عنوان

Ecology and performance of stocked brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in two Maine ponds

Number

TLpq304245996

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Ecology and performance of stocked brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in two Maine ponds

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

C. F. Hartleb

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

J. R. Moring

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

The University of Maine

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

1996

Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item

210

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

The University of Maine

Text preceding or following the note

1996

Text of Note

Performance by stocked brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) differs with respect to the native species present in the community into which the trout are placed. Understanding the dietary and habitat requirements of the native species, and how the brook trout alter the ecosystem, can lead to better trout management. I investigated diet composition and prey abundance and location in order to determine the foraging habitat and dietary overlap of non-salmonid species in two Maine ponds that received hatchery-reared brook trout. Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucus) and chain pickerel (Esox niger) had specialized diets, feeding on plants/algae and other fish, respectively. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and pumpkinseeds (Lepomis gibbosus) had broad diets, but coexisted because of abundant prey and habitat partitioning. Stocked brook trout growth and survival were poor in one pond because of unsuitable temperature and oxygen conditions. Brook trout were restricted to foraging in epipelagic water, which altered the foraging patterns of yellow perch. The diet of brook trout stocked in the other pond did not overlap with any other species and brook trout occupied foraging habitat that was underutilized by the fish community. Introduced brook trout did not seem to affect the interactions of the native species, and the brook trout appeared to fill a niche where suitable temperature, oxygen and prey allowed continued survival. In the final section of this study, I developed a bioenergetics model based on a synthesis of studies on the energetics of brook trout and other salmonids. Temperatures that exceeded optimal conditions for brook trout decreased growth and survival. Lowest maintenance rations were required by brook trout at 13C and by smaller-sized trout. Food limitations and interspecific competition affected larger brook trout less than smaller-sized fry. No differences were observed in the survival and growth of fall-fingerling and spring-yearling brook trout and either size could be stocked when conditions are sub-optimal.

Aquaculture

Biological sciences

Ecology

Fish production

Freshwater ecology

Zoology

C. F. Hartleb

J. R. Moring

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y