Resiliency of Apache Trout habitats in a warmer and drier climate future.

The article focuses on how climate factors influence the distribution and habitat suitability of juvenile Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache), a threatened salmonid native to the southwestern United States, and projects these effects into the 2080s under climate change scenarios. Using a species distribution model incorporating mean July stream temperature, annual precipitation, stream slope, and presence of nonnative trout, the study found that precipitation declines are likely to have a greater negative impact on Apache Trout habitat suitability than warming stream temperatures. Most current Apache Trout populations are isolated upstream of barriers in thermally suitable habitats that are expected to remain suitable despite warming, while some cold headwater reaches may become more suitable as temperatures rise. The study highlights that future reductions in precipitation, affecting streamflows and drought frequency, will be critical in determining the resiliency and persistence of Apache Trout habitats under changing climate conditions.