Biodiversity

Water Levels

In 2008, Dr. Jerome Marty and international student Arnaud Le Nevanen worked on data to identify flow-related variables that are responsible for changes in the food web.  He has found that ramping (or hydropeaking) water flow rates through dams can result in a reduction of the length of the food web below the dam. This background work will be extended in 2009 to study the effects of flow rates and changing water levels on the St. Lawrence River ecosystem.

 New! – Invasive species Hemimysis anomala, the Bloody Red Shrimp, is a new species in North America, and one of the most aggressive invaders of freshwater systems.  It relies on both algae and zooplankton as food sources and is very effective in avoiding predators. Dr. Jerome Marty is one of very few scientists in North America studying Hemimysis.  In 2008, he worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to collect samples of Hemimysis in the Great Lakes.  In the coming year, he plans to establish monitoring sites in the St. Lawrence River to better map the distribution of Hemimysis, and conduct the first ecological study on Hemimysis in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence basin.  He also intends to create an interactive website on Hemimysis that will provide an information resource and reporting tool for the public.

 Species at Risk – Cutlip Minnow Cutlip Minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) is a threatened species that historically, has been identified in only four locations in Ontario.  Interestingly, all of these sightings were in and around the Cornwall – Lake St. Francis area.  In 2008, a grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk Stewardship Fund enabled the River Institute to identify the habitat needs and population trends of this rare species in the St. Lawrence River. So far, Cutlip minnows have been found in one of the four historic locations, and two new sites have been located with healthy minnow populations. The project will continue in 2009 to characterize the status of Cutlip Minnow, and provide a baseline for species protection and recovery strategies. 
 

Track a Fish  Two years ago, Dr. Brian Hickey began experimenting with radio transmitters to track and characterize the movement, feeding patterns, and habitats of predator fish such as pike and walleye in the Cornwall area.  Since then, the River Institute’s Board of Directors has donated annually to this project to enable the work to progress and allow more students to take part.  Information gathered from the radio tracking work complements many of the River Institute’s other research projects on biodiversity and source contamination.  The radio tracking results are useful for mapping out future sampling programs, and it is expected that the results will help direct habitat restoration projects.

 Verdant Power Verdant Power is a company that is investigating a new technology for the Cornwall area that utilizes underwater turbines as an alternative source of hydro-electric power.  The River Institute is involved in this initiative as environmental advisors, with particular interest in how the project will affect fish habitat.  In 2008, Dr. Brian Hickey worked on identifying the affected fish species and mapping habitats in the proposed area.

 Medicinal Plants Many aboriginal groups in the St. Lawrence Seaway region continue to use plants for traditional medicines and food.  To answer questions and concerns about the potential for mercury exposure via medicinal plants, the River Institute collaborated with the Mohawks of Akwesasne, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, the Aboriginal Strategy Group, and the South Nation Conservation Authority to conduct a survey of medicinal plants that are important to aboriginal cultural practice.  Plants were collected from traditional sites, and analyzed for mercury.  Results showed that although mercury concentrations were below the recommended consumption levels, great variability was detected between plant species and different sites.  This work will continue in an attempt to characterize the site and species variability.

 Bats Since 2006, Idalia Milan of Royal Roads University worked with Dr. Brian Hickey on a project to examine and track the high mercury levels found in bats in the St. Lawrence Region.  The project involved collection and mercury analysis of fur clippings, bat droppings, and food source insects.  Interesting variations were found in mercury levels among different species of bats and their habitats.  These variables will be compared to determine the biological significance of mercury in bats and how mercury manifests in the higher food web in our area.  This work will also give relevant information on bats as an indicator species for other contaminants.  This work is expected to be published in 2009.

 Mosquito Monitoring-Under contract to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, the River Institute undertook the 2008 Mosquito Monitoring Program to monitor and assess the incidence of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus.  The River Institute took part in this program by placing traps and collecting samples of mosquito populations in urban and rural areas across Eastern Ontario.  All results were compiled and evaluated by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit to monitor regional risks.    

If you would like to know more about our research program, please contact Drs. Jeffery Ridal - jridal@riverinstitute.ca or Brian Hickey - bhickey@riverinstitute.ca