Ultrasound imaging identifies life history variation in resident Cutthroat Trout

Abstract

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.

Population Reproductive Structure of Rainbow Trout Determined by Histology and Advancing Methods to Assign Sex and Assess Spawning Capability

“…While there were challenges in performing this technique on smaller or immature fish, it was found to be very effective when applied to larger fish, which were more likely to be spawning capable, a finding consistent with those for other freshwater and marine fish species (Novelo and Tiersch 2012). Identification of spawning capable females via ultrasonography was 100% accurate, which is similar to the accuracy reported for spawning capable female Westslope Cutthroat Trout O. clarkii lewisi (Carim et al 2021). This result supports ultrasonography as a tool to estimate the proportion of the population that is spawning capable.…”

Evaluation of Gonad Reproductive Condition Using Non-invasive Ultrasonography in Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

“…Improvements in ultrasound technology, such as image quality, ruggedness, and water resistance, allow for novel, non-invasive analyses in a variety of aquatic organisms (Shields et al, 1993;Daly et al, 2007;Novelo and Tiersch, 2012). Previously, ultrasound technology has been used to assess the reproductive condition and sex determination in finfish production aquaculture (Bonar et al, 1989;Blythe et al, 1994;Colombo et al, 2004;Naeve et al, 2018) as well as in wild and imperiled species of fish (Evans et al, 2004;Swanson et al, 2008;Chiotti et al, 2016;Brizendine et al, 2018;Carim et al, 2021), but applications to aquatic invertebrate reproductive health is nonexistent.…”