Our Research
Current Research
Sand Dunes and Salt marsh Monitoring
Our current research project is in conjunction with the Biology Department at StFX and is funded through DFO. This project is designed to study the effects of climate change on provincial beaches, particularly those in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Dr. David Garbary is the lead researcher with additional research being done by graduate and undergraduate students. This work is vital as beaches have the potential to be negatively affected by sea level rise associated with climate change.
This method uses hand-held GPS units to measure the margin of vegetation on dune systems. These coordinates are imported into Google Earth where the yearly measurements can be compared to see the changes in the dune system. This data gives context to the amount of erosion occurring.
This project will add in salt marshes in the upcoming summer. One graduate student will measure the CO2 emissions from the salt marshes along the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Previous research
Fisheries
The snow crab fishery is an economic foundation for many Maritime regions, including Cape Breton. The processing of snow crab also produces lots of waste which is expensive to dispose of. GAMS has investigated this problem, and composed a report about how this waste, with some small-scale development, could be turned into a valuable product unto itself.
There are two ways to extract food from the ocean—one is capture fisheries, which have been the backbone of Cape Breton for many decades .The other is aquaculture, which is basically farming in the water. GAMS is conducting an ongoing investigation of oyster populations in Cheticamp for possible aquaculture potential.
Ecology
Between 2009-2010 GAMS conducted a study of the distribution of benthic, or bottom-dwelling, species in the Cheticamp Harbour.
GAMS was collaborating with Dr. Mikio Moriyaso of the DFO on a project with aims for “Establishment of Baseline Biological Data on Snow Crab...for future assessment of impacts of Seismic Testing." The Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association is also a partner for this project, which began in May 2011.
GAMS is proud to be a partner of the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (DFO)! With guidance and standard protocol provided by CAMP, GAMS gathers community volunteers to participate in scientific monitoring of their local marine environment. This is a fun way to introduce people to their local marine fauna and indicators of ecosystem health.
Current research includes our ongoing study of Green crabs, or Carcinus maenas. They are an invasive species imported from Europe, first observed in 1817 in Massachusetts, and later observed in Newfoundland by 2007. It is now found in abundance around Cheticamp and the gulf. We are interested in learning how the Green crabs are affecting the local eelgrass beds, which act as nurseries for commercially important species, such as lobster. GAMS was also involved in a study of their populations in 2010.
Climate Change
Rising sea levels, a predicted result of global climate change, will cause our coastlines to shrink and change. GAMS has investigated this climate change indicator in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence through our GIS mapping project, which included spatial and temporal mapping of changes in shorelines and coastal features. This research is still ongoing, as time continues to change the face of our shorelines.
GAMS is providing support for a Dalhousie University project looking at ocean acidification, by working with local fishermen to regularly collect water samples just off Grand Etang.
As our climate and coastline change, our fisheries and tourism practices will have to adapt. GAMS has collaborated with the Ecology Action Centre on their two year project for “Collaborative Research on Climate Change Adaptation for Fisheries and Tourism sectors in Chéticamp.”