CAN WATERSHED BIO- AND GEODIVERSITY INFORM THE HABITAT SUITABILITY OF SALMONIDS?

Brook trout (uinipeku-matemetu, Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (ushashameku, Salmo salar) are both emblematic species of the province of Quebec for their popularity with recreational, commercial, and Indigenous food, ceremonial, and social fisheries. Anticosti Island, a recently named UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance and rich geological record, is a well-known destination for brook trout and Atlantic salmon fishing with populations of various health statuses. We developed a project to assess the links between river diversity and the various mechanisms underlying the ecophysiology and habitat preferences of Anticosti Island salmonids using fish otolith and water trace metal signatures, river morphology, and environmental DNA. In July 2025, 37 rivers and lakes across Anticosti island were sampled for environmental DNA, water chemistry, and river morphological characteristics.This data collection and future model development will be useful for future ecosystem restoration plans and conservation goals for native Brook trout and Atlantic salmon populations throughout the province of Québec.   

Presentation Preference: No Preference

Primary Presenter: Peyton Thomas, University of Colorado Boulder (peyton.thomas@colorado.edu)

Authors:

Peyton Thomas, University of Colorado Boulder  (peyton.thomas@colorado.edu)

David Deslauriers, UQAR/ISMER  (ddeslauriers@uqar.ca)