In December 2024, Emily Franks successfully defended her Master’s thesis titled, “Bull trout population structure and extent of hybridization with brook trout across Alberta’s Eastern Slopes.”
Bull trout are at high risk in Alberta. Brook trout were introduced last century and have hybridized with bull trout throughout their range. How big a threat to bull trout is this? Genetics to the rescue! In a Master’s project supervised by John Post and Jon Mee at the University of Calgary, Franks quantified their hybridization in watersheds across the eastern slopes, and the extent that those hybrids are reproducing (and competing with bull trout). Franks also characterized bull trout population structure, providing a current picture of genetic differences among bull trout in the eastern slopes.
These findings will aid resource managers with their objectives to recover bull trout in Alberta. Water and Fish Program Lead Benjamin Kissinger was a committee member for Franks. He conceptualized this study and secured the samples and funds through Alberta’s Office of the Chief Scientist to complete this research.
Read her full thesis here.
