Genetic analysis reveals bidirectional fish movement across the Continental Divide via an interbasin water transfer

Interbasin water transfers are becoming an increasingly common tool to satisfy municipal and agricultural water demand, but their impacts on the movement and gene flow of aquatic organisms are poorly understood. The Grand Ditch is an interbasin water transfer that diverts water from tributaries of the upper Colorado River on the west side of the Continental Divide to the upper Cache la Poudre River on the east side of the Continental Divide. I used single nucleotide polymorphisms to characterize population genetic structure in cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and determine if fish utilize the Grand Ditch as a movement corridor. Samples were collected from two sites on the west side and three sites on the east side of the Continental Divide. I identified two genetic clusters, but they did not align with the west and east sides of the Continental Divide. Spatial distributions of admixed individuals indicated that the Grand Ditch facilitated bidirectional fish movement across the Continental Divide, a major biogeographic barrier. Many others have demonstrated the ecological impacts of interbasin water transfers, but this study is one of the first to utilize genetics to understand how interbasin water transfers affect connectivity between previously isolated watersheds. I also discuss implications on native trout management and the need for balancing water demand and biodiversity conservation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Authors dc:creator

• Harris, Audrey Catherine, author
• Kanno, Yoichiro, advisor
• Winkelman, Dana, advisor
• Oyler-McCance, Sara, committee member
• Morrison, Ryan, committee member

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02309

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/234161