Dynamic Habitat Disturbance and Ecological Resilience (DyHDER): modeling population responses to habitat condition

Murphy, Brendan P.; Walsworth, Timothy E.; Belmont, Patrick; Conner, Mary M.; Budy, Phaedra

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3023

Cited by 11 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 99 publications

(123 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, sampling at this time could disrupt spawning behavior and reduce spawning success. These challenges have forced researchers modeling population persistence of salmonids to generalize limited information on size at maturity [10,[34][35][36], possibly leading to inaccurate estimates of population viability [10]. Managers could therefore benefit from a reliable, less invasive means of assessing the reproductive status and size at maturity in salmonid populations such as Cutthroat Trout.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasound imaging identifies life history variation in resident Cutthroat Trout

et al. 2021

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Human activities that fragment fish habitat have isolated inland salmonid populations. This isolation is associated with loss of migratory life histories and declines in population density and abundance. Isolated populations exhibiting only resident life histories may be more likely to persist if individuals can increase lifetime reproductive success by maturing at smaller sizes or earlier ages. Therefore, accurate estimates of age and size at maturity across resident salmonid populations would improve estimates of population viability. Commonly used methods for assessing maturity such as dissection, endoscopy and hormone analysis are invasive and may disturb vulnerable populations. Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive method that has been used to measure reproductive status across fish taxa. However, little research has assessed the accuracy of ultrasound for determining maturation status of small-bodied fish, or reproductive potential early in a species’ reproductive cycle. To address these knowledge gaps, we tested whether ultrasound imaging could be used to identify maturing female Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi). Our methods were accurate at identifying maturing females reared in a hatchery setting up to eight months prior to spawning, with error rates ≤ 4.0%; accuracy was greater for larger fish. We also imaged fish in a field setting to examine variation in the size of maturing females among six wild, resident populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in western Montana. The median size of maturing females varied significantly across populations. We observed oocyte development in females as small as 109 mm, which is smaller than previously documented for this species. Methods tested in this study will allow researchers and managers to collect information on reproductive status of small-bodied salmonids without disrupting fish during the breeding season. This information can help elucidate life history traits that promote persistence of isolated salmonid populations.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasound imaging identifies life history variation in resident Cutthroat Trout

et al. 2021

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“…Beyond the restoration of a primary sub‐population of native and imperiled Bonneville cutthroat trout, there are several additional benefits of this recovery success. Spawning habitat is naturally limited in this watershed (Budy, Seidel, & Roper, 2012), and the addition of Right Hand Fork provides an additional source population, potentially bolstering persistence of the greater meta‐population in the face of disturbance (Murphy, Walsworth, Belmont, Conner, & Budy, 2020). Re‐establishment of cutthroat trout in Right Hand Fork increases the range of cutthroat trout in the lower portion of the Logan River watershed, expanding the spatial extent and number of sub‐populations in this meta‐population (UDWR, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilient and rapid recovery of native trout after removal of a non‐native trout

Budy

Walsworth

Thiede

et al. 2020

Conservat Sci and Prac

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While the importance of reducing impacts of non‐native species is increasingly recognized in conservation, the feasibility of such actions is highly dependent upon several key uncertainties including stage of invasion, size of the ecosystem being restored, and magnitude of the restoration activity. Here, we present results of a multi‐year, non‐native brown trout (Salmo trutta) removal and native Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) response to this removal in a small tributary in the Intermountain West, United States. We monitored trout for 10 years prior to the onset of eradication efforts, which included 2 years of mechanical removal followed by 2 years of chemical treatment. Cutthroat trout were then seeded with low numbers of both eggs and juvenile trout. We monitored demographics and estimated population growth rates and carrying capacities for cutthroat trout from long‐term depletion estimate data, assuming logistic population growth. Following brown trout eradication and initial seeding efforts, cutthroat trout in this tributary have responded rapidly and have approached their estimated carrying capacity within 6 years. Population projections suggest a 95% probability that cutthroat trout will be at or above 90% of their carrying capacity within 10 years of the eradication of brown trout. Additionally, at least four age‐classes are present including adults large enough to satisfy angling demand. These results demonstrate native trout species have substantial capacity to rapidly recover following removal of invasive species in otherwise minimally altered habitats. While tributaries such as like this study location are likely limited in extent individually, collectively they may serve such as source populations for larger connected systems. In such cases, these source populations may provide additional conservation potential through biotic resistance.

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“…Because traits related to (re)colonization promote recovery following disturbance (Movers, Figure 4 ), it is important to investigate whether different species can safely travel through different habitat types. The ability of animals to adapt to climate warming and changing disturbance regimes can be facilitated by removing barriers (Murphy et al., 2020 ). For example, fencing that blocks wildlife movements on land (Sitters & Di Stefano, 2020 ) and poorly designed culverts and crossings that block fish movements in streams (Neville et al., 2009 , 2016 ).…”

Section: Climate Adaptation Planning For Forests Of Western North Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience of terrestrial and aquatic fauna to historical and future wildfire regimes in western North America

Jager

Long

Malison

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Wildfires in many western North American forests are becoming more frequent, larger, and severe, with changed seasonal patterns. In response, coniferous forest ecosystems will transition toward dominance by fire‐adapted hardwoods, shrubs, meadows, and grasslands, which may benefit some faunal communities, but not others. We describe factors that limit and promote faunal resilience to shifting wildfire regimes for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We highlight the potential value of interspersed nonforest patches to terrestrial wildlife. Similarly, we review watershed thresholds and factors that control the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to wildfire, mediated by thermal changes and chemical, debris, and sediment loadings. We present a 2‐dimensional life history framework to describe temporal and spatial life history traits that species use to resist wildfire effects or to recover after wildfire disturbance at a metapopulation scale. The role of fire refuge is explored for metapopulations of species. In aquatic systems, recovery of assemblages postfire may be faster for smaller fires where unburned tributary basins or instream structures provide refuge from debris and sediment flows. We envision that more‐frequent, lower‐severity fires will favor opportunistic species and that less‐frequent high‐severity fires will favor better competitors. Along the spatial dimension, we hypothesize that fire regimes that are predictable and generate burned patches in close proximity to refuge will favor species that move to refuges and later recolonize, whereas fire regimes that tend to generate less‐severely burned patches may favor species that shelter in place. Looking beyond the trees to forest fauna, we consider mitigation options to enhance resilience and buy time for species facing a no‐analog future.

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Dynamic Habitat Disturbance and Ecological Resilience (DyHDER): modeling population responses to habitat condition

Cited by 11 publications

References 99 publications

Ultrasound imaging identifies life history variation in resident Cutthroat Trout

Ultrasound imaging identifies life history variation in resident Cutthroat Trout

Resilient and rapid recovery of native trout after removal of a non‐native trout

Resilience of terrestrial and aquatic fauna to historical and future wildfire regimes in western North America

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