scholarly journals The effects of riparian forestry on invertebrate drift and brown trout in upland streams of contrasting acidity

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Ormerod ◽  
M. E. Jones ◽  
M. C. Jones ◽  
D. R. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Acid Sites ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Terrestrial Invertebrates ◽  
Invertebrate Abundance ◽  
Drift Density

Abstract. Variations in macroinvertebrate drift and benthic invertebrate abundance were assessed in 30 upland Welsh streams of varying acidity (pH < 5.7 or pH.> 6.0) and riparian land-use (conifer, moorland or native broadleaf). The consequences for the diet and condition of wild brown trout Salmo trutta were also assessed. As expected from previous studies, there were significant reductions in benthic invertebrate abundance, aquatic drift density (by >60%), aquatic drift biomass (by >35%), total drift density (by >35%) and total drift biomass (by >20%) at acid sites by comparison with circumneutral sites due largely to the scarcity of mayflies. Absolute drift from terrestrial sources was unrelated to stream pH but formed a significantly greater proportion of total drift at acid sites (30-65% of density) than at circumneutral sites (20-40%) as aquatic contributions declined. Most of this apparent land use effect reflected significantly increased terrestrial drift under broadleaves. There was no significant reduction in terrestrial or aquatic drift at conifer forest sites per se after accounting for low pH. Trout diet varied substantially between locations partly reflecting variations in drift: significantly fewer mayflies and stoneflies were eaten at acid sites, and significantly more terrestrial prey were eaten under broadleaves. However, acidity did not reduce trout condition or gut-fullness. Unexpectedly, trout condition was significantly enhanced at conifer sites, irrespective of their pH. Hence, acidity has greater effects on the benthic abundance and drift density of invertebrates in upland streams than does riparian land use. However, trout forage flexibly enough to offset any possible food deficit, for example by switching to chironomids and terrestrial invertebrates. Enhanced terrestrial contributions to invertebrate drift from riparian broadleaf trees may be important in supplementing foraging opportunities for trout where aquatic prey are scarce. These data illustrate the value of native tree species in riparian locations in upland Britain and the energy subsidy they provide might well be disproportionately important for otherwise impoverished acid streams Keywords: brown trout, land-use, acidification, drift, forestry, streams

Testing a model of drift-feeding using three-dimensional videography of wild brown trout, Salmo trutta, in a New Zealand river

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 1462-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas F Hughes ◽  
John W Hayes ◽  
Karen A Shearer ◽  
Roger G Young
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Drift Feeding ◽  
Foraging Area ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

We tested the assumptions and predictions of a foraging model for drift-feeding fish. We used three-dimensional videography to describe the foraging behavior of brown trout, Salmo trutta, mapped water depth and velocity in their foraging area, sampled invertebrate drift to determine length class specific drift densities, and captured trout to determine the size composition of their diet. The model overestimated the fish's prey capture rate and gross energy intake rate by a factor of two. Most of this error resulted from the fact that prey detection probabilities within the fish's foraging area averaged only half the expected value. This was the result of a rapid decrease in capture probability with increasing lateral distance from the fish's focal point. Some of the model's assumptions were accurate: equations for predicting reaction distance and minimum prey size supported reliable predictions of the shape and size of the fish's foraging area and the size composition of the diet. Other assumptions were incorrect: fish detected prey within the predicted reaction volume, not on its upstream surface as expected, fish intercepted prey more slowly than the expected maximum sustainable swimming speed, and fish captured about two-thirds of their prey downstream of their focal point, rather than upstream.

Effects of woody debris on the growth and behaviour of brown trout in experimental stream channels

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Sundbaum ◽  
Ingemar Näslund
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Control Channel ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Stream Channels ◽  
Gravel Bed ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta ◽  
Experimental Stream

We examined the effects of woody debris on the growth and behaviour of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in experimental stream channels. Two types of habitat were used in the study: a complex habitat created by placing woody debris on a gravel bed and a uniform habitat consisting of a gravel bed only. The experiment was run both outdoors with wild fish that fed on natural invertebrate drift and indoors with hatchery fish that were fed artificial food. In both treatments most of the fish lost mass. In all trials, however, the fish in the woody debris channel lost less mass than the fish in the control channel. Study of the fishes' behaviour revealed less swimming activity, less aggression, and less feeding activity in the woody debris channel than in the control channel. The results of this study indicate that the presence of woody debris decreases intraspecific competition through visual isolation, allowing fish to reduce aggressive interactions and energy expenditure.

Benthic Invertebrate Fauna and Feeding Relationships of Brown Trout, Salmo trutta Linnaeus, and River Blackfish, Gadopsis marmoratus Richardson, in the Aberfeldy River, Victoria

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Invertebrate Fauna ◽  
Kendall Rank Correlation ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

The benthic invertebrate fauna and the stomachs of brown trout and river blackfish in a section of the Aberfeldy River, Victoria, were sampled regularly from October 1971 to November 1972. The ranges of food organisms utilized by the two species were very similar as were the proportions of the different food categories. Kendall rank correlation coefficients indicated that the diets of the two fishes were similar on all but the July sampling date. Due to apparent differences in habitat prefer- ences this similarity in diets may be regarded as giving rise to indirect competition.

Stable isotope niche convergence in coexisting native and non-native salmonids across age classes

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 1359-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Cucherousset ◽  
Libor Závorka ◽  
Sergine Ponsard ◽  
Régis Céréghino ◽  
Frédéric Santoul
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Terrestrial Invertebrates ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta ◽  
Native Salmonids

Niche divergence resulting from coevolution is commonly believed to favour coexistence among competing species; however, recent investigations have demonstrated that an unexpected niche convergence can occur when native and non-native species coexist. Yet, our understanding of the ontogenetic characteristics of this niche convergence remains limited. In the present study, we quantified the stable isotope niche of native brown trout (Salmo trutta) in allopatry and sympatry with non-native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) across four age classes. Our results demonstrated that brown trout displayed a stable isotope niche closer to brook trout in sympatry than in allopatry, which was likely driven by an increased consumption of terrestrial invertebrates by sympatric brown trout. Stable isotope niche overlap was the strongest for young-of-the-year individuals and the intensity of overlap between sympatric native brown trout and non-native brook trout decreased during ontogeny. These findings indicate that niche convergence between the species occur at the earliest age class of the native species and are maintained across ontogeny.

Long-term effects of resource limitation on stream invertebrate drift

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1624-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward R Siler ◽  
J Bruce Wallace ◽  
S L Eggert
Keyword(s):  
Woody Debris ◽  
Resource Limitation ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Western North Carolina ◽  
Invertebrate Abundance ◽  
Reference Stream ◽  
Small Woody Debris

We examined the effects of resource limitation on stream invertebrate drift by reducing inputs of terrestrial detritus to a headwater stream in western North Carolina. In the treatment stream, leaf-litter was excluded for 6 years (September 1993 – August 1999), small woody debris was removed for 2 years (September 1996 – August 1998), and large and small woody debris was removed for 1 year (September 1998 – August 1999). Invertebrate abundance in the drift was significantly lower in the treatment stream during the study, but total biomass of invertebrate drift was similar. Although drift densities were higher in the reference stream, a greater proportion of total benthic invertebrate abundance and biomass drifted out of the treatment stream. The proportion of shredder, gatherer, and predator benthic abundance in the drift was significantly greater in the treatment stream, but scraper proportions were higher in the reference stream and filterer proportions were similar for the two streams. Combined data from both streams indicated that the relationship between drift densities and benthic abundance was positive and significant. Our results demonstrate that bottom-up effects of resource reduction in a detrital-based stream influence invertebrate drift, increasing the proportion of the benthic community emigrating from the detritus-poor stream.

The effect of brown trout (Salmo Trutta L.) on stream invertebrate drift, with special reference to Gammarus pulex L.

Hydrobiologia ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Friberg ◽  
T. H. Andersen ◽  
H. O. Hansen ◽  
T. M. Iversen ◽  
D. Jacobsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Special Reference ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Gammarus Pulex ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

Selective Predation by Drift-Feeding Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil H. Ringler
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta ◽  
Dominant Characteristic

Consumption of three species of prey by brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a laboratory stream was studied during 7-d experiments. Two drift rates (5 and 10 organisms/min) and three ratios (1:1, 2:1, 5:1) of small:large alternative prey were employed. Responses to prey species stabilized after 4–6 d and 800–1200 prey captures, but no prey was completely excluded from the diet. Size-selective predation was a dominant characteristic of the response. The fish appeared to alter the area (depth) searched in response to prey density; electivity was greatest when prey densities were high. Disproportionate predation on abundant prey ("switching") was a temporary phenomenon, which may have been masked by prey size. Brown trout ultimately achieved 54–91% of a hypothetical diet in which prey are ranked in order of size (energy content). Deviations from an optimal diet may be explained in terms of a feeding strategy that deals with heterogeneous distribution of prey, as well as with the behavioral capabilities of the predator. Key words: behavior, fish, invertebrate drift, optimal foraging, predation, prey size and abundance, Salmonidae, search image, streams

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