Littoral macroinvertebrate and water quality data for 32 lakes across the boreal-tundra transition in the Northwest Territories

• Main Authors: Gray, Derek, Cohen, Rachel
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Northwest Territories; Canada; Tuktoyaktuk; Inuvik; Valley Creek; Trail Valley Creek; Inuvialuit; Tundra
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/4408482; https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf1xq

This dataset includes macroinvertebrate and water quality data from 32 lakes sampled in the Northwest Territories, Canada, from the Dempster and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highways during July and August of 2017 and 2018. It was collected as part of a project to determine how physicochemical variables affect macroinvertebrate and fish communities in small Arctic lakes. Funding provided by: Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program*Crossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: CIMP197Funding provided by: Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring ProgramCrossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: CIMP197 Study sites Our 32 study lakes were located within the boreal to tundra transition area. Eight of the lakes were sampled in August 2017 in the boreal forest region within the Gwich'in Settlement Area (GSA), and 24 of the lakes were sampled in August 2018 in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) where tundra vegetation dominates. Our selection of lakes was not random, but was determined by a combination of logistical, licensing, and scientific considerations. As our project included fish community sampling, we had heavy gear, including gill nets and motorboats to transport to each lake, limiting the distance we could travel from the highway. Peat hummocks in the tundra and boggy terrain in the boreal region made it especially difficult to traverse long distances carrying heavy gear. Licenses were required for the research project as a whole (Northwest Territories Scientific License), and for fish collection in particular (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Scientific Collection Permit). These licenses required community consultation in the choice of lakes sampled so that lakes of cultural or recreational value to communities could be excluded. Therefore, for logistical reasons we considered all lakes within 300 m of the highways as possible sites. We also included five sites further away from the highway (0.6-3.5 km from the highway) that were accessible from the Trail Valley Creek Field Station ...