Resource selection functions for age-0 Arctic grayling ( Thymallus arcticus ) and their application to stream habitat compensation

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Jones, Nicholas E, Tonn, William M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2004
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Well - Met; Arctic grayling; Thymallus arcticus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f04-116; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f04-116

We developed resource selection functions (RSFs) for young-of-the-year (YOY) Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in a natural Barrenlands stream and used them to assess the habitat in an artificial stream created as part of a habitat compensation agreement in the Canadian Arctic. The model for small (15–21 mm) grayling explained 55% of the variation in habitat use and included water velocity, average water depth, and percentage of detritus and fines. The model for large (38–57 mm) grayling explained 36% of the variation in habitat use and included water depth, percentage of detritus and fines, and several cover variables. Model validation using a withheld sample of data indicated that the models provided good fits to the data, correctly classifying 71–75% of habitat-use locations. Applying the RSFs to observed habitat use in the artificial stream indicated an abundance of quality habitat for small grayling, but a paucity for the larger YOY. These results reflect an ontogenetic shift in habitat requirements, from the simple needs of small YOY to the more complex demands of larger YOY, demands that could not be well met by the artificial stream. We suggest that this inability contributed to the poor productive capacity of the artificial stream.