Brook Trout Genetics
Preserving the genetic diversity of wild brook trout is one of EBTJV's six action strategies for conserving brook trout in its native range.
"[gaining a better understanding of brook trout genetics] is something we need to do, not only for information gathering and having better knowledge of the fish that we're managing, but also to help guide us into a future that we know is changing." - Merry Gallagher, Maine DFIW
Preserving genetic diversity is akin to protecting the brook trout 'toolbox', the sections of genetic code that might help brook trout populations survive and even thrive in a changing world.
The field of brook trout genetics is growing. In addition to describing the broad patterns of diversity across the landscape, it offers many techniques for describing or assessing brook trout populations, and data are being used to:
- ask if and how much influence hatchery fish have had on existing brook trout genetics;
- estimate the 'effective' population size and measures of diversity in populations;
- identify unique or at-risk populations;
- help classify streams or watersheds for different management approaches;
- identify source populations for restoring brook trout into stream reaches where brook trout had been displaced or lost;
- identify source populations for bringing brook trout into stream reaches to bolster the diversity of a population at risk of blinking out;
- locate reaches where invasive species or rare species might exist;
- evaluate project success, especially after barrier removal,
- and more
Essentially, genetic information about brook trout populations is being used to help managers prioritize conservation and management actions on the landscape. Managers have other approaches for brook trout conservation such as direct sampling to estimate abundance, distribution, and size structure, and genetic information are best used in concert with these and other tactics. For a more thorough description of possible and emerging uses see publication Kazyak et al. (2021) Development of genetic baseline information to support the conservation and management of wild brook trout in North Carolina.
In collaboration with scientists and experts, we are developing a list of publications and resources for scientific content, and developing user-friendly, digestible take-home messages for everyone's understanding.
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