Effective Population Size and Connectivity of Bull Trout in the Imnaha River Subbasin. Annual Report, 2007

摘要

The goal of this project is to provide empirical data toward defining minimum viable population objectives that can be used for restoration and recovery of bull trout across the range. The objectives toward this end are to: 1) Determine abundance of bull trout in putative populations above WVIC; 2) Determine bull trout connectivity (movement) between populations; 3) Determine within and among population genetic variability for the five local populations of the Imnaha Core Area; 4) Determine effective population size for isolated populations above the WVIC. The study area provides a unique opportunity to test population genetic theory and provide empirical data toward bull trout recovery. There are several barriers that act as potential points of isolation and that have existed for known periods of time. These barriers lend themselves to remote monitoring via PIT tag technology. Taking this approach will provide the opportunity to confirm if and when movement is occurring between populations and if the movement is unidirectional.