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.