How do changes in climate and land influence life in Arctic lakes?

Date and location

Tuesday, August 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS).

Continuous shuttle between CHARS and the high school starting at 6:15 PM

Topic

Climate change brings warmer and snowier winters and longer summers in the Arctic. People, land, aquatic animals and plants are forced to adapt. The Arctic land is changing – with frozen ground, or permafrost, thawing and slowly releasing elements from the ground into rivers, lakes, and the sea.

Bacteria, algae and other microorganisms are often the first to react to such changes, followed by tiny aquatic animals (zooplankton), the main food for fish. Everything in the land is connected - if microorganisms and zooplankton are affected, so are fish, and finally people.

The community of Cambridge Bay is invited to learn about how climate change is affecting permafrost, tundra vegetation, and Arctic lakes – from changes in chemical composition to its effect on all living organisms. Come share Inuit Qaujimajatuqngit and local knowledge on ancient and recent changes you are seeing in the land, permafrost, lakes and waters around Cambridge Bay and other places in Nunavut.

Talks will feature:

• Dr. Milla Rautio, Canada Research Chair in Boreal and Polar Aquatic Ecology
• Dr. Vilmantas Preskienis, postdoctoral research, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Participating research Institution(s) or Organization(s)

• Polar Knowledge Canada
• Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
• Aquatic Laboratory
• Canada Research Chairs

Questions

For more information on this event, write to communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca.