Delineation of management units across broad spatial scales can help to visualize population structuring and identify conservation opportunities. Geographical information system (GIS) approaches can be useful for developing broad‐scale management units, especially when paired with field data that can validate the GIS‐based delineations. Genetic data can be useful for evaluating whether management units accurately represent population structuring. The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a regionwide collaborative group, delineated patch‐based management units for Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis by using GIS approaches to inform conservation strategies across the eastern United States. The objectives of this research were to (1) evaluate how well the patches predicted Brook Trout genetic structuring in Connecticut, USA; (2) modify the patches as needed to represent contemporary genetic structuring; and (3) identify catchment‐ and patch‐scale riverscape characteristics that predict genetic diversity. Patches with dams and high levels of upstream impervious surfaces (>3%) had increased intrapatch genetic structuring, which we incorporated into our revised patch delineation algorithm. Patch area and catchment area were the best predictors of genetic diversity, suggesting the importance of maintaining connectivity and incorporating patch‐scale processes into conservation actions. The modified patch layer could be used as the basis for Brook Trout management units to help predict population structuring in the absence of watershed‐scale genetic data, allowing opportunities for Brook Trout conservation to be identified.

中文翻译：

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评估基于GIS的布鲁克鳟鱼管理单位中的遗传结构

在广泛的空间尺度上划定管理单位可以帮助可视化人口结构并确定保护机会。地理信息系统（GIS）方法对于开发大规模管理单位很有用，尤其是与可验证基于GIS的描述的现场数据结合使用时。遗传数据可用于评估管理单位是否准确代表种群结构。东部鳟鱼鳟鱼合资企业，一个区域性合作组织，为布鲁克鳟鱼Salvelinus fontinalis划定了基于补丁的管理单元通过使用GIS方法为美国东部的保护策略提供信息。这项研究的目的是（1）评估斑块在美国康涅狄格州预测布鲁克鳟鱼遗传结构的能力；（2）根据需要修改补丁以代表当代的遗传结构；（3）确定可预测遗传多样性的流域和斑块级河景特征。带有水坝和上游不透水表面高水平（> 3％）的补丁增加了圈内的遗传结构，我们将其并入我们的修订补丁描述算法中。斑块区和集水区是遗传多样性的最佳预测指标，表明保持联系并将斑块规模过程纳入保护行动的重要性。