Community-based monitoring (CBM) is receiving much attention from the research community, particularly in Arctic and Subarctic regions of Canada and other circumpolar regions. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of the trends and patterns in its use within the literature and a documented need to improve environmental CBM efforts in the Arctic and Subarctic regions. A systematic literature review was conducted of CBM publications in peer-reviewed and grey literature to provide a synthesis of trends on the topic and to clarify key elements that are needed to operate an environmental CBM program in Arctic and Subarctic regions. Both sets of literature show a significant growth in the publication of CBM studies over time, with a high proportion of research taking place in North America and in the field of environmental sciences. More CBM studies are reported in connection to First Nations and Inuit groups, as compared to other Indigenous groups. Thirteen key elements of environmental CBM programs, commonly reported in the literature focused on Arctic and Subarctic regions, were identified in the analysis. Specifically, traditional and local ecological knowledge (TLEK) was a unique component highlighted in Arctic and Subarctic sources and a specific feature observed in studies focusing on Indigenous groups. The identification of such key CBM elements serves as a resource to guide current and future environmental CBM initiatives in northern regions and elsewhere. Future research on this topic should contrast and compare literature findings with existing environmental CBM programs and provide more case studies to show the process and utility of environmental CBM initiatives in the Arctic and Subarctic, particularly with use of TLEK and the ways to facilitate it within a CBM program.

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Summary This study assessed the establishment success of a translocation of adult lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) upstream of a hydroelectric dam in northern Ontario, Canada, using demographic and genetic data from juveniles and adults. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the size and demographic structure of the reintroduced population; (ii) determine if juveniles are present; (iii) assess the genetic diversity of the reintroduced and source populations; and (iv) determine whether translocated adults are related to juveniles within the population. Gillnet and trotline sampling in multiple years (2002–2003; 2011–2016) resulted in the capture of many juveniles (n = 126) and some adults (n = 13) at the release site and downstream. The first fin ray of the left pectoral fin was collected for ageing and genetic analysis, and individuals were genotyped at 15 microsatellite loci. Age interpretations from the juvenile samples showed consistent cohorts starting in 2007 (2006–2012). Successful reproduction and recruitment by translocated adults was confirmed through genetic parentage analysis of microsatellite data, which linked juveniles to parents that had retained tags from the original translocation. Based on the microsatellite data, the genetic diversity of the reintroduced population (HO) was comparable to its source (HO = 0.57 ± 0.07 and 0.53 ± 0.06, respectively), although its estimated effective population size (Ne) was lower (Mattagami = 20.4 [13.5–30.5]; Adam's Creek = ∞ [72.0–∞]). These results suggest that the experimental translocation of wild adult lake sturgeon was successful, and highlight the value of treating translocation efforts as experimental reintroductions.

Summary Species translocations are increasingly being used as a management tool to mitigate population losses due to such factors as habitat degradation and fragmentation, but post‐introduction follow‐up is relatively sparse. Post‐translocation telemetry can assess success by identifying activity, emigrations, survival, habitat usage, and reproductive events, aiding in the continued management of translocated populations and informing future efforts. This study assessed movement of translocated adult lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) immediately post‐release and a decade later, and tested for associations between environmental variables and spawning movements. Prior to their translocation in 2002, 13 of 51 adult lake sturgeon were surgically implanted with radio telemetry tags and tracked for 1 year. In 2011 and 2013, eight additional adults were captured within the reintroduction site and implanted with radio‐tags. Six of the 13 sturgeon tagged in 2002 dispersed downstream over a dam during the early post‐release period. In spring 2014, tagged adults were tracked to the spillway at the release area's inflow, and spawning was confirmed by larval captures. Movement data for tagged adults differed between the two tracking periods, showing marked differences in behaviour over time. Water velocity was correlated with upstream and downstream spawning movements, with water temperature also correlated with downstream movement. Research regarding post‐translocation movement and dispersal provides insight on behavioural responses following translocation, and may improve outcomes by informing future efforts.

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