2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

<< BACK TO AGENDA

6/06/2017 | 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM | COMPARING THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THREATENED LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT TROUT IN TWO DISPARATE NATIVE LAKES | 306C

COMPARING THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THREATENED LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT TROUT IN TWO DISPARATE NATIVE LAKES

Eutrophic, desert terminal Summit Lake and oligotrophic, montane Independence Lake are home to the last two native, self-sustaining, lacustrine populations of threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi, aka LCT). To aid conservation strategy by increasing knowledge of LCT population ecology across its habitat spectrum, we compared the population dynamics of these special populations. Using a novel stage-structured matrix population model that incorporates spawning transitions, we estimated the populations’ growth and net reproductive rates and performed sensitivity analyses. We parameterized the models with estimates from a population viability analysis at Independence Lake and a ‘robust design’ capture mark recapture experiment at Summit Lake. Preliminary results indicate that both populations are declining and that the juvenile stages are the most sensitive. However, unlike Independence Lake, adult non spawners that spawn the following year displayed the second highest sensitivity at Summit Lake. Although the results suggest that their dynamics are similar, conservation managers should remain vigilant to evaluate each population and its environmental context separately. For example, recent drought conditions may be the key driver affecting the spawning behavior at Summit Lake.

C12 Conservation Ecology
C02 Fish and Other Aquatic Vertebrates
C15 Population Ecology & C30 Molecular Ecology

Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference

Presenters/Authors

James Simmons (), University of Nevada Reno, jamessimmons@nevada.unr.edu;