Paleoceanographic studies of the impacts of natural and anthropogenic perturbations in three Labrador fjord ecosystems (Nachvak, Saglek and Anaktalak).

In November 2006 3 shorts sediment cores from 3 fjord ecosystems located along Labrador's East coast, have been sampled from CCGS Amundsen. In August 2008 4 lakes in Saglek fjord area have been sampled. Data about the properties of the water column and short sediment cores have been taken. In November 2009, a ~8m long piston-core and a ~80cm long gravity-core have been taken in the Nachvak fjord from the CCGS Amundsen. In addition, surface sediment samples were taken through box-cores in the Nachvak, Saglek, Okak and Anaktalak fjords.The cores have been analyzed for various physical and chemical properties, such as sediment density, magnetic susceptibility and contaminant levels. The biostratigraphic analyses involved sediment sub-sampling at 1-2 cm intervals to determine changes in the composition and concentration of fossil diatoms and dinocysts throughout the marine cores, only diatoms for the lacustrine cores. The chronology of each core has been established based on AMS-14C dates on marine shells preserved within the sediments and on the radioactive decay of the 210Pb in the sediments. The surface sediment sampled in the fjord will be used to document the modern dinocyst assemblages in the area to allow more precise past climatic reconstructions.

Simple

Date (Publication)
2010-01-26
Author
 

Reinhard Pienitz
Author
 

Thomas Richerol
Other citation details

Unpublished data
Purpose

Sediment cores from 3 fjord ecosystems located along Labrador's East coast have been sampled in November 2006 from CCGS Amundsen. There is concern about the ecological integrity of the marine environment of northern Labrador, especially with respect to the impacts of climate change, industrialization and contamination on the local food web. The fossil diatoms and the cysts of dinoflagellates are two important proxy indicator organisms in marine environments that allow for reconstructions of past climatic and environmental conditions in both pelagic and benthic habitats. Sediments from Nachvak Fjord, next to the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, will be used to study the natural variability of environmental conditions in Labrador fjord ecosystems, while serving as a reference for the assessment of human-induced perturbations in the 2 other southern fjords (Saglek and Anaktalak). Saglek fjord sediments have been contaminated with PCBs (PolyChloroBiphenyl) due to erosional inputs from a former military site. We will try to track the ecosystem response to this kind of contamination. Since the beginning of mining activities by the Voisey¿s Bay Nickel Company (VBNC), the fjord¿s Anaktalak Bay has received mining effluents and wastes from shipping and housing. This project aims at determining the impacts of these activities, as well as developing appropriate indicators for the long-term monitoring of the environmental and ecological conditions within this fjord ecosystem.
Status
Under development
Point of contact
 

Canadian Cryospheric Information Network

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Polar Data Catalogue

200 University Avenue West, University of Waterloo

 ,

Waterloo

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Ontario

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N2L 3G1

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Canada
(519) 888-4567 x32689
polardata.ca

Polar Data Catalogue Thesaurus (Canada)

  • Anaktalak Bay

  • Climate

  • Contaminants

  • Diatoms

  • Dinoflagellate cyst

  • Labrador

  • Nachvak Fiord

  • PCBs

  • Saglek Bay
Place

  • Labrador fjords: Nachvak, Saglek, Anaktalak Bay
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Other restrictions
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Terms of Use of the Polar Data Catalogue: https://www.polardata.ca/pdcinput/public/termsofuse

Metadata language

eng; CAN
Topic category
  • Environment
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Begin date
2006-12-01
End date
2011-12-01
Supplemental Information

Summary: Not Applicable Research Program(s): ArcticNet. For further information: reinhard.pienitz@cen.ulaval.ca reinhard.pienitz@cen.ula Summary: Not Applicable Research Program(s): ArcticNet. For further information: reinhard.pienitz@cen.ulaval.ca

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  • Digital file

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Distributor
 

Canadian Cryospheric Information Network

 -

Polar Data Catalogue

200 University Avenue West, University of Waterloo

 ,

Waterloo

 ,

Ontario

 ,

N2L 3G1

 ,

Canada
(519) 888-4567 x32689
Included with dataset
No
File identifier
476da10b-99c3-472d-8f40-2180241ff013 XML
Metadata language

eng; CAN
Character set
UTF8
Hierarchy level
Dataset
Date stamp
2022-04-08T13:00:24
Metadata standard name

North American Profile of ISO 19115:2003
Metadata standard version

2009-01-01
Point of contact
 

Canadian Cryospheric Information Network

 -

Polar Data Catalogue

200 University Avenue West, University of Waterloo

 ,

Waterloo

 ,

Ontario

 ,

N2L 3G1

 ,

Canada
(519) 888-4567 x32689
Dataset URI

https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/PDCSearchDOI.jsp?doi_id=928

 
 

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Spatial extent

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Keywords

Polar Data Catalogue Thesaurus (Canada)
Anaktalak Bay Climate Contaminants Diatoms Dinoflagellate cyst Labrador Nachvak Fiord PCBs Saglek Bay

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