Metabolic performance and thermal preference of Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi and non-native trout across an ecologically relevant range of temperatures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille J. Macnaughton ◽  
Travis C. Durhack ◽  
Neil J. Mochnacz ◽  
Eva C. Enders
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Performance Curve ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Thermal Niche ◽  
Preferred Temperatures ◽  
Metabolic Performance

The physiology and behaviour of fish are strongly affected by ambient water temperature. Physiological traits related to metabolism, such as aerobic scope (AS), can be measured across temperature gradients and the resulting performance curve reflects the thermal niche that fish can occupy. We measured AS of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 22°C and compared temperature preference (Tpref) of the species to non-native Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout. Intermittent-flow respirometry experiments demonstrated that metabolic performance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout was optimal at ~15 °C and decreased substantially beyond this temperature, until lethal temperatures at ~25 °C. Adjusted preferred temperatures across species (Tpref) were comparatively high, ranging from 17.8-19.9 °C, with the highest Tpref observed for Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Results suggest that although Westslope Cutthroat Trout is considered a cold-water species, they do not prefer or perform as well in cold water (≤ 10°C), thus, can occupy a warmer thermal niche than previously thought. The metabolic performance curve (AS) can be used to develop species‐specific thermal criteria to delineate important thermal habitats and guide conservation and recovery actions for Westslope Cutthroat Trout.

Cold tolerance performance of westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and its potential role in influencing interspecific hybridization

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 777-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Yau ◽  
E.B. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Acclimation Temperature ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Differential Adaptation

Hybridization between rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)) and westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Girard, 1856)) occurs commonly when rainbow trout are introduced into the range of westslope cutthroat trout. Typically, hybridization is most common in warmer, lower elevation habitats, but much less common in colder, higher elevation habitats. We assessed the tolerance to cold water temperature (i.e., critical thermal minimum, CTMin) in juvenile rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout to test the hypothesis that westslope cutthroat trout better tolerate low water temperature, which may explain the lower prevalence of rainbow trout and interspecific hybrids in higher elevation, cold-water habitats (i.e., the “elevation refuge hypothesis”). All fish had significantly lower CTMin values (i.e., were better able to tolerate low temperatures) when they were acclimated to 15 °C (mean CTMin = 1.37 °C) versus 18 °C (mean CTMin = 1.91 °C; p < 0.001). Westslope cutthroat trout tended to have lower CTMin than rainbow trout from two populations, second–generation (F2) hybrids between two rainbow trout populations, and backcrossed rainbow trout at 15 °C (cross type × acclimation temperature interaction; p = 0.018). Differential adaptation to cold water temperatures may play a role in influencing the spatial distribution of hybridization between sympatric species of trout.

Analysis of trade-offs between threats of invasion by nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and intentional isolation for native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas P Peterson ◽  
Bruce E Rieman ◽  
Jason B Dunham ◽  
Kurt D Fausch ◽  
Michael K Young
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Stream Network ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conservation Actions

Native salmonid fishes often face simultaneous threats from habitat fragmentation and invasion by nonnative trout species. Unfortunately, management actions to address one may create or exacerbate the other. A consistent decision process would include a systematic analysis of when and where intentional use or removal of barriers is the most appropriate action. We developed a Bayesian belief network as a tool for such analyses. We focused on native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and considered the environmental factors influencing both species, their potential interactions, and the effects of isolation on the persistence of local cutthroat trout populations. The trade-offs between isolation and invasion were strongly influenced by size and habitat quality of the stream network to be isolated and existing demographic linkages within and among populations. An application of the model in several sites in western Montana (USA) showed the process could help clarify management objectives and options and prioritize conservation actions among streams. The approach can also facilitate communication among parties concerned with native salmonids, nonnative fish invasions, barriers and intentional isolation, and management of the associated habitats and populations.

Cutthroat Trout: Evolutionary Biology and Taxonomy

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Coastal Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Museum Samples ◽  
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout ◽  
The 1960S

<em>Abstract</em>.—There has been considerable interest in the systematics and classification of Cutthroat Trout since the 1800s. Cutthroat Trout native to western North America (currently classified as <em>Oncorhynchus clarkii</em>) have historically been grouped or separated using many different classification schemes. Since the 1960s, Robert Behnke has been a leader in these efforts. Introductions of nonnative trout (other forms of Cutthroat Trout, and Rainbow Trout <em>O. mykiss</em>) have obscured some historical patterns of distribution and differentiation. Morphological and meristic analyses have often grouped the various forms of Cutthroat Trout together based on the shared presence of the “cutthroat mark,” high scale counts along the lateral line, and the presence of basibranchial teeth. Spotting patterns and counts of gill rakers and pyloric caeca have in some cases been helpful in differentiation of groups (e.g., Coastal Cutthroat Trout <em>O. c. clarkii</em>, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout <em>O. c. henshawi</em>, and Westslope Cutthroat Trout <em>O. c. lewisi</em>) currently classified as subspecies. The historical genetic methods of allozyme genotyping through protein electrophoresis and chromosome analyses were often helpful in differentiating the various subspecies of Cutthroat Trout. Allozyme genotyping allowed four major groups to be readily recognized (Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout subspecies complex, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout <em>O. c. bouvieri </em>subspecies complex) while chromosome analyses showed similarity between the Lahontan and Yellowstone Cutthroat trout subspecies complex trout (possibly reflecting shared ancestral type) and differentiated the Coastal and Westslope Cutthroat trouts from each other and those two groups. DNA results may yield higher resolution of evolutionary relationships of Cutthroat Trout and allow incorporation of ancient museum samples. Accurate resolution of taxonomic differences among various Cutthroat Trout lineages, and hybridization assessments, requires several approaches and will aid in conservation of these charismatic and increasingly rare native fishes.

Spatial and temporal spawning dynamics of native westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi, introduced rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and their hybrids

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 1153-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clint C. Muhlfeld ◽  
Thomas E. McMahon ◽  
Durae Belcer ◽  
Jeffrey L. Kershner
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
River System ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Spring Runoff

We used radiotelemetry to assess spatial and temporal spawning distributions of native westslope cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi ; WCT), introduced rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ; RBT), and their hybrids in the upper Flathead River system, Montana (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), from 2000 to 2007. Radio-tagged trout (N = 125) moved upriver towards spawning sites as flows increased during spring runoff and spawned in 29 tributaries. WCT migrated greater distances and spawned in headwater streams during peak flows and as flows declined, whereas RBT and RBT hybrids (backcrosses to RBT) spawned earlier during increasing flows and lower in the system. WCT hybrids (backcrosses to WCT) spawned intermediately in time and space to WCT and RBT and RBT hybrids. Both hybrid groups and RBT, however, spawned over time periods that produced temporal overlap with spawning WCT in most years. Our data indicate that hybridization is spreading via long-distance movements of individuals with high amounts of RBT admixture into WCT streams and stepping-stone invasion at small scales by later generation backcrosses. This study provides evidence that hybridization increases the likelihood of reproductive overlap in time and space, promoting extinction by introgression, and that the spread of hybridization is likely to continue if hybrid source populations are not reduced or eliminated.

Genetic variation in westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi: implications for conservation

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1513-1523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Drinan ◽  
Steven T. Kalinowski ◽  
Ninh V. Vu ◽  
Bradley B. Shepard ◽  
Clint C. Muhlfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii

scholarly journals Estimating westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) movements in a river network using strontium isoscapes

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clint C. Muhlfeld ◽  
Simon R. Thorrold ◽  
Thomas E. McMahon ◽  
Brian Marotz
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Large River ◽  
River Network ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
Highly Correlated

We used natural variation in the strontium concentration (Sr:Ca) and isotope composition (87Sr:86Sr) of stream waters and corresponding values recorded in otoliths of westslope cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi ) to examine movements during their life history in a large river network. We found significant spatial differences in Sr:Ca and 87Sr:86Sr values (strontium isoscapes) within and among numerous spawning and rearing streams that remained relatively constant seasonally. Both Sr:Ca and 87Sr:86Sr values in the otoliths of juveniles collected from nine natal streams were highly correlated with those values in the ambient water. Strontium isoscapes measured along the axis of otolith growth revealed that almost half of the juveniles had moved at least some distance from their natal streams. Finally, otolith Sr profiles from three spawning adults confirmed homing to natal streams and use of nonoverlapping habitats over their migratory lifetimes. Our study demonstrates that otolith geochemistry records movements of cutthroat trout through Sr isoscapes and therefore provides a method that complements and extends the utility of conventional tagging techniques in understanding life history strategies and conservation needs of freshwater fishes in river networks.

Propagated Fish in Resource Management

2004 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Natural Hybridization ◽  
Westslope Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Mitochondrial Haplotypes ◽  
Directional Preference ◽  
Time Of Year

<em>Abstract.</em>—Westslope cutthroat trout <em>Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi </em>are currently under a second review for listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Both natural and anthropogenically induced hybridization has been previously documented between this subspecies and rainbow trout <em>O. mykiss </em>and between steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) and coastal cutthroat trout <em>O. clarkii clarkii</em>. However, levels of reported introgression have varied greatly. To assess natural hybridization and the extent to which it may affect the frequency and persistence of <em>O. mykiss </em>alleles among sympatric populations of westslope trout, we used three nuclear loci to detect hybrids, and mitochondrial DNA to assess the direction of hybridization and introgression in Big Creek, Idaho and its tributaries. Natural hybridization between westslope cutthroat and sympatric rainbow trout/steelhead appears to occur at a relatively low frequency with numerous parental types still present in varying numbers within the drainage. Subsequent genetic analyses revealed no hybridization in samples from 2001 and percentages of hybrid genotypes within sample locations ranging from 1.6% to 13.3% in 2002. Differences between years may be attributable to sampling, time of year, and seasonal movements of westslope cutthroat trout and their hybrids. Furthermore, hybrids were more frequently observed (<em>p </em>< 0.01) with mitochondrial haplotypes of westslope cutthroat trout indicating a directional preference of westslope cutthroat females spawning with <em>O. mykiss </em>males.

Balancing Fisheries Management and Water Uses for Impounded River Systems

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽  
Natural Reproduction ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
Natural Recruitment

<em>Abstract</em>.—The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has stocked fingerling Yellowstone cutthroat trout <em>Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri</em>, hybrid trout (rainbow trout <em>O. mykiss</em> × Yellowstone cutthroat trout), and brook trout <em>Salvelinus fontinalis </em>(hereafter referred to collectively as trout) in Henrys Lake since the early 1900s to supplement natural recruitment and increase angler catch rates. Annual stocking rates have varied from 317 to 1,027 fingerling (approximately 75 mm) trout per hectare from 1971 to present. Stocking densities can influence angler catch rates but are limited by production constraints and costs associated with raising and transporting fish. By refining fingerling trout stocking densities, managers can optimize the fishery and minimize hatchery expenditures. To fully understand the effects of stocking density on angler catch rates in a lake with natural reproduction, we estimated the contribution of hatchery fish to the fishery by analyzing 6 years of marked fingerling stockings and found that natural recruitment added little to the adult population. We then explored the relationships among stocking densities, angler catch rates, and size of fish harvested by anglers to determine the optimal stocking density needed to achieve our management objectives of catch rates 0.7 fish per hour and 10% of harvested Yellowstone cutthroat trout exceeding 500 mm. We found increased catch rates following years when stocking densities were high. However, mean size of Yellowstone cutthroat trout harvested decreased following years of higher stocking densities. We estimate that approximately 737 fingerling trout per hectare are needed annually to achieve angler catch rates of 0.7 fish per hour. At this stocking density, we estimated that approximately 3% of harvested Yellowstone cutthroat trout would exceed 500 mm. This fell below our management objective of 10% of harvested Yellowstone cutthroat trout exceeding 500 mm and suggested that our current catch rate objective and size objective may be incompatible. This information should be combined with angler opinion data to formulate attainable goals for the fishery.

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