Spatiotemporal variation in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation along western Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada

dc.contributor.authorFaulkner, Connor Wayne
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeHarris, Les (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeRoth, James (Biological Sciences)
dc.contributor.supervisorYurkowski, David
dc.contributor.supervisorDavoren, Gail
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-22T14:21:00Z
dc.date.available2024-03-22T14:21:00Z
dc.date.issued2024-03-19
dc.date.submitted2024-03-19T15:44:52Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2024-03-21T23:36:25Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)
dc.description.abstractClimate-induced alterations to Arctic sea ice dynamics are influencing the availability and distribution of resources, and in turn, the nutrient and energy intake of opportunistic predators across the food web. These temporal changes in local prey communities likely influence the availability of carotenoid-rich prey types, as well as the foraging ecology of opportunistic predators that forage in the marine environment, such as anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Despite its socioeconomic importance across its range, anadromous Arctic char foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation, particularly in relation to sea ice dynamics, remains understudied. Here, over two years (2021, 2022) with contrasting sea ice dynamics, I investigated the foraging ecology of anadromous Arctic char and its influence on their muscle pigmentation at a southern (Rankin Inlet) and northern (Naujaat) location along western Hudson Bay using a combination of stomach contents, stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), highly branched isoprenoids, carotenoid spectrophotometry, and a standard muscle colour scale (DSM SalmoFan). Spatiotemporal variation in Arctic char diet occurred, where Rankin Inlet Arctic char generally consumed more fish and phytoplankton-based carbon sources, occupied a higher trophic position, and displayed a similar isotopic niche breadth compared to Arctic char in Naujaat. Invertebrates were higher in carotenoid concentration than fishes, and in association with a more invertebrate-based diet, Arctic char in Naujaat contained higher muscle carotenoid concentrations (e.g., astaxanthin) compared to Rankin Inlet Arctic char in 2021. In 2022, however, muscle carotenoid concentrations in Naujaat and Rankin Inlet Arctic char were more similar, as the diet of Arctic char in both locations was largely fish-based despite muscle colour remaining redder in Naujaat Arctic char. Overall, the observed plastic foraging ecology of Arctic char highlights this species' ability to adjust to inter-annual variability in environmental changes, which then impacts their muscle carotenoid concentration. Such inter-annual variation in Arctic char foraging ecology is anticipated to increase with unpredictable climate-driven environmental changes in the region, which could therefore negatively affect local resource users over the long term, resulting in socioeconomic impacts across the Arctic.
dc.description.noteMay 2024
dc.description.sponsorshipMitacs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Weston Family Foundation, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, University of Manitoba, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Government of Nunavut, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Nunavut Implementation Fund, Marine Conservation Target Fund), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program), and Indigenous Services Canada (Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program).
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/38071
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectAnadromous species
dc.subjectIsotopes
dc.subjectAnalytical methods
dc.subjectCarotenoids
dc.subjectTrophic relationships
dc.subjectClimate change
dc.titleSpatiotemporal variation in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation along western Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobano
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