EBTJV

SENSITIVITY AND VULNERABILITY OF BROOK TROUT POPULATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: We directly measured paired air and water temperatures in watersheds (N = 77) containing reproducing populations of brook trout in Virginia. We found that paired air and water temperature relationships are highly variable among patches but are a useful dataset to classify sensitivity and vulnerability of existing brook trout patches. We developed a classification system using sensitivity and vulnerability metrics that classified sampled brook trout habitats into four categories (High Sensitivity- High Vulnerability (51.9%); High Sensitivity-Low Vulnerability (10.4%); Low Sensitivity-High Vulnerability (7.8%); Low Sensitivity-Low Vulnerability (29.9%). Our direct measurement approach identified potential refugia for brook trout at lower elevations and with higher air temperatures than previous larger scale modeling efforts.
Located in Science and Data / Brook Trout Related Publications
Sharing from NPS: Researchers see startling brook trout declines in Shenandoah streams: Land use and pollution used to be brook trout’s biggest problems. But our latest research shows that being a cold-water fish in a warming world might be its greatest challenge yet. By Jeb Wofford and Evan Childress
Located in News & Events / News Inbox
Small Grant Program now open: 2023 Small grant program for outreach and education.
Located in News & Events / News Inbox

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