There are generations of secrets hidden within the cells of the glistening brook trout that call the Adirondacks home. A blended team of scientists and anglers have been collaborating to uncover those secrets.
Their work begins in the mountain’s burbling brooks and ends in a lab.
Citizen scientists from Trout Power have been catching brook trout and fin samples for genetic testing at the State University of New York at Albany for the last five years.
In cooperation with Dr. Spencer Bruce of SUNY Albany, Trout Power collects specimens and Bruce conducts genetic testing.
Understanding Fish DNA
According to Steve Hurst, Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the goal is to collect DNA samples from fish in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of what genetics are swimming in the water.
“They looked at the genetic makeup of those fish to answer a few questions,” Hurst said.
“Was there any introgression of hatchery trout genes in those fish? Not that we stocked on top of them but there were hatchery fish stocked in that drainage at some point many years ago. Which there was no introgression in. They also wanted to see the level of uniqueness in those fish.”
Introgression is the transfer of genetic material from one species into the gene pool of another species.
In order for heritage strain brook trout to persist, it must be stocked for many generations.
Heritage strain brook trout is a strain that has not been affected by introgression of stocked strains. Trout Power’s goal is to identify any strains of heritage brook trout that are still existing.
A recent meeting of the group involved fishing and collecting samples near Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks. The Sagamore strain was found to differ from other similar native strains in some ways.
“The allelic richness is very high,” Hurst said. “It has really good evolutionary potential. In other words, it is probably a more adaptive fish.”
A population’s allelic richness is a measure of its genetic diversity, which indicates its capacity to adapt and persist over time.
A strain of trout with a high measure of allelic richness would be more likely to adapt to a changing climate than, for example, a stocked strain without the same measure of allelic richness.
Tracking Trout Health
Aside from being the state fish, brook trout are one of the few native species in New York.
Additionally, brook trout are considered indicator species, which means their health reflects the health of riparian ecosystems and can serve as a benchmark for change.
As climate change impacts the Adirondacks, trout populations can provide insight into how the environment is changing.
A strong strain of native brook trout may be able to adapt to environmental changes in the Adirondack Mountains as a result of long-term climate change.
Aside from being the state fish, brook trout are one of the few native species in New York.
Additionally, brook trout are considered indicator species, which means their health reflects the health of riparian ecosystems and can serve as a benchmark for change.
As climate change impacts the Adirondacks, trout populations can provide insight into how the environment is changing.
A strong strain of native brook trout may be able to adapt to environmental changes in the Adirondack Mountains as a result of long-term climate change.
“As DEC faces management challenges down the road, such as climate change for instance, one of these strains of fish may be potentially better suited to survive than another strain,” Hurst explained.
“If we have to stock waters with fish maybe we would use one strain over the other based on those genetic characteristics.”
As for now, the brook trout genetic data is still in the collection phase.
“DEC may use this information to inform decisions,” Hurst said.
“The more we know and the better informed we are, the better management decisions we can make. This is novel science at this point in time. Will it make a huge difference in management? We don’t know at this time.”
Currently, Hurst and his team are in the process of updating the state’s brook trout pond management plan, which hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.
Sources: Wideopenspaces
