Lakes In Alberta Research Articles

CANADIAN FORCES EXPERIENCE IN SLIP FORMING AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS

The project at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in Alberta involved constructing a 10,000-foot runway in response to urgent pilot training needs. The base faced a rush job due to limited surveys and advanced planning. The runway's previous structure consisted of layers of asphalt and gravel over granular subbase. However, its asphaltic surface deteriorated quickly, prompting resurfacing attempts that didn't hold up. In the new project, engineers decided on a slip-formed overlay to replace the old surface. This method was crucial because of strict timelines and soil stability issues. The new pavement used grooves to improve drainage, and pilots reported better braking and a smoother landing experience. The project was completed ahead of schedule, with only minor cracking after a year, suggesting it would significantly outlast the old surface. Despite some issues with sealant bonding, the project was deemed a success. The quality of the new pavement, its stability, and excellent riding qualities offered an improvement that met the Canadian Forces' needs. (Abstract generated by AI tool ChatGPT 4)

Climate change has driven multidecadal declines in lake levels in central Alberta, Canada

Timoney, KP. 2024. Climate change has driven multidecadal declines in lake levels in central Alberta, Canada. Lake Reserv Manage. 40:205–220. This study examined water level data from 5 lakes in central Alberta to determine the timing and rates of change and to identify the causes for those changes. Over the past century, the estimated average levels of Beaverhill and Cooking lakes declined ∼3 m. Highest lake levels were observed ca. 1902–1904. Lake levels varied widely over the decades, punctuated by periods of high or low water conditions embedded within the longer term declines. Over the past 50 yr, average rates of lake drawdown were as follows: Miquelon −6.8 cm/yr, Cooking −4.4 cm/yr, Beaverhill −4.4 cm/yr, Hastings −0.9 cm/yr, and Ministik −0.7 cm/yr. Over time, annual temperature, evaporation, and net evaporation increased while annual precipitation, runoff, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) decreased. Annual precipitation was significantly correlated with the levels of all 5 lakes, and with annual runoff and PDSI. Net evaporation was significantly correlated with temperature, runoff, PDSI, and the levels of all lakes but Ministik. Annual runoff was significantly correlated with the levels of all 5 lakes and PDSI. Conversely, neither annual temperature nor evaporation was correlated significantly with the annual lake levels. Annual levels of all 5 lakes were significantly correlated with each other. The lake level declines are part of a larger pattern of declining levels observed in other lakes in western North America over many decades. In central Alberta, data from several sources indicate accelerated rates of drawdown since the late 1970s to early 1980s at some lakes and accelerated declines since the mid to late 1990s at other lakes.

Coarse woody habitat use by local fish species and structural integrity of enhancements over time in a shallow northern boreal lake assessed in a Bayesian modelling approach

Abstract The introduction of coarse woody habitat has been a widely adopted management practice for restoring and enhancing freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Although responses of aquatic fish and invertebrate communities have largely been documented for lotic systems, benefits for lentic ecosystems have been mostly unevaluated. We tested the responses of fish populations to coarse woody habitat structures through a Bayesian modelling approach in a northern boreal lake in Alberta, Canada by enhancing a stretch of littoral zone with low structural complexity through introduction of coarse wood bundles and whole tree structures. The study site was split into three treatments, a Spaced treatment (structures 30 m apart), a Clustered treatment (structures 15 m apart) and an unaltered area (Control). Catch per unit effort and catch per unit area data were collected over 2 years and posterior model predictions showed an increase in habitat use of the enhanced areas by spottail shiner—Notropis hudsonius; northern pike—Esox lucius; white sucker—Catostomus commersonii; brook stickleback—Culaea inconstans. No probable effect on overall fish condition, measured in Relative Weight, was linked to the enhancements. Across the 2‐year study, wood bundles degraded faster compared to the whole tree drops, coinciding with levelling off catch per unit effort and catch per unit area predictions near wood bundles, although catch predictions increased near the whole tree structures. Structural degradation set in as early as 1 week post‐construction for wood bundles and was mostly related to anchoring aspects. Results from our study provide evidence for the benefits provided by coarse woody habitat within northern boreal lake systems. They furthermore highlight the short‐lived nature of wood bundles built with biodegradable substances. Methodologically our results offer evidence on the feasibility and utility of predictive modelling frameworks in addressing pseudoreplication and providing informative value for ecological studies.

First evidence of free-living Naegleria species in recreational lakes of Alberta, Canada.

Rising temperatures are increasing environmental habitats for thermotolerant pathogens, such as the so-called 'brain-eating amoeba', Naegleria fowleri. To the best of our knowledge, however, Naegleria species have not been reported in environmental water sources in Canada. We surveyed popular recreational lakes in Alberta, Canada during the summer bathing period to determine the presence or absence of Naegleria species. While N. fowleri was not isolated in this study, we identified other thermotolerant species, including Naegleria pagei, Naegleria gruberi, Naegleria jejuensis and Naegleria fultoni using culture-based methods, hence indicating the potential conditions to support N. fowleri. Ongoing monitoring and examination of water for pathogenic amoebae is recommended in order to assist in the public health management of water sources.

Natural controls on phosphorus concentrations in small Lakes in Central Alberta, Canada

abstract Small lakes can act as environmental sensors for understanding regional hydrogeological conditions and elemental cycles. Because of their small size, they react quickly to changes in nutrient runoff, groundwater exchange and climate. In the post-glacial landscape of Alberta, the Carvel Pitted Delta harbours a variety of small lakes, which, despite being close together, can have markedly different chemistries and nutrient characteristics. Here, we focused on nine lakes with surface areas <10 ha and maximal depths ranging from 5 to 18 m. We hypothesised that differences in their trophic states are caused by variations in Ca concentrations, controlled by groundwater inputs. All lakes tended toward permanent stratification due to small mixing depths (1.6–2.4 m). The deeper lakes were oligotrophic with high concentrations of Ca and a high fraction of phosphorus (Ca-bound P) in the sediments (HCl extractable fraction). A correlation was found between Ca-bound P and aqueous Ca concentrations at 0.5 m depth, suggesting that P stability could be estimated based on surface water chemistry. Calcium was shown to be concentrated in groundwater located above the bedrock, suggesting that groundwater inputs controlled Ca concentrations in the lakes. We conclude that the hydrogeological conditions and Ca inputs act as natural regulators for P availability and, by extension, water quality in these lakes.

Carbon dissolution effects on pH changes of RAMP lakes in northeastern Alberta, Canada

Study regionThis study focuses on boreal lakes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada between latitude 55.68°N and 59.72°N and longitude 110.02°W and 115.46°W. Study focusThis study focuses on interpretation of hydrochemistry from 50 lakes thought to be acid sensitive, and so monitored by the Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program (RAMP) over the last two decades. This study uses basic statistics, principal component analysis, lithological evidence, CO2 saturation estimates, mineral equilibria and δ13CDIC measurements to describe and assess controls on pH and to investigate causal factors of observed pH increase in the lakes. New hydrological insights for the regionOur assessment provides evidence of two main geochemical processes that control pH increase, namely carbonate dissolution and organic matter uptake, the latter a particularly important component of alkalinity in low pH lakes. Lakes in all subregions show strong evidence of dissolution of marine carbonates of undetermined source, and lake water appears to be trending from CO2 super-saturation towards atmospheric CO2 equilibrium. This supports the hypothesis of carbonate input due to permafrost thaw via surface or groundwater pathways, but also reveals likely influence from CO2 dissolution mechanisms related to climatic influence on ice cover duration.

A Combined Approach for Monitoring Monthly Surface Water/Ice Dynamics of Lesser Slave Lake Via Earth Observation Data

Surface water/ice dynamic monitoring is crucial for many purposes, such as water resource management, agriculture, climate change, drought, and flood forecasting. New advances in remote sensing satellite data have made it possible to monitor the surface water/ice dynamics both spatially and temporally. However, there are many challenges when using these data, such as the availability of valid imagery, cloud contamination issues for Landsat-8, and sensitivity of Sentinel-1 C-band to wind speed, topography, and others. A combined methodology using Landsat-8 and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data was proposed to create monthly change maps at 30&#x00A0;m spatial resolution for the Lesser Slave Lake in Alberta, Canada, for the period 2017-2020. The potentials of multi-spectral indices for Landsat-8, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Modified NDWI (MNDWI) as well as the Sentinel-1 SAR backscattering coefficients (VV-VH) and Normalized Difference Polarized Index (NDPI) for separating water/ice from the land were investigated. The results obtained from satellite data with historical discharge and water level measurements for the lake were compared. Furthermore, the results show that the MNDWI and VH are the most effective indices for creating the change maps. The overall accuracies achieved for MNDWI and VH are 92.10&#x0025; and 68.86&#x0025; for cold months and 99.88&#x0025; and 98.49&#x0025; for warm months, respectively.

Evidence of a Putative Novel Species of Avian Schistosome Infecting Planorbella trivolvis.

Freshwater gastropods of the genera Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799, Physa Draparnaud, 1801, Gyraulus Charpentier, 1837, Radix Montfort, 1810, and Stagnicola Jeffreys, 1830 are considered suitable intermediate hosts for avian schistosomes. A large trematode biodiversity survey performed across 3 yr on 6 lakes in Alberta confirmed 3 already-reported snail hosts for 7 North American avian schistosomes; however, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) nucleotide sequence from 1 cercarial sample (from a single specimen of Planorbella trivolvis) was distinct from all other COI schistosome sequences. As part of a simultaneous, comparable study of P. trivolvis by us in Michigan, we collected another cercarial type from 6 lakes that was 99% similar (COI) to the aforementioned cercarial type. Phylogenetic analyses of the COI and 28S rDNA genes recovered the former cercaria in a clade of avian schistosomes. In Michigan, the feces of a Canada goose (Branta canadensis Linnaeus, 1758) had a miracidium with an identical COI nucleotide sequence. Preliminary swimmer's itch and cercarial emergence studies were performed to determine if the cercariae could cause swimmer's itch and to study the emergence pattern as compared with species of Trichobilharzia Skrjabin and Zakharow, 1920.

Environmental and ecological factors driving trematode parasite community assembly in central Alberta lakes.

Parasites have been neglected from most biodiversity surveys even though they are an essential component of ecosystems and intimately associated with the free-living communities within them. Parasites with complex life cycles, such as digenean trematode flatworms, utilize at least two host species within an ecosystem for their development and transmission, taking advantage of species networks to complete their life cycles. Despite this knowledge, our understanding of the processes that contribute to parasite community assembly, and which limit their geographic distributions, are rudimentary, including the importance of host diversity. Utilizing recent advancements in the identification of cryptic trematode species through molecular barcoding, we examined patterns of community assembly involving 79 species in six Alberta lakes over three years. Specifically, we focused on spatiotemporal variation in trematode diversity within their snail first intermediate hosts (component communities), how this might relate to host diversity through the specificity of host-parasite relationships, and the role of certain environmental factors in structuring these communities. We found substantial natural fluctuations of trematode communities through space and time within these lakes. Trematode communities were diverse, showing an overall positive relationship with snail diversity, but were often dominated by a few common species. We found that ecoregion and lake trophic status were key predictors for the presence of these trematode species. Such information is key for understanding how biodiversity alterations may affect parasite community composition, as well as our ability to formulate predictive models, by considering how this could influence both species richness and evenness.

Heterogeneous response of diatom assemblages since ca. 1945 in lakes from boreal regions of northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada

The degree to which climate variability and anthropogenic stressors have impacted the rich array of boreal lakes in northern Saskatchewan and Alberta was explored in a dataset of 42 lakes from previous paleolimnological investigations of this region. This dataset was used to evaluate the extent of change in diatom assemblages over the past ~ 60 to 70 years in relation to lake and watershed characteristics. Similarity analysis was used to define the degree of change in diatom composition in lake sediment cores from each lake with a focus on post ca. 1945 changes to establish a common time frame to compare across all lakes. This time frame incorporates pre- and post-development of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region and additionally integrates pre- and post-periods of distinct changes in temperature and precipitation. Beta regression analysis was used to identify potential links between diatom assemblage change and lake physical–chemical and landscape characteristics (limno and landscape models, respectively). Similarity analysis indicated nearly 80% of the lakes showed only a very low degree of change (0–25%) since ca. 1945. Lakes with larger percent change in similarity (> 25%) showed increases in planktonic diatoms, although the specific taxa that changed varied from oligotrophic Discostella spp. to meso-eutrophic taxa, such as Asterionella formosa and Stephanodiscus minutulus. Lake volume and percent peat in the catchment were the most important limno and landscape explanatory variables, respectively, albeit the models had low predictive power. The lakes with large diatom compositional change were dispersed across the region, located in various geological and ecological zones and varying degrees of human disturbance. The interplay of climate and morphometric features of lakes is likely an influential driver of these changes, with larger heat-storage capacity in higher-volume lakes that potentially increases the sensitivity to warming. The small surface areas and shallow morphometry of most lakes, a heterogeneous hydrological and geological landscape, and frequent dominance of diatom assemblages by benthic generalists may explain the minimal responses of diatom assemblages over the past ~ 70 years to anthropogenic influences and climate.

Cyanobacteria biomass in shallow eutrophic lakes is linked to the presence of iron-binding ligands

Iron (Fe) is an important regulator of phosphorus and nitrogen use efficiency by phytoplankton. We tested the prediction that pelagic cyanobacteria biomass in surface waters of shallow eutrophic lakes with low ferric ion concentration is linked to the presence, and potential utilization, of low molecular weight Fe-binding ligands. We sampled 30 lakes in Alberta, Canada, in 2012 for nutrients, cyanobacteria biomass, Fe-binding ligands (hydroxamates and catecholates), and toxins. Bioavailable ferric ion concentration (estimated as pFe) was significantly correlated to cyanobacteria biomass (curvilinear relationship, r2= 0.45, P &lt; 0.05). Nonmetric multidimensional models indicated that high cyanobacteria biomass corresponded to lakes with low ferric ion concentration (pFe ∼ 19), and regression tree analyses identified a threshold in ferric ion concentration (pFe = 22.1) that separated lakes with relatively low versus high cyanobacteria biomass. Where ferric ion concentration was low, hydroxamate-reactive compound concentration was positively correlated to cyanobacteria biomass. As the environment goes from higher to lower ferric ion concentration, the presence of cyanobacteria increases, and with further reduction of Fe, the environmental need for Fe-binding ligands becomes manifest.

Geometric shape, water availability and under ice volume of Alberta lakes

Water availability information can be vital to the execution of informed management decisions. Since only a small fraction of Alberta lakes have surveyed bathymetry data, accurate estimation of lake water availability is often challenging. In this study, we analyzed available bathymetry data from 77 lakes, distributed over six major river basins and five natural regions of Alberta, and developed dimensionless relationships between volume and depth. We compared these relationships with the analytical relationship between volume and depth for five idealized lake shapes, viz. as cylindrical, pseudo-parabolic, parabolic, conic, and inverse-parabolic. Our study shows that considering the volume-depth relationship, 48% of Alberta lakes fall under parabolic shape, 29% fall under conic shape, and the rest (23%) fall under either pseudo-parabolic, inverse-parabolic, or cylindrical shape. We also developed four different models to estimate maximum lake volume (a proxy of lake water availability) and 5% under ice volume (a proxy for winter allocation limit of lake water) assuming an ice thickness of 80 cm. These models have been developed in such a way that allows the user to apply the models based on data availability and can be used in absence of site-specific data (e.g., bathymetry) to estimate volume, and subsequently water availability in lakes. Finally, we propose a formulation of percent volume reduction due to small water withdrawal, which requires only maximum depth of a lake to estimate a potential volume reduction limit for a water withdrawal.

Holocene Carbon Burial in Lakes of the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA

Recent research suggests that organic matter sequestered in lake sediment comprises a larger component of the global carbon cycle than once thought, yet little is known about carbon storage in mountain lakes. Here, we used a set of sediment cores collected from lakes in the Uinta Mountains (Utah, USA) to inform a series of calculations and extrapolations leading to estimates of carbon accumulation rates and total lacustrine carbon storage in this mountain range. Holocene rates of carbon accumulation in Uinta lakes are between 0.1 and 20.5 g/m2/yr, with an average of 5.4 g/m2/yr. These rates are similar to those reported for lakes in Greenland and Finland and are substantially lower than estimates for lakes in Alberta and Minnesota. The carbon content of modern sediments of seven lakes is notably elevated above long-term Holocene values, suggesting recent changes in productivity. The lakes of the Uintas have accumulated from 6 to 10×105 Mt of carbon over the Holocene. This is roughly equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from Salt Lake City, Utah. Based on their long-term Holocene rates, lakes in the Uintas annually sequester an amount of carbon equivalent to the emissions of &lt;20 average Americans.

A fine-scale phylogenetic assessment of digenean trematodes in central Alberta reveals we have yet to uncover their total diversity.

Despite over 100 years of digenean trematode parasite species descriptions, from a wide diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate host species, our ability to recognize the diversity of trematode species within a single lake remains an incredible challenge. The most challenging aspect is the identification of species from larval stages derived from intermediate hosts, due to the disjointed data of adult worm morphological descriptions, from which species are named, and links to corresponding molecular identifiers in depauperate databases. Cryptic species also play a significant role in the challenge of linking trematode larvae to adults, species identifications, and estimating diversity. Herein, we utilize a large, longitudinal dataset of snail first‐intermediate host infection data from lakes in Alberta, Canada, to infer trematode larval diversity using molecular phylogenetics and snail host associations. From our assessments, we uncover a diversity of 79 larval trematode species among just five snail host species. Only 14 species were identified to a previously described species, while the other 65 species are either cryptic or otherwise unrepresented by mitochondrial genes in GenBank. This study currently represents the largest and most diverse singular molecular survey of trematode larval fauna composed of over one thousand mitochondrial sequences. Surprisingly, rarefaction analyses indicate we have yet to capture the complete diversity of trematodes from our sampling area.

A New Year’s Day icebreaker: icequakes on lakes in Alberta, Canada

Any process that causes a sudden brittle failure of material has the potential to cause earthquake-like seismic events. Cryoseisms represent an underreported class of seismic event due to their (often) small magnitudes. In this paper, we document the phenomenon of some of the largest magnitude lake-associated icequakes (ML2.0) yet reported. These events occurred nearly simultaneously (within ∼2 h) on geographically separate lakes in Alberta, Canada, starting 1 January 2018. We conjecture that these events were caused by the sudden brittle failure of lake ice due to thermal expansion; the effects of the thermal expansion were compounded by the lack of insulating snow cover, high lake water levels, and a rapid onset of atmospheric warming. These factors also contributed to ice-jacking — a repeating process in which thermal contraction produces tensile cracks (leads) in lake ice that are then filled with water that is frozen during the cooling cycle. Thus, any subsequent thermal expansion must be accommodated by new deformation or brittle failure. This ice-jacking process caused creeping ground deformation after the initial brittle failure and again two weeks later following a second warming period. In many cases, the resulting ground deformation was significant enough to cause property damage.

Swimmer\u2019s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future

BackgroundCercarial dermatitis, colloquially “swimmer’s itch”, is a rash contracted in natural bodies of water, when people are exposed to skin-penetrating, larval flatworm parasites of the family Schistosomatidae, that emerge from aquatic snails. Swimmer’s itch is a globally-distributed, allergic condition, of which we know very little regarding local dynamics of transmission. This study aims to gather relevant information on swimmer’s itch in Canada, from multiple perspectives, including the human experience, parasite and host presence and distributions, and insight from historical perspectives.MethodsHerein we utilize a mixed-methods approach towards examining the environmental health issue of swimmer’s itch in Canadian lakes from a nation-wide viewpoint, with an example from Alberta. We examine the human perspective of having contracted swimmer’s itch through a self-reporting surveillance system implemented over a 5-year period. We also conducted a 3-year species survey of parasites and intermediate snail hosts within lakes in central Alberta and compiled this data with snail and vertebrate (definitive) host survey data from across Alberta to examine potential for future spread. We compare the results from our surveys to a historical review of the literature to examine the extent of swimmer’s itch across Canada and identify where future efforts should be focused.ResultsOver 3800 cases of swimmer’s itch were captured across Canada by the self-reporting surveillance system. Swimmer’s itch cases were reported from every province except Prince Edward Island. Species surveys in Alberta revealed 7 new parasite and host records, with potential for swimmer’s itch to occur throughout most of the province based on host distributions. A review and comparison to the literature has highlighted several knowledge gaps surrounding schistosome species, host species and their distributions and contributions towards swimmer’s itch.ConclusionsSwimmer’s itch is a greater environmental health hazard across Canada than previous literature would have alluded. This study provides proof-of-concept for the utility of a self-reporting surveillance system for swimmer’s itch in Canada. Recommendations are made towards implementing a systems-thinking approach that incorporates citizen-scientists for future research, management, and policy surrounding swimmer’s itch.

Groundwater contribution keeps trophic status low in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

Water well drilling records combined with geologic observation around Sylvan Lake suggest a permeable, fractured groundwater-bearing channel sandstone extends along the northeast margin of the lake, and is surrounded by a matrix of shale with small sandy interbeds. Chloride and water isotope mass-balance approaches found groundwater fluxes were 37 to 43% of total annual lake water inputs, and were consistent with Darcy flux estimates for the channel sandstone. The groundwater contribution to the lake water budget contributes to an estimated lake-water residence time ranging from 22 to 30 years, which is much lower than other lakes in the region and lakes of similar size. Groundwater through-flow in the hydraulically connected channel sandstone unit of the Paskapoo Formation appears to play a critical role in maintaining the relatively low total dissolved solids (and trophic status) of Sylvan Lake, as compared to other lakes in south-central Alberta. Due to the hydraulic connection of the sandstone channel with Sylvan Lake, land use along the north side of the lake (above the sandstone channel unit) should be carefully considered to mitigate groundwater (and consequently lake water) quality impacts.

Organohalogen contaminants in common loons (Gavia immer) breeding in Western Alberta, Canada

We examined the influence of biological and geographical factors on the levels and patterns of organohalogen contaminants in blood of adult common loons (Gavia immer) collected from 20 lakes in Alberta, Canada. The loons were captured in the 2006 and 2007 breeding seasons over a 900 m elevation gradient across the eastern slope of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. While PCBs dominated the composition of these contaminants in loons at all sites (∑PCBs > p,p’-DDE > ∑PBDEs > ∑Chlordanes > HCB), p,p’-DDE and ∑PBDEs were also important, averaging approximately 50% and 20% of total PCB concentrations, respectively. ∑PCBs and ∑PBDEs were higher in males than in females. Inter-lake variation was apparent for contaminant concentrations and patterns and were largely explained by dietary signatures (δ15N and δ13C) and proximity to a large hydroelectric dam. Mean ∑PCB (19.6 ng/g wet weight (ww)) and organochlorine pesticide (OCP) (p,p’-DDE: 11.8 ng/g, cis-nonachlor: 0.10 ng/g, trans-nonachlor: 0.32 ng/g, HCB: 0.34 ng/g ww) concentrations in loons were approximately 4- to 17-fold lower than average concentrations reported in common loons from Atlantic Canada and were well below concentrations which have been associated with impaired reproductive success and eggshell thinning in other piscivorous birds. Dominant PBDE congeners were BDE47, BDE99, and BDE100. The regional mean for ∑PBDEs (4.04 ng/g ww) in loons from the present study was within the range reported for ∑PBDEs in nestling bald eagle plasma from British Columbia. This is the first report of PBDEs in loons and the first report of PCBs and OCPs in common loons from Western North America.

Peer review report 1 on “Stable isotope mass balance of fifty lakes in central Alberta: assessing the role of water balance in determining trophic status and lake level”

Peer review report 1 on “Stable isotope mass balance of fifty lakes in central Alberta: assessing the role of water balance in determining trophic status and lake level”

Peer review report 2 on “Stable isotope mass balance of fifty lakes in Central Alberta: Assessing the role of water balance in determining trophic status and lake level”

Peer review report 2 on “Stable isotope mass balance of fifty lakes in Central Alberta: Assessing the role of water balance in determining trophic status and lake level”