Sustainability study of thermal refuges and count of spawning nests on Ouelle river

After the redd count project in the fall of 2016, it was observed in MFFP’s records that the count was much less in 2016 than in the 90’s. Thermal refuges monitored in 2017 were selected by using infrared images from Dugdale et al. (2013). During the fieldwork of a biological monitoring project of thermal refuges in the summer of 2017, the river was in a low-flow period to the point where monitored refuges did not have sufficient water to receive parrs if the need arose.
These two findings show the relevancy of redd counts in order to have data that can be compared to those of previous years; as such, studying thermal refuge sustainability will enable us to target those refuges that are likely to be used by parrs.
Contact: Véronique Furois, 418-492-6135,
veronique.furois@obakir.qc.ca