Applications of Paleolimnology in Ecosystem Monitoring for Sirmilik National Park: Developing Indicators of Ecological Integrity

• Main Author: Devlin, Jane Erica
• Other Authors: Sarah, Finkelstein
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: diatoms; lakes; streams; freshwater; limnology; paleolimnology; arctic; climate change; Bylot; Sirmilik; National Park; 0368; Arctic; Baffin Island; Bylot Island; Nunavut; Baffin; Climate change; Sirmilik National Park
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/24559

Water chemistry and bioindicators (diatoms and invertebrates) were examined for freshwater lakes, ponds and streams in two regions within Sirmilik National Park, northern Baffin Island, Nunavut. Significant differences were recorded between the water chemistry and diatom and invertebrate assemblages of the two regions. Modern diatom assemblages were explained mainly by specific conductivity, ORP, pH, temperature, elevation and distance from the coast. Paleolimnological techniques were applied to a sediment core from Lake BY14 on Bylot Island. Fossil diatom assemblages indicate increases in nutrients and temperature since 1935 AD. The diatom biostratigraphy does not show as large an increase in diversity and production since the middle 20th century as has been noted elsewhere, and this may be a reflection of the more nutrient-rich status of the lake relative to other Arctic lakes.