Variations in water temperatures and levels in the St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada) and potential implications for three common fish species

Hudon, Christiane; Armellin, Alain; Gagnon, Pierre; Patoine, Alain

doi:10.1007/s10750-009-9922-6

Cited by 36 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…At Québec, the low summer values of N and P flux to the SLR estuary coincided with aquatic plant growth, low river discharge and warm water temperatures (Hudon and Carignan 2008;Hudon et al 2010). The sink effect for N and P was particularly important under low discharge summer conditions during which water retention time is maximized in the shallow, warm, well-illuminated littoral areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This process is enhanced by the long water residence time and vertical stratification in Lake Ontario in addition to a number of factors related to hydrology and physical characteristics of the watercourse (Seitzinger et al 2006). In the SLR, summers of low discharge coincide with warm water temperature and reduced current speed in the shallow littoral areas where submerged vegetation proliferates (Hudon et al 2010). Taken together, these conditions promote anoxia at the sediment interface, which stimulates bacterial denitrification and explains the high retention of nitrogen within the SLR during summers of reduced discharge (Hudon and Carignan 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Over the last few decades, however, major changes in urban wastewater treatment (Marcogliese et al 2014), farming practices (Clair et al 2013), and temperature and hydrological regimes (Hudon et al 2010) have occurred in the SLR watershed, most likely inducing changes in the C, N, and P flux to the estuary. Although degradation of the estuarine environment is increasingly attributed to river enrichment, riverine contribution must be assessed in comparison with oceanographic processes (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrological and biological processes modulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus flux from the St. Lawrence River to its estuary (Quebec, Canada)

et al. 2017

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Increased flux of carbon and nutrients from human activities in river basins were linked to acidification and deepwater hypoxia in estuaries and coastal areas worldwide. Annual loads (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) of suspended particulate matter (SPM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were assessed at the Lake Ontario inlet of the St. Lawrence River (SLR) (7110 m 3 s -1 ) and its estuarine outlet at Québec City (12,090 m 3 s -1 ). Internal loads from the Ottawa River (1950 m 3 s -1 ), seventeen other tributaries, urban wastewaters, atmospheric deposition and erosion were also estimated. Erosion (65% of SPM, 29% of TP), inflow from Lake Ontario (42% of DOC, 47% of TN) and Ottawa River (28% of DOC) contributed important flux to the estuary. Loads from other tributaries (20 and 27% of TN and TP at Quebec City) largely exceeded municipal sources (6% of exported TN and TP) and require future remediation. Aquatic plants fixed 277,000 t of C, 49,000 t of N and 7000 t of P (May-Sept.), delaying the nutrient flux to the estuary and turning the SLR into a nutrient sink over summers of lowest discharge. Degradation of exported organic C could consume 5.4-7.1 million t O 2 year -1 in the estuary whereas SLR flux of N and P represent 31-47% and 7-14% of total annual estuarine flux, respectively. Carbon and Nitrogen flux from freshwaters partly explain the decline in pH and oxygen concentrations in deep estuarine waters thus highlighting the need to reduce diffuse sources of nutrients in the entire watershed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrological and biological processes modulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus flux from the St. Lawrence River to its estuary (Quebec, Canada)

et al. 2017

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“…This is because when the non-lake trout lakes were removed from the model, a significant positive relationship still was seen between PBDE-47 concentration and d 13 C (p < 0.01, r 2 ¼ 0.50; Table S7). 15 N during nutrient assimilation and protein catabolism [52]. However, differences in d 15 N between systems should be treated with caution, because they could be reflective of variations at the base of the food web attributable to fluctuations in the relative importance of different nutrient sources entering the systems [22].…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Canadian fish and implications for long‐term monitoring

Gewurtz

McGoldrick

Clark

et al. 2011

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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A nationwide study was conducted to examine concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in top predatory fish, with a focus on lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), across Canada, and to explore possible influences of food web processes. Concentrations of the three most abundant PBDE homolog groups (tetra-, penta-, and hexa-PBDEs) were, for the most part, higher in Great Lakes and Lake Champlain fish compared with fish from other systems. The Canadian Federal Environmental Quality Guideline for the penta-homolog was exceeded in 70% of the fish examined. However, virtually no guideline exceedances were found for other congeners. In general, PBDE-47 (a representative lower brominated congener) was significantly and positively correlated with fish length, weight, age, lipid content, and stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon. Significant differences in the slopes of the PBDE-47/covariate relationships between sites prevented concentrations from being adjusted using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). However, plots showed that elevated concentrations of PBDE-47 in Great Lakes and Lake Champlain fish remained after accounting for the influence of covariates. In contrast, for PBDE-183 (a representative higher brominated congener), the relationships between fish concentrations and covariates were not consistent, which could be a result of biotransformation being more important in controlling its bioaccumulation. The data from the current study show an overall disconnect between fish PBDE concentrations and likely loadings, which may be caused by differences in food web processes between systems. Continued long-term fish contaminant monitoring is needed to evaluate potential risk to fish and their consumers. However, we also recommend sediment sampling and focused food web studies to provide information on PBDE inputs to the systems and mechanisms of biomagnification, respectively.

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“…Although there is a partial interdependency between water discharge and temperature (this study; Hudon et al , 2009), their effects on A. rostrata migration are not similar. The years of early A. rostrata migration were also associated with high spring temperature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Spawning migration of American eel Anguilla rostrata from pristine (1843–1872) to contemporary (1963–1990) periods in the St Lawrence Estuary, Canada

Verreault

Mingelbier

Dumont

2012

Journal of Fish Biology

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Daily American eel Anguilla rostrata catches and their dates of passage (starting, median and ending dates) were compared between pristine (1843-1872) and contemporary periods (1963-1990) to determine any changes and see whether these were related to environmental variations and water discharge regulation. Timing and duration of A. rostrata migration patterns differed significantly between the two periods. In the contemporary period, migrating A. rostrata were intercepted significantly earlier than in pristine times (18 days earlier on average), and ended at the same average period. Early A. rostrata migration was also significantly related to high spring flow and secondarily to high spring temperature, while migration ended later when high temperature or low water level occurred during the autumn period. A recent slight increase in the water temperature of the St Lawrence River could partially explain the earlier A. rostrata migration observed during the contemporary period. In return, the effect of high spring flow should have been more contrasted if the river discharge would have not been regulated. Recent A. rostrata production now being mainly restricted to the lower part of St Lawrence River mainstream, resulting shorter travelling distance to the estuary may explain why migrating progress was earlier during the contemporary period.

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Variations in water temperatures and levels in the St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada) and potential implications for three common fish species

Cited by 36 publications

References 35 publications

Hydrological and biological processes modulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus flux from the St. Lawrence River to its estuary (Quebec, Canada)

Hydrological and biological processes modulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus flux from the St. Lawrence River to its estuary (Quebec, Canada)

Spatial trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Canadian fish and implications for long‐term monitoring

Spawning migration of American eel Anguilla rostrata from pristine (1843–1872) to contemporary (1963–1990) periods in the St Lawrence Estuary, Canada

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