Habitat Utilization and Behavioral Interaction of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) and Rainbow Trout ( S . gairdneri ) in Tributaries of the White River of Vermont
Competition for space between stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and wild juvenile rainbow trout, S. gairdneri, was examined in stream channel experiments, a field experiment, and in field habitat surveys. In stream channels providing riffle and pool habitats, species differed in their d...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1986
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f86-244 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f86-244 |
| Summary: | Competition for space between stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and wild juvenile rainbow trout, S. gairdneri, was examined in stream channel experiments, a field experiment, and in field habitat surveys. In stream channels providing riffle and pool habitats, species differed in their distribution both as underyearlings (0+) and as yearlings (1+). Yearling salmon occurred more often in stream channel riffles during trials with 1+ rainbow trout than during trials testing only salmon; trout distributions in the channels were unaffected by salmon. In a field experiment conducted to determine if the stocking of 0+ Atlantic salmon causes the displacement of resident 0+ rainbow trout, salmon fry were stocked at a density of 85 per 100 m 2 . Emigration from the stocked zone and an unstocked control zone were then monitored daily with four weirs. The 0+ salmon had no apparent effect on the rate of movement of resident rainbow trout fry. During summer and fall field surveys, 0+ salmon occupied deeper and swifter water than 0+ rainbow trout; as yearlings these species occupied similar habitats. In late fall, segregation by habitat occurred: Atlantic salmon were primarily in riffles; rainbow trout were primarily in pools. We found no evidence of competition between cohorts of underyearlings; however, the niche shift by 1+ salmon in the stream channels suggested that, at times, juveniles of these species will compete for space. |
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