.g., Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Regional Wildlife Organization) to identify and discuss community-based Arctic char research priorities across the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Communities were especially interested in examining “what Arctic char were eating” and “why the colour of their muscle is different” along the western Hudson Bay coastline, and in the summer of 2018, a regional community-based Arctic char monitoring program was implemented across the region.

DESCRIPTION:

Climate-induced alterations to Arctic sea ice dynamics are influencing the availability and distribution of resources, and in turn, the nutrient and energy intake of opportunistic predators across the food web. These temporal changes in local prey communities likely influence the availability of carotenoid-rich prey types, as well as the foraging ecology of opportunistic predators that forage in the marine environment, such as anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Despite its socioeconomic importance across its range, anadromous Arctic char foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation, particularly in relation to sea ice dynamics, remains understudied. Here, over two years (2021, 2022) with contrasting sea ice dynamics, we investigated the foraging ecology of anadromous Arctic char and its influence on their muscle pigmentation at a southern (Rankin Inlet) and northern (Naujaat) location along western Hudson Bay using a combination of stomach contents, stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), highly branched isoprenoids, carotenoid spectrophotometry, and a standard muscle colour scale (DSM SalmoFan). Spatiotemporal variation in Arctic char diet occurred, where Rankin Inlet Arctic char generally consumed more fish and phytoplankton-based carbon sources, occupied a higher trophic position, and displayed a similar isotopic niche breadth compared to Arctic char in Naujaat. Invertebrates were higher in carotenoid concentration than fishes, and in association with a more invertebrate-based diet, Arctic char in Naujaat contained higher muscle carotenoid concentrations (e.g., astaxanthin) compared to Rankin Inlet Arctic char in 2021. In 2022, however, muscle carotenoid concentrations in Naujaat and Rankin Inlet Arctic char were more similar, as the diet of Arctic char in both locations was largely fish-based despite muscle colour remaining redder in Naujaat Arctic char. Overall, the observed plastic foraging ecology of Arctic char highlights this species' ability to adjust to inter-annual variability in environmental changes, which then impacts their muscle carotenoid concentration. Such inter-annual variation in Arctic char foraging ecology is anticipated to increase with unpredictable climate-driven environmental changes in the region, which could therefore negatively affect local resource users over the long term, resulting in socioeconomic impacts across the Arctic.

Collection/sampling methodology:

Arctic char were collected by angling and gillnetting (5.5” mesh, regularly checked) between June and August in the estuarine and marine environments near the communities of Rankin Inlet and Naujaat, Nunavut. In 2021, Naujaat Arctic char were collected by community fishers as part of a community-based sampling program. Concurrently, invertebrate prey types were opportunistically collected in the vicinity of Arctic char sampling sites using a conical zooplankton net (200-μm mesh; 10-minute tows) or obtained fresh from Arctic char stomachs. Additionally, marine fishes were opportunistically collected by angling or obtained fresh from Arctic char stomachs over both years in Rankin Inlet, while samples from the Naujaat area were collected in 2018 and 2019.

The Kivalliq Wildlife Board (Rankin Inlet, NU) and Arviq Hunters and Trappers Association (Naujaat, NU) each supported this community-formulated research project and assisted with sample collections throughout the duration of the project. We would like to recognize and thank Sonny Ittinuar (Kivalliq Wildlife Board/Rankin Inlet Local Resource User), Clayton Tartak (Kivalliq Wildlife Board), Vincent L’Herault (ArctiConnexion), and Gail Davoren (University of Manitoba MSc co-supervisor) for their participation in the project. We would also like to thank Sonny Ittinuar, Poisey (Adam) Alogut, John-El, Peter, Quassa, and Goretti Tinashlu, who assisted in field work.

USE LIMITATION:

To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Simple

Date ( RI_366 )
2021
Date ( RI_367 )
2024-11-29
RI_412
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - AARD Data Request DRAA Demande de donnés (DFO/MPO) ( )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
RI_409
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Connor Faulkner ( Student )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
431-323-0107
RI_419
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Les Harris ( Aquatic Science Biologist )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
204-983-5143
RI_415
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - David Yurkowski ( Research Scientist )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
204-983-5285
RI_419
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Connor Faulkner ( Student )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
431-323-0107
RI_413
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Connor Faulkner ( Student )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
431-323-0107
RI_408
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Connor Faulkner ( Student )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
431-323-0107
RI_417
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Jennifer Cassin ( Physical Scientist )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
204-430-8329
Purpose
Given the paucity of information on Arctic char along western Hudson Bay, in 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hosted an Arctic char workshop in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, bringing together local resource users, knowledge holders, and co-management groups (e.g., Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Regional Wildlife Organization) to identify and discuss community-based Arctic char research priorities across the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Communities were especially interested in examining “what Arctic char were eating” and “why the colour of their muscle is different” along the western Hudson Bay coastline, and in the summer of 2018, a regional community-based Arctic char monitoring program was implemented across the region.
Status
onGoing; enContinue RI_596
Maintenance and update frequency
asNeeded; auBesoin RI_540
NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Version 6.0.0.0.0 NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Version 6.0.0.0.0 ( RI_528 )
  • Trophic Dynamics
  • Stable Isotopes
Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus Thésaurus des sujets de base du gouvernement du Canada ( RI_528 )
  • Aquatic wildlife
  • Climate change
  • Fish
  • Fisheries resources
  • Marine biology
  • Salt water
DFO Areas Zones du MPO ( RI_525 )
  • Arctic Ocean
  • Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Stock Assessment
Use limitation
Open Government Licence - Canada (http://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada)
Access constraints
license; licence RI_606
Use constraints
license; licence RI_606
Use limitation
To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.
Classification
unclassified; nonClassifié RI_484
Spatial representation type
vector; vecteur RI_635
Metadata language
eng
Character set
utf8; utf8 RI_458
Topic category
  • Biota
  • Geoscientific information
  • Oceans
Begin date
2021
End date
2022
Description
Estuarine and marine environments along the western Hudson Bay coast near the communities of Rankin Inlet (Diana River – estuarine area located northwest of the community) and Naujaat (Sipujaqtuu – estuarine and marine area located southwest of the community).
N
S
E
W
thumbnail


Reference system identifier
https://epsg.io / EPSG:4269
Distribution format
  • CSV ( n/a )

  • ESRI REST ( n/a )

  • PDF ( n/a )

RI_414
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - AARD Data Request DRAA Demande de donnés (DFO/MPO) ( )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
OnLine resource
DATA DICTIONARY ( HTTPS )

Supporting Document;PDF;eng,fra

OnLine resource
Arctic char collection & analysis - raw data ( HTTPS )

Dataset;CSV;eng,fra

OnLine resource
Prey collection & analysis - raw data ( HTTPS )

Dataset;CSV;eng,fra

OnLine resource
Map of sample area ( ESRI REST: Map Service )

Web Service;ESRI REST;eng

OnLine resource
Map of sample area ( ESRI REST: Map Service )

Web Service;ESRI REST;fra

OnLine resource
Spatiotemporal variation in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation along western Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada ( HTTPS )

Supporting Document;PDF;eng

OnLine resource
Spatiotemporal variation in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) foraging ecology along western Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada ( HTTPS )

Supporting Document;PDF;eng

File identifier
9cbcf710-a2a1-11ef-8ccf-55cc7f028297 XML
Metadata language
eng; CAN
Character set
utf8; utf8 RI_458
Hierarchy level
dataset; jeuDonnées RI_622
Date stamp
2024-12-16T20:48:06.023Z
Metadata standard name
North American Profile of ISO 19115:2003 - Geographic information - Metadata
Metadata standard version
CAN/CGSB-171.100-2009
RI_409
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Connor Faulkner ( Student )
501 University Cres , Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3T 2N6 , Canada
431-323-0107
 
 

Overviews

overview
Thumbnail of sample area

Spatial extent

N
S
E
W
thumbnail


Keywords


Provided by

logo

Associated resources

Not available


  •  
  •  
  •