scholarly journals Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) extinction in small boreal lakes revealed by ephippia pigmentation: a preliminary analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Bérubé Tellier ◽  
Paul E. Drevnick ◽  
Andrea Bertolo
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Boreal Lakes ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Trout Population

<p>Ephippium pigmentation is a plastic trait which can be related to a trade-off between visual predation pressure and better protection of cladoceran eggs against different types of stress. Experimental studies showed that planktivorous fish exert a greater predation pressure on individuals carrying darker ephippia, but little is known about the variation of ephippium pigmentation along gradients of fish predation pressure in natural conditions. For this study, our experimental design included four small boreal lakes with known fish assemblages. Two of the lakes have viable brook trout (<em>Salvelinus fontinalis</em>) populations, whereas the other two lakes experienced brook trout extinctions during the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Cladoceran ephippia were extracted from sediment cores at layers corresponding to the documented post- extinction phase (1990's) and from an older layer (1950's) for which the brook trout population status is not known precisely. Our first objective was to determine whether brook trout extinction has a direct effect on both ephippium pigmentation and size. Our second objective was to give a preliminary assessment of the status of brook trout populations in the 1950's by comparing the variation in ephippia traits measured from this layer to those measured in the 1990's, for which the extinction patterns are well known. Cost-effective image analysis was used to assess variation in pigmentation levels in ephippia. This approach provided a proxy for the amount of melanin invested in each ephippium analysed. Our study clearly shows that ephippium pigmentation may represent a better indicator of the presence of fish predators than ephippium size, a trait that showed a less clear pattern of variation between lakes with and without fish. For the 1990's period, ephippia from fishless lakes were darker and showed a slight tendency to be larger than ephippia from lakes with brook trout. However, no clear differences in either ephippium size or pigmentation were observed between the 1990's and 1950's layers within each lake. This suggests that brook trout extinction already occurred before the 1950’s, or that brook trout population abundance was already extremely low before and after the 1990’s. Our preliminary study shows that ephippium pigmentation can be used as a tool to quickly assess present and past predation levels on zooplankton when only sediment samples are available.</p>

Experimental Plantings of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from Furunculosis-Infected Stock

1968 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2643-2649 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. McDermott ◽  
A. H. Berst
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Infected Fish ◽  
Aeromonas Salmonicida ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Trout Population ◽  
Hatchery Stock ◽  
Associated Species ◽  
Made In

Preliminary sampling revealed the presence of furunculosis disease in the resident brook trout population of the southern Ontario trout stream used in this study.Two plantings of marked yearling brook trout were made in the study area in 1966; one in the spring, and the other in the fall. The spring planting consisted of 1000 brook trout with a predetermined incidence of furunculosis infection and an equal number of trout with no evidence of infection. The fall planting consisted of 2000 brook trout with a known incidence of furunculosis infection.The stream was electrofished periodically during the 2-year period after the first planting. A total of 445 brook trout (140 of the planted hatchery stock, and 305 resident trout) and 127 fish of associated species were captured and examined for the presence of Aeromonas salmonicida, causative agent of furunculosis.Recovery rates of the "infected" and "noninfected" stocks of brook trout were similar, and there was no evidence of transmission of A. salmonicida from the infected fish to the control fish, nor the resident population of brook trout and other species of fish captured.

Trout Production and Eels in Bill Lake, Saguenay County, Quebec

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1398-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. O’Connor ◽  
G. Power
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Apparent Position ◽  
Trout Population ◽  
American Eels

Competition and predation by American eels (Anguilla rostrata) is believed to have substantially reduced trout population and production in Bill Lake. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occurred at densities of 7/ha; biomass of 0.34 kg/ha and annual production was estimated at 0.21 kg/ha. This is considerably less than values for trout density, biomass, and production in other lakes in the Matamek watershed from which eels appear to be absent. Eels in Bill Lake are old and large but not numerous, in keeping with their apparent position as top carnivores.

Variation of Hepatic Ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase Activity with Body Weight and Other Factors in Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 924-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Addison ◽  
D. E. Willis
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Regression Coefficient ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Liver Weight ◽  
Microsomal Protein ◽  
Biological Effects Monitoring

Data from several previous experimental studies of hepatic mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity were reexamined to study the possible relationship between ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase activity and body weight and other factors in "uninduced" brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Weight-specific O-de-ethylase activity was inversely related to body weight; regression of the log transformation of the total hepatic O-de-ethylase activity on log liver weight yielded a regression coefficient of 0.850 ± 0.047 close to the value of ~0.75 expected for a relationship based on overall metabolic rate. The regression coefficient was significantly higher in males than in females. Multiple regression analysis showed O-de-ethylase activity to be positively correlated with both microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 content. The data confirm that size (or age) is a factor to be eliminated in any biological effects monitoring program based on MFO assays.Key words: mixed function oxidases, ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase, brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis; hepatic mono-oxygenases

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Population Structure in Acidified Lac Tantaré, Quebec

1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 865-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Jacques Frenette ◽  
Julian J. Dodson
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Toxic Stress ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Trout Population

To present evidence of acid-induced stress, we studied the population structure and distribution of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in acidified Lac Tantaré, Quebec. Trout greater than 21 cm (FL) represented only 16.2 and 10% of the population sampled in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Survival rates of trout from 1979 to 1980 indicated higher survival among individuals > 25 cm, mortality occurring primarily among fish of 13–25 cm. The marked decline in numbers of fish occurring at 21 cm coincided with the size at which 50% of the female trout population reached sexual maturity, suggesting that postspawning mortality contributes to the high mortality observed among these fish. Comparisons of population and individual growth rates revealed that smaller fish of age-classes 1 to 5 suffer higher mortality than do the larger individuals of these age-classes, implicating mortality agents other than those related to spawning. We provide evidence to support the hypothesis that the most probable cause of mortality is size-related differential exposure to toxic stress whereby small brook trout (< 25 cm) are found in lake areas (brooks) exhibiting the most potentially toxic combination of pH and aluminum, thus enhancing the exposure of the most susceptible part of the population to toxic stress. Large brook trout [Formula: see text] are found in the "safest" lake areas (springs), thus diminishing the exposure of the least susceptible part of the population to toxic stress and enhancing survival. Female trout exhibit delayed sexual maturity relative to other Quebec populations, attaining 50% maturity at age 3 and a length of 21–24 cm such that the major part of the population's reproductive effort is provided by those fish representing only 15% of the population in 1979 and 1980. During the October spawning season, 20% of potential spawners exhibited retarded oogenesis. These reductions in reproductive effort and changes in spawning site selection provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that recruitment failure may be occurring in the Tantaré brook trout population.

A nonlethal approach using strontium in scales to distinguish periods of marine and freshwater residency of anadromous species

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 2443-2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Courtemanche ◽  
Frederick G Whoriskey, Jr. ◽  
Valerie Bujold ◽  
R Allen Curry
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Electron Microprobe ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Anadromous Fish ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
X Ray ◽  
History Of ◽  
Scale Surface

Spatiotemporal migration patterns of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and various other anadromous fish are poorly understood in many rivers of North America. A new, nonlethal approach to investigate these movements using analysis of scale microchemistry was developed that is relatively simple, cost effective, and potentially more accurate than other monitoring techniques. As fish grow, their scales incorporate in the calcified matrix different concentrations of trace elements present in ambient waters. Seawater Sr concentrations are 10–100 times higher compared with fresh water; thus, a higher Sr/Ca ratio in circulii corresponding to periods of life in seawater would be predicted. We used a wavelength-dispersive X-ray electron microprobe to assess Sr/Ca ratios along sagittal cross sections of scales, spanning the life history of a fish. We demonstrate that existing wavelength-dispersive X-ray electron microprobe studies using Sr analysis may suffer inaccuracies related to scale surface topography, and using the alternative embedding and cutting technique increases significantly the precision of Sr/Ca readings.

Salmonid or nonsalmonid lakes: predicting the fate of northern boreal fish communities with hierarchical filters relating to a keystone piscivore

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 1945-1955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Spens ◽  
John P. Ball
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Salvelinus Alpinus ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Perca Fluviatilis ◽  
Boreal Lakes ◽  
Roach Rutilus Rutilus ◽  
High Connectivity

We determine if lacustrine salmonids show large-scale patterns of coexistence with the keystone predator northern pike ( Esox lucius ) and test an approach to predict fish communities using coexistence rules set in the context of three hierarchical filters that a species must pass to be present. The mutually exclusive species distribution patterns that we detected among 1029 lakes were repeatedly verified from results of whole-lake interventions with rotenone and introductions. Essentially, pike did not coexist with self-sustaining salmonid populations in lakes. High connectivity to pike (derived from maps) largely predicts the absence of lacustrine salmonids. Our analysis strongly suggests that pike prevented self-sustaining populations of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ), Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus ), and brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) in lakes. High connectivity to pike resulted in nonsalmonid lake fish communities, most often including both European perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) and roach ( Rutilus rutilus ). Our analysis suggests that if pike were not present in many boreal lakes where they now dwell, salmonid fish assemblages would prevail, a sharp contrast from the present pike-driven homogenized state with mainly nonsalmonid fish communities.

Resource partitioning between brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill) and creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus Mitchill) in selected oligotrophic lakes of southern Quebec

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 1612-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Magnan ◽  
Gérard J. FitzGerald
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Resource Partitioning ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Niche Shift ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Semotilus Atromaculatus ◽  
Trout Population ◽  
Creek Chub

The spatial distribution, food habits, and growth of an allopatric brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) population was compared with a trout population coexisting with creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus). Sympatric trout differed in spatial distribution and food habits from allopatric trout suggesting a niche shift of the trout when they live with creek chub. Also, although there is a certain overlap in diet and spatial distribution, sympatric populations of the two species differed on these resource axes. However, growth of sympatric trout is not clearly related to the presence or absence of the creek chub, suggesting that factors other than interspecific competiton may affect growth in the seven study lakes.

Top-Down Effects of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a Boreal Forest Stream

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 2093-2103 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Bechara ◽  
Guy Moreau ◽  
Dolors Planas
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Fish Introduction ◽  
Forest Stream ◽  
Periphyton Biomass ◽  
The Impact

The impact of fish predation on epibenthic organisms at different trophic levels was studied in a series of replicated experimental outdoor channels fed by a boreal forest stream (Québec, Canada). Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were introduced into five of 10 channels according to a randomized block experimental design. Periphyton biomass (expressed as total chlorophyll a and total organic matter) and macroinvertebrate biomass were measured four times during the summer. The biomass of small insects such as Chironomidae was always higher in the presence than in the absence of fish, while the biomass of larger invertebrates such as Baetis (Ephemeroptera) and Psychoglypha subborealis (Trichoptera) was reduced in the presence of fish. Periphyton biomass was significantly greater in channels with fish on the first sampling date after fish introduction but not at later dates. Complementary cage experiments, involving both the inclusion and exclusion of selected invertebrates from periphyton-covered surfaces, demonstrated that the presence of Baetis can reduce the periphytic biomass, while the presence of P. subborealis can reduce the biomass of Chironomidae. Overall, these results suggest that size-selective predation by brook trout can cause profound changes in the structure of epibenthic communities at primary as well as secondary trophic levels.

Impact of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Predation on the Crayfish Orconectes virilis in Three Michigan Lakes

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1191-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Gowing ◽  
W. T. Momot
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
First Year ◽  
Orconectes Virilis ◽  
Trout Population ◽  
Production Growth ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
Northern Michigan

The crayfish Orconectes virilis is a major component of the benthos of three small lakes in northern Michigan. These lakes contained stocked brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations (age-0 and age-I) at densities of 188, 411, and 1398 fish/ha. Crayfish were preyed upon by brook trout, but only during their first year of life. Two-year production of age-0 crayfish was approximately 94 kg in each lake; brook trout consumed only about 1–2% in lakes with lower density offish. Even with greater trout density and accompanying higher rate of exploitation (40%), there was no impact on recruitment of young crayfish because compensatory mortality of crayfish occurred in lakes with less trout predation. However, stocking trout at higher densities decreased trout growth and condition. While 2-yr production was highest (59 kg/ha) in the lake stocked at the highest density and lowest (17 kg/ha) in one stocked at the lowest density, the former was achieved at the cost of a very slow growing trout population. Most of the crayfish production is not utilized as trout food but enters the non-predatory pool of detrital organic matter. Key words: Orconectes virilis, brook trout, predation, production growth, mortality

Nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and the demise of native brown trout (Salmo trutta) in northern boreal lakes: stealthy, long-term patterns?

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Spens ◽  
Anders Alanärä ◽  
Lars-Ove Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Boreal Lakes ◽  
Extinction Rate ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

This study of 193 boreal lakes of northern Sweden suggests a long-term detrimental impact of introduced brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) on brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations. Thirteen of 65 (20%) brown trout populations in lakes exposed to brook trout went extinct, whereas the extinction rate in unexposed lakes was significantly lower (2%). We verified other studies that indicate that altitude strongly affects the distribution of the two species; brown trout populations in our higher altitude lakes were more sensitive to impact from brook trout. In 28 lakes above 285 m, 12 trout populations exposed to brook trout went extinct, while only one population became extinct in 37 lakes below 285 m. No effects of other environmental factors were detected (e.g., water chemistry, stocking of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), fish species community assembly, migration barriers, or lake morphometry on brown trout extinction). The time lag between the first record of brook trout introduction and subsequent extinction of brown trout was two decades on average (maximum 70 years). Even though further stocking of brook trout has been stopped, our analysis suggest that existing sympatric populations may continue to pose an extinction threat to brown trout.

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