Labrador Area Research Articles

Orthopaedic Outreach: An innovative programme for orthopaedic patients in remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Wait times to see an orthopaedic consultant can be lengthy. Remote communities such as Labrador City and Goose Bay, located in Labrador in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, often do not have an orthopaedic specialist locally and patients are required to travel great distances to attend clinic appointments. The objectives of this report are to describe our Orthopaedic Outreach Programme where patients receive fracture assessments and care for musculoskeletal concerns at two local clinics by a visiting orthopaedic surgeon. We also describe the justification for the Orthopaedic Outreach Programme and list the benefits; financial and otherwise. A review of the programme, operating out of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Labrador City, using electronic medical records, was undertaken from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019 including demographics and procedures completed. Travel and hotel costs were estimated. Over the last 5 years, the Orthopaedic Outreach Programme treated 1,698 patients at the 2 clinics. Cost savings were estimated at $366,768 per annum. The cost savings over the last 5 years were estimated at a total of $1,833,840. This does not account for patient's time off work and lost revenue that would occur when they make the trip to St John's for a clinic appointment. Our Orthopaedic Outreach Programme was implemented to improve access to orthopaedic services in the remote areas of Labrador. This report aims to describe the result of a programme focused on providing orthopaedic care to individuals who would otherwise be required to travel great distances for their care.

Recruitment in the Barents Sea, Icelandic, and eastern Newfoundland/Labrador capelin (Mallotus villosus) stocks

Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a short-lived, coldwater, pelagic species that occurs in large populations in the Barents Sea, around Iceland and in the Newfoundland–Labrador area in the North Atlantic. Most individuals spawn only once at age three or four and die shortly after spawning. The commercial fisheries for capelin in the three areas are prosecuted on the pre-spawning and spawning age groups and knowledge of recruitment to the spawning stock and factors affecting recruitment are important in the management of the fisheries. Herein, we review the state of knowledge regarding recruitment in the three areas and factors that affect recruitment.Year class strength of capelin is fixed fairly early in life; at 0-group stage in the Barents Sea, by age 1 or earlier for Icelandic capelin, and within 2weeks of hatching for the beach spawners in the Newfoundland area. No obvious single factor, common to the three stocks, has been proven to exert a significant influence on recruitment. In the Barents Sea, juvenile herring prey heavily on capelin larvae and when the estimates of the abundance of these juvenile herring were accounted for in the capelin stock–recruitment analysis, the fit in the stock–recruitment relationship improved. In Iceland, there is no reason to implicate predation as a dominant factor, although detailed studies have not been carried out. In the Newfoundland and Labrador area earlier studies suggested two factors were important for recruitment success: the frequency of onshore winds at a critical period during the residence of newly hatched larvae in the beach gravel and the presence of warm waters during the early larval phase in the pelagic environment. With further testing using more data, the temperature factor was found not to be significant but the frequency of onshore winds still explained a significant portion of the variation in year class strength. There appears to be no significant biological influence, such as predation, that has influenced recruitment in this area.

Winter Food Habits of Lagopus lagopus (Willow Ptarmigan) as a Mechanism to Explain Winter Sexual Segregation

To determine if the quality of winter diet is related to winter-habitat sexual segregation, Lagopus lagopus L. (Willow Ptarmigan) were collected in three wintering areas of Labrador between December and April 1998-2000 (n = 310). Crop contents were used to evaluate diet differences according to sex, age, and area. The most prominent item in ptarmigan crops was Salix spp. (willow; range 45-89%). The crops of adult females contained approximately 60% more willow, the most nutritious food in their diet, and 45% more calories than those of adult males. All birds collected from western Labrador contained more willow twigs and buds and more calories than those collected in central or eastern Labrador. The Gardarsson hypothesis suggests that males winter adjacent to breeding areas to improve competition for territories, and females choose areas with greater abun- dance and quality of food to enhance reproductive success. We could not reject this hypothesis since the wintering site with the most female-biased sex ratio was where diets had the greatest mass of willow and total calories.

Carboniferous sand provenance in the Pennine Basin, UK: constraints from heavy mineral and detrital zircon age data

The integration of heavy mineral analysis and detrital zircon age dating has enabled high-resolution differentiation and characterisation of Carboniferous sandstone provenance in the Pennine Basin of the UK. Heavy mineral data have identified a number of distinct mineralogical groups with different provenance histories and source-area compositions. Single-grain zircon dating on each mineralogical type has placed constraints on the geochronology of the various source terrains. This combination of mineralogical and isotopic data has led to the identification of four distinct source terrains and sediment transport pathways. During the Namurian, the majority of sediment was supplied from the north via the ‘Pennine delta’. The source region comprised a high-grade metasedimentary terrain with granitic intrusions. Zircon age data indicate that this lay within the part of Laurentia–Baltica affected by the Caledonian orogeny. Small amounts of sediment were shed northwards from the Wales-Brabant High, on the southern margin of the basin. Most of this was recycled from the Old Red Sandstone but some of it came directly from late Proterozoic igneous basement. Supply via the Pennine delta declined markedly in the Westphalian, with most of the Westphalian A and B being fed from the west. The western source mainly comprised pre-existing sediment, with variable contributions from ultramafic rocks. The precise location of this source remains conjectural: it is unlikely to be within the British Isles given the size and scale of the Westphalian fluvial systems, but the zircon age spectrum cannot be reconciled with derivation from the Appalachians–Newfoundland–Labrador area. Supply from the uplifting Variscan massif to the south became important in late Westphalian B times and continued into Westphalian D. Zircon age data indicate sourcing from Late Carboniferous granites and Cadomian and Icartian basement.

Variation of Vertebral Numbers with Fish Length in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) of the Eastern Newfoundland Area, 1947-71

Means of vertebral numbers in cod samples collected in 1947-71 from the eastern Newfoundland and Labrador area were compared by length-ranges. In NAFO Div. 2GHJ and 3KL, the northern-type high-vertebral means (usually over or slightly below 55) were usually present at the length-ranges of lesser length, declining toward lower means at greater sizes. The high-vertebral-type mean extended to higher length-ranges northward than southward. In coastal areas of Div. 2GHJ and 3K, the means at the same length-ranges tended to be somewhat lower than offshore. Means at the same length-ranges for the above areas were usually a little higher in the earlier period, 1947-55, than in the later period, 1958-71. Throughout the area (not including Div. 3M) offshore and inshore vertebral means at the same length-range and period were typically lower in the southern than in the adjacent northern area. The vertebral means of the relatively isolated cod stock on Flemish Cap (Div. 3M) were intermediate between the northernand the southern-types, and on the southern Grand Bank (Div. 3NO) the means (usually below 54) were typically the lowest in the eastern Newfoundland area. Within each of these areas (Div. 3M and 3NO), means did not differ greatly by length-range and from the earlier to the later

Stock Delineation of Greenland Halibut in the Northwest Atlantic Using a Recently Developed, Multivariate Statistical Analysis Based on Meristic Characters

Meristic characters of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) from eight areas of the Canadian Northwest Atlantic were examined. Using a recently developed multivariate analysis technique, the meristics were analyzed to determine the accurate delineation of Greenland halibut stocks throughout the area investigated. Our findings indicate at least two separate populations of Greenland halibut in the Canadian Northwest Atlantic. These are found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and from Davis Strait at West Greenland to the northern Grand Bank. There is some evidence, however, of localized spawning stocks in Fortune Bay, Newfoundland and the Labrador area. Based on this analysis, the results tend to agree with those other independent techniques for stock separation of Greenland halibut.

Metazoan parasites of Northwest Atlantic redfishes (Sebastes spp.)

A total of 443 specimens of three redfish species (209 Sebastes fasciatus, 123 S. marinus, and 111 S. mentella), obtained from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) divisions 2H, 2J (Labrador area), 3K (Northeastern Newfoundland), 3L, 3O (Grand Banks) 3M (Flemish Cap), and 3Ps (St. Pierre Bank) during 1980–1982, was examined for metazoan parasites; 182 (87.1%) S. fasciatus, 120 (97.6%) S. marinus, and 103 (92.8%) S. mentella were infected. Seventeen species of parasites were recovered (12 from S. fasciatus, 16 from S. marinus, and 11 from S. mentella). 22 of which were new host records. Quantitative data, including prevalence and intensity of infection, are given for each parasite by host species and NAFO division. The zeogeography and host specificity of the parasites encountered in this study are discussed in relation to redfish and hypothetical stocks of Sebastes spp. are proposed based on the parasite data collected.

Migrations of Greenland Halibut,Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, in the Northwest Atlantic from Tagging in the Labrador-Newfoundland Region

Migratory patterns of Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic were investigated by two tagging experiments in 1969 and 1971 using longlines to capture the fish and three experiments in 1979-80 using otter trawls. Of nearly 24,400 tags applied, only 1.3% have been recovered to the end of 1983, the low recovery rate being attributed partly to the low level of offshore fishing activity and partly to high tagging mortality of fish caught in otter trawls. Results of the White Bayexperiment in 1969 showed some movement of Greenland halibut from the tagging area to offshore deepwater areas of Labrador and Davis Strait, although many of the recaptures were in the general area of tagging. However, the Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay experiments in 1971 and 1979 respectively indicated little movements from the tagging sites. The Funk Island Bank experiments in 1979 and 1980 indicated substantial movement to coastal waters of northeastern Newfoundland in summer, but tags were also recovered both south and north of the tagging areas, the most northerly of the latter from the northern edge of Hamilton Bank. From tagging experiments off Labrador in 1980, the few returns ind icated eastward movement to the deepwater areas of the continental slope, with one recaptu re from deep water off the northern tip of Labrador.

Orbital forcing of the inception of the Laurentide ice sheet?

According to the astronomical theory of palaeoclimates, the glacial–interglacial oscillations of the Pleistocene have their origin in the insolation forcing caused by the orbital variations of the Earth1. The potential response of the climatic system to the resulting insolation perturbations has been investigated mainly using zonally-averaged energy balance models (EBM)2–6. Atmospheric general circulation models (GCM) include many essential processes (such as the hydrological cycle) neglected in EBMs, but, because of their high computational cost, can be used only for ‘snapshot’ reconstructions of climate at certain times in the past. We show here that the climatic transition at the end of the last interglacial is a particularly relevant period for GCM studies of the sensitivity of climate to the astronomical variations of insolation. We have used a low-resolution spectral GCM to simulate two annual cycles with the insolation conditions of 125,000 yr BP and 115,000 yr BP. For the 115-kyr simulation we find an annual mean cooling over Canada of more than 2 K and increased precipitation. We suggest that such a pattern of response to the insolation changes would favour the extension of permanent snow cover over the Labrador area and could have triggered formation of the Laurentide ice sheet.

Comparisons of Witch Flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) Stocks of the Newfoundland–Labrador Area, Based upon a New Multivariate Analysis Method for Meristic Characters

Although meristic characters are recognized as a very useful basis for examining problems pertaining to differences among fish populations, in general, and fish stock separation, in particular, statistical methods used on such data have, as far as we are aware, not been very appropriate. This paper presents (i) a new multivariate statistical method developed by modifying a method that has been used on human data in the past and, (ii) a study of witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) meristics in the Newfoundland–Labrador area of the northwest Atlantic. Our findings indicate seven distinct populations of witch flounder throughout the area surveyed. Based on this method, our results agree remarkably well with those made by using entirely different techniques.Key words: witch flounder, meristics, multivariate, stocks, area

Fecundity of Greenland Halibut,Reinhardtius hippoglossoides(Walbaum), from Southern Labrador and Southeastern Gulf of St. Lawrence

The fecu ndity of Greenland hal ibut from the southern Labrador and southeastern Gulf of 51. Lawrence areas in 1976-78 was found to be highly correlated with length and to a lesser extent with age, the relationships being best described in terms of log-log regressions. The fecundity-length relationship for the southern Labrador area differed significantly from that for the southeastern Gu If of 51. Lawrence both in the rate of egg production and the number of eggs produced, but no differences were found in the fecundityage relationships. The higher fecundity of fish in the southeastern Gulf of 51. Lawrence may be due to their becoming mature at considerably smaller sizes than in the southern Labrador area. Annual variation in fecundity was not evident in the data for 2 years from southern Labrador.

Iceberg Tracking off Labrador

LITTLE is known about the rate and direction of the drift of icebergs in the Labrador area of the continental shelf. Because of the obvious hazard to offshore drilling operations in this potentially oil-rich area there is an urgent need for detailed information. We wish to report the results of an operation carried out by Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces, in cooperation with the Defence Research Board of Canada.

Fecundity of Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the Newfoundland–Labrador Area

Fecundity estimates of 45 Greenland halibut from the Newfoundland–Labrador area were related to length and age. Fecundity increased with both length and age and varied from 15,000 to 215,000 eggs.

On the morphology of the west Greenland shelf with general remarks on the “marginal channel” problem

Based on a study of recently published Danish charts of the west Greenland continental shelf (Fig. 1) the writer discusses various morphological features which have parallels in the northwest Norwegian shelf area. One such feature is the “marginal channels” separating the outer, submarine part of the rocky uneven “strandflat” from the area of banks with their bottom of loose glacial material. Nearly forty years ago the writer suggested that these depressions—and the outer border of the strandflat where there are no channels—might mark a geological boundary line with less resistant, possibly Mesozoic, rocks outside it. Later the idea was advanced that faulting, probably in Tertiary time, had taken place along the strandflat border with relative uplift of the land side. The depressions were believed to have been formed in periods with lower sea level through erosion by running water and moving ice, along the fault zone with outlet across the shelf in “transverse channels”. Of the series of marginal channels outside the west Greenland coast, the Godthaab Depression with its regularly curving trend and exceedingly steep eastern slope, is of particular interest. We also notice the great depth of the channel of Melville Bay, a coast which even today is heavily glaciated. Geophysical research carried out in later years in the shelf areas of Labrador, where such channels also occur, and northwest Norway, has not shown up to now a marked fault or fault structure along the strandflat border but a rather gently inclined slope of old (basement) rock which is or has been covered by sedimentary deposits, probably Mesozoic or younger, with increasing thickness outwards. The channels have been formed along the innermost zone of this less resistant material, the typical deep and sharply cut ones (closely connected with transverse channels) predominantly by glacial erosion.

Fecundity of Atlantic Cod

Fecundity of Atlantic cod from the Newfoundland and Labrador area was investigated in relation to fish length, weight, and age. Variations in fecundity were best explained in terms of size, either length or weight. The fecundity–length relationship was adequately described by the simple allometry formula; fecundity–weight by an arithmetic straight line. Differences in fecundity from north to south are described and discussed in relation to descriptions from other areas. Substantial differences in fecundity of western and eastern Atlantic cod are noted.

Association of Dimethyl Sulphide with the "Blackberry" Problem in Cod from the Labrador Area

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Incidence and Distribution of Infestation by Sphyrion lumpi (Krøyer) on the Redfish, Sebastes marinus (L.), of the Western North Atlantic

Investigations of infestation of redfish by female Sphyrion lumpi, in the Newfoundland area, showed that in the Labrador area Sphyrion were generally distributed all over the body but with the greatest infestation in the cloacal region. In the eastern Grand Bank area there was a strongly ventral distribution of the parasite on the trunk with over 40% of the parasites in the cloaca. This is contrasted with previously published data from the Gulf of Maine where most of the Sphyrion were situated antero-dorsally, near the base of the spiny first dorsal fin.The major centre of infestation, in the Newfoundland area, of redfish by Sphyrion was off southern Labrador east of Hamilton Inlet Bank with as high as 8% of the redfish infested. Centres of less infestation were found on the southern part of the eastern slope of the Grand Bank and in the southeastern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sphyrion were very scarce on the southwestern Grand Bank, the western part of the south coast of Newfoundland and in the northern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sphyrion were not noted on redfish from the NE Grand Bank, Flemish Cap and from the Nova Scotian Shelf. A study of residual remains, in redfish fillets, of the cephalothorax from individuals of previous Sphyrion generations showed the same centres of abundance but with some spreading of the previously infested fish in 2 of 3 areas in the direction of the deep-water current, thus indicating the possibility of very slow migration of some individual redfish with the current.It is believed that almost all the redfish discussed in this paper are of the mentella type.