Proceedings - Teaching and Learning Centre - Simon Fraser ...
Proceedings - Teaching and Learning Centre - Simon Fraser ...
Proceedings - Teaching and Learning Centre - Simon Fraser ...
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<strong>Fraser</strong> River Action Plan 3rd Research Workshop<br />
General Conclusions<br />
• Work that has been completed:<br />
Session 5:<br />
Biological Indicators<br />
Chair: T. Tuominen<br />
– compiled data on various resident fish species of <strong>Fraser</strong> Basin; good source of background data on<br />
fish populations that were not previously available.<br />
– survey of the status of terrestrial <strong>and</strong> aquatic ecosystem components within Salmon <strong>and</strong> Nicola<br />
rivers, relative to different riparian vegetation characteristics <strong>and</strong> products are known:<br />
1. Fish database available electronically; <strong>and</strong>,<br />
2. Aquatic <strong>and</strong> riparian ecosystem information can be used to develop indicators for ecosystem<br />
objectives.<br />
• Ongoing studies:<br />
A. Objective of studies is to investigate resident fish as indicators of contaminant exposure <strong>and</strong> effects.<br />
Findings thus far:<br />
– differences in tissue contaminant levels in peamouth chub <strong>and</strong> mountain whitefish.<br />
– differences in contaminant levels among different areas within the basin.<br />
– differences between liver <strong>and</strong> muscle levels in whitefish <strong>and</strong> chub.<br />
– in general, contaminant levels very low.<br />
∗ HAI (Health Assessment Index), indicated differences in fish condition throughout the basin.<br />
∗ Factors other than contaminants appear to account for the variability in HAI.<br />
– whitefish is one fish considered as an indicator species, but some potential confounding factors<br />
exist including its variable range of movement, <strong>and</strong> potentially different genetic populations in<br />
tributaries.<br />
– other resident fish (redside shiner, squawfish) may have less movement <strong>and</strong> thus may be good<br />
indicator species.<br />
B. Toxaphene levels in burbot liver are being measured in six lakes in the <strong>Fraser</strong> system - levels of<br />
toxaphene in burbot liver are higher than current consumption guideline, for five <strong>Fraser</strong> Basin lakes<br />
(same lakes as those in Rob MacDonald’s work on sediment cores).<br />
– predictive capabilities of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure program utilising<br />
reference condition approach still going through testing period.<br />
End products of projects include:<br />
– status report of resident fish condition <strong>and</strong> contaminants assessment.<br />
– management software package or model utilising benthic macroinvertebrate reference condition<br />
concept which will flag disturbances to the aquatic ecosystem.<br />
– database <strong>and</strong> knowledge of current status of benthic community in relation to the various<br />
physical, geographical <strong>and</strong> chemical factors.<br />
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