Interpreting Impacts of Exotic Trout Populations on Mountain Lakes in the Era of Ecological Restoration

摘要: Stocking exotic trout species in high mountain lakes was a common practice Rocky Mountain Lakes the 20th century. Currently, restoration action to remove populations favours conservation of native food webs. Meanwhile, little is known about self-sustaining populations, particularly our study area. We assessed impacts stocking on naturally fishless foodwebs lakes. Results were applied management goals Waterton National Park. A comparison mean abundances zooplankton fish and revealed differences less than half taxa encountered. Principle component analysis did not show an association between community structure presence. Paleolimnological analyses suggested increase relative abundance large-bodied cladocerans, but statistical power low. The results importance identifying explicit objectives because may be compelling. If by eradication pursued, demographic characteristics can aid selecting which are more easily depleted gillnetting. used generalized linear models examine four population associated with decline: 1) catch per unit effort (CPUE), 2) proportion females, 3) mature individuals 4) length individuals. There significant CPUE at maturity, females or thus incorporated former into basic assessment system ranked 11 salmonid their susceptibility eradication. presented simple yet meaningful step facilitating actions commonly constrained lack biological knowledge.