Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report Canadian Technical Report
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Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area: Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report D. Cobb, H. Fast, M.H. Papst, D. Rosenberg, R. Rutherford, and J.E. Sareault Central and Arctic Region Freshwater Institute 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 2008 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2780 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Technical reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which is not normally appropriate for primary literature. Technical reports are directed primarily toward a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Technical reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in the data base Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts . Technical reports are produced regionally but are numbered nationally. Requests for individual reports will be filled by the issuing establishment listed on the front cover and title page. Numbers 1-456 in this series were issued as Technical Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 457-714 were issued as Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service, Research and Development Directorate Technical Reports. Numbers 715-924 were issued as Department of Fisheries and Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Technical Reports. The current series name was changed with report number 925. Rapport technique canadien des Sciences halieutiques et aquatiques Les rapports techniques contiennent des renseignements scientifiques et techniques qui constituent une contribution aux connaissances actuelles, mais qui ne sont pas normalement appropriés pour la publication dans un journal scientifique. Les rapports techniques sont destinés essentiellement à un public international et ils sont distribués à cet échelon. II n'y a aucune restriction quant au sujet; de fait, la série reflète la vaste gamme des intérêts et des politiques de Pêches et Océans Canada, c'est-à-dire les sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. Les rapports techniques peuvent être cités comme des publications à part entière. Le titre exact figure au-dessus du résumé de chaque rapport. Les rapports techniques sont résumés dans la base de données Résumés des sciences aquatiques et halieutiques. Les rapports techniques sont produits à l'échelon régional, mais numérotés à l'échelon national. Les demandes de rapports seront satisfaites par l'établissement auteur dont le nom figure sur la couverture et la page du titre. Les numéros 1 à 456 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 457 à 714 sont parus à titre de Rapports techniques de la Direction générale de la recherche et du développement, Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère de l'Environnement. Les numéros 715 à 924 ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environnement. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 925. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2780 2008 BEAUFORT SEA LARGE OCEAN MANAGEMENT AREA: ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT REPORT by D. Cobb, H. Fast, M.H. Papst, D. Rosenberg, R.Rutherford 1 and J.E. Sareault Fisheries and Oceans Canada Central and Arctic Region Freshwater Institute 501 University Cr. Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Canada 1 Thaumas Environmental, 30 Beckfoot Dr., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4C8, Canada © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2008. Cat. No. Fs 97-6/2780E ISSN0706-6457 Correct citation for this publication: Cobb, D., H. Fast, M.H. Papst, D. Rosenberg, R. Rutherford and J.E. Sareault (Editors). 2008. Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area: Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2780: ii-ix + 188 p. ii Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................IV LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................................IV LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. V ACRONYMS...............................................................................................................................................VI ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................................VIII RÉSUMÉ .....................................................................................................................................................IX I. ACKNOWLEGMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 1 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2 III. GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 8 1. PROJECT DEFINITION........................................................................................................................ 8 2. STUDY METHODS............................................................................................................................. 10 VOLUME I – ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW: STATUS AND TRENDS ................................................. 11 3. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................ 11 PART A. GEOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ...................................................................................................... 12 4. COASTAL AND MARINE GEOLOGY.............................................................................................. 12 5. SURFICIAL GEOLOGY AND PROCESSES ..................................................................................... 15 PART B. OCEANOGRAPHIC SYSTEM ................................................................................................ 21 6. ATMOSPHERE/OCEAN EXCHANGE.............................................................................................. 21 7. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 22 8. PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SEAWATER................................................................ 30 PART C. BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM .......................................................................................................... 32 9. PLANKTON COMMUNITY............................................................................................................... 32 10. BENTHIC COMMUNITIES.............................................................................................................. 43 11. FISH COMMUNITIES ...................................................................................................................... 49 12. MARINE MAMMAL COMMUNITIES............................................................................................ 59 13. MARINE BIRD COMMUNITIES..................................................................................................... 72 PART D. ECOSYSTEM RELATIONSHIPS ........................................................................................... 81 14. PHYSICAL–BIOLOGICAL LINKAGES ......................................................................................... 81 15. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS – ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS ................... 83 VOLUME II – ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT ....................................................... 86 PART E. ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................... 86 16. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 86 17. AREAS OF CONCERN ..................................................................................................................... 87 18. IMPACTING ACTIVITIES AND STRESSORS ............................................................................... 98 PART F. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................. 109 PART G. REFERENCES......................................................................................................................... 111 PART H. GLOSSARY.............................................................................................................................. 140 PART I. APPENDICES............................................................................................................................ 150 iii List of Figures Figure 1. Location of the Beaufort Sea LOMA in the Canadian Arctic....................................................... 9 Figure 2. Bathymetry of the Beaufort Sea (DFO, Oceans)......................................................................... 14 Figure 3. Location of major rivers in the Beaufort Sea LOMA. ...............................................................