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The influence of small-scale variation in habitat on winter trout distribution and diet in an afforested catchment

The influence of small-scale variation in habitat on winter trout distribution and diet in an... (1) Habitat influences on trout distribution and diet at a reach scale were analysed over a single winter in a conifer-afforested catchment in Ireland, in an area subject to very low levels of atmospheric pollution. (2) A total of 234 salmonids were sampled from which 1194 individual prey items were recovered. Salmonids were sampled at eleven sites over a 2 km stretch of the river Douglas, a third order stream of the river Araglin in the Munster Blackwater, Co. Cork, Ireland. (3) In this winter study, water depth and flow primarily influenced trout distribution. (4) Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the most influential environmental factors on trout metrics. Trout biomass was positively correlated to maximum depth and the percentage of pool area within sites, but density and condition were not significantly influenced by habitat variation at the reach scale. (5) The results from diet analysis suggest that trout are heterogeneous generalist feeders in winter, preying mainly on Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera species. Prey diversity in the diet of individuals throughout the study was positively correlated to the percentage of deciduous vegetation, undercut banks and coniferous vegetation, whilst the prey sub-population diversity at site scale was not related to any of the habitat variables measured. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aquatic Ecology Springer Journals

The influence of small-scale variation in habitat on winter trout distribution and diet in an afforested catchment

Aquatic Ecology , Volume 35 (1) – Oct 19, 2004

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References (60)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
Subject
Life Sciences; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Ecosystems
ISSN
1386-2588
eISSN
1573-5125
DOI
10.1023/A:1011467711628
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

(1) Habitat influences on trout distribution and diet at a reach scale were analysed over a single winter in a conifer-afforested catchment in Ireland, in an area subject to very low levels of atmospheric pollution. (2) A total of 234 salmonids were sampled from which 1194 individual prey items were recovered. Salmonids were sampled at eleven sites over a 2 km stretch of the river Douglas, a third order stream of the river Araglin in the Munster Blackwater, Co. Cork, Ireland. (3) In this winter study, water depth and flow primarily influenced trout distribution. (4) Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the most influential environmental factors on trout metrics. Trout biomass was positively correlated to maximum depth and the percentage of pool area within sites, but density and condition were not significantly influenced by habitat variation at the reach scale. (5) The results from diet analysis suggest that trout are heterogeneous generalist feeders in winter, preying mainly on Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera species. Prey diversity in the diet of individuals throughout the study was positively correlated to the percentage of deciduous vegetation, undercut banks and coniferous vegetation, whilst the prey sub-population diversity at site scale was not related to any of the habitat variables measured.

Journal

Aquatic EcologySpringer Journals

Published: Oct 19, 2004

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