APPLICATIONS OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY IN ECOSYSTEM MONITORING FOR SIRMILIK NATIONAL PARK: DEVELOPING INDICATORS OF ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY by Jane Erica Devlin A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Graduate Department of Geography, University of Toronto Title Page © Copyright by Jane Erica Devlin 2010 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l’édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-72868-0 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-72868-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non- L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l’Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non- support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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APPLICATIONS OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY IN ECOSYSTEM MONITORING FOR SIRMILIK NATIONAL PARK: DEVELOPING INDICATORS OF ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY Jane Erica Devlin Master of Science Graduate Department of Geography University of Toronto 2010 Abstract Water chemistry and bioindicators (diatoms and invertebrates) were examined for freshwater lakes, ponds and streams in two regions within Sirmilik National Park, northern Baffin Island, Nunavut. Significant differences were recorded between the water chemistry and diatom and invertebrate assemblages of the two regions. Modern diatom assemblages were explained mainly by specific conductivity, ORP, pH, temperature, elevation and distance from the coast. Paleolimnological techniques were applied to a sediment core from Lake BY14 on Bylot Island. Fossil diatom assemblages indicate increases in nutrients and temperature since 1935 AD. The diatom biostratigraphy does not show as large an increase in diversity and production since the middle 20th century as has been noted elsewhere, and this may be a reflection of the more nutrient-rich status of the lake relative to other Arctic lakes. ii Acknowledgements First and foremost, I want to express my great appreciation for the guidance and support of Dr. Sarah Finkelstein throughout my Masters. Her unwavering positive attitude was a constant source of inspiration for me, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity of working with her. This research would not have been possible without funding and logistical support from a number of sources, including the Parks Canada Agency, the Northern Scientific Training Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Polar Continental Shelf Project. Warm thanks go to Carey Elverum and Brian Koonoo at Sirmilik National Park, for logistical support and invaluable assistance in the field. Other Park staff also made our visit to Pond Inlet very comfortable and overall a great experience – thanks to Israel Mablick, Samson Erkloo, Andrew Arreak and Andrew Maher. Much appreciation goes to the Nunavut Field Unit, especially Jane Chisholm, Gary Mouland, Marco Dussault and Eva Paul for providing valuable assistance and information for this project. Additional thanks go to the Community of Pond Inlet, the staff at the Community Center, the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization, the Hunters and Trappers Organization of Arctic Bay and the Hamlet Councils of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay for their support for this research. I would also like to thank Dan and Tracy Utting for assistance with permit applications and information on the Park's geomorphology. A special mention goes to Mircea Pilaf, who provided priceless logistic and technical support during field preparations and for work in the lab. Roberto Quinlan and his students iii at York University – Andrew Medeiros, Ray Biastoch, Kristen Wazbinski and Chris Luszczek – were of great assistance with invertebrate taxonomy and lab methods, and I thank them all for their valuable time and assistance. The sushi is on me next time! To my lab mates – Carlos, Jen, Nicole, Krish, JP and Kailey – thanks of course for any help you may have given me on statistics, taxonomy, etc, but even more importantly, I appreciate the fun times and great memories you have given me during my time at U of T… all the coffee runs and beef jerky! To Stephanie, Grace and Candace for the invaluable assistance in the lab – it was great to get to know you and work with each of you. Erin and David – thanks so much for all the encouragement, moral support and for reviewing my work. I'm looking forward to all the fishing we can do together now that I'm done! To my family and friends, including all those mentioned above, you will never know how much I appreciate your support and patience during the past couple of years – I promise to not have my nose in a book the next time we meet. Lastly, my greatest appreciation goes to Scott, for being my constant source of support and inspiration, and my number one fan. Without his support and words of encouragement (and patience, and amazing cooking!) this would not have been possible. iv Table of Contents TITLE PAGE .............................................................................................................................i ABSTRACT ..............................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .........................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................vii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................viii LIST OF APPENDICES..............................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1 1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES ..............................................................................................1 1.1.1 Research objectives ..........................................................................................................................2 1.2 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................................3 1.2.1 Arctic limnology................................................................................................................................3 Hydrological processes in high-arctic freshwater environments...........................................................................3 Ecology of Arctic freshwater environments ...........................................................................................................5 Water chemistry of high-arctic freshwater environments ....................................................................................10 Diatoms as bioindicators.....................................................................................................................................14 Aquatic invertebrates as a biomonitoring tool.....................................................................................................18 1.2.2 Paleolimnology in Environmental Assessment and Monitoring .....................................................21 Use of paleolimnology in lake ecosystem management .......................................................................................21 Paleolimnological diatom studies from high latitudes.........................................................................................24 1.2.3 Bioassessment using aquatic benthic invertebrates........................................................................24 Review of literature coupling diatoms and invertebrates for biomonitoring .......................................................24 1.3 STUDY SITE..............................................................................................................................................26