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Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Linking landscape variables to cold water refugia in rivers
Wendy A Monk1, Nathan M Wilbur, R Allen Curry
1Canadian Rivers Institute, P.O. Box 4400, 10 Bailey Drive, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
Journal of Environmental Management
|February 23, 2013
Summary
Identifying coldwater refugia in rivers is crucial for protecting fish like brook trout and Atlantic salmon. Thermal infrared imaging and geospatial data successfully mapped these critical habitats in the Cains River, Canada.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic Ecology
- Remote Sensing
- Fisheries Management
Background:
- Coldwater refugia are essential thermal habitats for coldwater-dependent fish species, such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
- Identifying and protecting these refugia is critical for aquatic system resilience, especially during periods of thermal stress like summer heatwaves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model coldwater refugia in the Cains River, New Brunswick, Canada, using thermal infrared imagery.
- To identify the key geospatial catchment variables that drive the location and thermal characteristics of these critical habitats.
Main Methods:
- Georeferenced thermal infrared images were acquired during late July 2008 and 2009.
- Partial Least Square (PLS) Regression was employed to link thermal data with geospatial catchment variables (e.g., slope, wetland and forest density).
Main Results:
- Catchment position (slope) and upstream landscape features (wetlands, mixed forest) were identified as significant drivers of tributary median temperatures.
- PLS models effectively predicted the magnitude of coldwater refugia, defined as the temperature difference between the mainstem and refugia.
Conclusions:
- Thermal infrared remote sensing is a viable tool for predicting critical summer habitats for coldwater fishes.
- Understanding landscape drivers is key to effective management and protection of coldwater refugia in river systems.
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