Research conducted in component one of this Canadian IPY project investigates char biodiversity using genetic and morphological approaches, and char life history and thermal ecology using otolith microchemistry and stable isotope techniques in several areas throughout the Canadian Arctic (western Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut), thereby providing the biological context in which to place climate variability and change effects on this key resource. Climate effects on mercury bioaccumulation in chars are also investigated in parallel with these studies.



The second project component investigates community-based monitoring programs in Sachs Harbour, Kuujjuaaq and Nain to assess and monitor local char biodiversity, thus links understanding gained from the research component directly with char biodiversity and ecology observable locally by northerners. Approaches developed in this work will be suitable for general dissemination to other northern communities as a model for developing similar local programs. A third component develops a network of char researchers and northerners to address common issues of char-climate interactions, foster information exchange, and link to other key national and international networks. Research outputs, monitoring programs and networks will all serve as lasting legacies of this IPY project.


More on Climate Variability and Change (CVC) Effects on Char in the Arctic:

Project Fact Sheet:
CVC English
CVC Inuvialuktun
CVC French
CVC Inuktitut

Selected Project Components: Summaries and Recent Progress:
• Describing the trophic ecology of Arctic char in multiple dimensions
• The Use of Oxygen Stable Isotopes in Otolith Thermometry An overview and application
• Transients in the north an examination of the ecology and life history tactics of anadromous salmonids in coastal Arctic lakes

Recent Progress

• Field research (summer 2007) at Lake Hazen documented three co-occurring ecophenotypes (large form, small form and dwarf benthic form) of Arctic char

Hazen Large Form Arctic Char:

Hazen Small Form Artic Char:

Hazen Dwarf Benthic Arctic Char:


Location of Lake Hazen, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut:


Lake Hazen, Quttinnirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut



• Sampling in Lake Hazen and other lakes in Quttinnirpaaq National Park (QNP), Resolute Bay area, Bathurst Inlet area, and Labrador documented char populations, investigated trophic (foodweb) structure and mercury bioaccumulation, and collected young char to investigate thermal ecology. A manuscript documenting temporal trends in heavy metals including mercury in Lake Hazen chars was submitted for publication (Gantner, N., G. Koeck, J.A. Babaluk, J.D. Reist, W.L. Lockhart, M. Power, K.R. Solomon, and D.C.G. Muir. Temporal trends of mercury, cesium, potassium, selenium, and thallium in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from Lake Hazen (Nunavut): Effects of trophic position, size and age. Submitted to Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, February 2008).

Temporal trends for mercury concentrations adjusted by trophic position (nitrogen stable isotopes) of all chars (filled triangles) and small form chars (open circles) from Lake Hazen (1990-2006) (N. Gantner unpublished data; manuscript submitted 2008):


• Genetic relationships within and among chars from Tranbaikalia (northeastern Siberia) were investigated and placed into the global context, and a manuscript submitted for publication (Alekseyev, S.S., R. Bajno, N.V. Gordeeva, J.D. Reist, M. Power, A.F. Kirillov, V.P. Samusenok, and A.N. Mateev. Phylogeographic patterns and sympatric speciation in the Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.) complex from Siberia as revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis, with special reference to Transbaikalia. Submitted to Journal of Fish Biology, February 2008).

• Network development was initiated – concept developed and presented at International Char Conference (Reykjavik, 2006), poster presentations at International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP II, Copenhagen, 2005, Sustained Arctic Observing Network (SAON I, Stockholm, 2007), and SAON II (Edmonton, 2008).

• For additional information see the international project description and the Canadian project description.
Contact: Jim Reist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N6 ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

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Response to Climate Change




Threats to Char Diversity: some examples




Field work in Quttinirpaaq National Park, Northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada in 2007:


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All figures and photos are by Jim Reist unless otherwise indicated.