Concordia University
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Dylan Fraser
James Grant
Start: 2019-05-01
End: 2022-01-31

Project

Changes in Effective Population Size of Brook Trout Populations Subject to Size-Selective Harvesting
In order to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries, it is critical to integrate genetic considerations into fishery assessments. This is especially crucial with regard to the population-wide effects of fisheries-induced evolution (FIE). One important genetic parameter that can be used to assess genetic changes caused by FIE and predict future viability of populations is the effective population size (Ne). Very few studies, however, have measured effective population size as an outcome of harvest-induced changes in fish populations. My thesis will investigate changes in effective population size of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in nine alpine lakes across three national parks in western Canada. These lakes will be subject to either traditional size-selective harvesting, up to 85% of the largest individuals, or no harvest at all (control). The results of this study may provide valuable information regarding the long-term viability of fish populations subject to intensive harvesting.

Keywords

Fisheries, Génétique des populations/population genetics

Publications

1- The Gain Reduction Method for manual tracking of radio-tagged fish in streams
Sullivan, Brittany G., Shannon H. Clarke, Daniel P. Struthers, Mark K. Taylor, Steven J. Cooke
2019 Animal Biotelemetry

2- Comparison of the Behavioral Consequences and Recovery Patterns of Largemouth Bass Exposed to MS-222 or Electrosedation
Prystay, Tanya S., Chris K. Elvidge, William M. Twardek, James M. Logan, Connor H. Reid, Shannon H. Clarke, Jordann G. Foster, Emma L. L. Cooke, Steven J. Cooke
2017 Transactions of the American Fisheries Society