Rheotactic Differentiation between Fluvial and Lacustrine Populations of Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus), and Implications for the Only Remaining Indigenous Population of Fluvial "Montana Grayling"

Abstract

Rheotactic behavior of young Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) from fluvial (Big Hole River) and lacustrine (Red Rocks Lake) populations in Montana was assessed in an artificial stream to see if fluvial grayling are adapted to life-long residence in streams by having an innately greater tendency to hold position and lesser tendency to go downstream. Responses of young tested at 0–10 d post-swimup contradicted the hypothesis; the fluvial grayling had strong downstream responses similar to or greater than those of the lacustrine grayling. When tested 18–31 d post-swimup, however, rheotactic responses of the fluvial and lacustrine grayling were consistent with the hypothesis, at three light intensities (full and dim lighting and darkness). Rheotactic differences were even greater in trials at 47–72 d post-swimup (conducted only under full lighting). Big Hole River grayling appear to be adapted to permanent stream residence. Such adaptation reinforces the importance of conserving this last indigenous fluvial population of the geographically disjunct, genetically identifiable "Montana grayling."