How slumps are impacting aquatic systems in the Gwich’in Settlement Area
Data and Resources
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Creator | Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program |
| Summary | Permafrost thawing in the form of thaw slumps is a major stressor on aquatic ecosystems. Slumps, a mass of rock layers and materials that move a short distance down a slope, can contribute vast amounts of debris into stream systems. The debris can greatly change the water chemistry, which in turn can have an effect on what lives in it. Using the Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) protocol, we collected water and bug samples at 36 sites in the Stony Creek watershed in the Gwich’in Settlement Area. Sites sampled were either undisturbed (no slumps found upstream), mildly disturbed (one to two small slumps found upstream), or heavily disturbed (more than two slumps found upstream). Benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs), an indication of stream health, were negatively impacted with increased debris from thaw slumps. |
| Local Relevance | Thaw slumps are becoming very common in the Gwich'in Settlement Area. Their effect on stream health is still not entirely understood. This study investigates the impact of thaw slumps on macroinvertebrates in streams, which are an important component of stream ecosystems. |
| Notes | This bulletin is part of the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program's NWT Environmental Research Bulletin series - Volume 1, Issue 5. |
| Tags | Permafrost,Thaw Slumps,Streams,Freshwater,Macroinvertebrates,Water Quality,Research |
| Geographic Region | Beaufort Delta |
| Release Date | 2016-01-01 |
| Last Modified Date | 2016-01-01 |
| Funding Program | Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program |