Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2018/027 Central and Arctic Region Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties (ESSCP) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region D.G. Cobb1, S. MacPhee1, J. Paulic1, K. Martin1, V. Roy2, J. Reist1, C. Michel1, A. Niemi1, E. Richardson3, and A. Black4 1Fisheries and Oceans Canada Freshwater Institute 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6 2Canadian Museum of Nature PO Box 3443, Station D Ottawa, ON, K1P6P4 3Environment and Climate Change Canada Eastgate Offices 9250 – 49th Street Edmonton, AB, T6B 1K5 4Environment and Climate Change Canada 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3 November 2020 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2020 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Cobb, D.G., MacPhee, S., Paulic, J., Martin, K., Roy, V., Reist, J., Michel, C., Niemi, A., Richardson, E., and Black, A. 2020. Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties (ESSCP) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/027. iv + 66 p. Aussi disponible en français: Cobb, D.G., MacPhee, S., Paulic, J., Martin, K., Roy, V., Reist, J., Michel, C., Niemi, A., Richardson, E., et Black., A. 2020. Renseignements à l’appui de l’identification d’espèces, de groupes fonctionnels et de propriétés des communautés d’importance écologique dans la région biogéographique de l’Arctique de l’Ouest. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO, Doc. de rech. 2018/027. iv + 74 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... IV INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................1 THE WESTERN ARCTIC BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION ......................................................... 2 NATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR ESSCP CRITERIA ................................................................... 5 METHODS ..................................................................................................................................6 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES .......................................................... 6 Distribution ......................................................................................................................... 6 Habitat ................................................................................................................................ 7 Ecosystem Component Contribution .................................................................................. 7 Energy Transfer ................................................................................................................. 8 Other Considerations ......................................................................................................... 9 Data Confidence ...............................................................................................................10 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................. 11 MARINE VERTEBRATES .....................................................................................................11 Marine Mammals ...............................................................................................................11 Marine Birds ......................................................................................................................20 Fishes ...............................................................................................................................21 MARINE INVERTEBRATES..................................................................................................31 Benthic Invertebrates ........................................................................................................31 Zooplankton ......................................................................................................................35 MARINE PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES ...................................................................39 Small (< 5 micron) Pelagic Phytoplankton .........................................................................39 Nano and Micro (> 5 microns) Pelagic Phytoplankton .......................................................40 Ice-associated Algae .........................................................................................................41 Heterotrophic Microbes .....................................................................................................41 Toxin-producing Algae ......................................................................................................42 Detritus ..............................................................................................................................42 MACROPHYTES ..................................................................................................................43 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................44 REFERENCES CITED ..............................................................................................................45 APPENDIX 1. LIST OF SEABIRD SPECIES PRESENT IN MARINE HABITATS OF THE WESTERN ARCTIC BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION ....................................................................64 iii ABSTRACT Under Canada’s Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is authorized to provide enhanced management to areas, species and community properties of the oceans. To accomplish this, DFO has adopted a scientifically defensible ecosystem-based approach to management (EBM). This approach assists to more effectively coordinate policies and key programs within DFO across all levels of Government and with collaborating stakeholders. The approach considers environmental and human components as a function of their effective relationships within the broader ecosystem. To support the establishment of a Marine Protected Area Network (MPAN) DFO Science sector has been asked to provide advice on the identification of marine Ecologically Significant Species and Community Properties (ESSCP). The identification of ESSCP will add another scientifically defensible management dimension, particularly where spatially-based conservation tools are challenging to apply. The combination of ESSCPs and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) will inform the setting of conservation objectives for marine ecosystem-based management (such as MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures) and the identification of conservation priorities for the MPAN development. The purpose of this report is to review current ecological information for species, species groups or community properties for the Western Arctic bioregion, attempt to apply the ESSCP criteria, and provide an initial list of candidate ESSCP. Participants attending a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) meeting will: review the criteria and the list of candidate ESSCP; decide upon a means to rank the ESSCP with respect to ecological significance; and provide a final ranked list of ESSCP. This working paper provide the background information to support the CSAS meeting. iv INTRODUCTION Under Canada’s Oceans Act (1997), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is authorized to provide enhanced management to areas, species and community properties of the oceans (DFO 2004, 2006). To accomplish this, DFO has adopted a scientifically defensible ecosystem- based approach to management (EBM). This approach assists to more effectively coordinate policies and key programs within DFO across all levels of Government and with collaborating stakeholders. The approach considers environmental and human components as a function of their effective relationships within the broader ecosystem. In support of EBM, DFO has identified Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) in the Canadian Arctic through a series of scientific and community workshops between 2011–2015 (DFO 2011a, 2014a, b, 2015a). EBSA call attention to areas that have particularly high ecological or biological significance. Ocean areas can be an EBSA because of the functions that they serve in the ecosystem and/or because of structural properties. They are essential management tools used to provide information about important species, habitat and ecosystem components. Complimentary to EBSA, DFO has also identified ecological units (eco-units) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic (WAB) region (Figure 1). To support the establishment of a Marine Protected Area Network (MPAN) and inform Design Strategies in the WAB region (Figure 1), DFO Science sector has been asked to provide advice in support of the identification of marine Ecologically Significant Species