Translocation and reintroduction of native fishes: a review of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus with applications for future reintroductions

Mf Hayes,Np Banish

doi:10.3354/esr00849

Abstract

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 34:191-209 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00849 REVIEW Translocation and reintroduction of native fishes: a review of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus with applications for future reintroductions Molly F. Hayes, Nolan P. Banish* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, USA *Corresponding author: nolan_banish@fws.gov ABSTRACT: Declines in freshwater biodiversity resulting from anthropogenic landscape and climate changes are occurring throughout North America. Reintroduction techniques including translocation, captive rearing, and artificial propagation are often used to create new populations, repatriate extirpated populations, or supplement declining populations. Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, a salmonid endemic to the northwestern USA and southwestern Canada, experienced significant reductions in abundance and distribution throughout the 20th century, leading to its listing in the US as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999. A variety of projects involving reintroduction or stocking of S. confluentus have occurred across the western USA and southwestern Canada. In this review, we summarize case studies involving the reintroduction of S. confluentus and use these case studies to develop recommendations and guidelines for future S. confluentus reintroductions. We recommend that the threats leading to the initial decline of S. confluentus must be adequately addressed prior to reintroduction. Further, translocation and reintroduction project documentation is essential for informing future projects. KEY WORDS: Salvelinus confluentus · Bull trout · Reintroduction · Translocation · Captive rearing · Artificial propagation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Hayes MF, Banish NP (2017) Translocation and reintroduction of native fishes: a review of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus with applications for future reintroductions. Endang Species Res 34:191-209. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00849 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 34. Online publication date: September 05, 2017 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2017 Inter-Research.

Highlights

While freshwater covers less than 1% of the earth’s surface, freshwater habitats support more than 10% of all known species and about 33% of vertebrate species (Strayer & Dudgeon 2010)
As the varied outcomes of the case studies included in this review suggest, thorough guidelines and recommendations should be considered prior to implementing a project involving translocation, captive rearing, or artificial propagation to reduce risk and maximize benefit
This review was conducted in an effort to compile past projects involving the translocation of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, learn from the successes and failures of these projects, and apply these findings to future translocations of S. confluentus

Summary

INTRODUCTION

While freshwater covers less than 1% of the earth’s surface, freshwater habitats support more than 10% of all known species and about 33% of vertebrate species (Strayer & Dudgeon 2010). Freshwater habitats in North America are considered to support the greatest biodiversity and are some of the most threatened aquatic ecosystems worldwide due to anthropogenic influences (Allan & Flecker 1993, Ricciardi & Rasmussen 1999, Abell et al 2000). The overexploitation and degradation of freshwater habitats in North America has led to declines in range and abundance of many freshwater organisms, including fish species (Jelks et al 2008). Many conservation projects have been undertaken to restore freshwater habitats and conserve or recover the species that depend on them; significant action is still needed to avoid further declines in freshwater biodiversity (Strayer & Dudgeon 2010). Have focused on aquatic species, including fish, frogs, S. confluentus require water with temperatures genand mussels (Morell 2008, Strayer & Dudgeon 2010). In addition to habitat characteristics, there should be connectivity between spawning, rearing, foraging, migrating, and over-

BACKGROUND

Section 6 Unknown

Methods

Findings

CONCLUSION