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Morphology of Anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)

Variable resource use and responses to environmental conditions can lead to phenotypic diversity and distinct morphotypes within salmonids, including Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Despite the cultural and economic importance of Arctic char in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), limited data exist on the extent and presence of morphological diversity in this region. This is of concern for management given climate change impacts on regional fish populations. For my undergraduate​

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honours thesis project I investigated the morphological diversity in anadromous ​​Arctic char sampled during their summer marine migration-residency period when seasonal harvesting occurs in a coastal mixed-stock fishery.

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To date, morphological studies on Salvelinus spp. have primarily focused on lacustrine populations, and research on morphological variation in Arctic char has consistently been conducted in areas where the number of morphotypes was previously identified. 

 

To our knowledge, this was the first study to identify distinct morphotypes occurring in sympatry in the marine environment. Our study provides evidence for three morphotypes of Arctic char in the Canadian Arctic, with the primary differences found in head shape and body depth.

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With concerns raised by harvesters in Ulukhaktok over the decline of favoured small-sized Arctic char, recent low capture rates of fish and increased prevalence of Pacific salmon, information on the life history of anadromous stocks is essential. Identifying and conserving diversity within fish populations, such as the morphotypes identified in this study, is necessary to maintain stability and resilience of ecosystems to disturbances amid the enhanced anthropogenic stressors currently threatening northern aquatic systems.

Burke, T.G., Pettitt-Wade, H., Hollins, J.P.W., Gallagher, C., Lea, E., Loseto, L., Hussey, N.E. (2022). Evidence for three morphotypes among anadromous Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) sampled in the marine environment. Journal of Fish Biology, 101, 1441-1451. (doi: 10.1111/jfb.15214).

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