The reach-scale biogeomorphic effect of submerged macrophytes on trout habitat suitability

–The relationship between redd superimposition and spawning habitat availability was investigated in the brown trout (Salmo truttaL.) population inhabiting the river Castril (Granada, Spain). Redd surveys were conducted in 24 river sections to estimate the rate of redd superimposition. Used and available microhabitat was evaluated to compute the suitable spawning habitat (SSH) for brown trout. After analysing the microhabitat characteristics positively selected by females, SSH was defined as an area that met all the following five requirements: water depth between 10 and 50 cm, mean water velocity between 30 and 60 cm s−1, bottom water velocity between 15 and 60 cm s−1, substrate size between 4 and 30 mm and no embeddedness. Simple regression analyses showed that redd superimposition was not correlated with redd numbers, SSH or redd density. A simulation‐based analysis was performed to estimate the superimposition rate if redds were randomly placed inside the SSH. This analysis revealed that the observed superimposition rate was higher than expected in 23 of 24 instances, this difference being significant (P < 0.05) in eight instances and right at the limit of statistical significance (P = 0.05) in another eight instances. Redd superimposition was high in sections with high redd density. High superimposition however was not exclusive to sections with high redd density and was found in moderate‐ and low‐redd‐density sections. This suggests that factors other than habitat availability are also responsible for redd superimposition. We argue that female preference for spawning over previously excavated redds may be the most likely explanation for high superimposition at lower densities.

Headwater streams support vital aquatic habitat yet are vulnerable to changing climate due to their high elevation and small size. Coldwater fish are especially sensitive to the altered streamflow and water temperature regimes during summer low flow periods. Though previous studies have provided insights on how changes in climate and alterations in stream discharge may affect habitat availability for various native cutthroat trout species, suitable physical habitats have not been evaluated under future climate projections for the threatened Greenback Cutthroat Trout (GBCT) native to headwater regions of Colorado, USA. Thus, this study used field data collected from selected headwater streams across the current distribution of GBCT to construct one‐dimensional hydraulic models to evaluate streamflow and physical habitat under four future climate projections. Results illustrate reductions in both predicted streamflow and physical habitat for all future climate projections across study sites. The projected mean summer streamflow shows greater decline (−52% on average) compared to the projected decline in mean August flow (−21% on average). Moreover, sites located at a relative higher elevation with larger substrate and steeper slope were projected to experience more reductions in physical habitat due to streamflow reductions. Specifically, streams with step‐pool morphologies may experience grater changes in available habitat compared to pool‐riffle streams. Future climate change studies related to coldwater fish that examine spatial variation in flow alteration could provide novel data to complement the existing literature on the thermal characteristics. Tailoring reintroduction and management efforts for GBCT to the individual headwater stream with adequate on‐site monitoring could provide a more holistic conservation approach.

A calibrated 2D hydrodynamic model of a popular recreational fishing reach in the tailwater of the Caney River was employed to evaluate the benefits of trout habitat enhancement with a boulder cluster field. Hydrodynamic modeling results were coupled with habitat suitability index (HSI) Models to quantify relative enhancement at a flow of 174 m 3 /s. Scenarios with alternative boulder cluster densities were simulated to obtain an optimum design density for juvenile Rainbow Trout based on the computed weighted usable area (WUA) from the coupled model output. The model predicted an optimal spanwise spacing B=1.50D 0 –1.67D 0 and streamwise spacing L=2.00D 0 –2.33D 0 ; where D 0 represents the least dimension of the base area of each cluster. The simulated boulder cluster field was located along the gravel bar approximately 80 m from the right bank, and occupied a 4800 m 2 area with 240 m streamwise length and a 20 m spanwise length. Each individual boulder cluster was composed of two layers of boulders, each of approximately 1 m in diameter. The study demonstrates a rationale methodology for designing a boulder cluster field in a tailwater that is subject to the frequent occurrence of high flows. However, the assessment of WUA is found to be sensitive to both the weighting coefficients and the suitability index (SI) curves; which in turn depend on the flow discharge, the trout species and the life stage being considered.

We estimated abundance quantiles of redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri relative to five site-specific habitat variables (stream shading, bank cover, bank stability, fine sediment in the stream substrate, and cover for adults) and one landscape variable (distance from stream headwaters) on 30 streams in southwestern Idaho during 1993–1998. In addition, the five site-specific habitat variables were used to calculate a habitat suitability rating (HSR) used by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to determine habitat quality of sagebrush desert streams for redband trout. Variation in abundance increased significantly with increasing HSR; the highest abundances were only found with high HSRs, indicating that the HSR model correctly predicted habitat quality for redband trout. However, a model that consisted of stream shade, distance from stream headwaters, and their interaction best predicted redband trout density, explaining 36% of the variation in adult density in sagebrush desert basin streams; stream shade explained most of the variation in redband trout density. When habitat quality was modeled on shade alone, the precision in predicting adult redband trout density was similar to that of the HSR model, as evaluated with tolerance intervals that contained 80% of future observations of redband trout density with 95% confidence. Increasing stream shade in the uppermost 50 km of a stream would result in the greatest increase in redband trout density. We recommend that land managers primarily evaluate the habitat quality of sagebrush desert streams by quantifying the amount of stream shade provided by riparian shrubs and trees. Use of a multivariable habitat model should be retained for desert streams where shade from riparian plant communities is limited.