
Climate vulnerability
Sensitivity to climate change
Low-
Moderate
Pygmy whitefish occupy cool lakes and streams with temperatures below 10°C, and are likely adapted to cold and low-productivity environments (i.e,. small size, early maturation), making them sensitive to increasing water temperatures. Warmer water temperatures may have direct physiological effects, allow upstream expansion of some populations (provided no barriers exist) and/or affect ecological interactions by expanding the range of potential predators or competitors. Wildfires that remove stream- or lake-side vegetation may exacerbate temperature increases and/or contribute to sedimentation, which can affect spawning habitat.
Exposure to climate change
Moderate
- Increased water temperatures
- Altered fire regimes