Spatial variability in survival of adult brook trout within two intensively surveyed headwater stream networks

Canadian Journal Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Headwater stream networks are considered heterogeneous riverscapes, but it is challenging to characterize spatial variability in demographic rates. We estimated site-scale (50 m) survival of adult (>age 1+) brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) within two intensively surveyed headwater stream networks by applying an open-population N-mixture approach to count data collected over two consecutive summers. The estimated annual apparent survival rate was 0.37 (95% CI: 0.28–0.46) in one network and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.15–0.45) in the other network. In both networks, trout survival was higher in stream sites characterized by more abundant pool habitats. Trout survival was negatively associated with mean depth in one network and positively associated with stream gradient in the other. Stream temperature was not related to trout survival in either network, possibly because the majority of sites were thermally suitable. A similar analytical approach can be useful for inferring survival rates when count data are available over space and time but individual tagging is not feasible.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Spatial variability in survival of adult brook trout within two intensively surveyed headwater stream networks
Series title Canadian Journal Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2013-0358
Volume 71
Issue 7
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Canadian Science Publishing
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Description 10 p.
First page 1010
Last page 1019
Country United States
State Connecticut
Other Geospatial Kent Falls Brook, Jefferson Hill-Spruce Brook
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