Interspecific association of brown trout (Salmo trutta) with non ‐native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) at the fry stage

In this study, we therefore assess whether juvenile brown trout associate with non‐native juvenile brook trout to the same extent as with conspecifics by setting up two experiments: (i) a binomial choice test allowing visual and chemical cues to estimate the species specificity of group preference, and (ii) an association test without physical barriers to estimate the degree of association of a focal brown trout with a group of either conspecifics or heterospecifics. In experiment (1), we found that focal juvenile brown trout preferred to associate with the stimuli groups and did not discriminate either against conspecific or heterospecific groups. Furthermore, more active individuals showed stronger preference for the stimuli group than less active ones, regardless of species. In experiment (2), we found that brook trout groups had a tighter group structure than brown trout groups, and that focal brown trout showed stronger association with brook trout than with brown trout. These results indicate that brown trout may associate with brook trout at an early life stage, which would allow for interspecific social learning to occur. Future studies should look closer into causes and consequences of interspecific association and social learning, including potential effects on the phenotype selection in brown trout populations.

Source: Ethology - October 11, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Magnus Lov én Wallerius, Joacim Näslund, Barbara Koeck, Jörgen I. Johnsson Tags: RESEARCH PAPER Source Type: research