Through the 137Cs mass balance method, annual consumption rates were estimated for juvenile Atlantic salmon parr and precocious males, as well as brook trout from 4 sites within the Ste Marguerite river system, Quebec. With explicit age analysis, feeding rates and growth rates were derived on an individual fish and age class basis. These represent the first consumption estimates for Atlantic salmon in the wild. The individual fish approach provided a range of data for a single site, as opposed to a single estimate per age class, allowing for an evaluation of the relationship between consumption and growth for each species or life-history variant. Subsequently, the concept of field maintenance ration was introduced as the intercept of consumption over growth. / Salmonid feeding rates were coupled with density estimates to derive total fish exploitation rates for two streams. The application of age- and site-specific feeding rates derived from the 137Cs mass balance method, solved a long standing paradox in stream ecology as all previously inferred salmonid exploitation rates have been in excess of prey turnover. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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The propensity for animals to migrate can vary markedly among species, populations within species, and individuals within populations. Many taxa displaying variation in migratory behaviour and life history are attracting conservation concern as migratory populations decline in abundance. I developed a conceptual framework for delineating the nature of the broad phenotypic variation observed among and within migratory populations and apply this to Lake Superior brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). My literature review of variation in the migratory behaviour of fishes revealed that subsets of the predictions outlined in my framework have been tested for most study systems, but few systems had tested all five predictions. My field studies of Lake Superior brook trout (i) compared isotopic signatures of brook trout sampled from Lake Superior and tributary streams to demonstrate that the fish sampled from the lake and stream differ consistently in habitat use and trophic ecology, (ii) applied age and growth analyses to demonstrate that fish sampled from the lake live longer and grow faster than fish sampled from the streams, with the differences in growth apparent by the end of the first year of life, (iii) used histological measures to demonstrate that fish residing in streams, and exhibiting a stream growth history, reach sexual maturity, and (iv) provided no evidence based on growth histories to suggest that individuals change migratory behaviours later in life. Together, these field studies suggest that partial migration is the best hypothesis to describe the variation observed in the migratory behaviour of brook trout in the Nipigon Bay area of Lake Superior. Although the possibility remains that some individuals could complete their life cycle in the lake. My review and field studies demonstrate that the conceptual framework can be used to help delineate variation in the migratory behaviour exhibited by fishes whose lifetime movements can be difficult to track. / Funding was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources through the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, Great Lakes Fishery Commission Fishery Research Program, a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Postgraduate Scholarship, and a NSERC Discovery Grant.

Model organisms are often used in ecotoxicological studies and environmental risk assessments; however, species differences in responses to toxicants exist. A meta-analysis identified normal biomarker ranges for rainbow trout (RT) and brook trout (BT), and showed that RT had greater whole-body lipids and plasma T4 levels than BT. Exposure to selenium inhibited cortisol secretion of trout adrenocortical cells; however, RT were more sensitive than BT. To investigate species vulnerability at the individual level, RT and BT were stocked into reference and selenium-contaminated pit lakes. Fish accumulated more Se from selenium-contaminated than reference lakes, and selenium accumulation was similar between species. Chronic selenium exposure had a greater energetic cost for RT than BT, but this was mitigated by food availability. Chronic selenium exposure decreased plasma T3 and T4 levels, but did not alter other endocrine or oxidative stress biomarkers. This project highlights the need for both species- and site-specific risk assessments. / xiv, 171 leaves : ill., maps ; 29 cm

Mémoire (M.Sc.B.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1992. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Despite the threat of climate change, the physiological mechanisms by which temperature drives the distribution of species are unclear. Here we used chronic temperature exposures to determine that the upper limit for positive growth in the eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is 23.4 °C. Additionally, brook trout exposed to daily temperature oscillations of 8 °C, around a mean of 21 °C, exhibited growth rates that were 43 and 35% lower by length and weight respectively, than in constant 21 °C controls. Limitations in growth were associated with increases in indicators of the physiological stress response. Individuals exposed to 22 or 24 °C for 24 days exhibited plasma cortisol levels that were 12 and 18 fold greater than at 16 °C. Similarly, gill heat shock protein (Hsp)-70 levels were 10.7 and 56 fold higher at 22 and 24 °C than at 16 °C. Brook trout exposed to daily temperature oscillation of 4 or 8 °C had gill Hsp-70 levels that were 40 and 700 fold greater than controls. Acute (6 h) temperature exposures were used to demonstrate a threshold for induction of the Hsp-70 and plasma glucose responses of 20.7 °C and 21.2 °C respectively. Finally, we conducted field surveys that demonstrated increased plasma cortisol, plasma glucose, and gill Hsp-70 at temperatures above 21 °C. Induction of the cellular and endocrine stress responses is associated with decreased growth in brook trout. Thermal limitations on growth may provide a mechanism by which temperature drives the distributions of this cold-water species.

Translocations are an important aspect of the management of natural populations in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Maintaining connectivity and gene flow is beneficial for both contemporary fitness and adaptive potential in the face of environmental change. Genetic rescue (GR) can alleviate inbreeding depression, genetic load, and increase adaptive potential of populations. Here, I have translocated 10 (5 of each sex) brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) to four geographically proximate and environmentally similar fragmented stream-dwelling populations of brook trout in Virginia to test for genetic rescue. The translocated brook trout contributed to more families than would be expected under neutral introgression, and hybridization resulted consistently in larger full-sibling family sizes. In the cohort immediately following translocation I observed relatively high (>20%) introgression in 3 of the 4 recipient sites, and in one recipient population 57.7 % of the offspring had at least one migrant parent. During the post-translocation period favorable regional climatic conditions resulted in large cohorts across recipient sites and controls, however the percent increase in juvenile abundance scales to initial genetic diversity and patch size. I observe strong evidence of hybrid vigor through consistently larger body sizes of hybrid offspring. At this point I cannot rule out potential negative effects of translocations such as outbreeding depression with out sampling more cohorts following genetic recombination. However, I provide an empirical and replicated foundation to begin assessing the efficacy of GR-motivated translocations for headwater fish conservation, and make a substantial contribution to the growing body of GR-literature.

Large woody debris (LWD) was added to North Fork Stony Creek and North Prong Barbours Creek in southwest Virginia to inlprove fish habitat. The purposes of this study were to monitor stream channel response to the addition of LWD at a stream reach scale and at a local scale around individual logs, to evaluate changes in fish population parameters, and to observe microhabitat availability and use before and after L WD additions. In low-gradient Stony Creek, LWD was effective in modifying fish habitat through the formation of pools, the structuring of poo1/riffle sequences, and the enhancement of channel complexity. New pools formed from the break up of continuous rime habitat, increasing the overall number of habitat units and decreasing mean surface areas. Total pool area increased for both treatment sections, while changing little in the reference section where no logs were added. Localized scour and fill was observed for crosssectional transects around individual logs, creating a more heterogenous environment than in areas without logs. In contrast, physical habitat changed little in moderate-gradient Barbours Creek after L WD was added. An increase in the relative weight of brook trout in Barbours Creek suggested that although minimal channel changes were observed, logs may have increased channel complexity and cover, providing resting areas of lower velocities next to food pathways, which may have lead to decreased energy expenditure. Observations of microhabitat use revealed that unlike adult brook trout, juvenile brook trout used a limited range of depths and velocities. Adult brook trout shifted microhabitat use in response to changes in microhabitat available. Low numbers of fish in Stony Creek may have been related to low pH, but numbers of adult brook trout found in each section increased in 1994. With improved water quality, I believe that fish abundance in Stony Creek would increase through time because of the improved habitat. Although few significant changes were observed for available microhabitat in Stony Creek, changes in physical habitat suggest that over time shifts in microhabitat would be apparent. / Master of Science

The production of brook trout (<i>Salvelinus fontinalis</i>) in four headwater streams was studied with respect to natural variation in production and turnover ratios, contribution by age group and time of year, and correlations of physical and chemical variables with production. Lick Run and Ewings Run are spring fed streams with relatively high conductivity (105-135 µmhos). Guys Run and the South Fork of Potts Creek (SFPC) have moderate (25-63 µmhos} and low (17 µmhos) water conductivity, respectively. Two 200 m sections, each divided into four 50 m replicates, were studied in each stream. Annual production of brook trout averaged 45.4, 13.9, 17.2 and 14.0 kg ha^-1yr^-1 for Ewings Run, Lick Run, Guys Run, and SFPC, respectively. Production estimates were more variable within streams than among streams. Turnover ratios were consistent among streams and averaged 3.0 (s.d.=1.0} for age 0 trout, 1.3 (s.d.=0.4) for age 1 trout, and 1.6 {s.d.=0.4) for all ages combined. Age 1 trout contributed an average of 39% to annual production estimates. Age 0, 2, and 3 fish averaged 30%, 24%, and 7% of annual production estimates. Over 90% of the annual production of brook trout occurred between December and July. The December to May and May to July periods had equal levels of production of adult trout. The May to July period had the highest production of age 0 trout. The July to October period had the lowest production for all ages and the greatest incidence of negative production. No meaningful correlations of production with percent pool, percent bedrock, conductivity, discharge, or surface area were found. It was concluded that variables relating to habitat quality, such as instream cover, may have a more detectable effect on production than broad environmental variables. / M. S.

Selenium (Se) is an essential element, toxic at concentrations only slightly above those required. It can become detrimental to fish health when available in excess in the aquatic environment. This study examined the effects of Se on adult female rainbow trout, brook trout, and cutthroat trout fed Se-methionine for five months, and on their larvae. Differences between fish species and between tissues were observed in the accumulation of Se in adults, and dose-dependent effects of Se on plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in brook trout, gonad size in all three species, and indicators of oxidative stress in rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, were detected. Survival of larvae and swim-up success decreased with increasing egg Se concentrations in rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, however, the same effects were not observed in brook trout. Data from this study provide new evidence for species-specific Se accumulation and toxicity in salmonid fish. / xi, 123 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm