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Spatial and Temporal Variability in Bull Trout Redd Counts
Author(s) -
Rieman B. E.,
McIntyre J. D.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1996)016<0132:satvib>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , trout , streams , habitat , geography , ecology , spatial ecology , population , fishery , biology , demography , fish <actinopterygii> , computer network , sociology , computer science
We analyzed redd counts of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in northern Idaho and northwestern Montana and found evidence of stronger correlation in the number and year‐to‐year change in number of redds between streams that were closer together than between streams that were far apart. The pattern was weak, however, indicating that spatial heterogeneity in habitat, in population demographics, or in life history at a local scale is important to stability of regional populations. The weak correlations also indicate that monitoring only a few index populations may not clearly represent the dynamics of larger regional populations. If synchrony is weak and not masked by sampling error, conservation management should favor the maintenance of high‐quality habitats and strong local populations in proximity to each other to facilitate dispersal and demographic support. Common declining trends among all streams within a single lake basin show that even well‐dispersed regional populations face important risks. Conservation management of species like bull trout must maintain populations at both local and regional scales.