Genetic composition and conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in the San Juan Islands, Washington

Understanding the conservation status of native fish populations is increasingly important because they are put at risk by mounting anthropogenic pressures, including climate change. Conventional approaches to assess fish populations can be logistically challenging and cost-prohibitive. As a result, resource managers often make assumptions about the status of fish populations based on limited information. The watersheds of Washington’s San Juan Islands were considered too small to support wild salmonid populations. Many streams flow only seasonally, and all have been subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic impacts affecting their ecological integrity. Nonetheless, we found that at least five watersheds in the archipelago support populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki). To better understand the conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout populations there, we genotyped approximately fifty trout in each of three watersheds: Cascade and Doe Bay creeks on Orcas Island and Garrison Creek on San Juan Island. Results suggest that two watersheds support native populations and one supports naturalized hatchery fish. The likely native coastal cutthroat trout diversity documented in the two watersheds contributes to the overall diversity of the species, demonstrates that species’ resiliency, and provides justification for conservation measures. Effective management and conservation planning in data-limited situations requires the use of a precautionary approach. Population genetics provide a useful tool for identifying vulnerable fish populations and understanding their relationships with other conspecific populations. This information can inform restoration goals and help identify and prioritize restoration and protection measures.

Changing patterns in coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) diet and prey in a gradient of deciduous canopies

We examined the influence of riparian vegetation patterns on coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki clarki diet and prey from the summer of 2001 through the spring of 2002. Benthic and drifting invertebrates, allochthonous prey, and fish diet were collected from deciduous, conifer, and mixed sections of three Oregon coastal watersheds. The nine sites were best characterized as a continuum of deciduous cover, and shrub cover and proportion of deciduous canopy were positively correlated (r = 0.74). Most sources of prey (benthic invertebrate biomass, allochthonous invertebrate inputs, aquatic and total invertebrate drift) and aquatic prey ingested by coastal cutthroat trout were greater where shrub cover was more abundant. Only aquatic drift, total invertebrate drift, and allochthonous invertebrates were positively correlated with deciduous vegetation. Compared with coniferous sites, allochthonous invertebrates under deciduous and mixed canopies were almost 30% more abundant. Stream discharge likely influenced seasonal fluxes of aquatic invertebrate biomass in the benthos and drift. Aquatic insects dominated gut contents during this study; however, terrestrial prey were most common in the diet during the summer and fall. In the Pacific northwest, systematic removal of deciduous riparian vegetation to promote conifers may have unintended consequences on food resources of coastal cutthroat trout and aquatic food web interactions.

Effects of an increase in large wood on abundance and survival of juvenile salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) in an Oregon coastal stream

We examined the effect of an increase in large wood on the summer population size, smolt abundance, and freshwater survival of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). We examined these parameters for five brood years prior to the addition of wood and five brood years after in Tenmile Creek, a direct ocean tributary on the Oregon coast. Over the same time frame, a nearby reference stream, Cummins Creek, was also sampled for the same parameters. The input of large wood into Tenmile Creek resulted from a planned habitat restoration project in 1996 and an unplanned addition of wood from a winter storm the same year. Steelhead smolt abundance, steelhead freshwater survival, and coho salmon freshwater survival increased in Tenmile Creek after the input of large wood. Steelhead age-0+ summer populations and steelhead smolt populations increased in the reference stream, although steelhead freshwater survival did not. Coho salmon populations remained unchanged in the reference stream. Our results illustrate the potential shortcomings of the before-after-control-impact study design under field conditions and the potential for misinterpreting results had we employed a more modest sampling plan.

Physical constraints on trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) distribution in the Cascade Mountains: a comparison of logged and unlogged streams

The upstream extent of coastal cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) and rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) trout distribution in logged and unlogged streams of the western Cascade Mountains appears to be primarily constrained by steep channel gradient and sparse pool habitat. Narrow or intermittent wetted channels are also important constraints in logged drainages. The upstream extent of trout distribution appears to be resilient to the combined impacts of historic and current forest management activities, in the absence of impassable road culverts. The probability of trout presence decreased with channel gradient and increased with pool abundance in both logged and unlogged streams, as indicated by logistic regression analysis of physical stream attributes flanking the trout distribution limit in 37 logged and 21 unlogged streams. Reductions in wetted channel width reduced the likelihood of trout presence in logged streams. Logistic regression models fit to data from logged drainages generated accurate predictions of trout presence or absence when applied to data from unlogged drainages. The pervasive extent of native trout in the channel networks of the Cascade Mountains emphasizes the ecological importance of small streams in watershed planning.

Summer movement and growth of juvenile anadromous salmonids in small western Washington streams

Movements of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were studied by observations and recapture of marked individuals in three western Washington streams to test the hypotheses that few fish would move, downstream movement would predominate, movers would be initially smaller and grow slower after movement than residents, and habitat quality would influence movement. Contrary to predictions, from 28 to 60% of marked fish moved at least one habitat unit, and immigration of unmarked fish also indicated considerable movement. Upstream movement predominated but the stream with the step-pool/cascade channel type had fewer upstream movers and greater distances moved downstream. Coho movers were not smaller than nonmovers, as predicted based on assumptions that movement results from competitive exclusion. Habitat units that coho left were smaller and shallower but lower in density than units where coho remained. Thus, movement is a common phenomenon rather than an aberration, and may reflect habitat choice rather than territorial eviction. Moreover, movers grew faster than nonmovers, so the "mobile fraction" of the population was not composed of competitively inferior fish but rather individuals that thrived. The phenomenon of small-scale habitat- and growth-related movements should be considered when planning and interpreting studies of juvenile salmonid ecology in streams.

Energy cost of NaCl transport in isolated gills of cutthroat trout

Few studies have made direct estimates of the energy required for ion transport in gills of freshwater (FW) and seawater (SW) fish. Oxygen consumption was measured in excised gill tissue of FW-adapted cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) to estimate the energy cost of NaCl transport in that osmoregulatory organ. Ouabain (0.5 mM) and bafilomycin A1 (1 μM) were used to inhibit the Na+-K+and H+ pumps, respectively. Both inhibitors significantly decreased gill tissue oxygen consumption, accounting for 37% of total tissue respiration. On a whole mass basis, the cost of NaCl uptake in the FW trout gill was estimated to be 1.8% of whole animal oxygen uptake. An isolated, saline-perfused gill arch preparation was also used to compare gill energetics in FW- and SW-adapted trout. The oxygen consumption of FW gills was significantly (33%) higher than SW gills. On a whole animal basis, total gill oxygen consumption in FW and SW trout accounted for 3.9 and 2.4% of resting metabolic rate, respectively. The results of both experiments suggest that the energy cost of NaCl transport in FW and SW trout gills represents a relatively small (<4%) portion of the animal’s total energy budget.

Early survival and development of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and reciprocal hybrids

We compared the survival and development of embryos from fertilization to emergence of two populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), one population of steelhead (Oncorhymchus mykiss), and their reciprocal hybrids under controlled conditions (10 ± 1°C). The egg weight of the steelhead (0.110 ± 0.008 (SE) g) was nearly twice that of coastal cutthroat trout (0.056 ± 0.003 and 0.051 ± 0.001 g for the two populations). Fertilization success, survival, duration of hatching and emergence periods, yolk absorption relative to total alevin weight, and yolk conversion efficiency were similar among the cross types. There was no evidence of reduced hatchability or viability of hybrids despite maternal and paternal species effects on size and development. Fish with cutthroat dams had lower percent hatch, were smaller at hatch and emergence, grew more slowly, used less yolk per day, reached 50% yolk absorption earlier, and had a smaller percent yolk at hatch than those fish with steelhead dams. Fish sired by cutthroat males hatched and emerged earlier and took less time between the two stages than fish sired by steelhead. As a consequence, hybrids with cutthroat dams emerged late and had little yolk, while hybrids with steelhead dams emerged early and had an abundance of yolk.