Bioassessment of the ecological integrity of freshwater ecosystems using aquatic macroinvertebrates: the case of Sable Island National Park Reserve, Canada

Jacks, Frederica; Milošević, Djuradj; Watson, Victoria Theresa; Beazley, Karen F.; Medeiros, Andrew S.

doi:10.1007/s10661-021-09055-5

Cited by 5 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Water quality measurements from 2015-2020 were compared for all the ponds based on the parameters included in Jacks et al (2021). 20 The values for chloride, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (TN), pH, phosphorus (TP), and turbidity were compared between ponds (Supplementary Figure S5). As Jacks et al (2021) 20 described small differences in water quality between seasons and years, we then averaged the parameters (from 2015-2020) for the ponds in each identified cluster from Science Progress 105(4) our hierarchical cluster analysis; notable overall differences are observed in the average concentrations of TP and TN between the clustered ponds (Table 2).…”

Section: The Modern Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water quality parameters were also collected monthly (May -August) from 2015-2020 by Parks Canada for the 14 ponds on SINPR (Figure 1) as part of an independent water quality monitoring program; further details about the water monitoring program can be found in Jacks et al (2021). 20 Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, salinity, and turbidity were measured with the use of an YSI multi-parameter probe at the same time as water samples were collected. Pond water samples were collected from the middle of each pond by hand and tested for major ions, nutrients, and metals Science Progress 105 (4) at the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) laboratory in Moncton, New Brunswick.…”

Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Modern Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microtendipes peaked at 64% in ca 1800 CE (14.0 cm), then decreased to ∼43% ca 1950. Microtendipes pedellus, which is the likely taxa found on Sable Island based on Jacks et al (2021) 20 examination of larvae, is a collector-gatherer 38 known to prefer coarse sediments low in organic content. 31 Glyptotendipes, which have been associated to mesotrophic ponds and macrophytes that are mined by many species of the genus, 39,40 increased from 23 to 52% between ca 1770 and 1885 CE (15.0-11.0 cm).…”

Section: Biostratigraphic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19 A bioassessment using aquatic macroinvertebrates recorded 27 taxa in the ponds of SINPR, with the largest diversity reflected by chironomids. 20 As chironomids are well known to offer insights for the environmental conditions in which they develop, 10 a paleolimnological assessment of changes in subfossil diversity and abundance over time allows for both the establishment of a pre-disturbance condition, as well as inferences of responses to changes the environment. 4,10 Here, we examine pond systems from SINPR to understand the implications of centuries of environmental stress on the island's freshwater ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A paleolimnological context of ecological vulnerability for the freshwater ecosystems of Sable Island National Park Reserve, Canada

2022

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Protected areas require long-term monitoring to understand the influence and extent of ecosystem stress to inform management and conservation decisions. As long-term data are not always available, paleolimnological methods offer a way of extending our knowledge of past environmental conditions necessary to use as context for remediation. Here, we examine four sediment cores and additional surface sediments from 14 ponds located on Sable Island National Park Reserve Canada (SINPR), where long-term ecological changes and vulnerability to disturbance are not well defined. We develop a paleolimnological approach to assessing environmental vulnerability through the use of biological indicators (Diptera: Chironomidae), where shifts in the environment are inferred by shifts in chironomid assemblages over time. Analysis of surface sediments show four distinct assemblage types reflecting four different habitat conditions; primarily represented by the presence of Glyptotendipes, Chironomus, Microtendipes, and Dicrotendipes. Differences in habitat conditions through time based on these results are then compared to biostratigraphic analysis of sediment cores from four of the ponds. We found that two ponds had large shifts in chironomids assemblages that were associated with changes in habitat over time, while two others that were not as exposed to the influence of erosion and influx of sand dunes did not. Our findings established a baseline of historical change in SINPR, broadening the scope of long-term monitoring, which is essential for defining goals for management and conservation of the ecological integrity of Sable Island.

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Section: The Modern Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%