Productive capacity of an artificial stream in the Canadian Arctic: assessing the effectiveness of fish habitat compensation

Abstract

Few fish habitat compensation projects are assessed with respect to the principle of "no net loss" of productive capacity. Using reference streams as standards against which gains and losses of functions (e.g., production of fish) could be quantified, we examined the effectiveness of a 3.4-km artificial stream in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The artificial stream restored watershed connectivity, allowing fish migration and provided spawning and nursery habitat, particularly for Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus). However, the average mass of young-of-the-year (YOY) grayling at the end of summer was lower (57%) in the artificial stream than in natural streams. This difference in growth, in concert with estimates of grayling density, meant that the standing crop produced in the artificial stream averaged 37% of that found in natural streams. A bioenergetics model indicated that cooler water temperatures in the artificial stream had limited influence on growth. Instead, low amounts of autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter and poor physical habitat in the artificial stream appeared to limit the productivity of benthic invertebrates and fish. Our explicit analysis of productive capacity will allow future compensation measures to focus on deficiencies in the artificial stream and on the improvement of its productive capacity as fish habitat.