thumbnail

Influence of seasonal extreme flows on Brook Trout recruitment

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.1002/tafs.10347

Links

Abstract

Populations of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis exhibit large variation in annual recruitment (abundance of young of the year [age 0]), which is likely a product of density-dependent and density-independent factors. Quantifying the importance of each of these mechanisms in regulating Brook Trout recruitment would be valuable to managers that are responsible for the conservation of this iconic species throughout its native range. We analyzed a time series of age-0 and adult Brook Trout density data collected from 10 streams in the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed, north-central Pennsylvania (2010–2019), using Bayesian hierarchical modeling to partition the density-dependent effects of adult density and the density-independent effects of elevated streamflow on Brook Trout recruitment. Multiple models were examined, and the top-ranked model showed that Brook Trout recruitment followed a Ricker stock–recruitment relationship, with annual recruitment negatively influenced by maximum streamflow during the spring season (March–April). This model will be useful in predicting future variation in Brook Trout recruitment under climate change scenarios in which the frequency and intensity of high-flow events are expected to increase.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Influence of seasonal extreme flows on Brook Trout recruitment
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1002/tafs.10347
Volume 151
Issue 2
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher American Fisheries Society
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 14 p.
First page 231
Last page 244
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
Other Geospatial Sinnemahoning Creek watershed
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details