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Temperature Variability and Threat Assessment for SARA-listed Species & Associations between Ecological Niche Measures and Population Vital Rates in Lake Erie SARA Species

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is supporting the two projects by researchers at the University of Waterloo’s Department of Biology with a total investment $183,713 from the Partnership Fund. The first project will develop methods to incorporate environmental autocorrelation into population viability assessments for SARA-listed species, focusing on temperature as a primary determinant of life history processes. The second project will assess species of the coastal wetlands of Lake Erie, using a combination of stable isotope analysis, otolith analysis, and standard field estimation techniques. The results will help the scientists address research gaps which can help inform species recovery potential assessments and species recovery strategies as mandated under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

Project Number: CA2016.50
Year: 2017, 2018, 2019
Partner: University of Waterloo, Department of Biology
Principal Investigators: Dr. Kim Cuddington, Dr. Michael Power
Eco-region: Great Lakes

River temperature influences spawning success, development, foraging, and mortality of endangered aquatic species. As a worst case scenario, alterations in the timing and frequency of extreme thermal events may push sensitive species towards extinction. Researchers at the University of Waterloo are producing models that relate air temperature and flow to current water temperatures using data from the Grand River and its tributaries. These models will be used to predict future extreme events in Southern Ontario that may affect species at risk (Principal investigator: Kim Cuddington)

River temperature influences spawning success, development, foraging, and mortality of endangered aquatic species. As a worst case scenario, alterations in the timing and frequency of extreme thermal events may push sensitive species towards extinction. Researchers at the University of Waterloo are producing models that relate air temperature and flow to current water temperatures using data from the Grand River and its tributaries. These models will be used to predict future extreme events in Southern Ontario that may affect species at risk (Principal investigator: Kim Cuddington)

The setup used for critical thermal maximum (CTmax) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in the blue breeder box for visibility and is videoed the whole trial until loss of equilibrium(Principal investigator: Michael Power). The setup used for critical thermal maximum (CTmax) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in the blue breeder box for visibility and is videoed the whole trial until loss of equilibrium(Principal investigator: Michael Power). The setup used for critical thermal maximum (CTmax) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in the blue breeder box for visibility and is videoed the whole trial until loss of equilibrium(Principal investigator: Michael Power).

The setup used for critical thermal maximum (CTmax) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in the blue breeder box for visibility and is videoed the whole trial until loss of equilibrium(Principal investigator: Michael Power).

The setup used for critical oxygen tolerance (Pcrit) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter using a closed respirometer design. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in individual chambers inside a bigger bin so three fish can be run at the same time but they cannot see each other to reduce the stress response (Principal investigator: Michael Power). The setup used for critical oxygen tolerance (Pcrit) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter using a closed respirometer design. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in individual chambers inside a bigger bin so three fish can be run at the same time but they cannot see each other to reduce the stress response (Principal investigator: Michael Power). The setup used for critical oxygen tolerance (Pcrit) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter using a closed respirometer design. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in individual chambers inside a bigger bin so three fish can be run at the same time but they cannot see each other to reduce the stress response (Principal investigator: Michael Power).

The setup used for critical oxygen tolerance (Pcrit) trials on the Eastern Sand Darter using a closed respirometer design. The Eastern Sand Darter is placed in individual chambers inside a bigger bin so three fish can be run at the same time but they cannot see each other to reduce the stress response (Principal investigator: Michael Power).

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