Direct and indirect effects of sediment pulse duration on stream invertebrate assemblages and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth and survival

Elevated concentrations of inorganic sediment supply in streams may impair many biological functions. However, the contribution of exposure duration to the observed impacts has not been previously considered. We evaluated the effects of sediment pulse duration using 14 streamside flow-through experimental channels, each of which contained a naturally colonised invertebrate assemblage and 10 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry. Channels were exposed to fine sediment pulses of constant concentration but varied pulse duration (ranging from 0 to 6 h) every second day over 19 days. Total abundance of benthic invertebrate and family richness declined as sediment pulse duration increased. Invertebrate drift total abundance increased as pulse duration increased; however, family richness of drift decreased. Trout length and mass gain over the 19-day period was negatively correlated with pulse duration. Path analysis suggests that the direct effects of fine sediment on trout (impaired vision leading to reduced prey capture success and (or) increased metabolic costs from physiological stress) are more important to trout growth than indirect effects (decreased drift and benthic invertebrate richness and drift abundance).

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Changes in Habitat Use and Feeding Chronology of Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Fall and the Onset of Winter in Silver Creek, Idaho

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f93-237 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 2119-2128 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Michael D. Riehle ◽

J. S. Griffith

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Density Distribution ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Early Morning ◽

Invertebrate Drift ◽

Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

We assessed changes in density, distribution, and microhabitat of age-0 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Silver Creek, a partially spring-fed stream, by periodic snorkeling in August 1987 through January 1988. We examined trout stomach contents and invertebrate drift samples in diel collections in August, September, October, and January to test if the period of feeding shifted from daytime to nighttime, concurrent with a transition to day concealment. In late September, fish aggregated briefly during the day and then began to conceal themselves in macrophyte beds, undercut banks, and submerged sedges and grasses along streambanks as temperature dropped below 8 °C in early October. Fish emerged from concealment at night, and numbers of trout visible were greatest 30–60 min after sunset and about 30 min before sunrise. Periods of peak feeding changed from afternoon and evening in August and September, when fish were day active, to mainly at night in October after the initiation of day concealment. Trout did not feed upon abundant chironomids in the daytime drift in October. In January, fish fed at 1–4 °C on mayflies, and stomachs were fullest in the early morning. Observations suggest that Silver Creek trout experienced a metabolic deficit that began in September.

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Diel Feeding Chronology and Diet Selection of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f90-022 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 199-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

T. R. Angradi ◽

J. S. Griffith

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Stomach Content ◽

Decision Rules ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Live Weight ◽

Invertebrate Drift ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Terrestrial Insects ◽

Prey Items

Concurrent rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stomach contents and invertebrate drift samples were collected during three 24-h periods in summer 1987. Feeding was discontinuous through the day on all dates. Mean stomach content weight was minimal after 0400 MST and sharply increased between 1000 and 1200 MST on all three dates. Feeding apparently did not occur after twilight. Mean stomach content weight was correlated with water temperature on two dates and was never correlated with invertebrate drift density for non-age-0 trout. Daily ration (wet weight) was 7% of live weight for non-age-0 trout and 21% for age-0 trout. Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Diptera were most important in the diet; terrestrial insects and aquatic vertebrates were rare. The degree of selectivity varied through 24 h and the interpretation depended on the method of analysis used. Occurrence of low-drift cased Trichoptera larvae in stomachs was correlated with amount of filamentous algae ingested, indicating a degree of epibenthic foraging, although no diel pattern could be reliably discerned. Mean length of prey items in stomachs was larger that the drift in 83% of the samples. Our findings support experimentally derived decision rules-of-thumb for foraging trout: select larger prey items, select vulnerable prey, and relax selectivity when hungry.

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