Trout in hot water: A call for global action
Trout are one of the most culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxonomic groups of freshwater fishes worldwide (1). Native to all continents in the Northern Hemisphere, trout are a taxonomically diverse group of fishes belonging to 7 genera (Oncorhynchus, Salvelinus, Salmo, Hucho, Parahucho, Brachymystax, and Salvethymus) distributed across 52 countries. These coldwater specialists provide recreation and food to millions of people, and play important roles in ecosystem functioning and health (2). They are also extremely sensitive to human disturbances because they require cold, clean, complex, and connected habitats for survival and persistence (3) – all attributes that humans have substantially altered and degraded (4, 5). Despite their broad importance as societal icons and as indicators of biodiversity, many of the world’s trout species and lineages are endangered and some require immediate conservation efforts to reverse their precarious decline.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2018 |
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Title | Trout in hot water: A call for global action |
DOI | 10.1126/science.aat8455 |
Authors | Clint C. Muhlfeld, Daniel C. Dauwalter, Ryan Kovach, Jeffrey L. Kershner, Jack E. Williams, John Epifanio |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Science |
Index ID | 70210227 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center |