Demographic and habitat requirements for conservation of bull trout

Elements in bull trout biology, population dynamics, habitat, and biotic interactions important to conservation of the species are identified. Bull trout appear to have more specific habitat requirements than other salmonids, but no critical thresholds of acceptable habitat condition were found. Size, temporal variation, and spatial distribution are likely to influence the stability of local and regional populations. Disruption of key habitat characteristics threatens the persistence of local populations, and isolated populations are not likely to persist indefinitely. Conservation of bull trout will require maintenance or restoration of multiple, high-quality, connected habitats distributed throughout conservation areas, which in turn should be distributed throughout the species' range.