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Arctic surface air temperatures have been warming at twice the global rate, making it one of the most susceptible regions to current climate change. Effects on cold-adapted aquatic species, such as the culturally and ecologically important Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), are difficult to anticipate and may vary depending on site-specific attributes. Temperature has a direct influence on aspects of species’ fitness, including growth, reproduction and, ultimately, survival. Previous research on temperature-growth patterns in Arctic charr has yielded variable results, particularly for studies observing these patterns in the wild. Two field-based studies are presented in this thesis, in an attempt to better understand temperature-growth patterns for wild populations of Arctic charr. In the first study, individual measurements of annual, or within-season growth were determined from tag-recaptured Arctic charr and examined in relation to summer sea surface temperatures and within-season capture timing in the Ungava and Labrador regions of eastern Canada. Differences in among-year growth were significant for Ungava Bay Arctic charr, with growth being positively correlated with temperature. Growth of Labrador Arctic charr did not vary significantly among years. Regional comparisons demonstrated that Ungava Arctic charr had significantly higher annual growth rates, with differences among years in all regions being positively correlated with temperature. Within-season growth rates of Labrador Arctic charr peaked in June, declined toward August, and were negatively correlated with the length of time spent at sea and mean experienced sea surface temperatures. A quadratic model relating growth rate to temperature best explained the pattern of within-season growth. The higher annual growth of Ungava Bay Arctic charr was attributed to the high sea surface temperatures experienced in 2010-11 and the localized differences in nearshore productivity as compared to Labrador. Results suggest that increases in water temperature may have profound consequences for Arctic charr growth in the Canadian sub-Arctic, depending on the responses of local marine productivity to those same temperature increases. In the second study, oxygen stable isotope temperature reconstruction methods were used to estimate mean experienced summer temperatures from growth zones within individual otoliths of Arctic charr sampled from contrasting lake environments. For either lake, otolith-estimated temperatures were not significantly related to back-calculated growth. Significant negative effects on back-calculated growth were observed due to increasing air temperatures in the smaller lake, owing to warmer surface waters and a limited amount of preferred cool-water habitat available. A similar relationship was not observed in the larger lake, indicating that the cooler, deeper lake provides ample preferred cool-water habitat for Arctic charr despite climate warming. In addition, young-of-the-year temperatures negatively related to zone 2 growth for the smaller lake, whereas no significant correlation was found for the larger lake. Results here provide evidence for differing climate-influenced growth outcomes depending on the site-specific fish density: preferred thermal habitat volume ratio as dictated by local attributes including lake morphometry, upstream catchment area and life-history strategy. Conclusions from this thesis include the increased need for detailed site- and population-specific assessments of the impacts of increasing temperatures on Arctic charr growth. Better understanding of the drivers of temperature-growth relationships in wild Arctic charr populations will facilitate more accurate stock forecasts with the overall goal of sustaining exploited Arctic charr populations as the climate warms and becomes increasingly variable.

Abstract The thesis includes two studies of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, responses to climate variation. In the first chapter, site-specific data from a fishery on the Hornaday River, Northwest Territories (NWT), are used to make inferences about the environmental drivers of observed variation in the mean biological characteristics of the catch. Mean length and weight characteristics of subsistence-fished Arctic charr available from 15 years of monitoring on the Hornaday River, were significantly influenced by among-year differences in local summer temperature and/or precipitation patterns. Environmental influences on mean length were age-specific, with temperature being the most important influence on younger (age-5) fish and precipitation being the most important influence on older (age-8) fish. Mean weight was positively influenced by precipitation only. Significant models of length-temperature relationships further indicated that larger mean sizes occurred in years when average summer air temperatures ranged from 6.7-7.1ºC. The effects of precipitation on nutrient exports to the nearshore marine area appear to trigger many of the observed correlations. Overall, results suggest that the large-scale environmental changes predicted by climate change scenarios will hold significant implications for Arctic charr from the Hornaday River, with population-specific effects likely to be exhibited in other northern Arctic charr populations. The second chapter uses archival biological data on 67 anadromous and lacustrine charr populations from eastern North America to assess variation within and among populations of Arctic charr as a function of latitude. Eastern North America was defined to include areas east of 80° W, including: Maine, the Canadian Maritime Provinces, insular Newfoundland, Labrador, Québec, and the eastern Arctic Islands of Baffin, Devon and Ellesmere. Obtained population data sets contained individual observations on age, length, weight, sex and fecundity of Arctic charr from as many age-classes as possible and included sufficient life-history information to permit grouping populations to life-history types: dwarf lacustrine, normal lacustrine and anadromous. Data were used to determine the significance of latitudinal clines in the biological responses as explanations of variation in age-specific biological characteristics (length and growth rate) among populations and life-history-types. The presence of a gradient in temperature and growing season length across latitudes was significantly related to a latitudinal compensation in the growth rate of all age-classes of normal and dwarf lacustrine Arctic charr populations. No decrease in dwarf length-at-age along the gradient was noted, whereas normal lacustrine length-at-age in the younger ages (age-4 to age-6) declined along the gradient. Results provide evidence of the applicability of the countergradient hypothesis as an explanation of among population differences in length-at-age for normal and dwarf lacustrine Arctic charr. Only weak evidence of the applicability of the countergradient hypothesis to anadromous Arctic charr populations was found. Although a decrease in length-at-age for all age-classes was observed along the gradient, only four age-classes (age-10 to age-13) showed a significant increase in growth rate with an increase in latitude. The similarity of the marine thermal environment across the latitudinal gradient is argued to account for the differential response of anadromous Arctic charr in comparison to lacustrine populations.

Abstract The thesis includes two studies of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, responses to climate variation. In the first chapter, site-specific data from a fishery on the Hornaday River, Northwest Territories (NWT), are used to make inferences about the environmental drivers of observed variation in the mean biological characteristics of the catch. Mean length and weight characteristics of subsistence-fished Arctic charr available from 15 years of monitoring on the Hornaday River, were significantly influenced by among-year differences in local summer temperature and/or precipitation patterns. Environmental influences on mean length were age-specific, with temperature being the most important influence on younger (age-5) fish and precipitation being the most important influence on older (age-8) fish. Mean weight was positively influenced by precipitation only. Significant models of length-temperature relationships further indicated that larger mean sizes occurred in years when average summer air temperatures ranged from 6.7-7.1ºC. The effects of precipitation on nutrient exports to the nearshore marine area appear to trigger many of the observed correlations. Overall, results suggest that the large-scale environmental changes predicted by climate change scenarios will hold significant implications for Arctic charr from the Hornaday River, with population-specific effects likely to be exhibited in other northern Arctic charr populations. The second chapter uses archival biological data on 67 anadromous and lacustrine charr populations from eastern North America to assess variation within and among populations of Arctic charr as a function of latitude. Eastern North America was defined to include areas east of 80° W, including: Maine, the Canadian Maritime Provinces, insular Newfoundland, Labrador, Québec, and the eastern Arctic Islands of Baffin, Devon and Ellesmere. Obtained population data sets contained individual observations on age, length, weight, sex and fecundity of Arctic charr from as many age-classes as possible and included sufficient life-history information to permit grouping populations to life-history types: dwarf lacustrine, normal lacustrine and anadromous. Data were used to determine the significance of latitudinal clines in the biological responses as explanations of variation in age-specific biological characteristics (length and growth rate) among populations and life-history-types. The presence of a gradient in temperature and growing season length across latitudes was significantly related to a latitudinal compensation in the growth rate of all age-classes of normal and dwarf lacustrine Arctic charr populations. No decrease in dwarf length-at-age along the gradient was noted, whereas normal lacustrine length-at-age in the younger ages (age-4 to age-6) declined along the gradient. Results provide evidence of the applicability of the countergradient hypothesis as an explanation of among population differences in length-at-age for normal and dwarf lacustrine Arctic charr. Only weak evidence of the applicability of the countergradient hypothesis to anadromous Arctic charr populations was found. Although a decrease in length-at-age for all age-classes was observed along the gradient, only four age-classes (age-10 to age-13) showed a significant increase in growth rate with an increase in latitude. The similarity of the marine thermal environment across the latitudinal gradient is argued to account for the differential response of anadromous Arctic charr in comparison to lacustrine populations.

A decline in the density of zoobenthos has taken place in Lake Abiskojaure in the northern Swedish mountains between 1988 and 2019 but no response can be seen in the abundance (CPUE) of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) that feed mainly on benthic invertebrates. To evaluate if possible shifts in resource use of charr explain this lack of change in population abundance, stomach contents (i.e. diet) of charr between 1985 and 2020 were analyzed. Charr diets changed during the study period, with decreasing contributions to the diet of larger sized prey and increasing contribution of smaller sized prey and zooplankton. A corresponding recent decline in charr growth, size, and condition factor was observed. The proportion of large prey in diets and charr growth both show a hump-shaped relationship with time before the recent decline, indicating consumption of large prey had a positive effect on charr growth. Densities of zooplankton in the lake did not change with time, meaning increases in diet proportions are driven by something else. Declines in nitrogen and phosphorous over time may have contributed to the decline in zoobenthos densities through nutrient limitation of primary production. The results from this study suggest charr has changed diet towards smaller, less energetically efficient prey as a response to declining zoobenthos levels, and that this has had a negative effect on charr growth, size, and condition factor. Additional declines in nutrients and zoobenthos abundance may further worsen charr performance and eventually be manifested as declining charr abundance.

A decline in the density of zoobenthos has taken place in Lake Abiskojaure in the northern Swedish mountains between 1988 and 2019 but no response can be seen in the abundance (CPUE) of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) that feed mainly on benthic invertebrates. To evaluate if possible shifts in resource use of charr explain this lack of change in population abundance, stomach contents (i.e. diet) of charr between 1985 and 2020 were analyzed. Charr diets changed during the study period, with decreasing contributions to the diet of larger sized prey and increasing contribution of smaller sized prey and zooplankton. A corresponding recent decline in charr growth, size, and condition factor was observed. The proportion of large prey in diets and charr growth both show a hump-shaped relationship with time before the recent decline, indicating consumption of large prey had a positive effect on charr growth. Densities of zooplankton in the lake did not change with time, meaning increases in diet proportions are driven by something else. Declines in nitrogen and phosphorous over time may have contributed to the decline in zoobenthos densities through nutrient limitation of primary production. The results from this study suggest charr has changed diet towards smaller, less energetically efficient prey as a response to declining zoobenthos levels, and that this has had a negative effect on charr growth, size, and condition factor. Additional declines in nutrients and zoobenthos abundance may further worsen charr performance and eventually be manifested as declining charr abundance.

Mercury concentrations in freshwater and marine biota are an ongoing concern, even in areas remote from local point sources, such as in the Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic. Anadromous Arctic charr, which feed in the marine environment, have lower mercury concentrations than non-anadromous Arctic charr, which feed strictly in freshwater, but the two life-history forms have rarely been studied together, and the mechanisms driving the difference are unclear. Here, data from nine pairs of closely-located anadromous and non-anadromous Arctic charr populations were used to explore the impact of biological and life-history factors on individual total mercury concentration ([THg]) across a range of latitudes (49 – 81° N) in eastern Canada. From six of these sampling locations, additional samples of lower trophic level biota (i.e., algae, invertebrates, and forage fishes) were obtained in order to investigate patterns of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) biomagnification in the marine and lacustrine foodwebs supporting Arctic charr. Arctic charr mean [THg] ranged from 20 to 114 ng/g wet weight (ww) in anadromous populations, and was significantly higher in non-anadromous populations (all p < 0.01), ranging from 111 to 227 ng/g ww. Within-population variations in Arctic charr [THg] were best explained by fish age, and were also positively related to fork-length and δ15N-inferred trophic level. Across all sampling sites, the relationship between Arctic charr [THg] and fish age was significant and statistically similar in both life-history types, but only the non-anadromous fish demonstrated a significant relationship with trophic level. Fork-length and site latitude did not explain significant additional variation in Arctic charr [THg] across sampling locations. Trophic magnification factors were 1.98 – 5.19 for THg and 3.02 – 6.69 for MeHg in lacustrine foodwebs, and 1.59 – 2.82 for THg and 2.72 – 5.70 for MeHg in marine foodwebs, and did not differ significantly between the two feeding habitats for either THg or MeHg. The biomagnification rate of MeHg exceeded that of THg in both habitats. Mercury concentrations at the base of the foodweb were higher in the lacustrine environment (estimated at 17 – 139 ng/g dw for THg and 5 – 42 ng/g dw for MeHg) than in the marine environment (8 – 39 ng/g dw for THg and 1 – 11 ng/g dw for MeHg). The proportion of mercury in the methylated form was related to trophic level, and the relationship was statistically similar in the lacustrine and marine habitats. There was no effect of site latitude on mercury concentrations in marine or lacustrine biota, thus the difference between feeding habitats was consistent across a range of latitudes (56 – 72°N) in eastern Canada. We conclude that a difference in prey mercury concentration, driven by differential mercury concentrations at of the base of the lacustrine and marine foodwebs, is important for explaining the difference in mercury concentration between anadromous and non-anadromous in Arctic charr.

The occurrence of ichthyofauna on the territory of the Jizera Mountains (Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic) is limited, besides other factors, by the water chemistry. pH value and pH-related concentration of inorganic monomeric aluminum (Ali) are crucial parameters of the water, determining the survival of fish in streams. Low pH and high concentrations of Ali cause severe damages to fish gills. The thesis deals with the influence of the water chemistry on distribution of ichthyofauna in the Jizera Mts and gill morphology in brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis), a dominant fish species of the upper plateau of the mountains. The results show that the species diversity of fish in acidified streams is lower than that in streams without meaningful acidic episodes. Histopathological analyses of gills of brook charr individuals from an acidified stream confirm, that low pH values and high concentrations of Ali have a cummulative effect and lead to degenerative changes on gills. Key words: The Jizera Mountains, ichthyofauna, brook charr, gill morphology, water chemistry, toxic aluminium, acidification

I examined phenotypic and genetic variation in growth traits in 30 families of commercial Fraser strain Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) reared in freshwater (FRW) and brackish water (BRW) in Eastern Canada. I detected family by treatment interactions for all traits [body weight (BW), condition factor (K) and specific growth rate (SGR)] across all measurement dates and growth intervals, however, mean family BW in FRW was correlated phenotypically with BRW BW. In addition, FRW fish showed significantly greater survival than those transferred to BRW and fish which survived until the conclusion of the experiment were significantly heavier in BW at the baseline assessment than their full-sibs that died. These observations suggest that BW in FRW and BW in BRW should be analyzed as separate but correlated traits in Arctic charr breeding programs. I then tested the potential for genetic improvement in this species by calculating genetic parameters for BW and K, and tested if previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits were detectable across the broodstock. QTL with experiment-wide and chromosome-wide significance for body size and condition factor were detected on multiple linkage groups. Heritability for BW and K was moderate in FRW (0.29-0.38) but lower in BRW (0.14-0.17). Genetic correlations for BW across environments were positive and moderate (0.33-0.67), however equivalent K correlations were weaker (0.24-0.37). This information was then used to predict the rate of genetic change following one generation of selection for BW using phenotypic selection and genomic methodologies including marker-only selection and marker assisted selection. The greatest response in the rate of genetic change was achieved by selecting only from families in which significant BW QTL had been identified. As such, marker assisted selection showed the greatest gain in genetic response with 5.4% in FRW and 4.3% in BRW. These results have applications to commercial aquaculture as the Canadian aquaculture industry is attempting to diversify with alternative species. Such genetic improvement strategies will aid in developing a strain of Arctic charr characterised by increased BW. / Funding provided through the NSERC Strategic grants program. The project was sponsored by CanAqua Seafoods Ltd. in collaboration with the Coastal Zones Research Institute.

Habitat conditions, use and preference, size-at-age, density and condition were assessed for headwater brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in streams in Southern Ontario where water extraction was occurring. Research was divided into two separate, but related studies, conducted during the summer and fall of 2002 and 2004. The first study sought to document the habitat conditions that influence size-at-age and density of age-0 brook charr and to test the hypotheses that: [1] differences in fork-lengths among sites were principally influenced by differences in stream thermal regimes as measured by accumulated thermal units (ATUs), with differences in stream physical characteristics (e.g., water quality, morphology, riparian vegetation) also having significant effects; [2] among-stream differences in flow regimes would significantly influence among-stream differences in age-0 densities, with increases in flow being positively correlated with density; and, [3] length and density would be negatively correlated. Results indicated that differences in temperature, stream site and flow influenced differences in age-0 length and density of brook charr. The effect of temperature, as measured by accumulated thermal units, dominated other influences, providing strong support for the null hypothesis [1] that size differences among sites were primarily driven by differences in the prevailing thermal regime. Some evidence was found to suggest that differences in stream physical characteristics influenced fish size and density, with stream flow affecting both to a moderate degree. Thus while study results provide support for the hypothesis [2] concerning flow-related impacts on age-0 brook charr in headwater streams, changes in flow cannot be considered of prime importance over the range of stream discharge differences (14.3-28.5 L???s -1) observed here. Finally, there was no support for hypothesis [3] concerning the negative correlation between age-0 fork-length and density. The second study investigated the effects of municipal groundwater pumping on stream habitat and the resident brook charr population of Monora Creek, Orangeville, Ontario. Specifically, the study aimed to test the hypotheses that: [1] well-related water extraction was associated with habitat degradation at sites proximate to the extraction point; and, [2] degraded habitat was associated with reduced juvenile and adult brook charr use and preference, reduced occupancy density and reduced condition. Study results indicated significant, although subtle, changes in available habitat as a result of pumping activity, with habitats in areas impacted by groundwater pumping showing significant decreases in hydraulic gradient, stream depth and the availability of under-cut bank and run and pool habitat. Combined, the changes in habitat influenced use, with age-0 densities declining in stream reaches impacted by pumping relative to reaches of the stream not impacted by pumping. When adjusting for the relative availability of groundwater extraction on affected and non-affected habitat, standardized habitat preference indices indicated a significant preference for non-affected stream reaches among age-0 brook charr. Adults evidenced only slight changes in distribution among the available habitats that were seasonally dependent, with reduced densities observed in affected habitats and increased densities in non-affected habitats noted only in the fall. Changes in brook charr condition (weight-length relationship) and mortality were generally not in evidence during the course of this study. Combined, these studies suggest development actions moderating either the thermal or flow regime of streams will have negative effects on population status. Water extraction risks altering habitat in unfavourable ways by interrupting important linkages between flow and temperature that favour growth and density, but that prevent critical physiological thresholds for temperature from being surpassed. Furthermore, the impacts on brook charr populations subjected to moderating pumping appear to relate more to patterns of within stream distribution and habitat use than to any direct measures of fitness such as survival or growth. The latter result suggests monitoring abundance and/or condition alone will not suffice to provide early warning of population stress responses to water extraction activities.