Does the trace element composition of brown trout Salmo trutta eggs remain unchanged in spawning redds?

The temporal stability of trace element concentrations in fertilized, artificially incubated anadromous brown trout Salmo trutta eggs and newly hatched fry was investigated. The anadromous status of the parental fish was confirmed using strontium isotopic analysis of otoliths. Whilst manganese concentrations in eggs varied over time, concentrations of aluminium, potassium, magnesium, strontium, barium and calcium were all unchanged 1 week and 6 weeks post‐fertilization as well as in recently hatched larvae. The results clearly suggest that the distinctive trace element signature present in the eggs and newly hatched larvae of anadromous S. trutta (typically characterized by high strontium, low barium) is stable over time. Therefore analysis of the trace element composition of eggs is concluded to be a cost‐effective and reliable method for determining the spatial and temporal extent of upstream spawning migration by anadromous salmonids. The temporal variability of at least one element in this study suggests the stability of untested multi‐element signatures cannot automatically be assumed.     

Identifying sea-run brown trout, Salmo trutta, using Sr : Ca ratios of otolith

 The migratory history of the brown trout, Salmo trutta, collected from Japanese rivers, was examined in terms of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) uptake in the otolith, by means of wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometry on an electron microprobe. Sea-run (anadromous) and freshwater-resident (nonanadromous) types of S. trutta were found to occur sympatrically. Otolith Sr concentration or Sr : Ca ratios of anadromous S. trutta fluctuated strongly along the life history transect in accordance with the migration (habitat) pattern from sea to freshwater. In contrast, the Sr concentration or the Sr : Ca ratios of nonanadromous fish remained at consistently low levels throughout the otolith. The higher ratios in anadromous S. trutta, in the otolith region from the core to 1500 μm, corresponded to the initial seagoing period, probably reflecting the ambient salinity or the seawater–freshwater gradient in Sr concentration. The findings clearly indicated that otolith Sr : Ca ratios reflected individual life histories, enabling the sea-run S. trutta to be distinguished from the freshwater-resident brown trout. Received: March 18, 2002 / Revised: May 15, 2002 / Accepted: June 5, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Messrs. T. Ikeda, S. Kudo, Y. Miyakoshi, M. Nagata, K. Shimoda, T. Takami, K. Takeuchi, and M. Ueda for their assistance in collecting specimens. This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid No. 13760138 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. Correspondence to:Takaomi Arai     

Is there genetic variation in the response to competition intensity in juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta?

Effects of intraspecific competition intensities on the relative performance (growth and movement) of juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta originating from nine different families were tested in tank experiments and in semi-natural streams. Both growth and movement differed consistently among families, indicating genetic variation in these traits. There were no significant interaction effects, however, between the intensity of competition and family origin on performance in either of the two experimental systems. Thus, genetic variation in response to competition intensity appeared to be limited in the population from which the juveniles used in this experiment originate.     

Stocking impact and migration pattern in an anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta) complex: where have all the stocked spawning sea trout gone?

We examined polymorphism at seven microsatellite loci among sea trout (Salmo trutta) (n = 846) collected from three areas in the Limfjord (Denmark). We then assessed their potential population source by comparing, using a mixed stock analysis (MSA) Bayesian framework, their genetic composition to that of brown trout collected from 32 tributaries pooled into nine geographical regions (n = 3801) and two hatcheries (n = 222) used for stocking. For each of the three regional sea trout groups (western, central and eastern Limfjord, n = 91, n = 426, n = 329, respectively), MSA was conducted with (i) all individuals in the group, (ii) with the subset of spawning sea trout only and (iii) with the subset of foraging, nonspawning individuals only, a subset that consisted primarily of sea trout caught during their first year at sea. For all three regional sea trout groups, a higher proportion of individuals (regardless of whether they were foraging or spawning) appear to have originated from the rivers that drain locally, than from the rivers that drain in other parts of the Limfjord. This suggests (1) that sea trout, at least during their first year at sea, undertake limited migrations within the Limfjord system and (2) that sea trout on their spawning run were caught close to their natal rivers. The proportion of sea trout of hatchery origin varied widely among all three Limfjord areas and broadly reflected regional stocking histories, with high proportions of sea trout of domestic origin in the east (39.3%), where stocking with domestic trout was practised intensely at the time of sampling, and in the west (57.2%), where a programme of coastal stocking of post smolts took place over several years in the early 1990s. In contrast, in the central Limfjord, where stocking with domestic trout was largely abandoned in the early 1990s, the proportion of sea trout of domestic origin was only 8.5%. Interestingly, for all three regional sea trout groups, virtually no sea trout of hatchery origin were found among the spawning individuals, which were on average larger than the nonspawning sea trout. These results suggest that stocked domestic brown trout that become anadromous experience high mortality at sea and are therefore largely absent among the larger, spawning individuals. We conclude that sea trout of domestic origin exhibit much reduced ability to reproduce and are unlikely to contribute significantly to the local gene pool largely because of a relatively high mortality at sea before the onset of maturity.     

Behavioural responses of brown trout, Salmo trutta, juveniles in concentration gradients of pH and Al – a laboratory study

Behavioural responses including avoidance behaviour of brown trout, Salmo trutta, juveniles were tested in waters of different pH (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 7.0) without Al additions, and with and without Al (< 10, 70 and 190 g labile Al l^-1) at pH 5.0. Single fish were tested in a tank where control (pH 7.0, < 10 g labile Al l^-1) and the various acid water qualities could be separated, and where the fish could swim freely. Each test lasted for one hour and included a five-min acclimation period in control water, a 15-min mixing period, and an additional 40-min test period after the chemical gradient was established. When Al was added at pH 5.0, the fish showed significant avoidance at the highest Al concentration, and spent on average 32% of the time in the acid, Al-rich side versus 68% in the control side. This avoidance response increased with time during the test period. Brown trout juveniles showed significant attraction to low pH water at pH 4.0 (p < 0.05), pH 4.5 (p < 0.001) and pH 5.0 (p < 0.05) (67, 74 and 68% of the time spent in the acid side, respectively), whereas no attraction/avoidance was demonstrated at pH 5.5. The lack of avoidance in the low pH treatments was associated with reduced activity in the acid side, and may have been caused by a slight elevation of free CO₂ within the test apparatus.     

Changes in scale circulus spacings of an endangered Atlantic salmon Salmo salar population: evidence of a shift in marine migration?

Post‐smolt scale circulus spacing patterns for two Atlantic salmon Salmo salar populations from the Southern Upland (SU) of Nova Scotia, Canada, were compared with spacings from two endangered populations from the inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, to determine if growth patterns differed among these populations, and if growth patterns had changed as the abundance of these populations declined. An analysis of numbers of marine circuli from scales of post‐smolts and one‐sea‐winter adults of known age indicated that circuli were deposited at a rate of about one circulus per week in summer and slowed to one every 2 weeks in winter. During the summer and the autumn, mean circulus spacing in the iBoF populations, known to have occupied the outer Bay of Fundy during these seasons, was lower than in the SU populations, which are known to migrate to the North Atlantic. Similar circulus spacing patterns within SU populations is suggestive of a common marine distribution for these populations. In contrast, a cluster analysis revealed that within the geographically intermediate Big Salmon River (iBoF), some individuals exhibited wider spacing patterns that resemble the distant migrating SU populations, while others exhibited narrower spacing similar to other iBoF S. salar. Within the Big Salmon River, the relative abundance of the wider and the narrower spacing patterns varied in the earlier years, but all fish sampled since 1999, exhibited wider spacings similar to distant migrating SU S. salar. The apparent disappearance of the narrower pattern, characteristic of localized migration and indicative of historical iBoF populations, suggests that local migration may not presently be a successful strategy for these populations.     

Invasive brown trout Salmo trutta induce differential growth strategies in the native snow trout Schizothorax richardsonii of Himalaya: Are natives in unaltered rivers better at picking the gauntlet of invasion?

Brown trout Salmo trutta is a potent global invader and its establishments have progressively altered physiologies, life-histories and niche-availabilities for native fish species. River impoundments further escalate its invasion potential. The Himalayan rivers however, stay uncharted for the effects of brown trout interactions with the native fish fauna. Snow trout Schizothorax richardsonii a Himalayan cold-water native, concerningly overlaps its range with brown trout. To understand its responses to invasion pressures, we investigated brown trout effects on the age and growth of snow trout populations in three rivers with varying levels of perturbation: (a) a dammed and (b) an undammed river with the invasive brown trout in comparison to (c) an undammed river without invasion pressures. We found sympatric snow trout in the undammed river to respond to brown trout invasion with fast life history responses, showing an early age-at-maturity (A₅₀ = 1.2 years) and fast growth with a higher growth constant (K = 0.40 yr⁻¹) and specific rate of linear growth across life. On the contrary, sympatric snow trout in the dammed river showed an explicitly slow life-history by maturing at a higher age (A₅₀ = 2.9 years) and a slow growth, with a lower growth constant (K = 0.26 yr⁻¹) and specific linear growth rates. Our findings suggest that, the snow trout appear to present stronger response to brown trout invasions when the river is unaltered and free from hydropower operations and damming. Further research is strongly warranted from other high-altitude Himalayan basins to delineate the variation in growth strategies exhibited by snow trout in sympatry with the invasives.     

Woody debris and terrestrial invertebrates – effects on prey resources for brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a boreal stream

Intensive forestry and other activities that alter riparian vegetation may disrupt the connectivity and the flux of energy between terrestrial and aquatic habitats and have large effects on biota, especially in small streams. We manipulated the amount of in-stream wood and the flux of terrestrial invertebrate subsidies to determine how these factors affected potential food resources for drift-feeding brown trout (Salmo trutta ) in a boreal Swedish forest stream. Specifically, we followed the effects on the abundance of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate fauna from June to August 2007. The treatments were 1) addition of wood, unmanipulated terrestrial invertebrate inputs, 2) reduction of terrestrial invertebrate inputs (using canopy covers), no addition of wood, 3) unmanipulated ambient conditions, 4) simultaneous addition of wood and reduction of terrestrial invertebrate inputs. Added wood resulted in greater biomass of aquatic invertebrate biomass, and both input and drift of terrestrial invertebrates were reduced by canopy covers. In terms of total potential prey biomass, the addition of wood with ambient levels of terrestrial invertebrate inputs had the highest standing crop of benthic, wood-living and terrestrial invertebrates combined, whereas the treatment with reduced terrestrial input and no wood added had the lowest standing crop. Our study indicates that forest practices that both reduce the recruitment of wood and the input of terrestrial invertebrates to small streams have negative effects on prey availability for drift-feeding brown trout. The positive effects of wood addition on biomass of aquatic macroinvertebrates may partly compensate for the negative effects of reduced terrestrial invertebrate subsidies.     

Salmo macrostigma (Teleostei,Salmonidae): Nothing more than a brown trout (S. trutta) lineage?

We examined specimens of the macrostigma trout Salmo macrostigma, which refers to big black spots on the flanks, to assess whether it is an example of taxonomic inflation within the brown trout Salmo trutta complex. Using new specimens, publicly available data and a mitogenomic protocol to amplify the control and cytochrome b regions of the mitochondrial genome from degraded museum samples, including one syntype specimen, the present study shows that the macrostigma trout is not a valid species. Our results suggest the occurrence of a distinct evolutionary lineage of S. trutta in North Africa and Sicily. The name of the North African lineage is proposed for this lineage, which was found to be sister to the Atlantic lineage of brown trout, S. trutta.     

Kin-biased distribution in brown trout: an effect of redd location or kin recognition?

A wide range of animals have been reported to show kin-biased behaviours, such as reduced aggressiveness and increased food sharing among relatives. However, less is known about whether wild animals also associate with relatives under natural conditions, which is a prerequisite to facilitate kin-biased behaviours and hence kin selection. We tested, by means of microsatellite polymorphism, correlations between pair-wise relatedness and pair-wise metric distance in wild brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) under natural conditions in two streams. Our data show that young-of-the-year as well as older trout found close together also had a higher genetic relatedness in one of the two streams, whereas no relationship was found in the other stream. Very few half and full siblings were found in the second stream and under these conditions it is unlikely that kin-biased behaviours will receive positive selection. We discuss the underlying mechanisms for the observed structure and we specifically address the issue of whether the grouping of related individuals could reflect dispersal from the same spawning redds, or if it reflects active association with relatives, possibly conferring kin-selected advantages.     

Utilization of hybrid oak hosts by a monophagous gall wasp: How little host character is sufficient?

We examined the utilization by the cynipid gall former, Andricus californicus, of oak trees ranging across a hybrid continuum from pure Quercus dumosa to pure Q. engelmannii. Two components of utilization were considered, the proportion of trees parasitized and the density of galls on parasitized trees. Although the wasp normally only parasitizes Q. dumosa, galls were found on trees with up to 85% of the genetic character of the non-host, as determined by a hybrid index. The proportion of hybrids utilized did not differ statistically from the proportion of pure Q. dumosa utilized. We consider competing hypotheses about the genetic mechanism behind host choice in the light of our results. The model that is most consistent with the observed incidence pattern is based on a cluster concept: A number of independent genetic factors in the host determine its acceptability, however, these factors are substitutable, such that no single factor is critical, but some threshold number of factors must be exceeded.     

A 14-year study of habitat use and diet of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in Lake Atnsjøen, a subalpine Norwegian lake

To reveal the mechanisms of sedimental H₂S accumulation, annual investigations on sedimental environments were conducted in two temperate estuarine lagoons. The lagoons, Gamo and Idoura (Japan), have similar shapes, locations, and topographical properties but different degrees of H₂S accumulation. Water stagnation causes a high phytoplankton biomass (Chl. a; 26–52 g l^–1) in the inner Gamo Lagoon. Gamo Lagoon sediment was characterized by high bounded sulfides (bounded Smainly FeS) and H₂S contents, and low C/N ratios (mean = 10.4) and iron (reactive Fe²⁺ and total Fe) contents. H₂S was not detected in Idoura Lagoon where phytoplankton biomass was much lower (Chl. a; 0.6–4 g l^–1). Idoura Lagoon sediment had high C/N ratios (mean=17.9) and high iron contents. The C/N ratio difference implies that organic matter in Gamo Lagoon originates mainly from more decomposable phytoplankton, while organic matter in Idoura Lagoon derives mainly from terrestrial vascular plants with lower decomposability. The excess loading of phytoplanktonic detritus in Gamo accelerates sedimentary microbial activity, including sulfate reduction (i.e., H₂S production). High Fe²⁺and low bounded S contents in Idoura sediment indicate a high chemical buffering capacity toward H₂S. In contrast, almost all Fe²⁺ in Gamo Lagoon had already reacted with H₂S as FeS. H₂S accumulation in Gamo Lagoon is caused by low sedimentary chemical buffering capacity toward H₂S, as well as higher microbial H₂S production, caused by the excess loading of phytoplanktonic detritus.     

Haplotype (mtDNA) diversity of brown trout Salmo trutta in tributaries of the Austrian Danube: massive introgression of Atlantic basin fish — by man or nature?

Mitochondrial haplotype diversity in 27 populations of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in Austria was investigated by sequencing the 5' end of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Although all populations are within the Danube drainage, 44% of all individuals carried Atlantic basin haplotypes. It is argued that the presence of these haplotypes in Austria primarily reflects introgression stemming from the stocking of hatchery-reared fish. However, several lines of evidence suggest that some natural colonization from Atlantic lineages may have contributed to the present haplotype diversity. Nonetheless, the more diverse Danubian clade is represented by regionally distinct haplotype diversity that should be protected from the continued introduction of domesticated strains of exogenous fish     

Seasonal and spatial variation in the diet of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in the subarctic River Laxá, north-east Iceland

This study examines seasonal and spatial patterns in the diet composition, stomach fullness and condition of a landlocked population of brown trout (2.5–61.3 cm) in the lake-fed River Laxá in NE-Iceland. The stomach contents consisted predominantly of benthic invertebrates, such as blackfly larvae Simulium vittatum (58%), chironomids (24%) and the freshwater snail Radix peregra (7%). The seasonal and spatial patterns of S. vittatum in the stomach contents were consistent with published studies on the life cycle and production of S. vittatum in the River Laxá. Close to the Lake Myvatn outlet (0–16 km), S. vittatum constituted 63% of the stomach content volume, and exhibited two peaks (i.e., generations) in its seasonal contribution to the stomach contents, whereas further downstream (16–35 km) S. vittatum constituted 45% of the volume and showed only clear evidence of one generation. Seasonal fluctuations in S. vittatum availability appear to affect the stomach fullness and the condition factor of the trout, especially close to the lake outlet where the fluctuations are pronounced.     

Decrease of memory retention in a parasitic wasp: an effect of host manipulation by Wolbachia?

Several factors, such as cold exposure, aging, the number of experiences and viral infection, have been shown to affect learning ability in different organisms. Wolbachia has been found worldwide as an arthropod parasite/mutualist symbiont in a wide range of species, including insects. Differing effects have been identified on physiology and behavior by Wolbachia. However, the effect of Wolbachia infection on the learning ability of their host had never previously been studied. The current study carried out to compare learning ability and memory duration in 2 strains of the parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae: 1 uninfected and 1 infected by Wolbachia. Both strains were able to associate the novel odors with the reward of an oviposition into a host egg. However, the percentage of females that responded to the experimental design and displayed an ability to learn in these conditions was higher in the uninfected strain. Memory duration was longer in uninfected wasps (23.8 and 21.4 h after conditioning with peppermint and lemon, respectively) than in infected wasps (18.9 and 16.2 h after conditioning with peppermint and lemon, respectively). Memory retention increased in response to the number of conditioning sessions in both strains, but memory retention was always shorter in the infected wasps than in the uninfected ones. Wolbachia infection may select for reduced memory retention because shorter memory induces infected wasps to disperse in new environments and avoid competition with uninfected wasps by forgetting cues related to previously visited environments, thus increasing transmission of Wolbachia in new environments.     

Has stocking contributed to an increase in the rod catch of anadromous trout (Salmo trutta L.) in the Shetland Islands,UK?

The stocking of hatchery-origin fish into rivers and lakes has long been used in fisheries management to try to enhance catches, especially for trout and salmon species. Frequently, however, the long-term impacts of stocking programmes have not been evaluated. In this study, the authors investigate the contribution of a stocking programme undertaken to support the rod catch of sea trout in the Shetland Islands, UK. Once a highly productive recreational fishery, Shetland sea trout catches crashed in the mid-1990s. Around the time that stocking began, increases in rod catches were also reported, with advocates of the stocking highlighting the apparent success of the programme. Using a suite of genetic markers (microsatellites), this study explores the contribution of the stocking programme to the Shetland sea trout population. The authors found that the domesticated broodstock and wild spawned brown trout from seven streams were genetically distinct. Despite extensive stocking, wild spawned brown trout dominated, even in those streams with a long history of supplementation. The majority of sea trout caught and analysed were of wild origin – only a single individual was of pure stocked origin, with a small number of fish being of wild × stocked origins. This study suggests that stocking with a domesticated strain of brown trout has made only a very limited contribution to the Shetland Islands rod catch, and that the revival of sea trout numbers appears to be driven almost exclusively by recovery of trout spawned in the wild.     

The scaling of parasite biomass with host biomass in lake ecosystems: are parasites limited by host resources?

The standing crop biomass of different populations or trophic levels reflects patterns of energy flow through an ecosystem. The contribution of parasites to total biomass is often considered negligible; recent evidence suggests otherwise, although it comes from a narrow range of natural systems. Quantifying how local parasite biomass, whether that of a single species or an assemblage of species sharing the same host, varies across localities with host population biomass, is critical to determine what constrains parasite populations. We use an extensive dataset on all free‐living and parasitic metazoan species from multiple sites in New Zealand lakes to measure parasite biomass and test how it covaries with host biomass. In all lakes, trematodes had the highest combined biomass among parasite taxa, ranging from about 0.01 to 0.25 g m^?2, surpassing the biomass of minor free‐living taxa. Unlike findings from other studies, the life stage contributing the most to total trematode biomass was the metacercarial stage in the second intermediate host, and not sporocysts or rediae within snail first intermediate hosts, possibly due to low prevalence and small snail sizes. For populations of single parasite species, we found no relationship between host and parasite biomass for either juvenile or adult nematodes. In contrast, all life stages of trematodes had local biomasses that correlated positively with those of their hosts. For assemblages of parasite species sharing the same host, we found strong relationships between local host population biomass and the total biomass of parasites supported. In these host–parasite biomass relationships, the scaling factor (slope in log‐log space) suggests that parasites may not be making full use of available host resources. Host populations appear capable of supporting a little more parasite biomass, and may be open to expansion of existing parasites or invasion by new ones.     

Pex11α in brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario): Expression dynamics during the reproductive cycle reveals sex-specific seasonal patterns

A negative correlation between female gonadal maturation kinetics and size variations of hepatic peroxisomes was earlier documented in brown trout, as a probable impact of serum estrogen changes during the reproductive cycle. Herein, we investigated whether the organelle volume/surface dynamics seen in female brown trout liver peroxisomes – without numerical changes within each hepatocyte – is followed by variations in the expression of the membrane peroxisome protein Pex11α gene. For comparison, we also studied males. We find in females a seasonal variation with the highest Pex11α expression in February, which was statistically different from all other tested periods. Overall, the expression of PEX11α had over a fivefold decrease from February to September. This period coincides with the reproductive transition between the earlier post-spawning gonadal remodeling and preparatory staging and the pre-spawning period. Males did not show changes. Our approach allowed the first characterization of a peroxin gene in a teleost, the Pex11α, while offering a correlation scenario were, as we hypothesized, the peroxisomal size kinetics is paralleled by membrane-related gene alterations (measured herein as proxy of Pex11α gene expression). Our data support and expand previous results on the regulation, function and morphology of peroxisome dynamics in brown trout, with a broader interest.     

Parasite regulation by host hormones: an old mechanism of host exploitation?

Recent experimental evidence suggests that parasites can not only evade immune responses actively but also exploit the hormonal microenvironment within the host to favor their establishment, growth and reproduction. The benefit for parasites of hormonal exploitation is so great that they have evolved structures similar to the steroid and protein hormone receptors expressed in upper vertebrates that can bind to the hormonal metabolites synthesized by the host. This strategy is exemplified by two parasites that respond to adrenal steroids and sexual steroids, respectively: Schistosoma mansoni and Taenia crassiceps. Understanding how the host endocrine system can, under certain circumstances, favor the establishment of a parasite, and characterizing the parasite hormone receptors that are involved might aid the design of hormonal analogs and drugs that affect the parasite exclusively.     

Can sea trout Salmo trutta compromise successful eradication of Gyrodactylus salaris by hiding from CFT Legumin (rotenone) treatments?

In this study, 34 anadromous brown trout (sea trout) Salmo trutta were equipped with acoustic transmitters in order to examine whether they performed avoidance behaviour in response to a CFT Legumin (rotenone) treatment in the Norwegian River Vefsna. Migratory behaviour of the S. trutta was monitored by use of 15 automatic listening stations and manual tracking in the lower part of the river, in the estuary and in the fjord. None of the studied S. trutta survived the rotenone treatment and no indications of successful avoidance behaviour were observed.