Movement patterns, timing of migration and genetic population structure of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Morice River Watershed, British Columbia.

摘要

Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) have become a species of special concern in British Columbia due to declining population sizes. My research had three goals: (a) to determine if bull trout in the Morice River watershed demonstrate multiple life history forms; (b) to determine if their movement was influenced by temperature and discharge; and (c) to determine genetic structure within the population. Using radio telemetry, I found that one life history form exists in the watershed; however, five geographic areas were important for spawning. Average daily movement increased with temperature as migration to spawning areas began, and directional movement to spawning habitat spanned June to September. Date of entry into tributary habitat was also negatively correlated with water depth. Genetic analysis revealed three weak clades that did not correspond directly with spatial clusters defined by the radio telemetry data; hence the Morice River watershed should be viewed as a panmictic breeding unit.