Patterns in the Temperature Selection and Occupancy of Brook Trout in Algonquin Park

Temperature is a key environmental factor affecting habitat selection of many freshwater fishes as it controls physiological processes including growth and metabolism. Many species face potential threats due to rising temperatures and cold-water species, including Brook Trout, are thought to be particularly vulnerable. Much of our knowledge about selection of Brook Trout thermal habitat is from work estimating upper thresholds and optimal or selected temperatures within experimental settings. Broadening our understanding of thermal selection beyond laboratory experiments is a necessary next step in order to accurately identify and conserve important thermal habitat for this and other potentially threatened species. I first review the literature on Brook Trout temperature relations in order to summarize our current state of knowledge and compare between the lab- and field-based studies. Field estimates of Brook Trout thermal selection from 37 Algonquin Park lakes are then studied, followed by models of Brook Trout occupancy and detection probability.M.Sc