rsg_book_2013

InvertebratesFishenvironmental change and preserve the evolutionary processes that sustaingenetic diversity. Goal 2: Characterize patterns of success or failure in re-introduced populationsto identify conditions that lead to successful population establishment. Goal 3: Evaluate allelic richness and heterozygosity in the re-introducedpopulations relative to computer simulated expectations. Goal 4: Examine how fitness surrogates such as body size, growth rate andbody condition differ by ancestral origin in the re-introduced populations andinvestigate the consequences of outbreeding in first- and second-generationinter-source hybrids.Success Indicators Indicator 1: Establishment of slimy sculpins at all sites for at least threegenerations and substantial expansion of each population’s range away fromthe re-introduction location. Indicator 2: Characterize habitat at each re-introduction site and comparepopulation size estimates with different habitat features such as streamtemperature, substrate type, etc. Indicator 3: Evaluate the allelic richness and heterozygosity in the reintroducedpopulations relative to computer simulated expectations. Indicator 4: Document how fitness surrogates such as body size, growth rateand body condition differ by ancestral origin in the re-introduced populationsand investigate the consequences of outbreeding in first- and secondgenerationinter-source hybrids.Project SummaryFeasibility: Brynildson and Brynildson (1978) demonstrated the feasibility ofsculpin re-introductions by documenting the establishment and dispersal ofsculpins in a Southwest Wisconsin stream. Following a one-time stocking of 500individuals, stocked sculpins gradually expanded throughout the suitable areas ofthe stream over the course of eight years. In recent years, the MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources (MNDNR) and other organizations completedmany stream habitat improvement projects that stabilized eroding banks,improved substrate, increased fish cover, and increased riparian tree abundanceto provide shade in the summer. The recipient streams were chosen from amongthese restored sites because they comprised suitable habitat (coarse-substrate,plentiful riffles and groundwater input) and were repeatedly sampled and verifiednot to have any sculpin species present. Most of the recipient sites were locatedon private land; therefore, we contacted landowners and coordinated access forrepeated research and monitoring site visits. All of the landowners were amicableand some were interested in the research and also wished to accompanyresearchers during site visits. Several cold-water streams with abundant sculpinpopulations were identified as potential donor sources. These locations weresurveyed for at least three consecutive years to verify that source populationswould not be detrimentally affected by removal of sculpins for stocking. Diseasetesting was necessary to verify that sculpins to be translocated would not transmitany pathogens to organisms in recipient streams. The MNDNR required three11