Who: Michelle Tseng, Aquatic and Insect Ecologist, University of British ColumbiaWhat: Researchers are currently studying the health of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers in the Kitikmeot Region. This ongoing project is a collaboration between several universities, the Ministry of Environment (Government of Canada), and POLAR Knowledge Canada. I am joining this group of researchers to study in particular, whether increased water temperature in lakes and ponds is changing the health of small aquatic animals called zooplankton. In summer 2020, I propose to take 100 live zooplankton from each of 10 lakes. This amount is less than 0.01% of a typical lake zooplankton population. I will employ one local guide through the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Association, and one local high school student. We will travel to these lakes by truck or ATV. At the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), I (and the guide or student if they are interested), will measure the respiration rate (breathing rate) of live individual zooplankton held at different temperatures. I am testing the idea that zooplankton collected from warmer lakes will be able to maintain normal breathing rates at warmer temperatures, compared to zooplankton collected from cooler lakes. Why: Zooplankton are important components of healthy aquatic environments. They filter water and they are food for larger insects and for fish such as lake trout and Arctic char. Without zooplankton, lakes would become cloudy with algae, and fish would become malnourished or unable to survive at all. This study will give us information about how tolerant zooplankton are to warmer water temperatures, and also how quickly they may be able to adapt to changing temperatures. This study is part of a three-year study that will also investigate (a) whether zooplankton collected at different times of the year show different responses to warmer temperatures, and (b) whether differences in the ability of zooplankton to withstand warmer temperatures are due their environment, or to specific genes. Together this information will allow us to make more accurate predictions for whether important fish like trout and char will still have enough high-quality food to grow and thrive as climate change continues.Where: I propose to sample zooplankton from a subset of the lakes being currently being studied by the lake research group. All sites will be within a three-hour ATV or truck ride from CHARS. We will depart from CHARS in the morning and return by late afternoon each day.When: I plan to consult with the community from June 07 to June 13, 2020. Pending positive feedback from the community, we will sample lakes in July 2020. If the community would like me to change my proposed research, I will postpone lake sampling until the suggested changes have been integrated.