In this study the spawning migration activity, habitat choice (depth and temperature), foraging activity, duration of stay in the spawning site and homing-behavior was studied for anadromous pike (Esox lucius) in the wetland Österby myr, Gotland. The spawning migration was concentrated to dusk and dawn, a homing behavior was confirmed and there was no significant difference between sexes with respect to duration of stay. A difference in habitat choice and small variation in foraging activity between individuals was established.

Salmonid fish such as brown trout (Salmo trutta) are known to adapt to local environments in large water systems such as in Lake Vänern. Since brown trout returns to spawn at the location of birth, they become reproductively isolated from populations spawning elsewhere. Thus, genetically-based physiological and ecological differences may develop between them. There is evidence that two of the stocks of Lake Vänern brown trout, Gullspångälven brown trout (G-trout) and Klarälven brown trout (K-trout) differ, with G-trout growing faster and becoming bigger than K-trout, but there is no study identifying why this is the case. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate whether there were differences in three variables: metabolic rate (gill-beat frequency, referred to as ventilation rate), foraging rate (number of captured prey per unit time) and aggressive behavior (number of displays) between the two stocks of brown trout. By conducting laboratory experiments on G-trout and K-trout in artificial streams with a constant supply of food through drift, behavioral observations were made to quantify these variables. The results showed that G-trout had significantly higher gill-beat frequency and foraging rate than did K-trout. In terms of aggression there was no significant difference observed between the two stocks, though there was a trend for G-trout to show more display behavior. The differences in metabolic rate and foraging rate are consistent with the different growth rates reported for the two stocks. The differences between the stocks suggest that they have developed local adaptations and have maintained these after a number of years of being raised in hatcheries. The observed differences should be taken into account when it comes to management and restoration of populations adapted to local environments. / Laxfisk som till exempel öringen (Salmo trutta) är kända att anpassa sig till lokala miljöer i stora vattensystem, såsom i sjön Vänern. Eftersom öringen återvänder och leker där de är födda blir de reproduktivt isolerade från populationer som leker på annan plats. Därmed kan ärftliga fysiologiska och ekologiska skillnader utvecklas dem emellan. Där finns bevis på att Gullspångsöringen tillväxer snabbare och blir större än Klarälvsöringen men det finns ingen riktig vetskap om varför. Syftet med denna studie var därmed att undersöka om där fanns skillnader i tre variabler: metabolisk hastighet (gälslagsfrekvens), furagering (antal tagna byten) och aggressivt beteende (antal display uppvisanden) mellan öringstammarna. Med separata försök av G-öring och K-öring i ett försöksakvarium med en konstgjord vattenström och konstant tillförsel av mat genom drift, gjordes beteendeobservervationer av dessa variabler. Resultaten visade på att G-öring hade en signifikant högre gälslagsfrekvens och furageringshastighet än K-öring. Vad gällde displaybeteende fanns ingen signifikantskillnad mellan stammarna, dock observerades en trend att G-öringen uppvisade mer display. Dessa resultat tyder på att metabolisk hastighet och furagering kan ha en roll i tillväxttakten. Skillnaderna mellan stammarna kan tyda på att de har utvecklat lokala anpassningar och har kvar dessa efter ett antal års fiskodling. De observerade skillnaderna är viktiga att ta med i beräkning när det kommer till förvaltning och restauration av populationer anpassade till lokala miljöer.