Category Archives: Species at Risk

There has been a dramatic decline in freshwater fish biodiversity globally, and this is true in Canada as well. Losses of freshwater fishes have important consequences to Canadians. Freshwater fish provide forage for other biota, drive ecosystem properties, and are indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. In the PoeschLab, we study the declines of freshwater fishes, including species like: Arctic Grayling, Athabasca Rainbow Trout (Endangered), Bull Trout (Special Concern), Carmine Shiner (Threatened), Lake Sturgeon (Saskatchewan River, COSEWIC: Endangered), Plains Sucker (Milk River Population – Threatened), Redside Dace (Endangered), Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Eastslope Population – Endangered), Western Silvery Minnow (Threatened), Westslope Cutthroat Trout (AB Population – Threatened), among many others.

Medinski, N. (2018) Assessing the impacts of multiple ecological stressors on an endangered native salmonid, the Athabasca Rainbow Trout, in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Thesis Title: Assessing the impacts of multiple ecological stressors on an endangered native salmonid, the Athabasca Rainbow Trout, in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Author: Nathan Medinski

Abstract

Freshwater fish face a multitude of ecological stressors, which has resulted in substantial declines in aquatic biodiversity. The loss of aquatic biodiversity can lead to changes in ecosystem function, productivity and food web dynamics. One such imperiled freshwater fish is the Athabasca Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a unique Rainbow Trout ecotype found in the upper reaches of the Athabasca River watershed, forming the only native Rainbow Trout population in Alberta. Athabasca Rainbow Trout have experienced widespread declines in abundance, with losses of approximately 90% over the last three generation, or approximately 15 years. Two of the main ecological stressors impacting Athabasca Rainbow Trout are competition with invasive Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and habitat degradation associated with natural resource extraction developments in the region. For example, in 2013 the accidental breach of a tailings dam at the Obed coal mine near Hinton, Alberta, Canada, released 670,000 m3 of coal tailings material into Athabasca Rainbow Trout habitat. My goal in this thesis was to improve our understanding of ongoing impacts from multiple ecological stressors on Athabasca Rainbow Trout abundance and food resource use, inferred from sampling seven streams in the upper Athabasca River watershed. The specific objectives of this thesis were therefore to: 1) determine how this ecological stressor gradient has influenced Athabasca Rainbow Trout abundance in the foothills of west-central Alberta, and 2) understand how food resource utilization by Athabasca Rainbow Trout populations has been affected along a disturbance gradient associated with habitat degradation from the Obed mine tailings release and competition with invasive Brook Trout.

To meet my first study objective, I compared Rainbow Trout abundance with metrics associated with mining impacts to aquatic systems, landscape level stressors, abundance of invasive species and general stream habitat parameters between waterbodies along a gradient of ecological stressors.  I determined that Athabasca Rainbow Trout abundance was not significantly different between groupings of streams impacted by the Obed mine tailings release compared with reference streams but was lowest in streams that were both highly turbid and had high abundance of invasive Brook Trout. To answer my second study objective, I used stable isotope analysis to determine trophic position, carbon source pathways, diet composition, niche width and resource use overlap to infer if food resource use changed along a disturbance gradient. I found that Athabasca Rainbow Trout in tailings disturbed waterbodies were utilizing a wider breadth of dietary resources and had substantially higher niche overlap with Brook Trout than in waterbodies not impacted by the tailings release, indicative of greater competition for food resources. 

This thesis contributes to our understanding of how endangered Athabasca Rainbow Trout populations have been impacted by multiple ecological stressors and quantifies important interactions between these stressors with fish abundance and food resource use. Fisheries managers may wish to pursue additional measures to prevent subsequent declines in Athabasca Rainbow Trout populations by minimizing the detrimental impacts associated with landscape level habitat degradation and competition with invasive Brook Trout.

van der Lee, A.S., Poesch, M.S., Drake, D.A.R, and Koops M.A. 2018. Recovery Potential Modelling of Redside Dace (Clintostomus elongatus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/nnn. vi + 39 p.

Citation: van der Lee, A.S., Poesch, M.S., Drake, D.A.R, and Koops M.A. 2018.  Recovery Potential Modelling of Redside Dace (Clintostomus elongatus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/nnn. vi + 39 p.

Abstract

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed Redside Dace (Clintostomus elongatus) as Endangered in Canada. Here we present population modelling to determine population-based recovery targets, assess allowable harm, and conduct long-term projections of population recovery in support of a recovery potential assessment (RPA). Our analyses demonstrate that the dynamics of Redside Dace populations are particularly sensitive to perturbations that affect survival of immature individuals (from hatch to age-2) and population-level fecundity. Harm to these portions of the life cycle should be minimized to avoid jeopardizing the survival and future recovery of Canadian populations. Meta-population structure was incorporated into analyses. The manner in which catastrophes impacted segments of the meta-population influenced recovery target estimates, indicating that understanding the extent of meta-population structure throughout the species range is needed to refine recovery targets. To achieve demographic sustainability, (i.e. a self-sustaining population over the long term) under conditions with a catastrophe probability of 0.15/generation and a quasi-extinction threshold of 50 adults at a 1% probability of extinction over 100 years, population sizes ranging from 18 000 to 75 000 were required. This required between 3.2 and 13.2 ha of suitable Redside Dace habitat. We simulated three recovery effort strategies focused on improving vital rates (survival and fecundity).  A declining population (λ = 0.89) required considerable improvement to individual vital rates (> 40%) to cease population decline. If, however, survival of all age-classes could be augmented simultaneously an improvement of only 13% was required. Depending on the strategy employed, recovery occurred after 48 to 120 years. Recovery efforts affecting survival of all age-classes provided the greatest improvement to population growth rate and therefore resulted in quickest recovery (48 years).

Drake, D.A.R., and M.S. Poesch. 2018. Seasonal Movement of Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) in relation to abiotic and biotic factors. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/nnn. vi + xxx p.

Citation: Drake, D.A.R., and M.S. Poesch. 2018. Seasonal Movement of Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) in relation to abiotic and biotic factors. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/nnn. vi + xxx p.

Abstract

Most animal populations are composed of stationary and mobile individuals, which can influence metapopulation structure and the spatial distribution of mortality.  We investigated the incidence of stationarity and mobility in two relatively stable populations of Redside Dace (Berczy Creek and Leslie Tributary) in the Rouge River drainage in Canada. Multiple linear regression was used to determine if stationarity and mobility were related to stream flow attributes (mean and 90th percentile of daily discharge; stream flow flashiness). For the mobile fraction of the population, we developed spatial interaction models to determine the abiotic (aquatic habitat variables) and biotic variables (species-level CUE of the fish assemblage) associated with movement.  Results indicated a high level of movement synchrony among populations, with generally similar stationarity and movement bias depending on season. Stationarity ranged from a high of 0.74 and 0.67 (spring 2007, Berczy and Leslie, respectively) to a low of 0 and 0.07 (October – early May and early – late May, Berczy ; October – early May, Leslie). Stationarity was only weakly negatively related to stream flow attributes (mean and 90th percentile of daily discharge), while movement bias was weakly positively and negatively related to stream flow. At the reach level, spatial interaction models indicated that distance and biotic factors (CUE of Creek Chub, Common Shiner, and White Sucker) were important predictors of the probability of moving to a reach, as were aquatic habitat variables (standard deviation of reach volume (positive), mean and standard deviation of depth (positive), and mean stream width (negative)). Results indicate that factors operating at different spatial and temporal scales (stream  flow, species CUE, reach-level habitat) influence stationarity and mobility of Redside Dace, yet a substantial amount of movement variation remains unexplained by environmental factors. Future work is needed to resolve the implications of stationarity and mobility on individual and population-level mortality so that projections of extinction risk can be refined.    

Rudolfsen, T.*, Watkinson, D. and Poesch, M.S. (2018) Morphological divergence of the Threatened Rocky Mountain sculpin (Cottus sp.) is driven by biogeography and flow regime. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 28: 78-86.

Abstract

Stream hydrology is considered the primary factor in structuring freshwater fish communities,influencing stream habitats, food resources, and life‐history characteristics. Changes in stream hydrology, from climate change and anthropogenic sources (e.g. dams, irrigation channels), are thought to have adverse impacts on many freshwater species. The Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.) is a threatened species in Canada. Phenotypes of Rocky Mountain Sculpin were compared across a gradient of four streams differing in stream hydrology. It was hypothesized that Rocky Mountain Sculpin would show body forms minimizing drag in higher flow environments. Using geometric morphometrics and meristic counts, body shape, fin rays, and sensory pores were compared. As hypothesized, high‐flow river systems were correlated with sculpin with more dorso‐ventrally compressed, slender body shapes that minimized resistance to flow (P<0.001). Rocky Mountain Sculpin had more pectoral fin rays in populations with higher flows than lower flows,potentially allowing them to increase friction when gripping onto the substrate (P<0.001), and more anteriorly and dorsally located head pores to improve detection of floating prey (P<0.001). Biogeographic isolation and difference in flow regime were the likely basis for the observed morphological variation. The degree to which these phenotypes become fixed is unknown;however, since phenotypic diversity parallels genetic diversity in Rocky Mountain Sculpin,there is the possibility that persistent selection of these phenotypes can make it difficult to adapt to rapidly changing habitat conditions, such as changing flow. This study emphasizes the importance of considering phenotypic and morphological variation when evaluating how best to mitigate anthropogenic stressors and their impact on freshwater fishes.

Citation: Rudolfsen, T.*, Watkinson, D. and Poesch, M.S. (2018) Morphological divergence of the Threatened Rocky Mountain sculpin (Cottus sp.) is driven by biogeography and flow regime. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 28: 78-86.

Flow Regime across the range of Rocky Mountain Sculpin

Morphological Differences Across Populations (Dorsal view) of Rocky Mountain Sculpin

Also Read:

Rudolfsen, T.*, Ruppert, J.W.R.*, Davis, C., Taylor, R., Watkinson, D. and M.S. Poesch (2019) Habitat use and hybridization between the Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.) and Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Freshwater Biology 64(3): 391-404.

* Lab members: Tyana Rudolfsen, Mark Poesch. Check out opportunities in the lab!

Rudolfsen, T.A. (2017) Characterizing adaptive morphological features and resource selection of Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.), a species at risk in Canada

Thesis Title: Characterizing adaptive morphological features and resource selection of Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.), a species at risk in Canada

Author: Tyana Rudolfsen

Abstract

Freshwater biodiversity is presently one of the world’s largest conservation concerns. Both direct and indirect human activities contributing to waterway modifications, climate change, and habitat alteration are causing major declines in freshwater fish species richness and abundance. While these impacts are well studied for pelagic fishes, little is known about how to best direct management efforts toward benthic, dispersal-limited fishes. The Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.), a benthic, sedentary, and federally listed species at risk in Canada, was used to address the following objectives: 1) to identify its susceptibility to varying flow regime, and whether or not it displays morphological adaptation to flow, and 2) to characterize hybrid zones and the driving environmental factors that lead to their persistence. Using geometric morphometrics and meristic counts of fin rays/spines and sensory pores, phenotype was compared across the four river populations in Canada. Systems with higher flow regimes generally had Rocky Mountain Sculpin that were more dorso-ventrally compressed and had meristic features better suited to positioning themselves among cobble substrate and detecting prey in fast moving water. Biogeographic isolation contributed to phenotypic variation, indicating that the Rocky Mountain Sculpin might not be able to quickly adapt to human-induced flow alterations. To achieve the second objective, hybrid zones between the westslope Rocky Mountain Sculpin population (Flathead River drainage, BC) and the Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) were studied. Using 731 genetic samples and 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci, two hybrid zones were identified more upstream than expected from previous studies. A logistic mixed-effects model revealed that habitat features relating to climate change and water quality were driving an upstream range expansion of Rocky Mountain Sculpin and movement of hybrid zones. While the Rocky Mountain Sculpin, despite their sedentary life history, appears to have more tolerance to anthropogenic habitat alterations that originally expected, their tolerance level likely has limits that can be widely detrimental to the species if tested. Further, given their high levels of phenotypic variation across populations, management efforts involving dispersal-limited species should be directed at the population level. In the event of hybrid zones, which are indicators of more localized environmental factors driving species presence, a more localized scale of management might be required.

Ruppert, J.L.W.*, Docherty,C.*, Rudolfsen, T.*, Neufeld, K.*, Hamilton, K.*, MacPherson, L. and M.S. Poesch. (2017) Native North American freshwater species get out of the way: Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio) establishment impacts both fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Royal Society Open Science 4: 170400.

Abstract: 

Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) are one of the most noxious non-native species in Eurasia. Recently, Prussian carp, a nonnative freshwater fish species, were genetically confirmed in Alberta, Canada and have been rapidly expanding their range in North America since establishment. Given their rapid range expansion, there is an increasing need to determine how Prussian carp may impact native species. We assessed the severity of the Prussian carp invasion by (i) determining their impact on fish communities, (ii) assessing their impact on benthic invertebrate communities, (iii) evaluating if Prussian carp alter abiotic conditions, and (iv) identifying where we find higher abundances of Prussian carp. When Prussian carp were established, we found significant changes to the fish community. Correspondingly, the degree of impact to benthic invertebrate communities was related to the stage of invasion (none, early or recent), where changes in fish communities were significantly concordant with changes in benthic invertebrate communities. Finally, we found that higher abundances of Prussian carp were significantly associated with lower abundances of a majority of native fish species. Altogether, using three lines of evidence, we determine that Prussian carp can have wide-ranging impacts on freshwater ecosystems in North America, pressing the need for management intervention.

Citation: Ruppert, J.L.W.*, Docherty,C.*, Rudolfsen, T.*, Neufeld, K.*, Hamilton, K.*, MacPherson, L. and M.S. Poesch. (2017) Native North American freshwater species get out of the way: Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio) establishment impacts both fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Royal Society Open Science 4: 170400.

Also Read:

Docherty, C.*, Ruppert, J.*, Rudolfsen, T.*, Hamann, A., and Poesch, M.S. (2017) Assessing the spread and potential impact of Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch, 1782) to freshwater fishes in western North America. BioInvasions Records 6: 291-296.

*Lab members: Jonathan Ruppert, Cassandra Docherty, Tyana Rudolfsen, Kenton Neufeld, Kyle Hamilton, Mark Poesch. Check out opportunities in the lab!

Veillard, M.F.*, Ruppert, J.L.W.*, Tierney, K., Watkinson, D., and M.S. Poesch. (2017) Comparative swimming and station-holding ability of the threatened Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.) from four hydrologically distinct rivers. Conservation Physiology 5: 1-12.

Abstract:

Hydrologic alterations, such as dams, culverts or diversions, can introduce new selection pressures on freshwater fishes, where they are required to adapt to novel environmental conditions. Our study investigated how species adapt to natural and altered stream flow, where we use the threatened Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.) as a model organism. We compared the swimming and station-holding performance of Rocky Mountain Sculpin from four different hydrologic regimes in Alberta and British Columbia, including the North Milk River, a system that experiences increased flows from a large-scale diversion. We measured the slip (Uslip) and failure (Uburst) velocities over three constant acceleration test trials. Uslipwas defined as the point at which individuals required the addition of bursting or swimming to maintain position. Uburst was defined as the point at which individuals were unable to hold position in the swimming chamber through swimming, bursting or holding techniques without fully or partially resting on the electrified back plate. We found individuals from the Flathead River in British Columbia (with the highest natural flow) failed at significantly higher Uburstvelocities than fish from the southern Albertan populations. However, there was no relationship between peak hydrologic flow from the natal river and Uburst or Uslip. Further, Uburst velocities decreased from 51.8 cm s−1 (7.2 BL s−1) to 45.6 cm s−1 (6.3 BL s−1) by the third consecutive test suggesting the use of anaerobic metabolism. Uslip was not different between trials suggesting the use of aerobic metabolism in station-holding behaviours (Uslip). Moreover, we found no significant differences in individuals from the altered North Milk River system. Finally, individual caudal morphological characteristics were related to both slip and failure velocities. Our study contributes to the conservation of Rocky Mountain Sculpin by providing the first documentation of swimming and station-holding abilities of this benthic fish.

Citation: Veillard, M.F.*, Ruppert, J.L.W.*, Tierney, K., Watkinson, D., and Poesch, M.S. 2017. Comparative swimming and station-holding ability of the threatened Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Cottus sp.) from four hydrologically distinct rivers. Conservation Physiology 5: 1-12.

Difference in Swim Performance Across Populations of Rocky Mountain Sculpin. Shown are Tukey contrasts (estimate +/- 95% confidence intervals) between rivers (top row) and constant acceleration trial (CAT) numbers (bottom row) for failure (Uburst) and slip (Uslip) velocities from linear effects model. Significant differences are noted in yellow; Rivers are abbreviated as: Flathead River (FH), St. Mary River (SM), Lee Creek (LC) and North Milk River (NM).

Also Read:

Rudolfsen, T.*, Watkinson, D. and Poesch, M.S. (2018) Morphological divergence of the Threatened Rocky Mountain sculpin (Cottus sp.) is driven by biogeography and flow regime. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 28: 78-86.

*Lab members: Marie Veillard, Jonathan Ruppert, Mark Poesch. Check out opportunities in the lab!

Thayer, D.*, Ruppert, J.L.W., Watkinson, D., Clayton, T. and M.S. Poesch. (2017) Identifying temporal bottlenecks for the conservation of large-bodied fishes: Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fluvescens) show highly restricted movement and habitat-use overwinter. Global Ecology and Conservation 10: 194-205.

Abstract:

The relationship between species’ size and home range size has been well studied. In practice, home range may provide a good surrogate of broad spatial coverage needed for species conservation, however, many species can show restricted movement during critical life stages, such as breeding and over-wintering. This suggests the existence of either a behavioral or habitat mediated ‘temporal bottleneck,’ where restricted or sedentary movement can make populations more susceptible to harm during specific life stages. Here, we study over-winter movement and habitat use of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), the largest freshwater fish in North America. We monitored over-winter movement of 86 fish using a hydro-acoustic receiver array in the South Saskatchewan River, Canada. Overall, 20 fish remained within our study system throughout the winter. Lake Sturgeon showed strong aggregation and sedentary movement over-winter, demonstrating a temporal bottleneck. Movement was highly restricted during ice-on periods (ranging from 0.9 km/day in November and April to 0.2 km/day in mid-November to mid-March), with Lake Sturgeon seeking deeper, slower pools. We also show that Lake Sturgeon have strong aggregation behavior, where distance to conspecifics decreased (from 575 to 313 m) in preparation for and during ice-on periods. Although the Lake Sturgeon we studied had access to 1100 kilometers of unfragmented riverine habitat, we show that during the over-winter period Lake Sturgeon utilized a single, deep pool (<0.1% of available habitat). The temporal discrepancy between mobile and sedentary behaviors in Lake Sturgeon suggest adaptive management is needed with more localized focus during periods of temporal bottlenecks, even for large-bodied species.

Citation: Thayer, D.*, Ruppert, J.L.W., Watkinson, D., Clayton, T. and M.S. Poesch. (2017) Identifying temporal bottlenecks for the conservation of large-bodied fishes: Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fluvescens) show highly restricted movement and habitat-use overwinter. Global Ecology and Conservation 10: 194-205.

Monthly core (C) and range (R) extent kernel density maps for: A) November, B) December, C) January, D) February, E) March, and F) April. Black lines are core range (50% percentile), broken lines range (90th percentile) extent.

Also Read:

Miller, M., Stevens, C. and M. S. Poesch. (In Press). Effectiveness of Spawning Substrate Enhancement for Adfluvial Fish in a Regulated Sub-Arctic River. River Research and Applications.

*Lab members: Donnette Thayer, Jonathan Ruppert, Mark Poesch. Check out opportunities in the lab!