"Explain why fish, specifically steelhead trout, would be an effective indicator species"

reflect the conditions and changes of an environment where they live.

Explanation:

Effective indicator species need distinct environmental factors to sustain and survive in the environment. They reflect the conditions and changes of an environment where they live.

Fishes, specifically steelhead trouts, are an effective indicator species because steelhead trouts require distinct environmental conditions to survive such as temperature of the water, availability of food, specific waterbed, etc. If there is an absence of steelhead trouts in a particular body of water, scientists can easily determine that the water has environmental problems.