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Seasonal Fluctuations in the Feeding of Brook Trout in the Pigeon River, Michigan
Author(s) -
Benson Norman G.
Publication year - 1954
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1953)83[76:sfitfo]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - trout , salvelinus , fontinalis , zoology , fishery , biology , volume (thermodynamics) , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics
Stomach contents were analyzed for 420 specimens of wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from the Pigeon River, Otsego County, Michigan. All fish were caught by anglers and checked by trained personnel from April 26 to September 14, 1952. Data on coefficient of condition and volume of stomach contents were averaged by 2‐week periods. Both condition and volume of stomach contents were highest in May and June and decreased thereafter during the angling season. The data suggested a close relationship among periodicity of growth, condition, and mean volume of stomach contents. The most common organisms eaten by brook trout during the period of most rapid growth and best condition were mayflies, caddisflies, and crayfish. Stream temperatures were 55° to 66° F. when the trout were in the best condition and had the greatest volume of food in their stomachs. Both laboratory and field studies have shown this temperature range to be optimum for feeding and activity of brook trout. It is suggested therefore, that growth rate depends upon optimum temperatures and on the abundance of food during the period of optimum temperatures.