Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2018/022 Central and Arctic Region Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Athabasca River populations) Chantelle D. Sawatzky Fisheries and Oceans Canada 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 March 2018 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Research documents are produced in the official language in which they are provided to the Secretariat. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2018 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Sawatzky, C.D. 2018. Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Athabasca River populations). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/022. x + 162 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... IX RÉSUMÉ ................................................................................................................................... X SPECIES INFORMATION...........................................................................................................1 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................................1 BIOLOGY, ABUNDANCE, AND DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................1 SPECIES DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 1 DISTRIBUTION ...................................................................................................................... 2 TAXONOMY AND GENETIC DESCRIPTION ........................................................................ 5 LIFE HISTORY DIVERSITY ................................................................................................... 7 PHYSIOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 7 FEEDING AND DIET ............................................................................................................. 8 REPRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 9 SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE ...................................................................................................... 9 INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTIONS ........................................................................................10 ABUNDANCE AND TRENDS ................................................................................................12 POPULATION ASSESSMENT ..............................................................................................27 HABITAT AND RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................34 FUNCTIONS, FEATURES AND ATTRIBUTES .....................................................................36 SPATIAL EXTENT OF HABITAT ..........................................................................................37 SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS .....................................................................................................37 RESIDENCE .........................................................................................................................47 THREATS AND LIMITING FACTORS TO THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY OF ATHABASCA RAINBOW TROUT .............................................................................................47 NATURALLY OCCURRING LIMITING FACTORS ................................................................47 ANTHROPOGENIC THREAT CATEGORIES .......................................................................47 Invasive Species ...............................................................................................................48 Habitat Loss or Degradation ..............................................................................................53 Mortality ............................................................................................................................57 Contaminants and Toxic Substances ................................................................................58 Climate Change ................................................................................................................62 Interactive and Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................63 THREAT ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................64 MITIGATION AND ALTERNATIVES .........................................................................................73 INVASIVE SPECIES .............................................................................................................77 MORTALITY .........................................................................................................................77 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATIONS ......................................................78 INTERACTIVE AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .....................................................................80 EXISTING PROTECTION .........................................................................................................80 iii SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY ................................................................................................80 REFERENCES CITED ..............................................................................................................81 APPENDIX 1 .............................................................................................................................90 APPENDIX 2. DETAILED THREATS ASSESSMENT ...............................................................94 TERTIARY WATERSHED: 07AA ..............................................................................................94 HUC8S: 17010102, 17010103, 17010104, 17010105, & 17010106 .......................................... 94 HUC8: 17010102 – UPPER ATHABASCA AND BRULE LAKE (JASPER NATIONAL PARK) ................................................................................................94 Invasive Species ...............................................................................................................94 Habitat Loss and/or Degradation .......................................................................................94 Mortality ............................................................................................................................95 Contaminants and Toxic Substances ................................................................................96 Climate Change ................................................................................................................96 Interactive and Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................96 HUC8: 17010103 – WHIRLPOOL RIVER (JASPER NATIONAL PARK) ...............................96 Invasive Species ...............................................................................................................96 Habitat Loss and/or Degradation .......................................................................................97 Mortality ............................................................................................................................98 Contaminants and Toxic Substances ................................................................................98 Climate Change ................................................................................................................99 Interactive and Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................99 HUC8: 17010104 – MIETTE RIVER (JASPER NATIONAL PARK)........................................99 Invasive Species ...............................................................................................................99 Habitat Loss and/or Degradation .......................................................................................99 Mortality ..........................................................................................................................100 Contaminants and Toxic Substances ..............................................................................101 Climate Change ..............................................................................................................101 Interactive and Cumulative Effects ..................................................................................101 HUC8: 17010105 – MALIGNE RIVER (JASPER NATIONAL PARK) ...................................101 Invasive Species .............................................................................................................101 Habitat Loss and/or Degradation .....................................................................................102 Mortality ..........................................................................................................................103