(Stenodus Leucichthys) and BURBOT (Lota Lota), LOWER SLAVE RIVER, JUNE to DECEMBER, 1994
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N o rthw est ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Canada Abata Territories Northern River Basins Study 3 510 00168 3508 NORTHERN RIVER BASINS STUDY PROJECT REPORT NO. 118 LIFE HISTORY VARIATION OF INCONNU (Stenodus Leucichthys) AND BURBOT (Lota lota), LOWER SLAVE RIVER, JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1994 QL 638 . S2 T149 1996 J. QL/638/.S2/T149/1996 Life history variation of Tallman, Ross Franklin 1S8350 DATE DUE BRODART Cat No. 23-221 ft* 0 2 0 0 ? Prepared for the Northern River Basins Study under Project 3143-D2 by Ross F. Tallman Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater institute William M. Tonn and Kimberly L. Howland Department of Zoology, University of Alberta Community Contributors:' Kevin Antoniak, Fort Smith Don Lapine, Fort Smith Fred MacDonald, Fort Smith Stewart Tourangeau, Fort Smith Darwin Unka, Fort Resolution Tom Unka, Fort Resolution NORTHERN RIVER BASINS STUDY PROJECT REPORT NO. 118 LIFE HISTORY VARIATION OF INCONNU (Stenodus Leucichthys) AND BURBOT (Lota lota), LOWER SLAVE RIVER, JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1994 Published by the Northern River Basins Study Edmonton, Alberta ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY February, 1996 ^QV 0 7 1998 im A m CANADIAN CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA Tallman, Ross Franklin, 1956- Life history variation of inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys) and burbot (Lota lota), lower Slave River, June to December, 1994 (Northern River Basins Study project report, ISSN 1192-3571 ; no. 118) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-662-24657-8 Cat. no. R71-49/3-118E 1. Burbot - Slave River (Alta. And N.W.T.) - Life cycles. 2. Inconnu (Fish) -- Slave River (Alta. And N.W.T.) - Life cycles. I. Tonn, William M. II. Howland, Kimberly L. III. Northern River Basins Study (Canada) IV. Title. V. Series. QL638.S2T34 1996 597'.53 C96-980233-1 Copyright© 1996 by the Northern River Basins Study. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce all or any portion of this publication provided the reproduction includes a proper acknowledgement of the Study and a proper credit to the authors. The reproduction must be presented within its proper context and must not be used for profit. The views expressed this publication are solely those of the authors. PREFACE: The Northern River Basins Study was initiated through the "Canada-Alberta-Northwest Territories Agreement Respecting the Peace-Athabasca-Slave River Basin Study, Phase II - Technical Studies" which was signed September 27, 1991. The purpose of the Study is to understand and characterize the cumulative effects of development on the water and aquatic environment of the Study Area by coordinating with existing programs and undertaking appropriate new technical studies. This publication reports the method and findings of particular work conducted as part of the Northern River Basins Study. As such, the work was governed by a specific terms of reference and is expected to contribute information about the Study Area within the context of the overall study as described by the Study Final Report. This report has been reviewed by the Study Science Advisory Committee in regards to scientific content and has been approved by the Study Board of Directors for public release. It is explicit in the objectives of the Study to report the results of technical work regularly to the public. This objective is served by distributing project reports to an extensive network of libraries, agencies, organizations and interested individuals and by granting universal permission to reproduce the material. NORTHERN RIVER BASINS STUDY PROJECT REPORT RELEASE FORM This publication may be cited as: Tallman, Ross F., Tonn, William M. and Howland, Kimberly L. 1996. Northern River Basins Study Project Report No. 118, Life History Variation of Inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys) and Burbot (Lota lota), Lower Slave River, June to December, 1994. Northern River Basins Study, Edmonton, Alberta. Whereas the above publication is the result of a project conducted under the Northern River Basins Study and the terms of reference for that project are deemed to be fulfilled, IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED BY THE STUDY OFFICE THAT; this publication be subjected to proper and responsible review and be considered for release to the public. (Dr. Fred*Jr?wrona, Science Director) (Date) ' Whereas it is an explicit term of reference of the Science Advisory Committee "to review, for scientific content, material for publication by the Board", IT IS HERE ADVISED BY THE SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT; this publication has been reviewed for scientific content and that the scientific practices represented in the report are acceptable given the specific purposes of the project and subject to the field conditions encountered. SUPPLEMENTAL COMMENTARY HAS BEEN ADDED TO THIS PUBLICATION: [ ] Yes [ ] No (Dr. P. A. Larkin, Ph.D., Chair) (Date) “ Whereas the Study Board is satisfied that this publication has been reviewed for scientific content and for immediate health implications, IT IS HERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT; this publication be released to the public, and that this publication be designated for: [ ] STANDARD AVAILABILITY [ ] EXPANDED AVAILABILITY LIFE HISTORY VARIATION OF INCONNU (Stenodus leucichthys) AND BURBOT (Lota lota), LOWER SLAVE RIVER, JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1994 STUDY PERSPECTIVE To address cumulative environmental effects, the Northern River Basins Study Board identified fish Related Study Questions distribution, abundance and movement as areas requiring further scientific investigation. Public input 6) What is the distribution and movement to the Board re-enforced this direction because, in of fish species in the watersheds of the many communities, fish remain peoples' most Peace, Athabasca and Slave rivers? visible evidence on the health of the rivers. Except Where and when are they most likely to for short, isolated reaches of the Peace, Athabasca be exposed to changes in water quality and Slave rivers, minimal information exists to and where are their important habitats? assess the cumulative impacts of development on the fish community. The lower Slave River is one of 12) What traditional knowledge exists to these exceptions. In the early 1980's a enhance the physical science studies in comprehensive investigation of the fish community all areas of enquiry? in the lower Slave River was completed. This database offered the Study an opportunity to assess 13b) What are the cumulative effects of man possible changes. made discharges on the water and aquatic environment? The Slave River receives the combined flow of the Athabasca and Peace rivers, including the by 14) What long-term monitoring programs products of development discharged to their waters. and predictive models are required to The rapids at Fort Smith also serve to separate the provide an ongoing assessment of the fish community of the Slave in two; there is no state of the aquatic ecosystems? These evidence that fish downstream of the rapids have programs must ensure that all been able to move upstream into the Alberta portion stakeholders have the opportunity for of the Slave River. The fish community of the river input. reaches above and below the rapids are different. A number of the fish species are the basis of a domestic and commercial fishery on the Slave River and Great Slave Lake, respectively. Under the auspices of the Food Chain Component, freshwater scientists developed a multi-faceted investigation into the movement, life history and diet of fish in the Northwest Territories portion of the Slave River, north of the 60°th parallel. The work was undertaken in such a manner that it could be compared to a mid-1980's investigations. This project report describes the results of an investigation into the life cycle and population characteristics of two key harvested fishes, inconnu {Stenodus leucichthys) and burbot {Lota lota). The fish were monitored from June to December, 1994. Both species of fish are predators that feed on other fish. Consequently, they have the potential to biomagnify contaminants that may accumulate within fish tissue. They are also species likely to be the most vulnerable to change. Results indicated the inconnu that utilize the Slave River for spawning, generally show faster growth rates and mature at an earlier age than more northerly inconnu populations. The spawning population also tends to be younger with a more limited range in age structure. Conversely, burbot exhibited slower growth, later maturity and the population appeared to be relatively unexploited and unstressed. The project assessed inconnu as the species most vulnerable to environmental change due to the narrow range of its spawning year classes. Yet, burbot were considered the species most likely to bioaccumualte contaminants arising from localized pollution because of their restricted activity except during spawning. The results of this project will be combined with the other complementary fish projects dealing with movement (Report # 117) and diet-food web investigations (Report # 119) in the form of a synthesis report that will compare current findings with those of the 1980's. Report Summary To determine the life cycle and demographic characteristics of the inconnu, Stenodus leucichthys, and burbot, Lota lota in the Slave River, Northwest Territories, we sampled between June and December, 1994. Inconnu are migratory utilizing the Slave River for spawning. They were most abundant in the river in late September and October. Based upon the gonadosomatic index, inconnu probably spawn in mid- to late-October in the Slave River. Burbot appear to be highly