The key deliverable of STREAM is the generation of DNA biomonitoring reports, derived from DNA data collected by community groups and organizations. STREAM aims to process and analyze DNA samples within two months of sample submission. Timelines are subject to current volume of samples awaiting processing.
Long-Term Data Applications
STREAM reports will enable community-based monitoring groups, Living Lakes Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to apply science-based data to policy-making decisions.
This will be done by integrating long-term DNA data generated by STREAM into existing biomonitoring data to support the development of the STREAM Data Portal and watershed reports. The reports developed within this project will complement existing GIS-related analysis developed within the previous WWF-Canada reports, to generate a new set of threats analysis linked to measures of ecosystem status developed at the watershed scale.
Recently, the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced new legislation regarding protection of fish and their habitat. The DFO legislation proposes the following:
- Creating measures for protecting biodiversity and addressing urgent threats to species and habitat
- Restoring damaged habitat and rebuilding depleted fish stocks
- Protecting fish and fish habitat
- Enabling responsible development around fish/habitat through clearer permitting and codes of practice
- Promoting the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnering with Indigenous communities
Biomonitoring data and reports generated by STREAM are important for positioning resources and aligning environmental watershed monitoring capacity to address the legislation laid out by DFO in Canada.
Report Layout
When submitting samples to STREAM, the reports generated will vary depending on:
- The number of samples submitted (i.e. more analyses can be conducted when an excess of three biological replicates per site are submitted)
- Time frame of samples collected (i.e. from a single year or from multiple years at the same site)
- Study question submitted with samples (i.e. specific questions being asked by community groups)
To receive a sample STREAM report, contact us or email Lab Manager, Michael Wright: mwrigh06@uoguelph.ca.