Redband Trout Research Articles

Sympatric relationship between redband trout and non-native brook trout in the Southeastern Oregon Great Basin

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have been widely introduced outside their respective ranges within North America causing declines and displacement of native trout. Yet, successful coexistence of native and non-native trout has received little attention. Here we evaluated the effect of introduced brook trout on the size and density of native redband trout in two invaded sub-basins in southeastern Oregon. In a multi-year study, we investigated whether habitat and fish communities differed between streams and stream reaches where redband trout were allopatric versus where redband trout were sympatric with brook trout. We hypothesized that redband trout would be less dense and have smaller total length in sympatry with brook trout than in allopatry, but that total trout density would not differ. We investigated whether differences in habitat existed between sympatric and allopatric locations that would indicate differentiation in site level habitat preferences for each trout species. We found that sympatric locations had more wood but similar fish community structure. Mean length and densities of redband trout were higher at allopatric locations. However, in most years at sympatric locations total trout density was twice that of allopatric redband trout sites. Using comparable data from an eastern United States system where brook trout are native, sympatric sites had lower densities of brook trout; however, total trout density did not differ. We conclude that invading trout negatively impact native trout densities; but in southeastern Oregon system the negative impact is minimized.

Comparison of Two Life History Strategies after Impoundment of a Historically Anadromous Stock of Columbia River Redband Trout

AbstractIn this study we collected information on abundance, age structure, migration, and exploitation to characterize the population demographics and reproductive characteristics of a historically anadromous Columbia River Redband Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri population now isolated in a southwestern Idaho reservoir and limited to resident and adfluvial life histories. We estimated there were 3,905 adfluvial individuals in Mann Creek Reservoir in October 2008 based on a mark–recapture population estimate. The adfluvial population sex ratio of 2.78 females per male captured at a weir, peak spawn timing near the peak of the hydrograph (late April), age at spawning (4–6 years), and growth patterns (slow growth in the stream followed by rapid growth in the reservoir) were all characteristic of an anadromous population. Resident fish abundance was not estimated, but the fish were characterized by relatively slow growth, earlier sexual maturity, and a reverse sex ratio (0.23 females per male) compared with the adfluvial fish. The two life histories (resident and adfluvial) and their differential use by the sexes are consistent with life history theory, which suggests female salmonids maximize fitness by increasing body size and fecundity while males attempt to maximize survival at the expense of growth. The migratory fish in this drainage that could have historically exercised an anadromous life history appear to be exercising the next‐best option, an adfluvial life history, which has relatively similar costs and benefits to the anadromous form as distinct from the stream‐resident form. Future studies should evaluate other similar native populations isolated in reservoir systems because these populations could play a role in recovery of endangered steelhead (anadromous Rainbow Trout) populations in the western USA.

The impact of small irrigation diversion dams on the recent migration rates of steelhead and redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Barriers to migration are numerous in stream environments and can occur from anthropogenic activities (such as dams and culverts) or natural processes (such as log jams or dams constructed by beaver (Castor canadensis)). Identification of barriers can be difficult when obstructions are temporary or incomplete providing passage periodically. We examine the effect of several small irrigation diversion dams on the recent migration rates of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in three tributaries to the Methow River, Washington. The three basins had different recent migration patterns: Beaver Creek did not have any recent migration between sites, Libby Creek had two-way migration between sites and Gold Creek had downstream migration between sites. Sites with migration were significantly different from sites without migration in distance, number of obstructions, obstruction height to depth ratio and maximum stream gradient. When comparing the sites without migration in Beaver Creek to the sites with migration in Libby and Gold creeks, the number of obstructions was the only significant variable. Multinomial logistic regression identified obstruction height to depth ratio and maximum stream gradient as the best fitting model to predict the level of migration among sites. Small irrigation diversion dams were limiting population interactions in Beaver Creek and collectively blocking steelhead migration into the stream. Variables related to stream resistance (gradient, obstruction number and obstruction height to depth ratio) were better predictors of recent migration rates than distance, and can provide important insight into migration and population demographic processes in lotic species.

Thermal adaptation and acclimation of ectotherms from differing aquatic climates

To elucidate the mechanisms of thermal adaptation and acclimation in ectothermic aquatic organisms from differing climates, we used a common-garden experiment for thermal stress to investigate the heat shock response of redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) from desert and montane populations. Evidence for adaptation was observed as expression of heat shock genes in fish from the desert population was more similar to control (unstressed) fish and significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from those from the montane population, while F1 crosses were intermediate. High induction of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in the montane strain appeared to improve short-term survival during first exposure to high water temperatures, but high physiological costs of Hsp production may have led to lower long-term survival. In contrast, the desert strain had significantly lower heat shock response than the montane fish and F1 crosses, suggesting that these desert fish have evolved alternative mechanisms to deal with thermal stress that provide better balance of physiological costs. Genomewide tests of greater than 10 000 SNPs found multiple SNPs that were significantly associated with survival under thermal stress, including Hsp47 which consistently appeared as a strong candidate gene for adaption to desert climates. Candidate SNPs identified in this study are prime targets to screen more broadly across this species' range to predict the potential for adaptation under scenarios of climate change. These results demonstrate that aquatic species can evolve adaptive responses to thermal stress and provide insight for understanding how climate change may impact ectotherms.

Individual condition indicators of thermal habitat quality in field populations of redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri)

We monitored redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) physiological status in multiple streams across eastern Oregon, USA that exhibit various summer thermal profiles. Summer river temperatures were higher overall in 2009 than in 2010. Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) levels in both liver and fin tissue from redband trout increased with temperature regardless of location. Lipid levels were lower in fish from waters above 23 °C (in terms of degree-day exposure), and lipids were also related to food availability in 2010. Overall, fish ate more in 2009 than in 2010. Fish size increased more rapidly, and lipids were higher and hsp70 was lower in the cooler Crooked River relative to streams in the John Day River system, though the Crooked River did not have the highest food available. While food availability plays a role in physiological health, our data suggest that temperature is the most influential factor driving growth and energy reserves in stream salmonids during high temperature months; we argue that monitoring physiological indicators in individual fish can serve as a useful proxy for overall thermal habitat quality and population status.

Unintended consequences of restoration: Loss of riffles and gravel substrates following weir installation

We used pre- and post-restoration channel surveys of the Donner und Blitzen River, Oregon, to evaluate the effects of grade-control structures on channel morphology and baseflow habitat conditions for native redband trout and other aquatic biota. Six years after installation, we found that the channel had a smaller proportion of riffles and pools and less gravel substrate, combined with an increase in the proportion of flat waters and consolidated clay on the bed surface. Both local scour downstream from weirs and backwater effects upstream from weirs appear to have caused the general flattening and fining of the channel. A direct-step backwater calculation indicates that backwaters extended to the upstream weir at both low and high flows, creating long sections of flat water separated by short, steep drops. Despite backwater effects, a comparison of longitudinal profiles before and six years after weir installation showed bed erosion downstream of nearly all weirs, likely a consequence of the cohesive clay material that dominates the channel bed and banks. A deep inner channel reflects the cohesive nature of the clay and the mechanisms of abrasion, and indicates that sediment load is low relative to the transport capacity of the flow. Unfortunately, weirs were problematic in this system because of the cohesive clay substrate, limited sediment supply, and low channel gradient. Although deeper flows due to backwaters might be more favorable for resident trout, less gravel and fewer riffles are likely to negatively impact trout spawning habitat, macroinvertebrate communities, and biofilm productivity. Our results demonstrate the potential limitations of a single-feature approach to restoration that may be ineffective for a given geomorphic context and may overlook other aspects of the ecosystem. We highlight the need to incorporate geomorphic characteristics of a system into project design and predictions of system response.

Smoltification in an Impounded, Adfluvial Redband Trout Population Upstream from an Impassable Dam: Does It Persist?

AbstractThis study evaluated whether a population of adfluvial redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii (a subspecies of rainbow trout) in Mann Creek and Reservoir, southwestern Idaho, continues to undergo smoltification. This population had an anadromous component before the construction of main‐stem and tributary dams in 1958 and 1967, respectively. Smoltification was assessed by quantifying the proportion of juvenile migrants that displayed high skin reflectance, comparing mean gill Na+,K+‐ATPase activity among migrants, and examining migration timing compared with that of neighboring steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) populations. Approximately one‐quarter of the 1,502 juvenile migrants trapped and examined displayed the intermediate or high skin reflectance (nonbanded silvery coloration) characteristic of smolts; the other fish maintained a banded coloration more typical of resident fish. For 78 samples of gill filaments over the course of the migration season (18 March to 3 June), Na+,K+‐ATPase activity varied considerably among fish (0.95–5.81 μmol Pi · h−1 · mg protein−1) and doubled in nonbanded fish over the course of the migration period. ATPase activity was significantly higher for nonbanded fish than for banded fish at the end of the migration period (21 May – 4 June). Juvenile adfluvial redband trout migrated from Mann Creek in approximate synchrony with neighboring steelhead populations. These results suggest the possibility that in areas in the Snake River drainage where steelhead have been extirpated as a result of artificial barriers, remnant populations retain the potential for anadromy.

Patterns of Hybridization of Nonnative Cutthroat Trout and Hatchery Rainbow Trout with Native Redband Trout in the Boise River, Idaho

AbstractHybridization is one of the greatest threats to native fishes. Threats from hybridization are particularly important for native trout species as stocking of nonnative trout has been widespread within the ranges of native species, thus increasing the potential for hybridization. While many studies have documented hybridization between native cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii and nonnative rainbow trout O. mykiss, fewer have focused on this issue in native rainbow trout despite widespread threats from introductions of both nonnative cutthroat trout and hatchery rainbow trout. Here, we describe the current genetic (i.e., hybridization) status of native redband trout O. mykiss gairdneri populations in the upper Boise River, Idaho. Interspecific hybridization was widespread (detected at 14 of the 41 sampled locations), but high levels of hybridization between nonnative cutthroat trout and redband trout were detected in only a few streams. Intraspecific hybridization was considerably more widespread (almost 40% of sampled locations), and several local populations of native redband trout have been almost completely replaced with hatchery coastal rainbow trout O. mykiss irideus; other populations exist as hybrid swarms, some are in the process of being actively invaded, and some are maintaining genetic characteristics of native populations. The persistence of some redband trout populations with high genetic integrity provides some opportunity to conserve native genomes, but our findings also highlight the complex decisions facing managers today. Effective management strategies in this system may include analysis of the specific attributes of each site and population to evaluate the relative risks posed by isolation versus maintaining connectivity, identifying potential sites for control or eradication of nonnative trout, and long‐term monitoring of the genetic integrity of remaining redband trout populations to track changes in their status.Received February 24, 2011; accepted August 4, 2011

Major Lineages and Metapopulations in Columbia River Oncorhynchus mykiss Are Structured by Dynamic Landscape Features and Environments

AbstractIt is widely recognized that genetic diversity within species is shaped by dynamic habitats. The quantitative and molecular genetic patterns observed are the result of demographics, mutation, migration, and adaptation. The populations of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Columbia River basin (including both resident and anadromous forms and various subspecies) present a special challenge to understanding the relative roles of those factors. Standardized microsatellite data were compiled for 226 collections (15,658 individuals) from throughout the Columbia and Snake River basins to evaluate the genetic patterns of structure and adaptation. The data were primarily from fish of the anadromous life history form, and we used a population grouping procedure based on principal components and hierarchical k‐means clustering to cluster populations into eight aggregates or groups with similar allele frequencies. These aggregates approximated geographic regions, and the two largest principal components corresponded to ancestral lineages of Sacramento redband trout O. m. stonei, coastal rainbow trout O. m. irideus, and interior Columbia River redband trout O. m. gairdneri. Genetic data were partitioned among primary aggregates (lower Columbia, middle–upper Columbia, and Snake rivers), and the magnitude of genetic divergence relative to genetic diversity was analyzed (per locus) to test for evidence of selection and subsequent signals of adaptation. Two loci showed higher divergence than expected by chance (i.e., positive selection); however, both of these loci were on the fringe of the 99% confidence level and are potential false positives. Genetic patterns were also significantly correlated with certain environmental and habitat parameters (e.g., precipitation), but the extent to which those correlations are causal as opposed to effectual remains unclear. Despite the remaining questions, these data provide a foundation for more detailed investigations of harvest, admixture, and introgression between hatchery‐ and natural‐origin fish and differences in reproductive success among individuals as well as monitoring trends in productivity.

Population Structure and Genetic Divergence of Coastal Rainbow and Redband Trout in the Upper Klamath Basin

AbstractFreshwater‐resident coastal rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus and the anadromous form of the subspecies, coastal steelhead (summer and winter runs), are present throughout the lower Klamath River–Trinity River system. Although coastal steelhead and other anadromous salmonids historically migrated into the Upper Klamath Basin (which encompasses the upper Klamath River and Upper Klamath Lake) and associated tributaries, the construction of Copco Dam in 1918 and Iron Gate Dam in 1962 stopped all upstream migration of fish past these barriers. In the Upper Klamath Lake basin, native Upper Klamath Lake redband trout O. mykiss newberrii are found along with coastal rainbow trout that were trapped above the dams or stocked from hatchery sources. However, relatively little is known about the genetic relationships among the O. mykiss populations within the Upper Klamath Basin. A population genetic analysis based on data from 17 variable microsatellite loci was conducted for samples collected in the Upper Klamath Basin, including rainbow trout and Upper Klamath Lake redband trout (presumably representative of the ancestral coastal and inland lineages) as well as samples of O. mykiss from neighboring inland lake basins. In addition, the Upper Klamath Basin samples were compared with data from O. mykiss populations below Iron Gate Dam. Results demonstrate the presence of distinct inland and coastal genetic lineages as well as divergent lineages represented by samples from the inland lake basins; these results have significant implications for future restoration of O. mykiss in the greater Klamath River–Trinity River system.

Influences of Habitat and Hybridization on the Genetic Structure of Redband Trout in the Upper Snake River Basin, Idaho

AbstractThe genetic structure of redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii in the upper Snake River basin was investigated at various scales using 13 microsatellite loci. The majority of the genetic variation was partitioned between streams, although differentiation among watersheds was significant. This diversity was probably historically partitioned at the watershed scale when steelhead O. mykiss (anadromous rainbow trout) were present, with the exception of small, isolated, headwater streams where there may have been only resident trout. Genetic structure appears to have been altered by a combination of factors, including habitat fragmentation and hybridization with hatchery trout. Redband trout populations in the desert and montane environments both experienced reduced gene flow, but the desert populations displayed higher degrees of genetic differentiation. There was also a significant inverse relationship between the degree of genetic differentiation and the level of allelic diversity. Interspecific hybrids with cutthroat trout O. clarkii were detected within 9% of the sampled sites, but they made up only 2% of fish and were mostly confined to one sample location. In contrast, intraspecific hybrids with coastal rainbow trout O. m. irideus were detected within 31% of the samples sites and were more than twice as likely to be found where historical records indicated that stocking of hatchery rainbow trout occurred. The inclusion of intraspecific hybridized populations altered genetic structure by creating an artificial shared ancestry among populations from different drainages and led to higher levels of genetic variation in each of the populations. The threats of fragmentation and hybridization will need to be considered in developing conservation and management policies for redband trout in Idaho.

Discovery and characterization of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in steelhead/rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have several advantages over other genetic markers, including lower mutation and genotyping error rates, ease of inter-laboratory standardization, and the prospect of high-throughput, low-cost genotyping. Nevertheless, their development and use has only recently moved beyond model organisms to groups such as salmonid fishes. Oncorhynchus mykiss is a salmonid native to the North Pacific rim that has now been introduced throughout the world for fisheries and aquaculture. The anadromous form of the species is known as steelhead. Native steelhead populations on the west coast of the United States have declined and many now have protected status. The nonanadromous, or resident, form of the species is termed rainbow, redband or golden trout. Additional life history and morphological variation, and interactions between the forms, make the species challenging to study, monitor and evaluate. Here, we describe the discovery, characterization and assay development for 139 SNP loci in steelhead/rainbow trout. We used EST sequences from existing genomic databases to design primers for 480 genes. Sanger-sequencing products from these genes provided 130 KB of consensus sequence in which variation was surveyed for 22 individuals from steelhead, rainbow and redband trout groups. The resulting TaqMan assays were surveyed in five steelhead populations and three rainbow trout stocks, where they had a mean minor allele frequency of 0.15-0.26 and observed heterozygosity of 0.18-0.35. Mean F(ST) was 0.204. The development of SNPs for O. mykiss will help to provide highly informative genetic tools for individual and stock identification, pedigree reconstruction, phylogeography and ecological investigation.

Seasonal migrations of adult and sub‐adult redband trout in a high desert basin of Eastern Oregon, USA

Abstract – Redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) migrations were tracked between March 2007 and June 2009 in the Donner und Blitzen River, Oregon, USA, using radio telemetry and PIT tags. We investigated the upstream extent and timing of spawning migrations for two groups of trout, considered the factors that influenced the rate of trout migration and explored the seasonal patterns of redband trout migration related to temperature and flow conditions. We found that trout made long‐distance migrations (up to 91 km) to spawn. Spawning trout from the lower river and middle river migrated to the same reaches, but lower river trout reached spawning habitats later than individuals from the middle river. Migration rate had a positive relationship with fork length and mean river discharge. We also found that redband trout made upstream spring migrations as sub‐adults and as adults. Whereas adult trout migrated to spawn, immature individuals migrated to river segments with more favourable thermal conditions. In both cases, migrations occurred where seasonally appropriate or life‐stage‐specific habitat patches for growth, survival, or reproduction were spatially segregated.

Sex Ratio, Fecundity, and Models Predicting Length at Sexual Maturity of Redband Trout in Idaho Desert Streams

AbstractFactors affecting length at maturity and other important reproductive characteristics have not been investigated for Idaho redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri residing in desert streams. Prespawning redband trout were collected from nine streams, and estimates of length at sexual maturity, median age at maturity, sex ratio, and fecundity were developed along with models predicting length at maturity from physical stream conditions. Males first matured 1–2 years prior to females in seven of nine streams, while in the remaining two populations a few fish of both sexes first matured at the same age. Total length (TL) was strongly related (P < 0.0004; n = 49) to fecundity (F) via the curvilinear function F = 0.0002TL2.5989. Redband trout residing in Idaho desert streams appeared to be less fecund than several other stream‐dwelling populations of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. The best estimate of sex ratio for all fish, including immature fish, was 1:1. The best two‐variable logit model for predicting length at maturity in males included stream order and conductivity, whereas the best model for females included drainage area above the sample site and stream gradient. These models can be used by fishery managers to estimate the total number of mature redband trout present in Idaho streams and, in combination with other data, can be used to approximate effective population sizes across southwestern Idaho desert stocks.

Adaptation of redband trout in desert and montane environments

Natural populations that evolve under extreme climates are likely to diverge because of selection in local environments. To explore whether local adaptation has occurred in redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) occupying differing climate regimes, we used a limited genome scan approach to test for candidate markers under selection in populations occurring in desert and montane streams. An environmental approach to identifying outlier loci, spatial analysis method and linear regression of minor allele frequency with environmental variables revealed six candidate markers (P < 0.01). Putatively neutral markers identified high genetic differentiation among desert populations relative to montane sites, likely due to intermittent flows in desert streams. Additionally, populations exhibited a highly significant pattern of isolation by temperature (P< 0.0001) and those adapted to the same environment had similar allele frequencies across candidate markers, indicating selection for differing climates. These results imply that many genes are involved in the adaptation of redband trout to differing environments, and selection acts to reinforce localization. The potential to predict genetic adaptability of individuals and populations to changing environmental conditions may have profound implications for species that face extensive anthropogenic disturbances.

Validation of scales and otoliths for estimating age of redband trout in high desert streams of Idaho

Studies validating aging structures for rainbow trout are sparse and none have been conducted for redband trout, a common western U.S. sub-species. Oxytetracycline mark-recapture methods (MR), marginal incremental analysis (MIA), and comparisons across multiple populations were used to evaluate the utility of two structures for aging redband trout in high desert streams. We assessed periodicity of annulus formation on scale and otolith samples from all age classes of trout residing in two streams, identified the location of the first annulus on otoliths, and compared age estimates and between-reader coefficient of variation on nine additional streams. The use of MIA successfully validated opaque zone periodicity for fish transitioning from age-0 to age-1, and from age 1 to age 2 in two streams. For fish at liberty 13 and 28 months in the same two streams, MR-derived age estimates from whole and sectioned otoliths were 94–100% accurate for fish from 2–9 years old. Scales were only 77% and 38% accurate for fish at liberty 13 and 28 months, respectively. Between-reader coefficient of variation (CV) for scales was high (11.5%), while CV for sectioned otoliths using whole otoliths as corroboratory structures averaged 2.3%. Scales were thus, an unacceptable aging structure for desert redband trout. Given the confusion in the literature, we suggest that more rigorous research should be conducted to define and explain otolith zone formation.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Related to Redband Trout Occurrence and Abundance in Desert and Montane Streams

Redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri in the Columbia River Basin of western North America occupy desert and montane streams with variable habitat conditions. In general, desert streams are lower in gradient and elevation, contain less large substrate and more silt substrate, are less shaded by overhead vegetation, and have higher summer water temperature than montane streams. Consequently, we assessed whether the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors and the occurrence and abundance of redband trout in southwestern Idaho differed between desert and montane streams (<25 m mean width). Increased occurrence of redband trout in desert streams was most strongly related to increased stream shading and decreased amounts of silt substrate, followed by increased amounts of cobble/boulder substrate and absence of piscivorous fish (i.e., smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui and northern pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis). In montane streams, increased occurrence of redband trout was most strongly related to decreased site elevation and increases in cobble/boulder substrate, followed by decreases in stream gradient and width. Furthermore, occurrence of redband trout decreased in desert streams at mean summer (June–August) water temperature (Tempsmr) > 16 °C. whereas for montane streams, occurrence increased at Tempsmr >9 °C Redband trout density in desert streams was most strongly related to higher stream order (i.e., headwater streams), increased stream shading, and increased amounts of cobble/boulder substrate. In montane streams, redband trout density was not well explained by any stream conditions, but stream shading had the strongest positive relationship with density. Redband trout density was negatively related to Tempsmr in desert streams, but the relationship was weak for montane streams. That environmental conditions related to the occurrence and abundance of redband trout differ between desert and montane streams is important for fisheries managers who manage these disparate populations occurring in such close proximity to each other.

Comparison of Growth and Stress in Resident Redband Trout Held in Laboratory Simulations of Montane and Desert Summer Temperature Cycles

AbstractWithin their native range in western North America, resident redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri occupy stream habitat from high mountains to low desert. To better understand the temperature tolerance, growth, and stress physiology of native redband trout populations and compare the resilience and responses to reciprocal environments of stocks adapted to desert or montane conditions, we conducted controlled laboratory trials. We tested groups of age‐0 progeny from naturally reproducing desert and montane fish stocks in temperature cycles that simulated the summer conditions typical in regional desert and montane stream habitats. The diel cycles ranged from 8°C to 16°C for montane treatments and from 18°C to 26°C for desert treatments, and our tests were repeated over 2 years. We evaluated survival, growth, feed efficiency, plasma cortisol, heat shock protein levels, and body proximate composition in samples of fish collected during and at the completion of the trials. All of the stocks tested had high survival under all conditions, regardless of their geographic origin. We found no differences consistently attributable to desert or montane origin. Growth rates and protein and lipid efficiencies varied among stocks, between temperature treatments, and between replicate years. We found that the expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) was consistently higher in all stocks maintained at desert temperatures regardless of source, but the absolute quantity of proteins measured varied among populations. We conducted an additional short‐term trial to evaluate the responses of different stocks to upper lethal temperature cycles that approached a daily maximum of 30°C. Although desert‐ and montane‐adapted populations of redband trout were equally dynamic and adaptive in desert or montane diel temperature cycles, we conclude that the desert stocks will be more at risk from increasing temperatures and reduced stream flows in the summer months as climate changes.

A physiological approach to quantifying thermal habitat quality for Redband Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) in the south Fork John Day River, Oregon

We examined tissue-specific levels of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and whole body lipid levels in juvenile redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) from the South Fork of the John Day River (SFJD), Oregon, with the goal of determining if these measures could be used as physiological indicators of thermal habitat quality for juvenile redband trout. Our objectives were to determine the hsp70 induction temperature in liver, fin, and white muscle tissue and characterize the relation between whole body lipids and hsp70 for fish in the SFJD. We found significant increases in hsp70 levels between 19 and 22°C in fin, liver, and white muscle tissue. Maximum hsp70 levels in liver, fin, and white muscle tissue occurred when mean weekly maximum temperatures (MWMT) exceeded 20–22°C. In general, the estimated hsp70 induction temperature for fin and white muscle tissue was higher than liver tissue. Whole body lipid levels began to decrease when MWMT exceeded 20.4°C. There was a significant interaction between temperature and hsp70 in fin and white muscle tissue, but not liver tissue. Collectively, these results suggest that increased hsp70 levels in juvenile redband trout are symptomatic of thermal stress, and that energy storage capacity decreases with this stress. The possible decrease in growth potential and fitness for thermally stressed individuals emphasizes the physiological justification for thermal management criteria in salmon-bearing streams.

Introgressive Hybridization of Redband Trout in the Upper McCloud River Watershed

AbstractIntrogressive hybridization is an obstacle to the conservation of many species and subspecies. Diagnostic genetic markers or markers with high allele frequency differentials, such as single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are becoming increasingly useful for detecting introgression between species or subspecies, such as subspecies of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss known as redband trout in the upper McCloud River watershed. Using a diagnostic mitochondrial SNP as well as nine nuclear SNPs, we quantified introgression levels between native redband trout and nonnative rainbow trout at 14 locations in the upper McCloud watershed and two locations in the lower McCloud region. Our analyses suggest that Sheepheaven, Edson, Moosehead, and Swamp creeks contain a large portion of the nonintrogressed redband trout individuals remaining in the upper McCloud watershed, implying a dramatic loss of populations free from introgressive hybridization. The results of this study have key management implications, such as the need to erect migration barriers and cease all stocking in the area. However, for managers to make fully informed decisions, additional research is needed on the population genetic structure and phylogenetics of these populations to clarify the issues of low genetic variation, inbreeding, or both and to define an appropriate management unit.