Distribution, Status, and Land Use Characteristics of Subwatersheds within the Native Range of Brook Trout in the Eastern United States

Abstract We examined and summarized existing knowledge regarding the distribution and status of self-sustaining populations of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis at the subwatershed scale (mean subwatershed area = 8,972 ha) across their native range in the eastern USA. This region represents approximately 25% of the species' entire native range and 70% of the U.S. portion of the native range. This assessment resulted in an updated and detailed range map of historical and current brook trout distribution in the study area. Based on known and predicted brook trout status, each subwatershed was classified according to the percentage of historical brook trout habitat that still maintained self-sustaining populations. We identified 1,660 subwatersheds (31%) in which over 50% of brook trout habitat was intact; 1,859 subwatersheds (35%) in which less than 50% of brook trout habitat was intact; 1,482 subwatersheds (28%) from which self-sustaining populations were extirpated; and 278 subwatersheds (5%) where brook ...

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