Thesis Title: Trace element concentrations in riverine fish: relationships with body size, food web dynamics and trace element concentrations in surface water.

Author: Caitlyn R. Donadt

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Abstract

Freshwater fish are an important resource and form an essential component of freshwater ecosystems. However, stressors such as water pollution are negatively impacting freshwater biodiversity. Trace elements can be environmental pollutants and have the potential to negatively impact the health of fish, humans and wildlife.  My research builds upon results from a previous study in the Red Deer River watershed, which found trace elements in surface water at concentrations which pose a risk to humans and wildlife.  I examine trace element concentrations in fish from the Red Deer River watershed to determine: 1) the concentrations of trace elements in fish tissue and potential risk of these concentrations to humans and wildlife, 2) whether patterns in fish trace element concentrations reflect those in the surface water and 3) if biological characteristics influence trace element concentrations in fish.

To reach these objectives, I examined trace element concentrations in fish muscle tissue from streams and the river mainstem within the Red Deer River watershed. I compared patterns of trace element concentrations in fish to those in the surface water, which vary across four tributary streams, or upstream to downstream in the river mainstem. In both lotic environments, I included physical characteristics (age, body size) as well as food web tracers (stable isotope signatures d¹⁵N and d¹³C) together with trace element analysis. My results show most trace elements were at low concentrations in fish muscle tissue or not detected. However, mercury in many fish exceeded concentration criteria for human consumers, piscivorous wildlife and fish health. Patterns in fish trace elements did not reflect spatial patterns in surface water trace element concentrations and were often species-specific. Correlations between trace element concentrations and fish biological factors varied depending on the fish species and element considered, but the strongest relationships were with mercury. Mercury was often associated with trophic position and body size, but this relationship was stronger in the mainstem community compared to stream fish. This research indicates that trace element accumulation in fish, particularly mercury, is not limited to areas of high environmental concentrations within this watershed.

Thesis Title: Paleolimnological Reconstruction of  Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi)  in Alpine Lakes using a Next-Generation Sequencing Platform (link; co-supervisors: R. Vinebrooke, M. Taylor)

Author: Hedin Nelson-Chorney

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Abstract

Understanding historical species distributions is vital to the conservation and restoration of native species, yet such information is often qualitative.  Here, we show that the paleolimnological history of threatened freshwater fishes can be reconstructed using species diagnostic markers amplified from environmental DNA deposited in lake sediments (lake sediment DNA).  This method was validated through the detection of lake sediment DNA from non-native trout (Yellowstone cutthroat trout; Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), which corroborated historical records of human-mediated introductions.  Moreover, we discovered native trout (westslope cutthroat trout; Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) lake sediment DNA that predated human-mediated introductions of freshwater fishes in a watershed with high topographical relief.  This unexpected result revealed that the population was of native origin and requires immediate conservation protection.  Our findings demonstrate that lake sediment DNA can be used to determine the colonization history of freshwater fishes and the structure of ecosystems, aiding in the identification of native ranges, novel native diversity, and introductions of non-native species.

Thesis Title: Impacts of a novel predator on aquatic invertebrates in fishless lakes: Implications for conservation translocation

Author: Allison L.K. Banting

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Abstract

Fishless mountain lakes hold important ecological and conservation value. As such,  managers are establishing conservation goals (e.g., non-native fish removal) to restore the  naturalness to many of these lakes. Simultaneously, managers who are recovering native (coldwater) fish populations threatened by climate change (e.g., Westslope Cutthroat Trout,  Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi and Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus) are exploring conservation  strategies involving the intentional translocation of native fish species to more suitable areas. These areas include unoccupied, or naturally fishless, stream and lake habitat within their native  range or favorable habitats outside their native range. This action presents a potential threat for  fishless mountain lakes as conservation managers view these as recovery habitat for imperiled native fish species. The purpose of my study was to inform native fish recovery efforts by  assessing the potential consequences of translocating native fishes to naturally fishless lakes, thus  outside their historic distribution. Forty alpine and sub-alpine lakes in Banff National Park, Alberta and Kootenay National Park, British Columbia were sampled and divided into three lake  types, including 13 naturally fishless lakes, 13 native fish-bearing or native fish-stocked lakes,  and 14 non-native fish-stocked lakes historically unoccupied by fish. Littoral invertebrate community composition, density and diversity were examined among lake types to 1) quantify  the impacts of introducing non-native fishes into historically fishless lakes, and 2) quantify the  differences between native fish lakes and naturally fishless lakes. These comparisons provided context for the scale of impact between two predators of different geographic origins (native vs. non-native) introduced to fishless lakes. The variation in environmental gradients amoung lake types was controlled for, suggesting fish presence strongly influenced changes to invertebrate community density and composition. Native and non-native fishes have the capacity to similarly alter littoral invertebrate community composition of fishless lakes, yet non-native fishes appear to have the greatest impact on littoral invertebrate density. Although impacts vary between native and non-native predators, the introduction of any novel fish predator to a fishless lake will result in a negative impact to key littoral macroinvertebrates, such as Gammaridae, Ephemoptera and Plecoptera, and a positive impact to burrowing taxa, such as Oligochaeta, Nemata and Chironomidae. While the introduction of non-native fishes has been repeatedly shown to affect invertebrate communities, the translocation of native fishes similarly has the potential to alter the ecology of a naturally fishless lake. With considerations for possible aquatic-terrestrial cross boundary effects, this study suggests that conservation ecologists consider the entire ecosystem when building resilience for climate change.

Thesis Title: Establishment, spread and impact of Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio), a new invasive species in Western North America.

Author: Cassandra Docherty

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Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most imperilled on the planet. Invasive species pose the second largest threat to freshwater organisms after habitat degradation. Aquatic introductions have led to extinctions, competition for resources, hybridization, the introduction of foreign pathogens and the alteration of ecosystem structure and function. One of the most recent invaders in western North America is Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio). The first record of this species in North America was in 2000, in Alberta, Canada, yet little is known about its invasion, current distribution or effects on stream communities. In Eurasia, Prussian Carp have been assessed as one of the most harmful invasive fish species because of its ability to reproduce asexually, high environmental tolerances and preference for human modified habitats. The arrival of Prussian Carp in western North America poses concerns for many native freshwater species. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the severity of Prussian Carp’s invasion in western North America by 1) mapping Prussian Carp distribution and rate of spread since its initial arrival; 2) analysing the impact of Prussian Carp on native fish species; and 3) identifying environmental parameters that predict Prussian Carp presence. Using kernel density functions, we found that the range of Prussian Carp increased in Alberta, Canada from approximately 500 km² since its arrival (estimated as 2000) to over 20,000 km² in 2014. The rate of spread is increasing at an exponential rate over five year increments (e.g. 1.6, 2.1, and 2.3 times), suggesting rapid expansion since first detection. Our results did not indicate that Prussian Carp have a negative effect on native fish species, which is likely due to its recent expansion into these areas and an already depauperate species community. The most important habitat variables that best predicted the presence of Prussian Carp were: dense aquatic vegetation, high conductivity, pH, high dissolved oxygen and low flow rates indicating preference for relatively slow, eutrophic streams. Successful management of this species in western North America will require the integration of all levels of government between neighbouring provincial and national borders, as well as the public. Prussian Carp are a highly mobile species and given the connection to other watersheds in Canada and proximity to the Missouri/Mississippi drainages in the United States, agencies throughout North America should be aware of this invasive species and the potential impacts on native biota