Science Advisory Report 2018/019

Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region

Summary

• Ecologically significant species, functional groups, and community properties were assessed for the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region. National guidance criteria (DFO 2006) for assessing ecological significance were modified to provide more description, to focus less on species of potential commercial value, and to emphasize ecological  functionality, adaptations, and processes specific to the assessment area.
• The scope of the assessment was limited to the scale of the biogeographic region. Species were excluded that, at the time of assessment, were not well-established in the study area (i.e., species with recent geographic range extensions, occasional migrants, and potential aquatic invasive species).
• Community properties were difficult to assess because they are not well defined. They were considered to be more relevant as metrics for ecological monitoring than for identifying ecological significance.
• Final criteria used to assess significance included distribution (widespread versus localized, seasonal versus year round occurrence), contribution to ecosystem (% contribution to ecosystem biomass, centralized role in ecosystem), habitat (specialized habitat association, habitat creating or modifying), and energy transfer (feeding type, vertical transfer, horizontal transfer, relative importance to ecosystem).
• Modifiers (functional uniqueness, resistance, resilience) were included as additional information that may be useful for prioritization.
• A total of 37 species and functional groups, and one community property were assessed for ecological significance. The following 12 species and functional groups were identified with Moderate–High or High (bold) relative importance to overall ecosystem structure and function within the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region:
  • Heterotrophic microbes [Moderate–High]
  • Ice-associated algae [Moderate–High]
  • Pelagic phytoplankton > 5 µm [High]
  • Calanus spp. [High]
  • Macrozooplankton  [Moderate–High]
  • Mesozooplankton [Moderate–High]
  • Epifauna invertebrates (nearshore soft bottom 0–50 m) [Moderate–High]
  • Epifauna invertebrates (deep soft bottom > 200 m) [Moderate–High]
  • Infauna invertebrates (nearshore soft bottom 0–50 m) [Moderate–High]
  • Infauna invertebrates (shelf soft bottom 50–200 m) [Moderate–High]
  • Fishes (coastal nearshore 0–10 m)  [Moderate–High]
  • Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) [High]
  • Data limitations and bias in geographic coverage limited the ability to assess certain species and functional groups as ecologically significant. Degree of confidence in data was captured in the scoring of criteria. 

This Science Advisory Report is from the November 8-9, 2016 Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, and Community Properties for the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Complete document (PDF, 571 KB)

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