The dataset includes measurements of stream habitat, fish abundance of westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and species-specific measures of environmental DNA (eDNA) from within the water. The data covers multiple streams in western Montana.

Field estimates of the abundance of two trout species (bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout) in Montana and rainbow trout in Washington and British Columbia were collected in concert with environmental DNA samples (eDNA) to evaluate if eDNA copy numbers correlated with abundance of trout. In addition, stream habitat data including channel units (pools, riffles), substrate, large woody debris, among others, were collected at sites.

Field estimates of the abundance of two trout species (bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout) in Montana and rainbow trout in Washington and British Columbia were collected in concert with environmental DNA samples (eDNA) to evaluate if eDNA copy numbers correlated with abundance of trout. In addition, stream habitat data including channel units (pools, riffles), substrate, large woody debris, among others, were collected at sites.

These data include 2015 - 2018 eDNA field sample points indicating lab results for presence or absence of bull trout. Sample sites are spaced at a 1 kilometer interval throughout the historical range of bull trout. eDNA stream samples are collected and species presence/absence is determined by analyses at the National Genomics Center. Results are recorded in the feature attribute table of the eDNA sample site shapefile. One point feature in the shapefile was generated for each 1 kilometer sample point in the bull trout eDNA feature class. Where multiple samples were collected at a single eDNA sample site, replicate point features will occur at a single location in the shapefile. The bull trout is an ESA-listed species with a historical range that encompasses many waters across the Northwest. Though once abundant, bull trout have declined in many locations and are at risk from a changing climate, nonnative species, and habitat degradation. Informed conservation planning relies on sound and precise information about the distribution of bull trout in thousands of streams, but gathering this information is a daunting and expensive task. To overcome this problem, we coupled 1) predictions from the range-wide, spatially precise Climate Shield model on the location of natal habitats of bull trout with 2) a sampling template for every 8-digit hydrologic unit in the historical range of bull trout, based on the probability of detecting bull trout presence using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling (McKelvey et al. 2016). The template consists of a master set of geospatially referenced sampling locations at 1-kilometer intervals within each cold-water habitat. We also identified sampling locations at this same interval based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) designation of critical spawning and rearing habitat. Based on field tests of eDNA detection probabilities conducted by the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, this sampling approach will reliably determine the presence of populations of bull trout, as well as provide insights on non-spawning habitats used by adult and subadult fish. The completed bull trout eDNA survey results are available through an interactive ArcGIS Online Map. The map provides the ability to zoom in and look at an area of interest, as well as to create queries or select an area to download points as a shapefile.

Biological data for Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout and Brown Trout collected in eight streams in northern New Mexico from August 2017-August 2018

Biological data for Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout and Brown Trout collected in eight streams in northern New Mexico from August 2017-August 2018

We collected diets on Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) above (Yellowstone cutthroat trout allopatry) and below (Yellowstone cutthroat trout sympatry with brown trout) a natural barrier in Duck Creek, Montana. We used gastric lavage methods to collect diets, and samples were placed in storage containers and taken back to our lab and frozen until sorting. All samples were sorted by Rhithron, Inc. (Missoula, MT) with individuals identified down to the order.

We collected diets on Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) above (Yellowstone cutthroat trout allopatry) and below (Yellowstone cutthroat trout sympatry with brown trout) a natural barrier in Duck Creek, Montana. We used gastric lavage methods to collect diets, and samples were placed in storage containers and taken back to our lab and frozen until sorting. All samples were sorted by Rhithron, Inc. (Missoula, MT) with individuals identified down to the order.

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire of 2020 were the two largest wildfires in Colorado history. They burned approximately 9% of the Rocky Mountain National Park, raising a concern for trout populations that currently support recreational fishing and success of on-going and future efforts to conserve native trout populations. In this study, we surveyed habitat characteristics and biological communities at 19 sites in summer of 2021 and a subset of 11 sites in summer of 2022 to characterize wildfire impacts on aquatic resources. We were primarily interested in trout population structure and abundance, which were compared to available pre-fire data. In addition, we collected information on physical habitat, water quality, algae and benthic macroinvertebrates because wildfire effects are complex and this array of data helps assist identifying ecological mechanisms that affect aquatic top predators (i.e., trout). The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as state and federally threatened and is the Colorado State Fish. The Colorado River cutthroat trout is a state species of concern and two distinct lineages occur in the burned areas of ROMO. Quantifying wildfire effects on stream ecosystems and trout populations is needed for ROMO to decide whether (1) ongoing conservation actions should continue including the Poudre Headwaters Project, (2) recreational fishing should be regulated, and (3) waters should require trout stocking or will naturally recover via trout immigration from connected populations.For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2304877

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire of 2020 were the two largest wildfires in Colorado history. They burned approximately 9% of the Rocky Mountain National Park, raising a concern for trout populations that currently support recreational fishing and success of on-going and future efforts to conserve native trout populations. In this study, we surveyed habitat characteristics and biological communities at 19 sites in summer of 2021 and a subset of 11 sites in summer of 2022 to characterize wildfire impacts on aquatic resources. We were primarily interested in trout population structure and abundance, which were compared to available pre-fire data. In addition, we collected information on physical habitat, water quality, algae and benthic macroinvertebrates because wildfire effects are complex and this array of data helps assist identifying ecological mechanisms that affect aquatic top predators (i.e., trout). The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as state and federally threatened and is the Colorado State Fish. The Colorado River cutthroat trout is a state species of concern and two distinct lineages occur in the burned areas of ROMO. Quantifying wildfire effects on stream ecosystems and trout populations is needed for ROMO to decide whether (1) ongoing conservation actions should continue including the Poudre Headwaters Project, (2) recreational fishing should be regulated, and (3) waters should require trout stocking or will naturally recover via trout immigration from connected populations.For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2304877