CIMP 211 Impacts of Permafrost Thaw Slump Extent, Severity, and Persistence on Stream Biotic Health

Our ability to monitor geomorphological, bio-geochemical and hydrological impacts of permafrost disturbances and accurately map aerial extent and sediment displaced by slumping (and the affected downstream networks) has improved over the past decade. These advances in understanding watershed scale effects of thaw slump disturbance create an opportunity to investigate effects on aquatic health in a way not previously possible. Our project will use advances in mapping and physico-chemical understanding of permafrost disturbance to fill substantial knowledge gaps associated with the: (1) impact of thaw slumps on stream food-web dynamics; (2) persistence of thaw slump effects over time; and the (3) effects of magnitude/severity of thaw slumps on biotic communities in streams. We plan to address these knowledge gaps using a multi-tiered approach that includes assessment of environmental conditions.