Age and growth of Appalachian brook trout in relation to life-history and habitat features

Stolarski, Jason T.

doi:10.33915/etd.4340

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Sample sections were bounded at both upstream and downstream ends with block nets to meet the assumption of a closed population. Fish sampling at tributary sites was conducted as part of a concurrent study, thus requiring sampling procedures in excess of what would be required to obtain a representative sample of individuals from the population (Stolarski 2007). Summer sampling was chosen because of reduced brook trout growth rates and the high likelihood that fluvial and resident individuals were spatially segregated at this time (Power 1980; Petty et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brook trout was sampled during 3 weeks in July of 2006 from three representative 100-m sections (up, mid (Stolarski 2007). Summer sampling was chosen because of reduced brook trout growth rates and the high likelihood that fluvial and resident individuals were spatially segregated at this time (Power 1980;Petty et al 2005;Utz & Hartman 2006).…”

Section: Fish Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparisons of growth and condition of fluvial and resident brook trout within partially migratory populations

Stolarski¹,

Hartman²

2010

Fisheries Management Eco

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In partially migratory salmonid populations, growth and condition of migratory fish may be different than that of residents. To ascertain if a similar phenomenon exists in fluvial brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchell), populations, the growth and condition of fluvial and resident brook trout was measured in four Appalachian stream networks. Sites were sampled during summer, cohorts separated via scale analysis and differences in length and condition were investigated. Age-1 and -2 fluvial fish were significantly longer (P < 0.001) than residents of the same cohort. Additionally, age-2 fluvial fish had significantly greater condition (P < 0.005) than resident fish of the same cohort. This suggests that the use of spatially segregated resources can result in growth and condition advantages. However, potentially greater rates of mortality as suggested by low abundance in main stem sites may limit the fitness advantages of this energetically profitable, but ultimately risky, behaviour.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fish Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparisons of growth and condition of fluvial and resident brook trout within partially migratory populations

Stolarski¹,

Hartman²

2010

Fisheries Management Eco

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“…Simply having large amounts of woody materials in a stream will not maximize Brook Trout population stability and resilience if the habitat itself is not stable. Previous studies by (Sweka and Hartman 2006, Stolarski 2007, Sweka et al 2010, Studinski et al 2017 have shown that adding large wood to streams haphazardly does little to increase pool habitat or stability. In those studies, adding large wood resulted in new pool formation with low stability, and at the expense of other pools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…These categorizations were validated using scale-aging techniques (Devries and Frie 1996, Stolarski 2007…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Stability in Appalachian Headwater Systems and Potential Impacts on Brook Trout Populations

Zacavish¹

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Habitat Stability in Appalachian Headwater Systems and Potential Impacts on Brook Trout Populations Zac Zacavish The impact climate change will have on the habitat for Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) could directly impact key demographic characteristics. Traditionally, broad-scale studies of climate change effects on the family Salmonidae focus on the thermal shifts predicted over the next century. While some studies shed light onto other variables such as biotic interactions, flow regime, and disturbance, the significance of the climate-trout interaction is not always observed. With the high degree of influence climate cycles can have on habitat and channel morphology, this study aimed to highlight temporal habitat shifts to begin addressing climate-habitat interaction. By studying habitat distribution and trends in 25 headwater systems over 14 years, Chapter 1 documented a significant decreasing trend in critical pool habitat (S=-73.0, p=0.0004) and significant increase in distance between these pools (r=0.86, p=0.003) since 2003. Chapter 2 used presence only data to build a maximum entropy model to assess probability of occurrence of pool habitat throughout the study region. According to the highest scoring AUC models (AUC=0.89), pool habitat decreased by 23 percent across the national forest between the two periods; and only demonstrated "stability" in 13 percent of its model presence probability. Finally, we were able to show the impact pool stability had on spawning age Brook Trout. Particularly, the directional change associated with each pool unit deviation from stable pools (0.31 individuals per 100 meters) accounting for variations of the random effects' year, site and reach. These results highlight the need to further understand the potential impacts of acute disturbances like floods, debris flows, and other formidable events could have on temporal habitat availability and overall persistence of Brook Trout populations due to a changing climate. Many thanks to my advisor, Dr. Kyle Hartman, whom read many confusing writing samples. He helped give foundation for writing organization and overall guidance in Brook Trout research. Additionally, this project would not have been possible without the Hartman Lab who collected the long-term data necessary to put this thesis together. Dr. Ross Andrew was a core member of this lab whom helped not only in structuring my statistical design but also was valuable help to flesh out ideas. Dr. Charlene Kelly for invaluable help in critiques in thesis writing. Many thanks to the West Virginia Watershed Institute, whom provided the funding for me to pursue this project, even though it was not in the scope of the Institute's mission. Dr. James McGraw was an undergraduate mentor that showed me a career path I could be motived within. I am grateful for each piece that helped me along the way and the patience provided in my long absences from campus iv Table of Contents Trends in Brook Trout Habitat in Appalachian Headwater Streams.

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“…Macroinvertebrate metrics such as richness, percentage of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT), and West Virginia Stream Condition Index (WVSCI) were compared between a set of previous samples in these streams from a spring 2007 study (Stolarski 2007)…”

Section: Study Sites and Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examination and Characterization of Brook Trout Ecology Before and After a Broad Scale Disturbance Event in Headwater Streams of West Virginia, USA

Andrew¹

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The Appalachian Mountains have experienced comprehensive human disturbance since the colonial period. Activities such as mining, logging, and development for agriculture and residential lands have changed the landscape from the old growth state of centuries past. These disturbances have also led to changes in the forests and their drainage systems over time. Native species like the Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis have experienced declines in both size and abundance due to changes in their headwater stream habitats as a function of human activities. Restoration of these habitats by both state and federal agencies, as well as non-government organizations, has been occurring following the destructive logging of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In many places, a return to the conditions found in the old-growth state would take hundreds or even thousands of years, but restoration efforts have shown promise in accelerating the recovery of these native ecosystems. Restoration efforts may focus on chemical, physical, or biological endpoints. Within these headwater streams, a lack of physical channel structure in the form of deep pools and large wood has been shown to limit Brook Trout growth and reproduction. Therefore, many times restoration teams will focus on rebuilding habitat complexity through the physical construction of pools or addition of large wood pieces that may aid in providing fish cover and sediment/organic matter retention. These artificial habitat supplements have been studied by others and have shown some successes in benefitting habitat conditions. However, less is known about natural disturbances that may represent additional stream habitat benefits. Brook Trout populations of headwater streams in West Virginia, USA, and the effects of one such natural disturbance are the focus of the following chapters. Hurricane Sandy, otherwise known as "superstorm" or "frankenstorm" Sandy was the largest (by area) Atlantic hurricane on record in the United States. It struck the eastern continental United States in late October/early November 2012 and combined with a traditional winter nor'easter storm across the mid-Atlantic. This combination of storms produced record snowfall in much of the Appalachian Mountains, with snow accumulations over three feet (0.9 meters) in just a 24 hour period. The snowfall was very wet and dense, and resulted in widespread tree collapse in many forested areas. Some of those trees were deposited in headwater streams that coincided with study sites for a 15+ year study of stream habitat and Brook Trout populations conducted at West Virginia University. The objectives of this work were numerous and were to first quantify the amount and extent of large wood deposition within the set of headwater streams used in the long-term study. The second objective was to identify and explain some Brook Trout population dynamics across throughout the process of this dissertation work. First, thanks to Dr. Kyle Hartman as my graduate advisor and as the chair of my academic commit...

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Age and growth of Appalachian brook trout in relation to life-history and habitat features

Cited by 3 publications

References 73 publications

Comparisons of growth and condition of fluvial and resident brook trout within partially migratory populations

Comparisons of growth and condition of fluvial and resident brook trout within partially migratory populations

Habitat Stability in Appalachian Headwater Systems and Potential Impacts on Brook Trout Populations

Examination and Characterization of Brook Trout Ecology Before and After a Broad Scale Disturbance Event in Headwater Streams of West Virginia, USA

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