Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hudson Bay Ecosystem: Past, Present, and Future

  • Chapter
A Little Less Arctic

Abstract

In order to gain insight into the dynamics of the Hudson Bay ecosystem as well as past and future states, an ecosystem model was created using a static Ecopath model to represent the present day ecosystem in Hudson Bay. Simulations of past and future ecosystem states were used to gain insight to key trophic linkages within the system, with focus on marine mammal populations. The past ecosystem was simulated by increasing ice algae and removing killer whales (Orcinus orca) from the system, which led to an increased biomass of all other groups within the model, excluding pelagic producers. Future states of Hudson Bay are presented in three scenarios representing various degrees of reported and predicted ecosystem changes including climate change and increased hunting pressure. All future scenarios show an overall decrease in species biomass, although some species are positively impacted by the changes in the system. Model simulations suggest bottom up forcing of ice algae is an important factor driving marine mammal biomass.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Prior to 1981 statistics for Nunavut were combine with Northwest Territories.

References

  • Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. 2004. Impacts of a warming Arctic, Cambridge University Press New York, p. 139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, A.J., and Trites, A.W. 2002. Ecological effects of regime shifts in the Bering Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Fish and Fisheries 3: 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilodeau, G., De Vernal, A., and Hillaire-Marcel, C. 1990. Postglacial paleoceanography of Hudson Bay: stratigraphic, microfaunal, and palynological evidence. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 27: 946–963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradstreet, M.S.W, and Cross, W.E. 1982. Trophic relationships at high Arctic ice edges. Arctic 35: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buszowski, J., Christensen, V., Gao, F., Hui, J., Lai, S., Steenbeek, J., Walters, C., and Walters, W. 2009. Ecopath with Ecosim 6. University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chavez, F.P., Ryan, J., Lluch-Cota, S.E., and Niquen, M.C. 2003. From anchovies to sardines and back: Multidecadal change in the Pacific Ocean. Science 299: 217–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, V., Walters, C., Pauley, D., and Forrest, R. 2007. Ecopath with Ecosim version 6.0. User manual/ help files guide. Lenfest Oceans Futures Project 2007. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. version 2.0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, R.J., Herman, A.W., Prinsenberg, S.J., and Harris, L.R. 1986. Distribution of and feeding by the copepod Pseudocalanus under fast ice during Arctic spring. Science 232(4755): 1245–1247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, L.W., Ashjian, C.J., Smith, S.L., Codispoti, L.A., Grebmeier, J.M., Campbell, R.G., and Sherr, E.B. 2006. Rapid seasonal sea-ice retreat in the Arctic could be affecting Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) recruitment. Aquatic Mammals 31(1): 98–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1990. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1988–1989, Volume 1, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 59.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1991. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1989–1990, Volume 2, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1992. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1990–1991, Volume 3, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 67.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1993. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1991–1992, Volume 4, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 69.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1994. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1992–1993, Volume 5, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 104.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1995. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1993–1994, Volume 6, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 86.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1996. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1994–1995, Volume 7, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 85.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1997. Annual summary of fish and marine mammal harvest data for the Northwest Territories 1995–1996, Volume 8, Freshwater Institute, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, MB, p. 80.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1998. Hudson Bay narwhal, Stock status report E5–44. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Central and Arctic Region p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO. 1999. Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin bowhead whales, Stock status report E5–52. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Central and Arctic Region p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyke, A.S., Hooper, J., and Savelle, J.A. 1996. A history of Sea Ice in the Canadian Arctic archipelago based on postglacial remains of the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticeus). Arctic 49(3): 235–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estrada, R., Harvey, M., Gosselin, M., and Starr, M. 2008. Late summer zooplankton community structure, abundance, and distribution in the Hudson Bay system and their relations with environmental conditions, 2003-2006. In Arctic Change Conference 2008. ArcticNet, Quebec City, Quebec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, S.H., Stirling, I., and Mcloughlin, P. 2005. Climate change and ringed seal (Phoca hispida) recruitment in western Hudson Bay. Marine Mammals Science 21(1): 121–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, S.H., Dueck L., and Loseto L.L., in review. Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) seasonal selection of sea ice. Marine Ecology Progress Series.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, N.G., Flemming, B.M., and Anning, J.L. 1982. La Grande/Great Whale plume measurements data report, winter 1979. In Unpublished Manuscript Data Report Series No. 82-3. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bayfield Laboratory, Burlington, ON. p. ix+259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, A.S., and Gough, W.A. 2005. Trends in the dates of ice freeze-up and breakup over Hudson Bay, Canada. Arctic 58(4): 370–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosselin, M., Levasseur, M., Wheeler, P.A., Horner, R.A., and Booth, B.C. 1997. New measurements of phytoplankton and ice algal production in the Arctic Ocean. Deep Sea Research II 44(8): 1623–1644.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gough, W.A., Cornwell, A.R., and Tsuji, L.J.S. 2004. Trends in seasonal sea ice duration in southwestern Hudson Bay. Arctic 57(3): 299–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, M., Therriault, J.-C., and Simard, N. 2001. Hydrodynamic control of late summer species composition and abundance of zooplankton in Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait (Canada). Journal of Plankton Research 23(5): 481–496.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayword, T.L. 1997. Pacific Ocean climate change: atmospheric forcing, ocean circulation and ecosystem response. TREE 12 (4): 150–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higdon, J.W., and Ferguson, S.H. 2009. Loss of Arctic sea ice causing punctuated change in sightings of killer whales (Orcinus Orca) over the past century. Ecological Applications 19(5): 1365–1375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoover, C. 2008. Preliminary results from a Hudson Bay ecosystem model: Estimating mid trophic levels. Available from http://www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca/pdf/talks2008/hooverCarie.pdf[accessed 09/23/2009].

  • Hoover, C., and Pitcher, T.J. 2009. Unpublished manuscript. Ecosystem model of the Antarctic Peninsula, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoover, C., Pitcher, T.J., and Christensen, V. (2010). An Ecosystem model of Hudson Bay, Canada. Fisheries Centre Research Reports. eds. Hoover, C. and Wabnitz, C. University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, Vancouver, BC, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R., Ackley, S.F., Dieckmann, G.S., Gulliksen, B., Hoshiai, T., Legendre, L., Melnikov, I.A., Reeburgh, W.S., Spindler, M., and Sullivan, C.W. 1992. Ecology of sea ice biota; Habitat, terminology, and methodology. Polar Biology 12: 417–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntington, H.P. 2009. A preliminary assessment of the threats to arctic marine mammals and their conservation in the coming decades. Marine Policy 33: 77–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laidre, K.L., and Heide-Jørgensen, M.P. 2005. Arctic sea ice trends and narwhal vulnerability. Biological Conservation 121: 509–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legendre, L., Robineau, B., Gosselin, M., Michel, C., Ingram, R.G., Fortier, L., Therriault, J.C., Demers, S., and Monti, D. 1996. Impact of freshwater on a subarctic coastal ecosystem under seasonal sea ice (southeastern Hudson Bay) Canada II. Production and export of microalgae. Journal of Marine Systems 7: 233–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lonne, O.J., and Gabrielsen, G.W. 1992. Summer diet of sea birds feeding in sea-ice covered waters near Svalbard. Polar Biology 12: 685–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markham, W.E. 1986. The ice cover. In Canadian Inland Seas. Edited by I.P. Martini. Elsevier, New York, pp. 101–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschall, H.-P. 1988. The overwintering strategy of Antarctic krill under the pack-ice of the Weddell Sea. Polar Biology 9: 129–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, J.B. 1986. A climate overview of the Canadian inland seas. In Canadian Inland Seas. Edited by I.P. Martini. Elsevier, New York, pp. 79–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melnikov, I.A. 2000. The Arctic sea ice ecosystem and global warming. In Impacts of changes in sea ice and other environmental parameters in the Arctic. Edited by R.H. Mattlin, J.E. Reynolds, H.P. Huntington and C. Pungowiyi. Marine Mammal Commission, Girdwood, Alaska, 15–17 February 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • NAMMCO. 2005. The Atlantic walrus. Status of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Polar Environmental Centre, Tromso, pp. 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol, S. 2006. Krill, currents, and sea ice: Euphausia superba and its changing environment. BioScience 56(2): 111–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunavut Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Nunavut population counts by community, 1981 Census to 2006 Census. Available from http://www.gov.nu.ca/eia/stats/census.html [accessed Sept 15, 2009].

  • Parkinson, C.L., Cavalieri, D.J., Gloerson, P., Zwally, J.H., and Cosimo, J.C. 1999. Arctic sea ice extents, areas, and trends 1978–1996. Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans 104(C9 20): 837–856.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piroddi, C. 2008. An ecosystem based approach to study two dolphin populations around the islands of Kalamos, Ionian Sea, Greece, Zoology, University of British Columbia, MSc. thesis.Vancouver, BC, Canada, 132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poltermann, M. 2001. Arctic sea ice as feeding ground for amphipods – food sources and strategies. Polar Biology 24: 89–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runge, J.A., and Ingram, R.G. 1987. Underice grazing by planktonic, calanoid copepods in relation to a bloom of ice microalgae in southeastern Hudson Bay. Limnology and Oceanography 33(2): 280–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runge, J.A., and Ingram, R.G. 1991. Under-ice feeding and diel migration by the planktonic copepods Calanus glacialis and Pseudocalanus minutus in relation to the ice algal production cycle in southeastern Hudson Bay, Canada. Marine Biology 108: 217–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D.B., and Lockhart, W.L. 2005. An overview of the Hudson Bay marine ecosystem. Can Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2586: vi+487 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirling, I., and Derocher, A.E. 1993. Possible impacts of climatic warming on polar bears. Arctic 46(3): 240–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirling, I., and Parkinson, C.L. 2006. Possible effects of climate warming on selected populations of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Canadian Arctic. Arctic 59(3): 261–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trites, A.W., Miller, A.J., Maschner, H.D.G., Alexander, M.A., Bograd, S.J., Calder, J.A., Capotondi, A., Coyle, K.O., Di Lorenzo, E., Finney, B.P., Gregr, E.J., Grosch, C.E., Hare, S.J., Hunt, S.J.J., Jahncke, J., Kachel, N.B., Kim, H.-J., Ladd, C., Mantua, N.J., Marzban, C., Maslowski, W., Mendelssohn, R., Neilson, D.J., Okkonen, S.R., Overland, J.E., Reedy-Maschner, K.L., Royer, T.C., Schwing, F.B., Wang, J.X.L., and Winship, A.W. 2007. Bottom-up forcing and the decline of Stellar sea lions (Eumetopias jubatas) in Alaska; assessing the ocean climate hypothesis. Fisheries Oceanography 16(1): 46–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trites, A.W., and Donnelly, C.P. 2003. The decline of the Stellar sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska: a review of the nutritional stress hypothesis. Mammal Review, 33: 3–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyrrell, M. 2007. Sentient beings and wildlife resources: Inuit, beluga whales and management regimes in the Canadian Arctic. Human Ecology 35: 575–586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada

    C. Hoover

Authors
  1. C. Hoover
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Hoover .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, University of Manitoba Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada

    Steven H. Ferguson

  2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada

    Lisa L. Loseto

  3. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, 1714, Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0, Canada

    Mark L. Mallory

Appendix

Appendix

Fish groupings for the Hudson Bay ecosystem modeled after Stewart and Lockhart (2005). Under the classification, only species found within Hudson and James Bays which spend at least part of their life in areas where they would be available to marine mammals were included. In Stewart and Lockhart (2005) these are classified as; Marine, Brackish, Estuarine, and some Diadromous.

Atlantic Salmon

 

Atlantic salmon

Salmo salar

Arctic Char

 

Arctic Char

Salvelinus alpines

Capelin

 

Capeli

Mallotus villosus

Gadiformes

 

Arctic cod

Boreogadus saida

Greenland cod

Gadus ogac

Polar cod

Arctogadus glacialis

Other Brackish Water Fish

 

Arctic shanny

Stichaeus punctatus

Canadian plaice

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Slender eelblenny

Lumpenus fabricii

Other Marine Fish

 

Alligator poacher

Leptagonus decagonus

Atlantic alligatorfish

Ulcina olriki

Atlantic Herring

Clupea harengus

Atlantic spiny lumpsucker

Eumicrotremus spinosus

Banded gunnel

Pholis fasciata

Daubed shanny

Leptoclinus maculatus

Dusky snailfish

Liparis gibbus

Fourline snakeblenny

Eumesogrammus praecisus

Gelatinous snailfish

Liparis fabricii

Kelp snailfish

Liparis tunicatus

Leatherfin lumpsucker

Eumicrotremus derjugini

Lumpfish

Cyclopterus lumpus

Sea tadpole

Careproctus reinhardti

Stout eelblenny

Anisarchus medius

Other Salmon

 

Arctic Char

Salvelinus alpinus

Brook trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Lake cisco

Coregonus artedi

Lake whitefish

Coregonus clupeaformis

Round whitefish

Prosopium cylindraceum

Sandlance

 

Northern sand lance

Ammodytes dubius

Stout sand lance

Ammodytes hexapterus

Sculpins/Zoarcids

 

Arctic eelpout

Lycodes reticulatus

Arctic sculpin

Myoxocephalus scorpiodes

Arctic staghorn

Gymnocanthus tricuspis

Fish doctor

Gymnelus viridis

Fourhorn sculpin

Myoxocephalus quadricornis

Moustache sculpin

Triglops murrayi

Pale eelpout

Lycodes pallidus

Ribbed sculpin

Triglops pingelli

Shorthorn sculpin

Myoxocephalus scorpius

Spatulate sculpin

Icelus spatula

Twohorn sculpin

Icelus bicornis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hoover, C. (2010). Hudson Bay Ecosystem: Past, Present, and Future. In: Ferguson, S.H., Loseto, L.L., Mallory, M.L. (eds) A Little Less Arctic. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9121-5_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation