All are welcome to join us Wednesday, May 9th at 7:30pm, in the Auditorium of the Peterborough Public Library. The previously advertised bat talk has been postponed (an autumn date will be posted in the Orchid and on the website). Instead we will be hearing about recent and on-going lake trout research from Dr. Chris Wilson of the Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources.
As an archetypal Ice Age coldwater species, lake trout are expected to fare poorly under climate change scenarios. Long-term persistence of lake trout populations will depend on adaptation of populations to changing ecological and thermal conditions as well as available habitat. Very little is currently known about the adaptive potential of lake trout, or the ability of local and regional populations to cope with temperature increases and associated stresses. Their ability to adapt will depend on local population sizes and genetic biodiversity, as well as the strength and duration of selection pressures.
Recent and ongoing research is investigating the adaptive resources of inland and Great Lakes populations, as well as the variation within and among populations in coping ability and stress responses to temperature increases. This research is helping to inform the sustainable management of this highly valued species to ensure its future in a changing world.