Anthropogenic factors coupled with increased stochastic weather events (e.g., flood and drought) has caused stream temperatures to increase. Due largely to increased stream temperature, brook trout currently occupy only 70% of their historical distribution and regional models predict further range contraction as stream temperatures continue to increase.
Matthew O'Donnell
Matt is a Research Ecologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the S. O. Conte Research Laboratory in Turners Falls, MA.
Matt's research focuses on factors that influence population persistence of stream salmonids. In particular, Matt is examining the importance of coldwater refugia, thermal acclimation, and adaptation as a possible mechanisms for brook trout to persist in warming streams. In the field, he leads a project where wild brook trout are implanted with temperature recording tags to determine what water temperature fish actually experience. In the lab, he leads experiments where brook trout are being reared under ambient and increased thermal regimes for successive generations to examine the potential scope for thermal acclimation within generations and adaptation across generations.
Science and Products
Understanding Brook Trout Persistence in Warming Streams
Cold-water adapted Brook Trout were historically widely distributed – ranging from northern Quebec to Georgia, and from the Atlantic Ocean to Manitoba in the north, and along the Appalachian ridge in the south. However, studies show that due to factors associated with climate change, such as increased stream temperature and changing water flow, the number of streams containing Brook Trout is decli
Temperature recording tag being surgically implanted into brook trout
Anthropogenic factors coupled with increased stochastic weather events (e.g., flood and drought) has caused stream temperatures to increase. Due largely to increased stream temperature, brook trout currently occupy only 70% of their historical distribution and regional models predict further range contraction as stream temperatures continue to increase.
Science and Products
Understanding Brook Trout Persistence in Warming Streams
Cold-water adapted Brook Trout were historically widely distributed – ranging from northern Quebec to Georgia, and from the Atlantic Ocean to Manitoba in the north, and along the Appalachian ridge in the south. However, studies show that due to factors associated with climate change, such as increased stream temperature and changing water flow, the number of streams containing Brook Trout is decli
Temperature recording tag being surgically implanted into brook trout
Anthropogenic factors coupled with increased stochastic weather events (e.g., flood and drought) has caused stream temperatures to increase. Due largely to increased stream temperature, brook trout currently occupy only 70% of their historical distribution and regional models predict further range contraction as stream temperatures continue to increase.
Anthropogenic factors coupled with increased stochastic weather events (e.g., flood and drought) has caused stream temperatures to increase. Due largely to increased stream temperature, brook trout currently occupy only 70% of their historical distribution and regional models predict further range contraction as stream temperatures continue to increase.