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FINAL SUMMARY REPORT Greenback Cutthroat Trout Genetics and Meristics Studies Facilitated Expert Panel Workshop REGION 6 OFFICE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE May 12, 2014 Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6, Mountain-Prairie Region Ecological Services - Colorado Field Office 134 Union Boulevard Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1807 Prepared by: AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. 1819 Denver West Drive Suite 100 Golden, CO 80401 USFWS Order No. F13PB00113 AMEC Project No. 32106C002 Summary Report This Page Intentionally Left Blank Summary Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Background ......................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Expert Panel ........................................................................................................ 3 3.0 Workshop ............................................................................................................. 2 3.1 Essential Reading ........................................................................................... 2 3.2 Day One Summary ......................................................................................... 3 3.3 Day Two Summary ......................................................................................... 3 3.4 Day Three Summary ....................................................................................... 3 4.0 Summary of Expert Panel Responses ................................................................. 5 4.1 Evaluation of the Science ............................................................................... 6 4.2 Biodiversity Implications ............................................................................... 13 4.3 Management Implications ............................................................................ 21 4.4 Public Comments ......................................................................................... 30 5.0 Overall Summary ............................................................................................... 31 6.0 Management and Research Recommendations ................................................ 32 Appendix A: Workshop Agenda, Attendees and Suggested Reading Appendix B: Workshop Meeting Notes Appendix C: Discussion Questions and Fact Sheet Appendix D: Expert Panel Reviewer’s Responses Appendix E: Other Attendee’s Responses Appendix F: Public Comments (Courtesy Shiozawa Presentation at Workshop) US Fish and Wildlife Service - Greenback Trout Expert Panel Workshop This Page Intentionally Left Blank US Fish and Wildlife Service - Greenback Trout Expert Panel Workshop Page 0 of 37 Summary Report Executive Summary Subspecies of cutthroat trout in Colorado were believed to follow geographic boundaries within the state until recently. With the completion of a genetic study comparing mitochondrial DNA of extant Colorado cutthroat trout populations with museum specimens (Metcalf et al. 2012) and a meristic study of cutthroat trout collected from all major drainages in Colorado (Bestgen et al. 2013). The purpose of this review was to provide a thorough scientific review and evaluation prior to taxonomic, listing, and management decisions. Toward that purpose, the US Fish and Wildlife Service hosted an expert panel Workshop that included a group of experts in the field of native trout genetics, meristics, and taxonomy. The Workshop was held July 30 – August 1, 2013 and was facilitated by Dr. Tom Turner from the University of New Mexico. The goals of the Workshop were to: 1) evaluate science of recent genetics and meristics studies and reach consensus about implications for management and 2) develop recommendations for future efforts, including both additional research and management activities. The participants included the expert panel, members of the Greenback Cutthroat Trout Recovery Team, agency representatives, and authors. Following the workshop, the expert panel and other attendees provided responses to 17 discussion questions. This report summarizes those responses, with Workshop material and complete responses provided in the appendices. Panelists generally believed both studies were well-designed and informative, given limitations of sample size and available specimens. The studies both supported the same hypotheses and provided insight into the relationships among Colorado cutthroat trout and relative to historic specimens. Both studies support the existence of four extant and two extinct lineages of cutthroat trout in Colorado. Yellowfin cutthroat trout and the native cutthroat trout in the San Juan River (red lineage) appear to be extinct. Rio Grande cutthroat trout continue to stand as a distinct lineage, as in previous studies. Colorado River cutthroat trout (blue lineage) still occur on the West Slope but only on the northern end of it; East Slope populations appear to be a result of stocking. Greenback cutthroat trout could refer to two different lineages: green lineage and Bear Creek. Green lineage trout occur on both the West and East Slopes, but the reason for their presence on the East Slope is unclear. In addition, the Bear Creek population is a unique lineage and appears to represent the native South Platte River cutthroat trout, although that population does not occur in that drainage now. While some conclusions were strongly supported, there remain topics that require further research. Additional genetics and meristics research is required to further clarify the status and relationship of the green lineage to other lineages. Additional genetics research is required to provide a more complete phylogeny among the lineages. Confirmation of the extinction of the San Juan River native cutthroat trout is needed. Taxonomic revisions are required to resolve issues associated with the green lineage and the Bear Creek population. Research is needed to evaluate a number of issues associated with the hatchery stock for the Bear Creek population. The Bear Creek population merits protection and additional management efforts. The individual responses provided a thorough and comprehensive review of these studies and their taxonomic and management implications. US Fish and Wildlife Service - Greenback Trout Expert Panel Workshop Page 1 of 35 Summary Report This Page Intentionally Left Blank US Fish and Wildlife Service - Greenback Trout Expert Panel Workshop Page 2 of 35 Summary Report 1.0 Background Until recently, delineations of subspecies of cutthroat trout in Colorado were believed to follow geographic boundaries within the state, with greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) on the eastern side of the Continental Divide and Colorado River cutthroat trout (O. c. pleuriticus) on the western side. Rio Grande cutthroat trout (O. c. virginalis) occur within the Rio Grande drainage; their range and genetic identity does not appear to be in question. The recently published genetic study by the University of Colorado - Boulder genetics lab (Metcalf et al. 2012) compared mitochondrial DNA of extant Colorado cutthroat trout populations with cutthroat trout museum specimens collected in the late 1890s to early 1900s, thereby providing an understanding of the native ranges of cutthroat trout in Colorado prior to fish stocking efforts. The conclusions of this genetic study have significant implications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and for management decisions as the data indicate that only one greenback cutthroat trout population remains in existence; this population is present in Bear Creek on Pikes Peak in the Arkansas River drainage. The other “greenback” streams that are present on the eastern side of the Continental Divide are cutthroat trout that had been stocked from the West Slope of the Continental Divide at earlier times. Another significant conclusion of the genetic study is the identification of two separate distinct lineages of the Colorado River cutthroat trout, which had previously been considered to consist of one lineage across the entire West Slope of Colorado. The genetic study complements a concurrent meristic study of cutthroat trout in Colorado. The meristic study was conducted by the Larval Fish Laboratory at Colorado State University and included cutthroat trout specimens collected from all major drainages in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. Meristic and genetic analyses are being conducted on the specimens in a “double-blind” test in which neither group of researchers is aware of the origin of the specimens. The meristic study was completed in the spring of 2013, with the report available for the Workshop. Both of these studies were initiated and funded by the Greenback Cutthroat Trout Recovery Team, which is comprised of the following agencies: Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service). The purpose of this review was to provide a thorough scientific review and evaluation prior to taxonomic, listing, and management decisions. Toward that purpose, the Service‟s Colorado Field Office, in concert with our partners in the Greenback Cutthroat Trout Recovery Team, coordinated a facilitated expert panel Workshop that included a group of experts in the field of native trout genetics, meristics, and taxonomy. (Courtesy Krieger Presentation at Workshop) US Fish and Wildlife Service -
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