Capelin (Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776)) is an important marine forage fish species that typically inhabits sub-Arctic and temperate circumpolar waters. Capelin have recently been reported in greater abundance in Arctic regions, and are considered an indicator for warming climate in the northern marine ecosystem. The goal of this thesis is to examine intrinsic factors among capelin populations, and whether niche overlap among sympatric capelin and Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774)) will affect the abundance and persistence of capelin in the Arctic as temperatures continue to rise. Life history comparisons of capelin from two Arctic regions (Western Beaufort Sea, Cumberland Sound) relative to a sub-Arctic population (Newfoundland) show that body size, body condition, growth rate and age-at-maturity vary among these regions. Life history characteristics that are adapted to northern environments and increasing temperatures will allow the presence and persistence of this species to increase in the Arctic. The consequence of increased abundance of capelin in the Arctic environment could be competition between capelin and Arctic cod, an Arctic species within a similar dietary niche. Stomach contents indicated that both species feed primarily on calanoid copepods and this result was corroborated with high dietary overlap in isotopic bivariate space (carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes). The occurrence of capelin is expected to increase in the Arctic with rising temperatures, thus adaptation in life history traits in capelin specific to each region may facilitate increased abundance and persistence, and possibly contribute to competitive pressure on Arctic cod. Potential competition will be particularly important in nearshore and shelf habitats where shifts in availability of intermediate trophic level taxa will influence diet and distribution of key predators such as beluga, sea birds, and anadromous fishes. As the Arctic environment changes with climate shifts, newly adapted or dispersed species from sub-Arctic systems are expected to drive shifts in ecosystem structure and function in the marine environment. / October 2016

Arctic Cod, Boreogadus saida (Lepechin 1774) occur throughout the circumpolar north at all levels of the water column depending on their life history stage, the time of day, the season, and their activity. Arctic Cod are the most abundant fish species in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (CBS) ecosystem, and are an important link in the flow of energy within the food web. This study examined differences in energy acquisition and usage in Arctic Cod among three depth zones in the CBS (from 15-800m) by examining stomach contents and physiological indicators, taking into account sex, age and body size. Nonparametric comparison analyses found no differences with depth, but support for an ontogenetic shift in diet regarding prey size, a difference in energy content of an average diet between size classes 1 (30-60mm) and 2-4 (2: 60-90mm; 3: 90-120mm; 4: >120mm), and a slight positive relationship between physiological indicators and body size. / October 2016

In the Beaufort Sea, freshwater input from the Mackenzie River creates a relatively warm and turbid plume across the coastal shelf region. To determine the effects of the Mackenzie River plume on marine larval fish abundance, distribution and assemblages; this study sampled larval fish by using 500 μm bongo nets and obtaining oceanographic measurements across the plume gradient during July and August of 2007. Three larval fish assemblages were identified within three water masses: the intense plume assemblage was dominated by Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii pallasii), the diffuse plume assemblage was dominated by the sub-family Lumpeninae and the oceanic assemblage was dominated by Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida). Also, results revealed that there were no significant differences in the total larval fish abundances within these water masses. In conclusion, this study suggests that the Mackenzie River plume might be identified as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA), based on the uniqueness criteria under Canada’s coastal conservation strategy.

In the Beaufort Sea, freshwater input from the Mackenzie River creates a relatively warm and turbid plume across the coastal shelf region. To determine the effects of the Mackenzie River plume on marine larval fish abundance, distribution and assemblages; this study sampled larval fish by using 500 μm bongo nets and obtaining oceanographic measurements across the plume gradient during July and August of 2007. Three larval fish assemblages were identified within three water masses: the intense plume assemblage was dominated by Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii pallasii), the diffuse plume assemblage was dominated by the sub-family Lumpeninae and the oceanic assemblage was dominated by Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida). Also, results revealed that there were no significant differences in the total larval fish abundances within these water masses. In conclusion, this study suggests that the Mackenzie River plume might be identified as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA), based on the uniqueness criteria under Canada’s coastal conservation strategy.

This study attempted to explain an apparent inverse relationship between pack ice proximity and breeding success of Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) on Cooper Island, a barrier island in the western Beaufort Sea near Barrow, AK. I elucidated the first linear relationship between energy density and body size for the elusive Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida). I discovered and ground-truthed the existence of previously unknown guillemot foraging habitat on small 50 m2 ice floes distant from the pack ice. I developed new daily metrics for quantifying the provisioning to linear (8 d – 18 d) and Post-Linear (19 d – fledge) chicks. I found daily consensus between Linear and Post-Linear chicks about the level of provisioning at the colony. Finally, I explained those daily changes with significant correlations with wind speed and direction. / October 2007

This study attempted to explain an apparent inverse relationship between pack ice proximity and breeding success of Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) on Cooper Island, a barrier island in the western Beaufort Sea near Barrow, AK. I elucidated the first linear relationship between energy density and body size for the elusive Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida). I discovered and ground-truthed the existence of previously unknown guillemot foraging habitat on small 50 m2 ice floes distant from the pack ice. I developed new daily metrics for quantifying the provisioning to linear (8 d – 18 d) and Post-Linear (19 d – fledge) chicks. I found daily consensus between Linear and Post-Linear chicks about the level of provisioning at the colony. Finally, I explained those daily changes with significant correlations with wind speed and direction.

This study attempted to explain an apparent inverse relationship between pack ice proximity and breeding success of Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) on Cooper Island, a barrier island in the western Beaufort Sea near Barrow, AK. I elucidated the first linear relationship between energy density and body size for the elusive Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida). I discovered and ground-truthed the existence of previously unknown guillemot foraging habitat on small 50 m2 ice floes distant from the pack ice. I developed new daily metrics for quantifying the provisioning to linear (8 d – 18 d) and Post-Linear (19 d – fledge) chicks. I found daily consensus between Linear and Post-Linear chicks about the level of provisioning at the colony. Finally, I explained those daily changes with significant correlations with wind speed and direction.