Effects of predation, trout density and discharge on habitat use by brown trout, Salmo trutta, in artificial streams

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The effects of predation risk, fish density and discharge on habitat use by juvenile brown trout, Salmo trutta, in four artificial streams were studied. Each stream contained three habitats, riffles, runs and pools, the latter two each being further divided into shallow margins and deeper mid‐regions.2. The presence of northern pike, Esox Indus, caused trout to decrease use of pool midregions, where pike also occurred, and to increase use of other habitats. Increasing the number of trout caused trout to increase use of pools and the shallow margins of runs. Decreasing discharge reduced the area of the run and pool margins covered by water, thereby reducing use of these areas by trout.3. Habitat selection indices for the different treatments were calculated. The data indicated that riffles and the mid‐regions of runs were preferred habitats, whereas run margins and pools were inferior habitats used when intraspecific fish densities were high.4. Despite density‐ and discharge‐dependent habitat use by trout, the number of trout consumed by pike was independent of trout density and discharge.5. The results reveal the flexibility of habitat use by trout and illustrate the potential danger of applying data on habitat use in one stream to others where habitat availability and bioric interactions may differ.