Application of the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN)
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Application of the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) The Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee Synopsis 2015 Application of the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) Synopsis 2015 Vladimir King Trajkovic Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee PO Box 85, 21 Cove Road Miramichi, New Brunswick E1V 3M2 Phone: (506) 778-8591 Fax: (506) 773-9755 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mreac.org March 8, 2016 ii Acknowledgements The Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee (MREAC) would like to thank Environment Canada (EC) for their support through the Atlantic Ecosystem Initiative for the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) project titled “The Atlantic Provinces Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) Collaborative”. A special thank you is also extended to Lesley Carter and Vincent Mercier for their support and training during this endeavour. iii Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 2.0 Background.............................................................................................................................2 3.0 Results ....................................................................................................................................6 4.0 Discussion.............................................................................................................................20 5.0 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................22 Figures: Figure 1.1: Miramichi Watershed CABIN Sites ....................................................................1 Figure 2.1: MREAC with NBCC Students and Instructor for the CABIN Protocol Training ...............................................................................................................2 Figure 2.2: NBCC Students and EC Staff during CABIN Protocol Overview ......................3 Figure 2.3: MREAC and ENGO Partner’s CABIN Sites Across Atlantic Canada ...............4 Figure 3.1: RCA Assessment Using ARM ............................................................................6 Figure 3.2: MREAC Richness Assessment ............................................................................6 Figure 3.3: MREAC Abundance Assessment ........................................................................7 Figure 3.4: Barnaby River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera ..............................7 Figure 3.5: Black River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera ..................................8 Figure 3.6: Bartholomew River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera ......................8 Figure 3.7: Green Brook Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera .................................8 Figure 3.8: Little Bartibog River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera ....................9 Figure 3.9: Napan River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera .................................9 Figure 3.10: Northwest Miramichi River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera .......9 Figure 3.11: Tomogonops River Taxonomic Composition & EPT vs. Diptera ...................10 Figure 3.12: EPT vs. Diptera (Summary) .............................................................................10 Figure 3.13: ACAP Cape Breton RCA Results O/E Richness .............................................11 Figure 3.14: ACAP Humber Arm Environmental Association RCA Results O/E Richness ...........................................................................................................12 Figure 3.15: Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association RCA Results O/E Richness ...........................................................................................................13 Figure 3.16: Friends of Kouchibouguacis RCA Results O/E Richness ...............................14 iv Figure 3.17: Morell River Management Co-op RCA Results O/E Richness .......................15 Figure 3.18: Northeast Avalon ACAP RCA Results O/E Richness .....................................16 Figure 3.19: Shediac Bay Watershed Association RCA Results O/E Richness ..................17 Figure 3.20: Southeast Environmental Association RCA Results O/E Richness ................18 Figure 3.21: RCA Model Assessment – Observed vs. Expected Richness Results Across Atlantic Canada ...............................................................................................19 Figure 3.22: RCA Model Assessment – Observed vs. Expected Richness Results Across Atlantic Canada (Summary) ............................................................................20 Tables: Table 2.1: MREAC CABIN Sites 2015 ................................................................................5 Table 3.1: ACAP Cape Breton Other RCA Outputs ..........................................................11 Table 3.2: ACAP Humber Arm Other RCA Outputs .........................................................12 Table 3.3: Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association Other RCA Outputs ..............................................................................................................13 Table 3.4: Friends of Kouchibouguacis Other RCA Outputs .............................................14 Table 3.5: Morell River Management Co-op Other RCA Outputs ....................................15 Table 3.6: Northeast Avalon ACAP Other RCA Outputs ..................................................16 Table 3.7: Shediac Bay Watershed Association Other RCA Outputs ................................17 Table 3.8: Southeast Environmental Association Other RCA Outputs ..............................18 v 1.0 Introduction The Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) protocol, as developed by Environment Canada (EC), is now a nationally applied technique for assessing the biological condition of freshwater systems. The Miramichi watershed has been engaged in this protocol since 2004 and has 24 established reference and test sites that are found on major tributaries within the drainage basin (Figure 1.1). Figure 1.1: Miramichi Watershed CABIN Sites In 2015, with the Atlantic Ecosystem Initiative (AEI) funding contribution, MREAC led an Atlantic Provinces wide CABIN project titled “The Atlantic Provinces Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) Collaborative”. 1 2.0 Background MREAC’s contribution to the development of the CABIN “Atlantic Reference Model” has been instrumental. This protocol requires annual sampling of fixed reference sites to monitor for natural changes. Test and/or reference sites suspected to be at risk could be sampled more frequently. MREAC staff has formal training in the CABIN protocol, and has on staff a CABIN certified Project Manager and Trainer. MREAC and EC continue to provide CABIN protocol training to the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC – Miramichi) Environmental Technology year 2 students. Upon successful completion of the one day course, the students were certified at an Assistant Field Technician level (Figure 2.1), (Figure 2.2). Figure 2.1: MREAC with NBCC Students and Instructor for the CABIN Protocol Training 2 Figure 2.2: NBCC Students and EC Staff during CABIN Protocol Overview MREAC, in collaboration with eight ENGO partners in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island implemented the CABIN protocol to collect biological, physical, and chemical data on 57 established and/or new sampling sites (note: 1 sample lost due to damage during shipping, data available for 56 sites ), (Figure 2.3). The project was initiated in order to assess the quality of biological conditions, and also to track changes in biological conditions over time. 1. ACAP Cape Breton (8 sites) 2. ACAP Humber Arm (10 sites) 3. Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (6sites) 3 4. Friends of Kouchibouguacis (2 sites) 5. Morell River Management Co-op (3 sites, note: 1 sample lost due to damage ) 6. Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee (8 sites) 7. Northeast Avalon ACAP (7 sites) 8. Shediac Bay Watershed Association (3 sites) 9. Southeast Environmental Association (10 sites) Figure 2.3: MREAC and ENGO Partner’s CABIN Sites Across Atlantic Canada The data collected was entered into the Environment Canada housed CABIN database, which has in turn strengthened the national CABIN dataset. In conjunction with the Atlantic CABIN Collaborative, MREAC has used this data to run the Atlantic Reference Model (ARM) for the 56 sites. The results of the model output have increased 4 regional ecosystem knowledge, and will be used as baseline data to monitor future variations that may be attributed to anthropogenic impacts and/or the effects of climate change within the Atlantic ecosystem. MREAC was trained by EC staff on how to extract habitat variables using QGIS and GRASS computer software program/plugin, and how to format the CABIN benthic data set in order to run ARM in GenGIS and R computer software program/plugin. During the fall of 2015 MREAC sampled 10 CABIN sites on the Miramichi watershed, six established and four new (Table 2.1). Table 2.1: MREAC CABIN Sites 2015 Site Site ID Lat. Long. Status 1 Bay du Vin River BDV-DS 46.89465 -65.17248 Potential Reference Site 2 Dungarvon River DUN-DS 46.81393 -65.91795 Potential Reference Site 3 Northwest Miramichi River NWM-430 47.18638 -65.89458 Potential Reference Site 4 Tomogonops River TMGP-US 47.23362 -65.83563 Test Site 5 Barnaby River