Download or read book Using a Spatially Explicit Stream Temperature Model to Assess Potential Effects of Climate Warming on Bull Trout Habitats written by Leslie Anne Jones and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the Flathead River Basin (FRB) undergoes change caused by a warming climate, scientific studies evaluating habitats and species most susceptible to the impacts of climate change will become increasingly important. Here, we seek to identify biologically meaningful physiological thresholds of bull trout in the FRB by modeling stream temperature and using the model as a tool to predict thermal changes caused by a warming climate. Specifically, we developed a spatially explicit stream temperature model to quantify and explore the potential range of thermal warming effects, using the case study of bull trout populations in the FRB. Our objectives were to: i) compare spatial and non-spatial statistical models used to predict stream temperatures throughout the FRB; ii) apply a spatially explicit model to estimate thermal thresholds for spawning and rearing and foraging migrating and overwintering bull trout habitats; iii) predict thermal changes under a range of future climate scenarios; and iv) investigate model behavior and inform future research decisions. Development of spatially explicit models, such as the one described here, will create an ideal opportunity to build collaborative relationships through research so that scientists can further understand how climate change will impact freshwater aquatic ecosystems. In particular, model results may be used to perform ecosystem assessments; inform future research needs; and develop conservation plans with broad applications that reach beyond the Flathead system.

Download or read book Thermal Ecology of Bull Trout Salvelinus Confluentus and Potential Consequences of Climate Warming in Montane Watersheds written by Neil James Mochnacz and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The biodiversity of freshwater fishes has declined rapidly across North America over the past 50 years. At higher latitudes (>60°N) knowledge of freshwater fish biodiversity is incomplete, hampering our abilities to understand how species may respond as climate changes. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is a societally important salmonid that is considered a sentinel species for monitoring impacts of climate change due to its requirement for cold water. In this thesis, I describe the thermal ecology and assess potential effects of climate warming on north-temperate montane bull trout populations. In Chapter 2, I used juvenile distributional data to evaluate design considerations for detecting watershed-scale population trends. Detectability was not uniform, and imperfect detection affected accuracy of assessments most in fringe habitats near distributional boundaries. Detecting a 30% change in watershed-level occupancy ≥78% of the time is possible, but requires three repeat surveys (i.e., temporal replicates) and increased sampling intensity of fringe habitats. Additional sampling effort in fringe sites could be offset by sampling fewer sites in core habitats, while still minimizing risk of non-detection. In Chapter 3, I use full-year stream temperature records to describe thermal regimes that populations experience across a broad latitudinal gradient. All streams showed high thermal stability and similar insensitivity to the warming effects of air temperature. However, fish distribution at higher latitudes was constrained by cold-limiting streams in both the summer and winter (i.e., do not freeze); which is opposite to lower latitudes, where distributional patterns are governed by warm-limiting streams. In Chapter 4, I examined how climatic and geomorphic factors influence the distribution of juveniles in a northern watershed and forecast effects of climate warming on the distribution of suitable habitat. Juvenile distribution is driven by cold-limiting streams, prevalence of perennial groundwater, and stream size. Suitable habitat, based on both climatic and geomorphic factors, is projected to decline across all warming scenarios. Conversely, availability of thermally suitable habitat, which does not consider other habitat factors, is projected to increase. The dichotomy in these projections illustrates the importance of considering broader dimensions of the ecological niche for climate change vulnerability assessments of northern stream fishes.

Download or read book Potential Climate and Land Use Change Effects on Brook Trout in the Eastern United States written by Jefferson Deweber and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Brook Trout is a socially, economically and ecologically important species throughout its native range in the eastern U.S. that is expected to be negatively affected by climate and land use change. In this dissertation, I use publicly available data to identify the potential effects of projected climate and land use change on river water temperature and Brook Trout populations in individual stream reaches throughout the eastern U.S. In Chapter 1, I quantitatively assessed the representativeness of stream flow and water temperature data from U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) gages throughout subregions of the conterminous United States, including the eastern U.S. In Chapter 2, I developed a model to predict river water temperatures under current conditions and future scenarios of climate and land use change. The final model included air temperature, landform attributes and forested land cover, and predicted mean daily water temperatures with good accuracy (root mean squared error ~ 1.9 °C) for training and validation datasets. In Chapter 3, I predicted Brook Trout occurrence probability based on water temperature predictions and selected landscape characteristics using a hierarchical logistic regression model that performed well at both training and validation datasets (area under the receiver operating curve ~ 0.78). In Chapter 4, I identified potential changes in thermal habitat and Brook Trout occurrence probability resulting from projected climate and land use change. The timing, magnitude and location of predicted changes in maximum 30 day mean river water temperature varied greatly among three downscaled climate models, with average increases ranging from 1.21 to 2.55 °C by 2087. As a result of warming, between 56,440 (42.7%) and 109,237 (82.6%) of potential Brook Trout habitat was predicted to be lost. Land use change was predicted to result in localized increases in river water temperature and losses of 4.5% of potential Brook Trout habitat. Given the magnitude of predicted losses, conservation actions will likely be more successful in the long term if the potential changes resulting from climate and land use change are incorporated into the planning process.

Download or read book A Watershed scale Monitoring Protocol for Bull Trout written by Dan Isaak and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Demographic and Habitat Requirements for Conservation of Bull Trout written by Bruce E. Rieman and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Methods in Stream Ecology written by F. Richard Hauer and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2017-01-16 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Methods in Stream Ecology provides a complete series of field and laboratory protocols in stream ecology that are ideal for teaching or conducting research. This two part new edition is updated to reflect recent advances in the technology associated with ecological assessment of streams, including remote sensing. Volume focusses on ecosystem structure with in-depth sections on Physical Processes, Material Storage and Transport and Stream Biota. With a student-friendly price, this Third Edition is key for all students and researchers in stream and freshwater ecology, freshwater biology, marine ecology, and river ecology. This text is also supportive as a supplementary text for courses in watershed ecology/science, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and landscape ecology. Methods in Stream Ecology, 3rd Edition, Volume 2: Ecosystem Structure, is also available now! - Provides a variety of exercises in each chapter - Includes detailed instructions, illustrations, formulae, and data sheets for in-field research for students - Presents taxonomic keys to common stream invertebrates and algae - Includes website with tables and a link from Chapter 22: FISH COMMUNITY COMPOSITION to an interactive program for assessing and modeling fish numbers - Written by leading experts in stream ecology

Download or read book Relationships Between Relative Abundance of Resident Bull Trout Salvelinus Confluentus and Habitat Characteristics in Central Idaho Mountain Streams written by Caleb Frederick Zurstadt and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Resident bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) may be particularly vulnerable to human related disturbance, however very few studies have focused on resident bull trout populations. The abundance of bull trout is one measure of the strength and potential for persistence of a population. Habitat characteristics may influence resident bull trout abundance to differing degrees and by varying means at multiple spatial scales. We used day and night snorkel counts to assess relative bull trout abundance. A modification of the Forest Service R1/R4 Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory was used to assess habitat characteristics associated with resident bull trout. Logistic and multiple linear regression were used to assess the relationships between resident bull trout abundance and habitat characteristics at the patch (1 to 5 km), reach (0.5 to 1 km) and habitat unit (1 to 100 m) scales. Site categorical variables were used along with quantitative habitat variables to explain among-site and across-site variation in the data. The significance of both quantitative habitat variables and categorical site variables at various spatial scales suggest that relationships between bull trout abundance and habitat characteristics are complex and in part dependent on scale. The characteristics of individual habitat units explained little of the variation in bull trout presence/absence (logistic regression; Somers' D=0.44) and density (multiple linear regression; adjusted R2=0.08) in habitat units, however there were habitat characteristics that were significantly (P≤0.05) correlated to bull trout presence/absence and density in habitat units. The relationships between habitat characteristics and bull trout presence/absence and density varied between habitat unit types. There was a strong quadratic relationship between bull trout abundance and mean summer water temperature at the reach (P=0.004) and patch scales (P=0.001). The mean temperature of patches appears to explain some of the variation in bull trout density at smaller spatial scales, such as reaches and habitat units. An appreciation of the complex nature of scale dependent interactions between bull trout abundance and habitat characteristics may help resource managers make wiser decisions regarding conservation of resident bull trout populations.

Download or read book Glacial Loss and Threatened Fish written by Kathleen Campbell Ewen and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Glaciers play a key ecological role in the river systems that they support. Cold-water reaches supplied by glacial ice serve as critical habitats for aquatic organisms that rely on specific thermal ranges to survive. Federally threatened Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) require very cold temperatures, like those found in glacial systems, to complete their life cycles. However, glaciers are retreating due to climate change and are expected to continue diminishing throughout this century. Decreased glacial extent could result in warmer stream temperatures downstream from glaciers and, depending on the magnitude of stream temperature increase, cold-water habitats relied upon by Bull Trout and other sensitive species could shrink. This issue is particularly relevant to Mount Rainier (Washington State, USA). Mount Rainier's dense concentration of glaciers supports several rivers that provide crucial cold-water spawning habitats for Bull Trout. Future scenarios in which Bull Trout spawning habitats are impacted by glacial decline resulting from increased air temperatures have yet to be widely studied on Mount Rainier. To explore the future of Mount Rainier's cold-water habitats, I used hourly stream temperature data collected in the glacially-fed White River and Carbon River watersheds, designated as critical Bull Trout spawning habitat by the Endangered Species Act, from June - October in 2021. Based on these empirical stream temperature data, I fit spatial stream network models to each watershed, representing contemporary thermal conditions as a function of current glacial extent and air temperature. Using seven-day average daily maximum (7DADM) stream temperature as my thermal metric and September as my time frame, I focused predictions during Bull Trout spawning season in the White and Carbon rivers. To then simulate future climate change impacts to spawning habitats, I adjusted the models to predict stream temperature in both mid-century and late-century scenarios of air temperature rise, coupled with 20%, 40%, and 80% declines in glacial extent. The average 7DADM temperature predicted for contemporary conditions was 6.3°C in the White River watershed and 8.1°C in the Carbon. As air temperature values increased and glacial size decreased, stream temperatures increased to a maximum of 15.7°C (an increase of 9.4°C) in the White River watershed and up to 12.7°C (an increase of 4.6°C) in the Carbon. The proportion of river kilometers that may be thermally viable for Bull Trout spawning, classified as ≤12°C, significantly declined in both watersheds by late-century. Site-specific thermal predictions for individual spawning streams found that a few streams may provide cold-water habitats in the coming decades, while most will likely warm beyond a spawning thermal threshold. These results can be utilized by resource managers seeking to conserve Bull Trout and protect the most critical, enduring cold-water habitats. My models can furthermore be used as baselines for future modeling efforts in these or similar glacial systems.

Download or read book Habitat Suitability Index Models written by Robert F. Raleigh and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Estimation of Stream Temperature in Support of Fish Production Modeling Under Future Climates in the Klamath River Basin written by Lorraine E Flint and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-07-10 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stream temperature estimates under future climatic - ing for evaluation of effects of dam removal in the Klamath River Basin. To allow for the persistence of the Klamath River 2012 will review potential changes in water quality and stream temperature to assess alternative scenarios, including damusing a regression model approach with simulated net solar temperature, and mean daily air temperature. Models were calibrated for 6 streams in the Lower, and 18 streams in the Upper, Klamath Basin by using measured stream temperatures for 1999–2008. The standard error of the y-estimate for the estimation of stream temperature for the 24 streams ranged from 0.36 to 1.64 degrees Celsius (°C), with an average error of 1.12°C for all streams. The regression models were then used with projected air temperatures to estimate future stream temperatures for 2010–99. Although the mean change from the baseline historical period of 1950–99 to the projected future period of 2070–99 is only 1.2°C, it ranges from 3.4°C for the Shasta River to no change for Fall Creek and Trout Creek. Variability is also evident in the future with a mean change in temperature for all streams from the baseline period to the projected period of 2070–99 of only 1°C, while the range in stream temperature change is from 0 to 2.1°C. The baseline period, 1950–99, to which the air temperature projections were corrected, established the starting point for the projected changes in air temperature. The average measured daily air temperature for the calibration period 1999–2008, however, was found to be as much as 2.3°C higher than baseline for some rivers, indicating that warming conditions have already occurred in many areas of the Klamath River Basin, and that the stream temperature projections for the 21st century could be underestimating the actual change.

Download or read book Estimating Water Temperatures in Small Streams in Western Oregon Using Neural Network Models written by John C. Risley and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Bull Trout Recovery Under the Endangered Species Act written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Climate Change and Species Interactions written by Richard S. Ostfeld and published by Wiley-Blackwell. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ecological/evolutionary community needs new concepts, models, empirical approaches, and statistical tools to project where individual species will move, how ecological communities will disassemble and reassemble, and how those communities will change in structure and function as the climate continues to change. Stronger predictive power will be critical in mitigating the effects of climate change on biodiversity, community dynamics, ecosystem functioning, and species of conservation concern. To this end, this collection of papers proposes state-of-the-art ways forward and provides materials for both established and student ecologists, policy experts, and natural resource managers to pose creative and effective solutions to the environmental and societal problems caused by climate change.

Download or read book Effects of Temperature on Survival and Growth of Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout written by Elizabeth Ann Bear and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi have declined throughout their native range in the Northern Rockies and were considered for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. Water temperature is widely regarded as playing a key role in determining their persistence, but specific lethal levels and thermal optima for this cutthroat trout subspecies had not been precisely defined. This laboratory study used the acclimated chronic exposure method to determine tolerances and thermal optima of westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, a potential nonnative competitor now occupying much of the former range of westslope cutthroat trout. Rainbow trout had a distinct survival advantage over westslope cutthroat trout at warmer temperatures. The ultimate upper incipient lethal temperature (temperature at which 50% of the population survives for 60-d) of rainbow trout (24.3°C; 95% CI, 24.0-24.7°C) was 4.7°C higher than that of westslope cutthroat trout (19.6°C; 95% CI, 19.1-19.9°C). In contrast, the optimum growth temperature for westslope cutthroat trout (13.6°C; 95% CI, 10.3-17.0°C) over the 60-d test period was very similar to that of rainbow trout (13.1°C; 95% CI, 6.8-18.2°C), although rainbow trout grew better over a wider range and at higher temperatures than did westslope cutthroat trout. The upper lethal and optimum growth temperatures for westslope cutthroat trout are in the lower range among most salmonids. The higher upper temperature tolerance of rainbow trout and its greater ability for growth at warmer temperatures may account for its increased occurrence at lower elevations than cutthroat trout. Water quality standards setting maximum daily temperatures from 13-15°C, near the optimum growth temperature, would ensure suitable thermal habitat to maintain the persistence of westslope cutthroat trout populations. In addition, survival and growth parameters indicated in this study can be used with stream temperature modeling to predict suitable habitat for westslope cutthroat trout, as they may be particularly susceptible to increases in stream temperature associated with climate change. Such predictions of habitat suitability will be vital in prioritizing conservation efforts with respect to reintroduction and translocation of westslope cutthroat trout.

Download or read book An Integrated Approach to Gauge the Effects of Global Climate Change on Headwater Stream Ecosystems written by Gwendolynn Wolfheim Bury and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change is predicted to affect ecosystems, including systems already stressed by human impacts. One ecosystem that is already highly impacted by human land use is the cold headwater stream system of the Pacific Northwest. One method of assessing the function of an ecosystem is by using an indicator species. Rhyacotriton variegatus is one such indicator species, sensitive to disturbance, and especially to temperature elevation. This study combines field measurements from the warmest edge of the range of R. variegatus, laboratory determination of thermal tolerance, and modeling. These diverse experimental sources combine to clarify the potential risks of climate change on R. variegatus, and the headwater streams they occupy. Abiotic factors are important determinates of the range of species. Predicted range shifts under climate change are based on the assumption that temperature increases will make habitat at the edge of the known range unsuitable in the future. In order to accurately predict such changes, a quantification of the current thermal boundary is needed. In Chapter Two, I placed temperature loggers and measured other environmental variables in 28 streams: 8 in the cool core of the range of R. variegatus, 10 as far east and south as R. variegatus has ever been found, and 10 outside the known range of R. variegatus. The variables which best defined the range edge were degree days (number of days over specific temperatures), and the slope of the stream bed. Specific physiological tolerance information is also essential for accurate modeling of species habitats. Physiological limits should be determined experimentally using procedures that mimic natural conditions as closely as possible, so that the results will be applicable to natural systems. Forecasting the effects of human activities on populations also requires an understanding of how specific abiotic changes will impact different life stages. I used a realistic cycling temperature treatment in Capters Three and Four, based on the data collected in Chapter One. I tested the survival of larval R. variegatus at a chronic exposure (21 days), and the level of stress as measured by corticosterone in adult R. variegatus. Larval R. variegatus survived up to a daily maximum of 23° C, beyond this the larvae died (LT 50 value of 24° C). I found that daily maximum temperatures over 18° C caused a doubling of corticosterone. There are many ways of modeling future climate change and the effect of this change on species' distribution. I chose to use large array of potential climate futures, modeling methods, and time periods to forecast the change in R. variegatus' range. This allowed me to compare the variation between the predictions for climate change, and find averages across the models. I used two correlative models, and one mechanistic model. The mechanistic model incorporated the relationship between air and water temperature from Chapter Two, and the physiological limits from Chapters Three and Four. All models predicted decreases in areas of the map classified as excellent habitat for R. variegatus. As expected, the reduction in range was most severe at longer time periods into the future, with higher CO2 amounts in the atmosphere, and in models that incorporated more abiotic variables. R. variegatus are sensitive indicators for headwater stream ecosystem function, and will have a reduced range under climate change.

Download or read book Development of a Simplified Approach for Assessing the Effects of Water Release Temperatures on Tailwater Habitat Downstream of Fort Peck Garrison and Fort Randall Dams written by John M. Nestler and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increased water resources demand in the main stem Missouri River regulated by Corps of Engineers dams has intensified the conflict between the economic benefits of stream regulation and the need to protect natural river ecosystems. Credible predictive tools that can be quickly and easily applied are required to explore and screen alternative reservoir operating plans to determine the downstream water temperature effects on tailwaters supporting temperature-sensitive fishes. The screening model was developed in a two-step process. First, a one-dimensional, longitudinal, riverine model, CE-QUAL-RIV1, was used to predict the downstream water temperature in the 52-mile tailwater of Fort Randall Dam, the 70-mile tailwater of Garrison Dam, and the 186-mile tailwater of Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River. The power of the comprehensive water-quality model was required to predict the complex downstream water temperature patterns resulting from variable year-to-year stratification, complex peaking hydropower release patterns, and variable meteorologic conditions. Downstream water temperatures were simulated for 108 scenarios for each tailwater, covering the expected range of boundary conditions. Second, the output from the 108 scenarios for each tailwater was statistically evaluated to identify major trends and patterns in the results. CE-QUAL-RIV1, Garrison Dam, Water temperature, Fort Randall Dam, Missouri River, Fort Peck Dam, Tailwaters.

Download or read book A Watershed scale Monitoring Protocol for Bull Trout written by Dan Isaak and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 25 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bull trout is a threatened species native to the Pacific Northwest that has been selected as Management Indicator Species on several national forests. Scientifically defensible procedures for monitoring bull trout populations are necessary that can be applied to the extensive and remote lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Distributional monitoring focuses primarily on temporal patterns of occurrence within suitable habitat patches, has minimal field sampling requirements, and can provide inference regarding large areas relevant to land management. This document describes: (1) using a geographic information system to stratify a river network into suitable and unsuitable habitats, (2) determining sample sizes and locations, (3) field sampling techniques, (4) basic trend analysis, and (5) an example application and cost estimates derived from a pilot project in Idaho.