Cold Water Fishes and Thermal Refuges in Hot Water

Abstract

Torgersen will discuss coldwater refuges: 1. What role do they play in salmonid ecology? 2. How can they be identified at multiple spatial scales? 3. Can their distribution be predicted based on hydrologic and geomorphic associations? 4. How can they be protected and restored in degraded rivers? 5. Behavior and movement patterns (refuge use by large and small individuals). 6. Physiological consequences: thermal tolerances and growth. 7. Genetic differences in thermal tolerances: redband vs. rainbow trout. Torgersen will offer some conclusions: 1. Temperature alone can seldom explain fish distribution --habitat structure, biotic factors, and human impacts must be considered. 2. A refuge is not a home. Finally, he will present some future directions for research.