Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
Return to Ecosystems or Water >> Fish and Aquatic Ecology
Permafrost thaw and the subsequent changes to geomorpholgy, hydrology, and vegetation can alter groundwater flow and inflows to streams, affecting river hydrographs, water temperature, and the availability of carbon and nutrients. Changes in stream hydrology and chemistry subsequently have the potential to affect fish habitat and metabolism directly. By changing primary productivity in stream ecosystems, these changes can also alter food resources available to fish. While these physical changes have already been observed in interior Alaska there is little understanding of the effects on ecosystems and Alaska’s fish that are important commercial, sport, and subsistence resources, and also important to wildlife. This 5 year study will assess the potential effects of permafrost thaw on streams and their fish by 1) using space for time approaches to consider the effects of permafrost loss (through thermokarsting and decreased permafrost extent) on stream hydrology and chemistry, ecosystem functions, fish performance, and fish community structure; 2) using physical models to determine the rates of change and explore potential effects on stream discharge, temperature, hyporheic zones, flow duration, perennial stream lengths, and inflows; and 3) using a temperature-based combined physical and fish metabolism model to quantify the effects for Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus). These will provide major advances in our understanding of hydrology and fish at the boreal-arctic transition, as well as a direct link (through stream temperature) to couple climate change and fish metabolism. This glimpse into Alaska’s future has broad implications for understanding the rates and mechanisms of landscape change, with implications for these two fish species as well as the broader fish community. This research program will inform management decisions on development activities and enable predictions on the effects of climate change for wildlife outcomes.
This project is in conjunction with the Hydro-ecology of Arctic Thawing: Hydrology
Funding: USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystem Initiative
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Fish and Aquatic Ecology
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.
Return to Ecosystems or Water >> Fish and Aquatic Ecology
Permafrost thaw and the subsequent changes to geomorpholgy, hydrology, and vegetation can alter groundwater flow and inflows to streams, affecting river hydrographs, water temperature, and the availability of carbon and nutrients. Changes in stream hydrology and chemistry subsequently have the potential to affect fish habitat and metabolism directly. By changing primary productivity in stream ecosystems, these changes can also alter food resources available to fish. While these physical changes have already been observed in interior Alaska there is little understanding of the effects on ecosystems and Alaska’s fish that are important commercial, sport, and subsistence resources, and also important to wildlife. This 5 year study will assess the potential effects of permafrost thaw on streams and their fish by 1) using space for time approaches to consider the effects of permafrost loss (through thermokarsting and decreased permafrost extent) on stream hydrology and chemistry, ecosystem functions, fish performance, and fish community structure; 2) using physical models to determine the rates of change and explore potential effects on stream discharge, temperature, hyporheic zones, flow duration, perennial stream lengths, and inflows; and 3) using a temperature-based combined physical and fish metabolism model to quantify the effects for Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus). These will provide major advances in our understanding of hydrology and fish at the boreal-arctic transition, as well as a direct link (through stream temperature) to couple climate change and fish metabolism. This glimpse into Alaska’s future has broad implications for understanding the rates and mechanisms of landscape change, with implications for these two fish species as well as the broader fish community. This research program will inform management decisions on development activities and enable predictions on the effects of climate change for wildlife outcomes.
This project is in conjunction with the Hydro-ecology of Arctic Thawing: Hydrology
Funding: USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystem Initiative
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Fish and Aquatic Ecology
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.