111197

Management Area: 
Haida Gwaii
Parks: 

Naikoon Park, Yaaguun Gandlaay Conservancy

Term: 
6 months
Summary of Activity: 
We are assessing how different types of human disturbance might affect stickleback populations in Haida Gwaii. We will consider different types of disturbances (invasive species, drought, and deforestation) to ask the following questions: a) What are the changes in mean trait values (e.g., average body size)? b) What are the changes in variance of trait values (e.g., variation in body size)? Stickleback are highly diverse across Haida Gwaii – showing as much phenotypic variation in this one area as across the rest of their northern-hemisphere range. For example, the Mayer Lake population of stickleback has the largest body size recorded of all stickleback populations and the Boulton population has a spineless phenotype. This natural trait variation reflects adaption to different predation regimes, foraging environments, and physical (water depth and flow) conditions. However, increased human activity such as forest harvesting, invasive species, pollution, or effects of climate change are likely to affect stickleback populations. Sampling protocol: For each lake or stream, we will sample a maximum of 100 (50 males & 50 females) stickleback. Stickleback will be caught using minnow traps which will be soaked for a maximum of 10 hours. All non-target species will be released immediately upon identification. Targeted fish will be euthanized via an overdose of anesthetic (MS-222, 250mg/liter or clove oil, 1ml clove oil in 10ml ethanol/liter of water) and we will confirm death by keeping fish in the anesthetic for 10 minutes after opercular movements have ceased. Collected specimens will be used to measure morphological traits. Our findings will identify critical changes in threespine stickleback populations in response to human disturbances. By identifying changes in mean trait values, we might be able to better predict how populations will respond to human disturbances. By identifying changes in variation, we will be able to better predict resistance and resilience of populations to future human disturbances. These findings will help determine future conservation strategies.
Permit Type: 
Permittee: 
Andrew Hendry
Issue Date: 
Thursday, June 9, 2022