A recent study suggests that the algae population in the Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories has undergone significant changes due to climate change since the early 2000s. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this month, highlights the impact of increased ice-free days and rising air temperatures on the restructuring of the algal community in large northern lakes like Great Bear.
According to John Smol, a biology professor at Queen’s University and co-director of the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), the altered algae composition may have implications for the creatures that rely on them for food and the overall food chain. Previous research in Great Slave Lake revealed a shift from high-calorie and fatty acid-rich algae to lower-calorie varieties.
The research team analyzed sediment layers in core samples from various parts of Great Bear Lake to assess environmental changes over different time periods. They also compared their findings with studies on Lake Hazen and Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. The study found a transition in the algae species present in Great Bear Lake from shallow-water types typical of ice-covered lakes to those thriving in open water.
Researchers noted significant changes in all three lakes despite their substantial sizes, which should theoretically change slowly due to their thermal inertia. Reid Stoyberg, an environmental scientist and fishing guide at Great Bear Lake, emphasized the need for further research to draw definitive conclusions about the lake’s ecosystem response to the shifting algae population.
Stoyberg highlighted the resilience of species in the challenging Great Bear environment, noting that any alterations could prompt adaptive responses. He stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring and research to understand the potential repercussions of these ecosystem changes.