Populations of species found in the world’s remaining isolated regions are challenging to monitor with traditional demographic techniques for logistical reasons. For more than 20 years, Dylan Fraser (and his lab since 2009) has been highly active in applying multidisciplinary scientific approaches towards the effective monitoring of harvested fish populations in northern Canada. Research projects commonly involve a combination of genetic, genomic and life history approaches, and traditional ecological knowledge of local fishers. Our focal field sites are large inland lakes and the James Bay Coast within Eeyou Istchee, Cree traditional territory. These include Mistassini Lake, Quebec’s largest (2,335 km2) natural lake and one of its deepest (180 m), as well as Mistasiniishish (Albanel) and Waconichi Lakes. We also conduct similar research with government and Dene collaborators in Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories.
Large, pristine lakes that are non-impacted by human activity such as Mistassini Lake are very rare. Mistassini is home to several fish species characterized by divergent populations in sympatry that are of socio-economic and cultural importance (e.g. brook trout, lake trout and walleye). These populations provide an excellent model for understanding the process of population divergence and incipient speciation, and are important to recognize for sustainable fisheries management and conservation.
Currently, our northern research comprises a major component of the FISHES project (Fostering Indigenous Small-scale fisheries for Health, Economy and food Security). FISHES is a multi-year initiative that interweaves Indigenous knowledge, genomics, and fisheries science across northern Canada to address socio-economic challenges and opportunities related to food security in commercial, recreational + subsistence fisheries. The official website for this project can be seen here: http://fishes-project.ibis.ulaval.ca/
Here is a synopsis of current and past research studies:
Biocultural collaborations for Indigenous-led conservation (2022-ongoing)
Cree Nation of Mistissini fisher Norman Neeposh preparing fish for supper, with lab assistant Natalya Assance collecting tissue samples for genomic research.
We are investigating linkages between biological diversity within fish species and the critical role these fishes play within Indigenous communities, harvesting/consumption practices, and value systems. The coproduction of research that interweaves Indigenous knowledge and western science is a growing, timely and globally relevant issue. Particularly in Canada, such interweaving is essential for facilitating equitable and inclusive stewardship of natural resources, and sound conservation policy. My team is adopting several approaches including newly developed biocultural status metrics, to characterize within-species diversity from genomics, traits and other ecological information, as well as from Indigenous harvesting/consumption practices and value systems.
Life history, demographic and genomic monitoring of walleye populations (2002 – ongoing)
Collecting otoliths from walleye for fish aging and life history monitoring in Mistassini Lake, Quebec
We conduct long-term monitoring of several breeding walleye populations in Mistassini and Mistasiinishish Lake, in order to document any changes to catch efficiency, age and size structure, breeding population size, and harvest contributions in the annual mixed-stock fishery. We are also determining whether distinct populations of the species exist within Mistasiniishish (Albanel) Lake. By combining these ecological data with genomics (whole genome resequencing or genotyping-by-sequencing) and traditional ecological knowledge, our research will provide the Cree Nation of Mistissini and Nibiischii Corporation with critical information on the health of its harvestable walleye populations, and on any trends in these populations that may have implications for sustainable fishing practices or the restoration of traditional fishing practices.
Conservation and management implications of sympatric population differentiation in lake trout (2013 – ongoing)
The variety of lake trout sizes, shapes, colours and spot patterns within Mistassini Lake, Quebec.
We combine genomic and morphological analyses to investigate the extent of adaptive differentiation among sympatric morphs of Lake trout in Mistassini, Mistasiniishish, Waconichi, Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes. For example, from past work on Mistassini Lake, we have determined that it harbors several genetically-distinct lake trout populations, which primarily occupy different depths and to a lesser extent different lake basins. The extent of weak population divergence was somewhat associated with body size, colouration, and fish community structure but inconsistently associated with differences in body or head shape that are normally linked to trophic ecology. The research has implications for local management of the species and for the restoration of lake trout in other large postglacial lakes where the species is extirpated (e.g. Great Lakes).
Preliminary population genomic structure of lake trout in Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories (Michaelides et al. unpublished)
Life history, demographic and genomic monitoring of brook trout populations (2000 – ongoing)
Cree fisher Norman Cooncome with a typical pre-spawning brook trout, Mistassini Lake
Mistassini Lake is world renowned by anglers for its large brook trout (fish over 8lbs are captured annually). Past population genetic and genomic studies have documented that three genetically-distinct populations inhabit the lake and spawn in different tributaries and the outlet PDF. The populations exhibit a number of life history, behavioural and growth differences, and occupy different spatial areas of the littoral zone PDF. One population in particular (Pepeshquasati) contributes disproportionately to the annual harvest. A successful collaborative research program for 20 years, we monitor life history characteristics, population sizes (based on genetic approaches) and trends in traditional ecological knowledge to assist the Cree Nation of Mistissini with maintaining a sustainable brook trout fishery PDF. In our latest research, we are characterizing the life history and population structure of brook trout within Mistasiniishish and Waconichi, and re-assessing the harvest contributions of distinct populations to the annual harvest in all three large lakes (Mistassini, Mistasiniishish, Waconichi).
Check out some of our Mistassini Lake field work in HD:
Associated publications
*Bowles E (Postdoc), H-B Jeon (Postdoc)*, K Marin (MSc)*, P MacLeod, DJ Fraser (2022) Freshwater fisheries monitoring in northern ecosystems using Indigenous Knowledge, genomics and life history. FACETS 7: 1214-1243. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2021-0049
*Bowles E (Postdoc), K Marin (MSc), P MacLeod, DJ Fraser (2021) A three-pronged approach that leans on Indigenous knowledge for northern fish monitoring and conservation. Evolutionary Applications accepted.
*Bowles E (Postdoc), K Marin (MSc)*, S Mogensen, P MacLeod, DJ Fraser (2020) Size reductions and genomic changes within two generations in wild walleye populations: associated with harvest? Evolutionary Applications 13: 1128-1144.
*Marin K (MSc), A Coon, DJ Fraser (2017) Traditional ecological knowledge reveals the extent of sympatric lake trout diversity and habitat preferences. Ecology and Society 22 (2): 20.
*Marin K (MSc), A Coon, R Carson (Res Assoc)*, PV Debes (Postdoc)*, DJ Fraser (2016) Striking phenotypic variation yet low genetic differentiation in sympatric lake trout. PLOS One 11 (9): e0162325 PDF
Fraser DJ, AM Calvert, L Bernatchez, A Coon (2013) Multidisciplinary population monitoring when demographic data are sparse: a case study of remote trout populations. Ecology and Evolution 3: 4954-4969. PDF
*Meli A (BSc), DJ Fraser (2013) Kinship analysis of brook trout during their breeding migration. Journal of Fish Biology 82: 1514-1522. PDF
Fraser DJ, L Bernatchez (2008) Ecology, evolution and conservation of lake-migratory brook trout: a perspective from pristine populations. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137: 1192-1202. PDF
Fraser DJ, T Coon, MR Prince, R Dion, L Bernatchez (2006) Integrating traditional and evolutionary knowledge in biodiversity conservation: a population level case study. Ecology and Society 11: 4. PDF
Fraser DJ, P Duchesne, L Bernatchez (2005) Migratory charr schools exhibit population and kin associations beyond juvenile stages. Molecular Ecology 14: 3133-3146. PDF
Fraser DJ, L Bernatchez (2005) Allopatric origins of sympatric brook charr populations: colonization history and admixture. Molecular Ecology 14: 1497-1509. PDF
Fraser DJ, L Bernatchez (2005) Adaptive migratory divergence among sympatric brook charr populations. Evolution 59: 611-624. PDF
Fraser DJ, C Lippé*, L Bernatchez (2004) Consequences of unequal population size, asymmetric gene flow and sex-biased dispersal for population structure in brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis). Molecular Ecology 13: 67-80. PDF