Proceedings 2009/030

Habitat Use of Copper Redhorse and Quantifying Habitat Quality – part 1; March 17-18, 2009

Chairperson: H. Bouchard and C. Cyr
Rapporteur: M-J. Auclair

Summary

Scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and from the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (MRNF) and the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP) met on March 17th and 18th, 2009 to review the available information on the copper redhorse habitat. The meeting’s objective was to assess the copper redhorse habitat use and to determine the quality of this habitat. A second workshop will take place in the winter of 2010 to complete the work. The scientific information presented during the meetings will help in drafting the science advice for identifying this species' critical habitat henceforth listed as an endangered species in the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

A summary of the different federal laws and guidelines that regulate the identification and protection of the copper redhorse critical habitat was first presented to the participants. The MRNF then presented more technical presentations on the principal characteristics of the copper redhorse: distribution, abundance, status and biology. Information updates were provided concerning the copper redhorse habitat used at various stages of development and thus certain characteristics or important sites were identified in order to protect the habitat. The two known spawning grounds (Chambly Rapids Archipelago and the area downstream from the St. Ours dam) on the Richelieu River should be protected as well as the feeding and rearing areas located in the river corridor between Montreal and Sorel. The importance of maintaining a free passage between the St. Lawrence and the spawning sites in the Richelieu River was also mentioned. The grass beds along the shore in shallow water areas, in particular the left shore of the Richelieu River and around the Jeannotte and Aux Cerfs Islands in the Richelieu River, were identified as key copper redhorse nursery areas (rearing, feeding, shelter). On the other hand, it was mentioned that knowledge on immature copper redhorse was very fragmentary, limited to historical captures throughout the species’ distribution range. Modelling results from the adult copper redhorse occurrence site characteristics provided a first look at the species’ potential habitat. Additional analyses will be conducted over the next few months and will be presented at a future workshop. Finally, it was noted that the copper redhorse occurs in waterways located among the most densely populated areas in Quebec and that the deterioration and fragmentation of its habitat represented the primary threats to its recovery.

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