Brook Trout Movement during and after Recolonization of a Naturally Defaunated Stream Reach

• Published in: North American journal of fisheries management Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 777 - 784
• Main Authors: Roghair, Craig N., Dolloff, C. Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2005
• Subjects: Freshwater
• ISSN: 0275-5947; 1548-8675
• DOI: 10.1577/M04-034.1

In June 1995 a debris flow associated with a massive streamwide flood completely eliminated brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis from the lower 1.9 km of the Staunton River in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Biannual diver counts revealed that brook trout moved several hundred meters into the debris‐flow‐affected area each year, resulting in complete recolonization within 3 years of the event. We initiated a postrecolonization, biannual mark–recapture survey in 1997 and a radiotelemetry study in 1999 to further examine the movement of brook trout within the Staunton River. Fish that moved less than 100 m upstream or downstream made up 91% of brook trout recaptures; the maximum movement was over 800 m. Telemetered fish showed median seasonal movements of less than 70 m but a maximum movement of nearly 2 km. Despite the limitations inherent in movement studies, we observed postrecolonization movements consistent with those that were the basis for recolonization of the defaunated reach. Understanding the ability of movement to effect population changes is necessary for proper management in the wake of catastrophic events.