Dissolved Methane in the World's Largest Semi‐Enclosed Estuarine System: The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada)

Li, Y.; Xie, Huixiang; Scarratt, Michael; Damm, Ellen; Galbraith, Peter S.; Lambert, Nicolas; Geng, Lei; Wallace, Douglas W.R.

doi:10.1029/2022jc018850

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…They connect the Great Lakes Basin, a highly industrialized region, to the Atlantic Ocean. The Upper St. Lawrence Estuary (hereafter referred to as UE) is relatively shallow (generally <30 m deep), varies in salinity from 0 to 25 ppm, and is characterized by strong tidal action, intense water mixing, limited primary productivity, and terrigenous inputs of organic matter (Figure 1; El-Sabh, 1979;El-Sabh & Silverberg, 1990;Li et al, 2022). The Lower St. Lawrence Estuary (hereafter referred to as LE) is more heterogeneous in depth, saltier (25-35 ppm), and more productive than the UE as a result of the upwelling of cold and mineral-rich waters originating from the deep-water layer of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (hereafter referred to as GSL).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term evolution of the structure of the St. Lawrence (Canada) marine ecosystem in the context of climate change and anthropogenic activities: An isotopic perceptive

Rioux,

Cabrol,

Lesage

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Documenting long‐term changes in the trophic structure of food webs and how species respond to these changes is essential to forecast their vulnerability and resilience to environmental stressors. Over the past decades, the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem (Canada) has experienced major changes in its physical, chemical, and biological conditions from overfishing, acoustic and chemical pollution, climate change, and the increased abundance of some top predators. These changes have likely affected the trophodynamics of the ecosystem, and are suspected to have deleterious effects on endangered species of mammals and other components of the ecosystem, such as blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whales (B. physalus), and beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). This study examined the trophic structure of the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem, including the isotopic niche of various species, over two periods of contrasting pressures from anthropogenic and climatic stressors (1995–2003 vs. 2019–2021). Stable isotope ratios were measured in 1240 samples of 21 species of marine invertebrates, fishes, and mammals sampled during both periods. A significant change in the isotopic value and niche position between periods is observed in most of the sampled species. While the direction of change and effect size were not uniform among species, these changes confirmed that substantial modifications in community structure have occurred over time. Niche overlap decreased considerably among some of the pelagic and demersal fishes, and among whale species during the most recent period. Combined with a concomitant reduction in niche breadth in several species, these observations suggested that resource sharing was limited among these species. This study highlighted some degree of dietary plasticity in several species, and a long‐term change in the trophic structure of the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem, with likely effects on diet composition and energetics of several populations, including endangered species.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%