Use of Small Streams by Young Brook Trout Spawned in a Lake

Abstract

Young-of-the-year (age-0) brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis that were spawned in a lake were observed migrating into and inhabiting small (<2-m-wide) inlet streams. We estimated that up to 81% of the entire age-0 population in the lake system inhabited the streams by midsummer. Some age-0 fish overwintered in the streams and remained there during their second summer. Such behavior suggested fitness advantages were gained by stream residence. The inhabited streams had accessible, cold, and stable habitats that existed because the streams occurred in forested catchments where groundwater dominated base flows. This identification of these small streams as habitat for young brook trout and the importance of catchment hydrology for sustaining these habitats indicated a need to review habitat protection guidelines for lake-dwelling populations.

Heat transfer in fish: are short excursions between habitats a thermoregulatory behaviour to exploit resources in an unfavourable thermal environment?

“…Thermal refuges were described as critical habitats in a warming environment to explain summer movements and the spatial distribution of salmonids (Snucins and Gunn, 1995;Curry et al, 1997;Breau et al, 2011) or their diel movement patterns (Brewitt and Danner, 2014). Most studies on fish behavioural thermoregulation concern diel vertical or horizontal migration between warm and cool habitats, and these were interpreted as behaviours to maximize growth efficiency (Neverman and Wurtsbaugh, 1994;Armstrong et al, 2013) or as energy-saving strategies (Sims et al, 2006).…”

Emulation of natural disturbance (END) for riparian forest management: synthesis and recommendations

“…A threshold of 3 km 2 was selected because brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) generally have a low likelihood of occupying streams (and associated beaver ponds) if upstream catchment area is ,3 km 2 (Parker 2006, R. Mackereth, OMNR, unpublished data). A 500-m distance criterion was used because brook trout can travel .500 m up small streams that are connected to water features that support brook trout (Curry et al 1997, Borwick et al 2006. Information on brook trout was used to define thresholds because this species has high socioeconomic importance and generally is considered a sensitive indicator of changes in water temperature, water quality, and groundwater inputs.…”

An alien fish threatens an endangered parasitic bivalve: the relationship between brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Europe

“…The superiority of brook trout over brown trout had been considered to be the result of characteristics like the faster growth (Öhlund et al 2008(Öhlund et al , Korsu et al 2009) and the younger maturation age (Öhlund et al 2008) of brook trout, in addition to its ability to spawn also in lakes (Curry et al 1997). A potential new aspect for the interaction between brook trout and the native European salmonids was found in the second laboratory experiment, during of which predation by brook trout on Atlantic salmon was detected in spite of the fact that all fishes were of the same age (0+) and they were fed daily.…”