Pub Date : 2018-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1538926
M. Munawar, M. Fitzpatrick, H. Niblock, R. Rozon, J. Lorimer, H. Kling
A total of 25 algal blooms were observed during three separate surveys of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, conducted during August 2010, September 2010 and September 2011. Here we define algal blooms based on the direct measurement of phytoplankton biomass (>3 g m−3) and not proxy measures such as chlorophyll a. In this chronically eutrophic embayment, we observed 8 diatom blooms (Aulacoseira spp.), 7 cyanobacteria blooms (Dolichospermum, Gloeotrichia, Microcystis, etc.) and 10 more that were mixtures of both taxa. At the cyano-bloom sites, ≈50% or more of the total biomass was composed of species known to be toxigenic. High rates of primary production (40 – 160 mg C m−3 h−1) by the larger algal size classes (>20 μm and 2–20 μm) indicated that there were few constraints on photosynthesis during bloom events (both diatom and cyanobacteria). Productivity to biomass quotients were considerably higher for filamentous algal forms (>9 for both diatoms and cyanobacteria) compared to colonial cyanobacteria (<5) suggesting that filamentous algae are more photosynthetically efficient. Our findings showed the observed algal blooms to be diverse and dynamic entities; management strategies need to recognize the unique characteristics of individual bloom events. Moreover, long term research and monitoring programs are necessary for the application of adaptive management strategies in order to address persistent ecosystem stressors like eutrophication.
{"title":"Ecology of algal blooms in the Bay of Quinte: composition, diversity and dynamics","authors":"M. Munawar, M. Fitzpatrick, H. Niblock, R. Rozon, J. Lorimer, H. Kling","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1538926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1538926","url":null,"abstract":"A total of 25 algal blooms were observed during three separate surveys of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, conducted during August 2010, September 2010 and September 2011. Here we define algal blooms based on the direct measurement of phytoplankton biomass (>3 g m−3) and not proxy measures such as chlorophyll a. In this chronically eutrophic embayment, we observed 8 diatom blooms (Aulacoseira spp.), 7 cyanobacteria blooms (Dolichospermum, Gloeotrichia, Microcystis, etc.) and 10 more that were mixtures of both taxa. At the cyano-bloom sites, ≈50% or more of the total biomass was composed of species known to be toxigenic. High rates of primary production (40 – 160 mg C m−3 h−1) by the larger algal size classes (>20 μm and 2–20 μm) indicated that there were few constraints on photosynthesis during bloom events (both diatom and cyanobacteria). Productivity to biomass quotients were considerably higher for filamentous algal forms (>9 for both diatoms and cyanobacteria) compared to colonial cyanobacteria (<5) suggesting that filamentous algae are more photosynthetically efficient. Our findings showed the observed algal blooms to be diverse and dynamic entities; management strategies need to recognize the unique characteristics of individual bloom events. Moreover, long term research and monitoring programs are necessary for the application of adaptive management strategies in order to address persistent ecosystem stressors like eutrophication.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"447 - 457"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1538926","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43918243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1528819
R. Sherman, R. Whittam, J. Cayley
The Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan began as a federal-provincial initiative and became a "friendly little monster" when the community of small urban centers and rural townships took their responsibility seriously and became fully committed to the restoration of Severn Sound as a "toxic hot-spot" on the Great Lakes. Severn Sound is a complex of bays and inlets in south-eastern Georgian Bay. The Area of Concern was listed in 1985 because of eutrophication and habitat loss. This article will explore the changes in organizational structure supporting Remedial Action Plan development and implementation from an external federal-provincial program to a local organization supported by a variety of partners. Key principles of funding the remedial actions and administration of the local Severn Sound Environmental Association will be highlighted. This transition led to successful implementation and ultimate delisting of the Area of Concern in 2003. Following delisting, creative local partnership agreements and financing were arranged to continue long-term implementation and to meet emerging environmental challenges.
{"title":"Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan: The friendly little monster","authors":"R. Sherman, R. Whittam, J. Cayley","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1528819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1528819","url":null,"abstract":"The Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan began as a federal-provincial initiative and became a \"friendly little monster\" when the community of small urban centers and rural townships took their responsibility seriously and became fully committed to the restoration of Severn Sound as a \"toxic hot-spot\" on the Great Lakes. Severn Sound is a complex of bays and inlets in south-eastern Georgian Bay. The Area of Concern was listed in 1985 because of eutrophication and habitat loss. This article will explore the changes in organizational structure supporting Remedial Action Plan development and implementation from an external federal-provincial program to a local organization supported by a variety of partners. Key principles of funding the remedial actions and administration of the local Severn Sound Environmental Association will be highlighted. This transition led to successful implementation and ultimate delisting of the Area of Concern in 2003. Following delisting, creative local partnership agreements and financing were arranged to continue long-term implementation and to meet emerging environmental challenges.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"387 - 397"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1528819","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48722946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1505355
S. Doka, M. Munawar, J. Midwood, M. Wells
a. six as impaired (eutrophication/algae, beach closings, aesthetics, fish/wildlife habitat, fish consumption, fish/wildlife populations); b. one as requiring further assessment (phytoplankton/zooplankton communities); c. four re-designated as not impaired after assessment (fish tumours/deformities, bird/animal deformities/reproductive problems, benthos, dredging restrictions), and; d. three that were never considered impaired (flavour of fish/wildlife, drinking water restrictions/taste/odour problems, and added costs to agriculture/industry).
A. 6项受损(富营养化/藻类、海滩关闭、美学、鱼类/野生动物栖息地、鱼类消费、鱼类/野生动物种群);B.一个需要进一步评估(浮游植物/浮游动物群落);C.四个经评估后重新指定为未受损的(鱼类肿瘤/畸形、鸟类/动物畸形/生殖问题、底栖动物、疏浚限制)，以及;D.三个从未被认为受损的(鱼/野生动物的味道，饮用水限制/味道/气味问题，以及农业/工业的额外成本)。
{"title":"The state of Toronto and Region’s ecosystem:Synthesis and highlights","authors":"S. Doka, M. Munawar, J. Midwood, M. Wells","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1505355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1505355","url":null,"abstract":"a. six as impaired (eutrophication/algae, beach closings, aesthetics, fish/wildlife habitat, fish consumption, fish/wildlife populations); b. one as requiring further assessment (phytoplankton/zooplankton communities); c. four re-designated as not impaired after assessment (fish tumours/deformities, bird/animal deformities/reproductive problems, benthos, dredging restrictions), and; d. three that were never considered impaired (flavour of fish/wildlife, drinking water restrictions/taste/odour problems, and added costs to agriculture/industry).","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"362 - 367"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1505355","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59839095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1491759
S. Dahmer, L. Matos, A. Morley
In 1987, Toronto and Region (formerly Metro Toronto) was recognized as one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) under the amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). AOCs are locations where water quality and ecosystem health are considered to be severely degraded as a result of local sources of pollution caused by human activities that may affect the wider Great Lakes system. Under the GLWQA, the governments of Canada and the United States committed to restoring ecosystem health in the Great Lakes (IJC, 1987). Toronto and Region was identified as an AOC as a result of complex environmental challenges from several centuries of agriculture, industrialization and urban development that have dramatically reshaped the terrestrial and aquatic environments. The health of the waterfront is linked to conditions and activities in local watersheds, which provide a conduit to Lake Ontario by way of the rivers and creeks – as well as storm and sanitary sewer systems – that run through local communities. The boundary of the Toronto and Region AOC encompasses 42 km of waterfront together the north shore of Lake Ontario, along with the six watersheds from Etobicoke Creek in the west to the Rouge River in the east that drain into Lake Ontario (Figure 1). The watersheds of the AOC, which drain an area of approximately 2000 km, originate from the southern slopes of the Oak Ridges Moraine (north of the City of Toronto), and are composed of more than 40% rural landuse, and contain Rouge National Urban Park, one of the world’s largest national urban parks. At the same time, more than three million people live in the AOC drainage area and the City of Toronto is at the centre of one of the most densely urbanized and fastest growing areas in the Great Lakes. Historically within the AOC, a vast number of habitats have been degraded: wetlands have been drained and filled (e.g. Ashbridges Bay Marsh); forests and riverbank vegetation were removed; creeks were buried, channelized or concreted; shorelines were hardened; and dams and weirs were built that obstructed fish movement in rivers. Contaminants associated with runoff from stormwater and snow melt from local watersheds, and direct discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater, have created serious water quality impacts in local rivers, and along the waterfront. Spills, road runoff and historically unregulated chemical inputs to sewers from industries and residences contributed to a highly degraded aquatic environment. These multiple stressors polluted the local environment, impacted fish and wildlife habitats and populations (both directly and indirectly) and degraded water quality at beaches, leading to the impairment of several beneficial uses in the Toronto region, and forming the basis for the AOC designation.
{"title":"Preface—Restoring Toronto’s waters: Progress toward delisting the Toronto and Region Area of Concern","authors":"S. Dahmer, L. Matos, A. Morley","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1491759","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1491759","url":null,"abstract":"In 1987, Toronto and Region (formerly Metro Toronto) was recognized as one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) under the amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). AOCs are locations where water quality and ecosystem health are considered to be severely degraded as a result of local sources of pollution caused by human activities that may affect the wider Great Lakes system. Under the GLWQA, the governments of Canada and the United States committed to restoring ecosystem health in the Great Lakes (IJC, 1987). Toronto and Region was identified as an AOC as a result of complex environmental challenges from several centuries of agriculture, industrialization and urban development that have dramatically reshaped the terrestrial and aquatic environments. The health of the waterfront is linked to conditions and activities in local watersheds, which provide a conduit to Lake Ontario by way of the rivers and creeks – as well as storm and sanitary sewer systems – that run through local communities. The boundary of the Toronto and Region AOC encompasses 42 km of waterfront together the north shore of Lake Ontario, along with the six watersheds from Etobicoke Creek in the west to the Rouge River in the east that drain into Lake Ontario (Figure 1). The watersheds of the AOC, which drain an area of approximately 2000 km, originate from the southern slopes of the Oak Ridges Moraine (north of the City of Toronto), and are composed of more than 40% rural landuse, and contain Rouge National Urban Park, one of the world’s largest national urban parks. At the same time, more than three million people live in the AOC drainage area and the City of Toronto is at the centre of one of the most densely urbanized and fastest growing areas in the Great Lakes. Historically within the AOC, a vast number of habitats have been degraded: wetlands have been drained and filled (e.g. Ashbridges Bay Marsh); forests and riverbank vegetation were removed; creeks were buried, channelized or concreted; shorelines were hardened; and dams and weirs were built that obstructed fish movement in rivers. Contaminants associated with runoff from stormwater and snow melt from local watersheds, and direct discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater, have created serious water quality impacts in local rivers, and along the waterfront. Spills, road runoff and historically unregulated chemical inputs to sewers from industries and residences contributed to a highly degraded aquatic environment. These multiple stressors polluted the local environment, impacted fish and wildlife habitats and populations (both directly and indirectly) and degraded water quality at beaches, leading to the impairment of several beneficial uses in the Toronto region, and forming the basis for the AOC designation.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"229 - 233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1491759","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47897688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1497401
T. Edge, S. Hill, A. Crowe, J. Marsalek, P. Seto, B. Snodgrass, R. Toninger, M. Patel
Bluffer’s Park Beach in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern had a history of beach postings often exceeding 80% of the beach season since the 1980s. A study applied expanded E. coli surveillance and microbial source tracking techniques in 2005–2007 to identify fecal pollution sources contributing to beach postings. Expanded surveillance in the beach vicinity identified significant E. coli hotspots in the foreshore beach sand (pore water max E. coli = 255,000 CFU 100 ml−1) and associated with a marsh inland of the beach. During rain events, streams from the marsh (max E. coli = 173,000 CFU 100 ml−1) and runoff from the parking lot (max E. coli = 4100 CFU 100 ml−1) were observed to overflow across the beach to contaminate beach waters. Microbial source tracking using library-dependent (antibiotic resistance and rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting of E. coli isolates) and library-independent (human HF183 bacterial DNA marker) methods indicated the prevalence of animal fecal pollution sources at the beach rather than human sewage. These results were consistent with sanitary survey information, observations of wildlife in the marsh area, and Gulls and Canada Geese on the beach. In 2006, a bird management program was initiated, and remedial actions continued in advance of the 2008 bathing season to engineer a berm to prevent marsh runoff into beach water and re-direct parking lot drainage into the marsh. Since these remediation actions, Bluffer’s Park Beach has been posted less than 20% of each beach season, and it was awarded a Blue Flag accreditation in 2011.
自20世纪80年代以来，多伦多和地区关注区的布拉夫公园海滩的海滩张贴率经常超过海滩季节的80%。2005-2007年的一项研究应用了扩展的大肠杆菌监测和微生物来源跟踪技术，以确定导致海滩张贴的粪便污染源。在海滩附近扩大的监测发现，在前海岸海滩沙子中存在显著的大肠杆菌热点(孔隙水最大大肠杆菌= 255,000 CFU 100 ml - 1)，并与海滩内陆沼泽有关。在降雨期间，来自沼泽的溪流(最大大肠杆菌= 173,000 CFU 100 ml - 1)和来自停车场的径流(最大大肠杆菌= 4100 CFU 100 ml - 1)被观察到溢出海滩，污染海滩水域。利用文库依赖法(大肠杆菌菌株的抗生素耐药性和rep-PCR DNA指纹图谱)和文库独立法(人HF183细菌DNA标记物)对微生物源进行追踪，发现海滩主要是动物粪便污染源，而非人类污水。这些结果与卫生调查资料、沼泽地区野生动物的观察以及海滩上海鸥和加拿大鹅的观察结果一致。2006年，政府启动了一项鸟类管理计划，并在2008年的沐浴季节之前继续采取补救措施，设计一条护堤，防止沼泽径流流入海滩水，并将停车场的排水重新引导到沼泽中。自采取这些整治措施以来，布拉夫公园海滩每个海滩季节的污染率不到20%，并于2011年获得了蓝旗认证。
{"title":"Remediation of a Beneficial Use Impairment at Bluffer’s Park Beach in the Toronto Area of Concern","authors":"T. Edge, S. Hill, A. Crowe, J. Marsalek, P. Seto, B. Snodgrass, R. Toninger, M. Patel","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1497401","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1497401","url":null,"abstract":"Bluffer’s Park Beach in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern had a history of beach postings often exceeding 80% of the beach season since the 1980s. A study applied expanded E. coli surveillance and microbial source tracking techniques in 2005–2007 to identify fecal pollution sources contributing to beach postings. Expanded surveillance in the beach vicinity identified significant E. coli hotspots in the foreshore beach sand (pore water max E. coli = 255,000 CFU 100 ml−1) and associated with a marsh inland of the beach. During rain events, streams from the marsh (max E. coli = 173,000 CFU 100 ml−1) and runoff from the parking lot (max E. coli = 4100 CFU 100 ml−1) were observed to overflow across the beach to contaminate beach waters. Microbial source tracking using library-dependent (antibiotic resistance and rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting of E. coli isolates) and library-independent (human HF183 bacterial DNA marker) methods indicated the prevalence of animal fecal pollution sources at the beach rather than human sewage. These results were consistent with sanitary survey information, observations of wildlife in the marsh area, and Gulls and Canada Geese on the beach. In 2006, a bird management program was initiated, and remedial actions continued in advance of the 2008 bathing season to engineer a berm to prevent marsh runoff into beach water and re-direct parking lot drainage into the marsh. Since these remediation actions, Bluffer’s Park Beach has been posted less than 20% of each beach season, and it was awarded a Blue Flag accreditation in 2011.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"285 - 292"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1497401","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41807505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1507530
M. Veilleux, J. Midwood, C. Boston, N. Lapointe, R. Portiss, M. Wells, S. Doka, S. Cooke
Hardening of natural shorelines in urban aquatic ecosystems can result in a loss of fish habitat and productivity. The north shore of Toronto Harbour (Lake Ontario) has been converted to hardened boat slips for commercial, industrial and recreational purposes, but its potential utility as fish habitat has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine whether fish frequented and utilized four slips in the Inner Harbour of Toronto. Two western boat slips are adjacent to some natural features and have undergone some rehabilitation to increase the complexity of aquatic habitat (i.e. addition of large substrate, overhead cover, and in-water structure). In contrast, the two eastern slips are deeper and more influenced by the turbid Don River. We assessed the timing and duration of occupancy within all four slips for seven fish species using acoustic telemetry. In just under a year, tagged fishes spent a limited amount of time in any one slip. However, there was evidence for increased use at the two western slips by Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in spring, which is likely linked to the proximity of these slips to a known spawning area. Overall, there was no reliable evidence that the majority of the seven adult fish species evaluated frequented either the western or eastern slips. Despite efforts to track and tag a variety of species, insufficient detections prevented a detailed assessment of habitat selection for the majority of species of interest. A more detailed study of the spatial ecology of these fishes is therefore needed to understand the scale of their habitat use and inform the design of habitat rehabilitation projects for hardened shorelines.
{"title":"Assessing occupancy of freshwater fishes in urban boat slips of Toronto Harbour","authors":"M. Veilleux, J. Midwood, C. Boston, N. Lapointe, R. Portiss, M. Wells, S. Doka, S. Cooke","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1507530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1507530","url":null,"abstract":"Hardening of natural shorelines in urban aquatic ecosystems can result in a loss of fish habitat and productivity. The north shore of Toronto Harbour (Lake Ontario) has been converted to hardened boat slips for commercial, industrial and recreational purposes, but its potential utility as fish habitat has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine whether fish frequented and utilized four slips in the Inner Harbour of Toronto. Two western boat slips are adjacent to some natural features and have undergone some rehabilitation to increase the complexity of aquatic habitat (i.e. addition of large substrate, overhead cover, and in-water structure). In contrast, the two eastern slips are deeper and more influenced by the turbid Don River. We assessed the timing and duration of occupancy within all four slips for seven fish species using acoustic telemetry. In just under a year, tagged fishes spent a limited amount of time in any one slip. However, there was evidence for increased use at the two western slips by Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in spring, which is likely linked to the proximity of these slips to a known spawning area. Overall, there was no reliable evidence that the majority of the seven adult fish species evaluated frequented either the western or eastern slips. Despite efforts to track and tag a variety of species, insufficient detections prevented a detailed assessment of habitat selection for the majority of species of interest. A more detailed study of the spatial ecology of these fishes is therefore needed to understand the scale of their habitat use and inform the design of habitat rehabilitation projects for hardened shorelines.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"331 - 341"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1507530","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45608600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1507408
J. Stille, N. Shrestha, R. Toninger, C. Mackenzie, Andrew Ramesbottom, Joel B. Smith
Ecosystem restoration planning requires an integrated approach considering many components of the natural system when prioritizing where and what to restore. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and partners have developed a multi-discipline and multi-benefit approach to restoration planning that facilitates effective restoration works, which contribute to realizing regional watershed objectives pertaining to natural system functions. Through various long term monitoring and modeling initiatives, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has amassed a wealth of knowledge on terrestrial biodiversity, aquatic ecosystems, hydrology, and headwater conditions. The aim of Integrated Restoration Prioritization is to identify impairments and threats to ecosystem function as a means to improve the delivery of ecological goods and services. Consolidating data and comparing discrete areas based on different parameters and thresholds can help direct decision making for future restoration initiatives. The first iteration of the Integrated Restoration Prioritization analyzed existing datasets, identified gaps, and made recommendations for future monitoring. This approach will assist with delisting Beneficial Use Impairments #14 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat and #3 Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations within the Toronto Remedial Action Plan area. Further, the Integrated Restoration Prioritization will assist in implementing the recommendations made in watershed planning documents pertaining to fisheries and natural heritage management. Specifically, the Integrated Restoration Prioritization will identify where impairments to ecological function are located, ensure habitats and corridor linkages are protected or restored, and prioritize local and upstream catchments that could contribute most to improving the natural system if restored.
{"title":"Integrated restoration prioritization–A multi-discipline approach in the Greater Toronto Area","authors":"J. Stille, N. Shrestha, R. Toninger, C. Mackenzie, Andrew Ramesbottom, Joel B. Smith","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1507408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1507408","url":null,"abstract":"Ecosystem restoration planning requires an integrated approach considering many components of the natural system when prioritizing where and what to restore. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and partners have developed a multi-discipline and multi-benefit approach to restoration planning that facilitates effective restoration works, which contribute to realizing regional watershed objectives pertaining to natural system functions. Through various long term monitoring and modeling initiatives, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has amassed a wealth of knowledge on terrestrial biodiversity, aquatic ecosystems, hydrology, and headwater conditions. The aim of Integrated Restoration Prioritization is to identify impairments and threats to ecosystem function as a means to improve the delivery of ecological goods and services. Consolidating data and comparing discrete areas based on different parameters and thresholds can help direct decision making for future restoration initiatives. The first iteration of the Integrated Restoration Prioritization analyzed existing datasets, identified gaps, and made recommendations for future monitoring. This approach will assist with delisting Beneficial Use Impairments #14 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat and #3 Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations within the Toronto Remedial Action Plan area. Further, the Integrated Restoration Prioritization will assist in implementing the recommendations made in watershed planning documents pertaining to fisheries and natural heritage management. Specifically, the Integrated Restoration Prioritization will identify where impairments to ecological function are located, ensure habitats and corridor linkages are protected or restored, and prioritize local and upstream catchments that could contribute most to improving the natural system if restored.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"352 - 361"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1507408","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42574940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1497400
M. Choy, D. Lawrie, C. Edge
Instream barriers (e.g. dams, weirs and road crossings) fragment aquatic habitat and prevent the upstream movement of fish, impairing the ability of fishes to complete critical life stages, access critical habitat and for dispersal among local populations. Mitigation efforts have improved aquatic connectivity to some degree, but it has been challenging to quantify the overall improvement in connectivity without long-term and costly field assessments. The development of spatially explicit habitat connectivity indices make it possible to evaluate current stream connectivity, and quantify the improvement prior mitigation projects have had on connectivity. We combined a list of instream barrier mitigation projects completed in five watersheds in the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) area from 1987–2016 (mitigated barriers) and a previously established inventory of all known instream barriers in 2016 (current barriers). The cumulative improvement to connectivity was measured for potadromous (remain in tributaries) and diadromous (move between tributaries and lake) fish species using the dendritic connectivity index. Aquatic connectivity improved for diadromous species between 0 and 14.5% and for potadromous species between 0.1 and 4.4% in the five studied watersheds. Some variation in improvement among the watersheds can likely be attributed to differences in mitigation strategies among the watersheds and a historical emphasis on mitigating instream barriers to benefit migratory salmonid species.
{"title":"Measuring 30 years of improvements to aquatic connectivity in the Greater Toronto Area","authors":"M. Choy, D. Lawrie, C. Edge","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1497400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1497400","url":null,"abstract":"Instream barriers (e.g. dams, weirs and road crossings) fragment aquatic habitat and prevent the upstream movement of fish, impairing the ability of fishes to complete critical life stages, access critical habitat and for dispersal among local populations. Mitigation efforts have improved aquatic connectivity to some degree, but it has been challenging to quantify the overall improvement in connectivity without long-term and costly field assessments. The development of spatially explicit habitat connectivity indices make it possible to evaluate current stream connectivity, and quantify the improvement prior mitigation projects have had on connectivity. We combined a list of instream barrier mitigation projects completed in five watersheds in the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) area from 1987–2016 (mitigated barriers) and a previously established inventory of all known instream barriers in 2016 (current barriers). The cumulative improvement to connectivity was measured for potadromous (remain in tributaries) and diadromous (move between tributaries and lake) fish species using the dendritic connectivity index. Aquatic connectivity improved for diadromous species between 0 and 14.5% and for potadromous species between 0.1 and 4.4% in the five studied watersheds. Some variation in improvement among the watersheds can likely be attributed to differences in mitigation strategies among the watersheds and a historical emphasis on mitigating instream barriers to benefit migratory salmonid species.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"342 - 351"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1497400","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41905729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-07-03DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2018.1500059
Bogdan Hlevca, M. Wells, Liset Cruz Font, S. Doka, R. Portiss, Margaretha A. St. John, S. Cooke
We present an overview of physical processes that drive water circulation within the extended system of coastal embayments in the Toronto Harbour. The different water circulation patterns occur at various spatial and temporal scales, and our article provides context for the various efforts to improve water quality by the Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan. Velocity profiles and water level measurements showed that the harbour’s Helmholtz pumping mode drives a 1-h period oscillation, which can influence flushing of the shallow embayments. This process likely persists year-round and would lead to flushing time-scales of between 1–11 days for these shallow embayments. If this ubiquitous pumping is combined with solar heat fluxes, it partially explains the persistent temperature gradients amongst the shallow embayments. In the larger and deeper (∼10 m) Inner Harbour, the prevailing westerly winds drive most of the mean circulation, with a current entering through the Western Gap and leaving through the Eastern Gap. This wind driven circulation leads to a residence time of water in the Inner Harbour between 7–14 days. In addition, periodic strong and sustained westerly winds can induce frequent upwelling events in Lake Ontario (between 4 to 10 times during the stratified season) that mildly increase the exchange flow and help maintain good water quality by exchange nearshore waters with cleaner hypolimentic waters. The intrusion of cold water into the harbour can also lead to highly variable temperature regimes with sudden drops in temperature that could have negative effects on aquatic organisms.
{"title":"Water circulation in Toronto Harbour","authors":"Bogdan Hlevca, M. Wells, Liset Cruz Font, S. Doka, R. Portiss, Margaretha A. St. John, S. Cooke","doi":"10.1080/14634988.2018.1500059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1500059","url":null,"abstract":"We present an overview of physical processes that drive water circulation within the extended system of coastal embayments in the Toronto Harbour. The different water circulation patterns occur at various spatial and temporal scales, and our article provides context for the various efforts to improve water quality by the Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan. Velocity profiles and water level measurements showed that the harbour’s Helmholtz pumping mode drives a 1-h period oscillation, which can influence flushing of the shallow embayments. This process likely persists year-round and would lead to flushing time-scales of between 1–11 days for these shallow embayments. If this ubiquitous pumping is combined with solar heat fluxes, it partially explains the persistent temperature gradients amongst the shallow embayments. In the larger and deeper (∼10 m) Inner Harbour, the prevailing westerly winds drive most of the mean circulation, with a current entering through the Western Gap and leaving through the Eastern Gap. This wind driven circulation leads to a residence time of water in the Inner Harbour between 7–14 days. In addition, periodic strong and sustained westerly winds can induce frequent upwelling events in Lake Ontario (between 4 to 10 times during the stratified season) that mildly increase the exchange flow and help maintain good water quality by exchange nearshore waters with cleaner hypolimentic waters. The intrusion of cold water into the harbour can also lead to highly variable temperature regimes with sudden drops in temperature that could have negative effects on aquatic organisms.","PeriodicalId":8125,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management","volume":"21 1","pages":"234 - 244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/14634988.2018.1500059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44982243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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