OBTU Chapter Meeting May 15, 2024

IMPORTANT: SEE BELOW NEW MEETING ROOM!

Topic: “Brook trout populations in Wisconsin”

Summary: Historical stocking practices have altered the spatial genetic structure of brook trout populations in Wisconsin. These practices have largely obscured the natural patterns of genetic variation that once existed across the landscape. However, genetic analyses offer a means of disentangling the influence of stocking from endemic population structure. By employing these tools, fisheries managers can gain valuable insights to guide restoration efforts and promote the wellbeing of native brook trout populations. Dr. Homola will present two recent genetic studies that have analyzed over 130 brook trout populations from across Wisconsin. Dr. Homola will discuss how the findings from these studies are informing management strategies aimed at restoring natural patterns of genetic variation and ensuring the long-term persistence of healthy brook trout populations in Wisconsin.

Speaker Jared Homola:

Dr. Jared Homola earned graduate degrees from Grand Valley State University and University of Maine and then served as a post-doctoral fellow at Michigan State University before becoming the Assistant Unit Leader of the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit in 2021. As director of the Molecular Conservation Genetics Laboratory at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, his research program addresses Unit cooperator needs using a variety of genomic, bioinformatic, and statistical tools. While working primary on fishes of the Great Lakes basin and upper Midwest, Dr. Homola also has research experience on species ranging from bacteria and viruses to birds, reptiles, and amphibians. He is particularly interested in understanding ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental pressures, including land use change, climate change, disease, and harvest.

OBTU Collaboration with Dr. Homola:

We will also be discussing Oak Brook TU’s pilot program “Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Detect Brook Trout in Streams of the Driftless Area”. Jared’s lab will be conducting the genetic analysis of the samples collected by OBTU. Sample data is expected to provide an important tool for the Driftless Brook Trout Conservation Portfolio being developed by Trout Unlimited. The Conservation Portfolio is a scientifically based approach to be used to identify specific actions that advance brook trout conservation.

This is a hybrid meeting:  Note:   We have been notified that our normal Oak Brook Park District meeting room in the Central Park West Building will be unavailable due to planned maintenance on May 15 instead we will be meeting in Studio ‘C’ in the Family Recreation Center at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.

Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83651717582?pwd=0w2GSrG9o4xZ0tO9uckogZfl1ZW7K7.1

Meeting ID: 836 5171 7582      Passcode: 210957

OR Connect by Phone:

Phone #:   (312) 626-6799     Meeting ID: 836 5171 7582    Passcode: 210957