Internal seiches drive variation of temperature and DO in Hamilton Harbour, likely impacting fish

Session: Poster session

Yulong Kuai, University of Toronto Scarborough, [email protected]
Mathew Wells, University of Toronto Scarborough, [email protected]
Jon Midwood, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, [email protected]
Christine Boston, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Susan Doka, GLLFAS, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Jill Brooks, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology (Carleton University), [email protected]

Abstract

Hamilton Harbour is a highly contaminated water body that lies on the western side of Lake Ontario, and the distribution of fish habitat is strongly influenced by the persistent hypolimnetic anoxia during much of summer. Every time the wind blows, there can be significant upwelling of these anoxic waters in the littoral zones of the harbour - zones that otherwise should be good fish habitat. The Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern aims to restore the living environment for fish, so will be impacted by the frequency and intensity of these upwelling events around the harbour. The presentation will focus on the current situation of fish within Hamilton Harbour, and specifically focus on the temperature and dissolved oxygen habitat requirements of fish. The poster will present: an overall analysis of an extensive high-frequency dataset of DO and temperature profiles collected in 2017, determine the spatial and temporal variability of the viable DO and thermal habitat around Hamilton Harbour, summarize the impact on fish within Hamilton Harbour and compare this with the RAP objectives.

1. Keyword
Hamilton Harbour

2. Keyword
oxygen

3. Keyword
habitats