Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Mechanisms of rainbow trout hybridization with native cutthroat trout in the Lamar River of Yellowstone National Park(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Heim, Kurt Conrad; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Thomas E. McMahon; Thomas E. McMahon, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Brian D. Ertel and Todd M. Koel were co-authors of the article, 'Interspecific hybridization solves a phenological breeding mismatch for a nonnative invader' submitted to the journal 'Ecology' which is contained within this dissertation.; Thomas E. McMahon, Steven T. Kalinowski, Brian D. Ertel and Todd M. Koel were co-authors of the article, 'Invasive hybridization in a high-elevation stronghold: genetic status of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Lamar River of Yellowstone National Park' submitted to the journal 'Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences' which is contained within this dissertation.; Thomas E. McMahon, Brian D. Ertel and Todd M. Koel were co-authors of the article, 'Leveraging public harvest for genetic management: identification and exploitation of invasive hybrid trout in Yellowstone National Park' submitted to the journal 'Biological invasions' which is contained within this dissertation.Invasive hybridization--when invasive species interbreed with native species--is a pervasive conservation issue. Hybridization presents difficult management decisions and poses complex problems at the intersection of contemporary evolution, invasion biology, physiology, and landscape ecology. I examined the invasion scenario playing out in the Lamar River watershed of Yellowstone National Park where native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) are undergoing hybridization with introduced rainbow trout (RT). I first test the hypothesis that a breeding timing mismatch of an invasive species (i.e., RT often spawn far earlier than YCT, and eggs are scoured by snowmelt runoff) can be overcome by hybridization with a locally adapted native species, that spawn later (Chapter 2). I found support for this hypothesis. Spawning timing was strongly related to the degree of non-native admixture at the individual level, indicating that hybridization alters breeding timing in ways that could benefit hybrids. At the population level, hybrid spawning timing closely matched that of native taxa and was strongly correlated to stream flow conditions. Overall, these data suggest poorly matched spawning timing is unlikely to serve as a strong mechanism limiting invasive hybridization of YCT. Next, I mapped the spatial distribution of hybridization in the Lamar River watershed (Chapter 3). Many non-hybridized populations persist in the upper watershed, whereas a prominent source of RT in the lower watershed has likely contributed inordinately to the spread of introgression. Because hybridized populations occurred across a full range of environmental conditions, I do not predict that abiotic conditions (i.e., cold water, late-stream flow, high elevations, or small stream size) will prevent the spread of hybridization in the long-term. As such, management interventions are recommended in chapter 4 and 5. I developed a simple taxonomic key to identify hybrids and guide selective removal efforts (Chapter 4). Additionally, I used volunteer angler surveys to estimate that recreational anglers visiting the watershed (~10,000 per year) could likely harvest a substantial number of non-native trout that would contribute to genetic management goals. I conclude by providing recommendations for management and monitoring (Chapter 5).Item Assessment of reproductive isolation between Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in the Yellowstone River, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2004) De Rito, Jr., James Nicholas; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alexander V. ZaleThe genomic extinction of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorynchus clarki bouvieri) has occurred throughout many parts of its historic range because of displacement and introgression with introduced rainbow trout (O. mykiss). However, fluvial cutthroat trout still retain their genetic integrity while co-existing with rainbow trout in the Yellowstone River drainage, Montana. I assessed whether spatial or temporal reproductive isolation, or both, occurs between these taxa. Time and place of spawning was determined by radio-telemetry of a total of 164 trout (98 cutthroat, 37 rainbow, and 29 cutthroat x rainbow hybrids) over three spawning seasons, from 2001 to 2003. Fish were telemetered in four areas of a 140-km segment of the mainstem Yellowstone River. Of the 164 radio-tagged fish, 73 (44 cutthroat trout, 15 rainbow trout, and 14 hybrids) were assumed to have spawned. Fifty-five (75.3%) of 73 radio-tagged fish that spawned used 16 tributaries, 17 (23.3%) used 7 river side channels, and 1 (1.4%) used the main channel of the Yellowstone River. The majority of fish that spawned (62%) used five spawning areas. These were used by 79% (N = 11) of hybrids, 61% (N = 27) of cutthroat trout, and 47% (N = 7) of rainbow trout that spawned. Spawning-area and spawning-reach overlap index values were high among all taxa. In contrast, mean migration and spawning dates of rainbow trout and hybrids were 5 to 9 weeks earlier than of cutthroat trout. Rainbow trout and hybrids began migrating and spawning in April and May when Yellowstone River discharges were lower and water temperatures were colder than discharges and temperatures during cutthroat trout migration and spawning in June and July. Spawningperiod overlap index values between rainbow trout and hybrids versus cutthroat trout were typically less than half the spatial overlap index values. Therefore, difference in time of spawning is likely the predominant mechanism eliciting reproductive isolation. Management actions focused on later spawning cutthroat trout in tributaries may enhance temporal reproductive isolation from rainbow trout and hybrids.Item Behavioral, ecological, and fitness consequences of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and nonnative rainbow trout (O. mykiss)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2008) Muhlfeld, Clint Cain; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Thomas E. McMahonAnthropogenic hybridization is one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Hybridization and introgression may lead to a loss of locally adapted gene complexes and ecological adaptations in native populations, yet these potential consequences have not been fully evaluated in nature. I investigated factors influencing the spread of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and nonnative rainbow trout (O. mykiss) in the upper Flathead River system, Montana (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). The fundamental questions of my dissertation were: what are the behavioral, ecological, and fitness consequences of hybridization and what factors influence successful invasion of hybrids? First, I assessed the patterns of spawning between parental species and their hybrids and found that hybridization alters the spawning behavior of migratory westslope cutthroat trout, and is spreading via long distance dispersal of hybrids from downstream sources and some temporal overlap during spawning. Second, I describe for the first time how a wide range of levels of nonnative admixture affect fitness of cutthroat trout in the wild by estimating reproductive success in a recently invaded stream using parentage analysis with multilocus microsatellite markers. Small amounts of hybridization markedly reduced reproductive success, with fitness exponentially declining by ~50% with 20% nonnative genetic admixture. Finally, I evaluated the association of local-habitat features, landscape characteristics, and biotic factors with the spread of hybridization in the system, and found that hybridization increases in streams with warmer water temperatures, high land use disturbance and close proximity to the source of hybridization; however, none of these factors appeared sufficient to prevent further spread. These combined results suggest that hybrids are not only genetically different than westslope cutthroat trout but also have reduced fitness and are ecologically different, and that hybridization is likely to continue to spread if hybrid populations with high amounts of rainbow trout admixture are not reduced or eliminated. I conclude that extant aboriginal cutthroat trout are at greater conservation risk due to hybridization than previously thought and policies that protect hybridized populations need reconsideration.