Genetic Assessment and Effects of Stocking on Wild Brook Trout Populations in South Carolina

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have declined greatly throughout its eastern historic range due to a combination of anthropogenic activities including habitat loss and fragmentation, and introduction of exotic species.  In South Carolina, remnant wild populations persist in small and isolated headwater reaches of mountain streams, and have a record of stocking events from hatcheries across the east coast. Given their current small population size and prevalence of trout stocking practices, genetic diversity and integrity is among key scientific and management questions that need to be addressed for conserving South Carolina’s wild Brook Trout populations.  We investigated Brook Trout population genetics at 15 streams in South Carolina using 12 microsatellite loci on samples from young-of-year individuals, and compared these to samples taken from hatcheries with records of stocking in South Carolina.  These 15 streams represent South Carolina’s remaining Brook Trout populations.  Our objectives were to identify genetic diversity within and among Brook Trout populations, and investigate the persistence of populations characterized with southern genetic signatures in South Carolina.   We aim to use this information to determine which existing South Carolina Brook Trout populations will best serve as source populations for future stream restoration efforts to preserve wild Brook Trout genetic integrity.