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An Attempt to Train Hatchery‐Reared Brook Trout to Avoid Predation by the Common Loon
Author(s) -
Fraser J. M.
Publication year - 1974
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(1974)103<815:aatthb>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - trout , salvelinus , hatchery , predation , fontinalis , fishery , biology , rainbow trout , ecology , fish <actinopterygii>
Hatchery‐reared yearling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were trained in 1970 and 1972 to avoid an electrified plastic model loon moving through the water in a hatchery raceway. Immediately after the training programs, the trout were released together with untrained trout in a 23‐ha lake which accomodated 2‐3 common loons and other potential predators. Intensive gillnetting 10‐12 wk after planting indicated about 16% survival of trained trout compared to about 18% for untrained trout. The training received by the trout apparently had little survival value in the wild. The low survival rates experienced by all groups suggested a high level of predation.