Age, growth and reproductive biology of threatened westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi inhabiting small mountain streams.

Age, growth and reproductive characteristics of six westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi populations were studied in the south-western Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. Sagittal otoliths were collected from 605 fish ranging in size from 36 to 250 mm (fork length). The maximum detected age (13 years for females and 12 for males) was higher than has been reported previously in published literature; but no significant differences in age distributions between males and females were found. Length growth rates, estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth function, showed that males and females had similar growth rates. Sex ratios varied between 0.3 to 2.0 females per male. Age and size at 50% maturity were greater for females than males (4.9 years and 139 mm v. 3.7 years and 125 mm). Mature females were yearly spawners with highly variable fecundities (mean ± S.D. = 223 ± 94) and their ovaries contained both developed and undeveloped eggs. Across all populations, mean instantaneous mortality rate (Z) was estimated as 0.555, annual survival rates for 0-1 year-old fish were 3.2 and 57.4% for older fish. An altitudinal distribution gradient was observed, with older fish occupying upper stream reaches. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of biological characteristics and structure of O. c. lewisi populations inhabiting small, mountain streams and should provide useful basic information for management policies of this threatened species in eastern drainage of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.