of Origins and History: the Rarest of Possibilities

Some questions may persist as to just how alvordensis made it to ***** Creek.  Though there is historical reference about the translocation of Alvords from Trout Creek to the basin westward of their former home, an ichthyologist might still have questions to ask…

Alvord genetics are currently officially undocumented, and until a thorough analysis of the Hubbs and Miller samples at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology is undertaken it remains difficult (if not impossible) to make authoritative statements regarding the trout genetics in ***** Creek.

Genetic analysis may not be crucial for the identification of alvordensis in ***** Creek, as the historical and phenotypical indicators are authoritative for those who have seen and studied them up-close.  Other ‘competing explanations’ seem to pale in comparison to what Dr. Behnke has already surmised and put forth regarding these phenotypical Alvord trout.

Yet this post touches upon what may be a different consideration where ***** Creek and its basin are concerned.  It briefly examines some of the thoughts that flowed through our minds a few years ago—when we first encountered the collection of trout in ***** Creek—  and when we first became aware of their very unusual and remarkable genetic diversity.

Haunting Living Realities from the Alvord Basin

Sometimes it seems very difficult—if not impossible—to find the perfect words to describe what one is thinking or feeling about a subject intensely near and dear to one’s heart.  Such may be the case after our most recent foray to ***** Creek; and especially regarding the sober impressions burned into our comprehension after just 12 or so hours on the stream…

It wasn’t the mosquitoes; though they were the worst that we’ve ever encountered on the creek; and they left a whining drone in our ears and the imprint of a swarm in our memory even long after the day was done and we were countless miles away.  …At least the no-see-ums were not nearly as bad as three years ago in July of ’08 when after just a few hours on the stream my eyes were black and blue as if I’d gotten the worst of it in a bar room brawl.

It wasn’t the high water; though the water was the highest we’ve seen in July—and clearly this has been an exceptionally wet year.  Though weeks late the gates were still not open to allow passage on many of the roads.  In May of ’08, the HQ recommended no passage at all to ***** Creek (though a few diehards did 4WD into the area).  Yet the gates were open in June—and the roads then didn’t show the serious scars that they revealed on this last trip.

But all of that is just academic.  In reality, it is time on the stream that is relevant; and it is the time on the stream that leaves the stark impressions that affect our passions.  This trip it was really due to circumstances that we earnestly worked a section of the system that in previous years we’d overlooked or skirted around.  What we encountered was an amazing surprise that should have heartened us; and yet, at best, finally left us feeling bittersweet.

What Really Matters

The survival of any species depends on its ability to reproduce, and upon the survival of its young.  There are many factors that can reduce a population to the point of extinction.

What are some of those factors and how might they apply to the remnant phenotypical Alvord cutthroat trout?

Questions from the Pluvial Past

In Native Trout of North America, Robert Smith relates that the University of California, Davis “turned up strong evidence of Lahontan cutthroat ancestry and a unique allele found only in Alvord Trout.  There was also evidence of an ancient rainbow influence dating back thousands of years—strange echoes of the past indeed” (Trout of the Alvord Basin; pg. 48).

He then offered the thought that there may have been a headwater transfer of redbands from pluvial Lake Catlow as an explanation.

Where the Alvord cutthroat trout is concerned, relevant questions may arise from the pluvial past.  The prospect of a genetic legacy that originates from more than one source population may add complicating factors for the analysis of and understanding of this rare form of cutthroat trout.

Yet known geological history may help shed some light on the pluvial past of the Alvord Basin, and upon inter-basin connections that could account for unusual genetic findings; as well as show just how unique the Alvord cutthroat trout may be in the historical placement of trout in North America.

Beyond Trout Creek and Virgin Creek

Sometimes it’s difficult to own up to having made a mistake.  Perhaps even more so for a group of individuals—a company, organization or agency—to admit when a shared mistake has been made.   Vast expenditures and professional reputations are often at stake.

Some actions are even “prefaced” to “prove” that they’re not mistakes.  The early United States Fish Commission sponsored articles, written by “experts” on table fare, stating that rainbow trout were “fairer” and “better tasting” than salmon or other trout — including cutthroat trout (thus, justifying the idea that planting rainbows just about anywhere and everywhere was a good thing).

Of course, today most of us would recognize such opinionating as the nonsense that it is. We realize that we cannot improve the natural order of innate ecosystems by artificial means.  That is not to say that there can’t be artificial “ecosystems” that benefit mankind; but that we cannot effectively replace or improve on the natural order by subverting it.

Most who are familiar with the history of the Alvord Cutthroat Trout know that they were extirpated by the release of rainbow trout into Trout Creek, Oregon and Virgin Creek, Nevada (strongholds of the ancient alvordensis). Yet there is much more to those stories, and there is much more than those stories.

How Time Flies . . . Five Year Anniversary Approaches

As the five year anniversary of Dr. Behnke’s affirmation of finding a living remnant of alvordensis (phenotypical Alvord Cutthroat Trout) in ***** Creek approaches, it seems fitting to review some of his thoughts regarding this remnant of phenotypical Alvord Cutthroat Trout and the prospect of reviving a contemporary version of alvordensis.

Challenges And Possibilities

Reply from Doug Markle regarding an attempt to quantify the prospect of meaningfully pure alvordensis genome remaining in ***** Creek.

—–Original Message—–

From: Kortum of Discovery
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 11:51 AM
To: ‘Markle, Douglas F – FW’
Cc: ‘Shannon Hurn’
Subject: Attempt to Quantify Potential for Pure Alvord Genome

Thanks Doug, for the detailed reply and the clarification of some of the (many) complications that the (sorting of the) genetics of these trout present.   I believe that you have landed on the equivalent premise that Dr. Behnke expressed when he affirmed the presence of Alvord phenotypes in ***** in 2006 (though you outlined the reasons to arrive at that conclusion in further detail).

Intrinsic Value of Rescue|Restoration of the Alvord Phenotype

. . . Why Does it Matter? . . . What Difference Does it Make? . . .

It’s a bit of a long synopsis: the historical events that brought the Alvord Cutthroat Trout into existence—and events that have brought them to the classification of extinction.  Yet, to follow is a concise sketch of basic sequential facts that have brought us to present reality.

Technical Considerations (Bottlenecking / SNPs / Old DNA)

—–Original Message—–
From: Dennis Kenji Shiozawa
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 9:46 AM
To: ‘David & Carmela Kortum’
Subject: RE: Alvord Cutthroat Trout

David and Carmela,

Re- your question about translocated populations and their  retention of alleles – if they come from a rare (likely bottlenecked) population, the population will have a reasonable probability of being relatively homozygous … compared to a more abundant population.  How much difference you find between the parental or source population and the translocated population will likely depend on the number of fish transferred and their genetic makeup (this is another bottleneck event), and then any genetic drift that may occur in the translocated population.