Fishless shallow lakes of Southern Patagonia as habitat for waterbirds at the onset of trout aquaculture

• 1. The Strobel Meseta, a basaltic plateau of Patagonia (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina), holds thousands of shallow fishless lakes that are prime habitat for many species of waterbirds, including some considered ‘near threatened’. In recent years, several lakes have been stocked with trout which has created uncertainty about the potential effects on the recipient ecosystem.
• 2. Limnological and topographical analyses were performed in a group of 32 lakes of the Strobel Meseta in order to characterize and classify individual lakes of the meseta based on their limnological and topographic features, analyze the association between lake type and use by aquatic birds in general and by the endemic hooded grebe (Podiceps gallardoi) in particular, and evaluate the overlap between trout aquaculture and critical habitat for waterbirds.
• 3. The lakes were classified by multivariate analyses into four characteristic types: turbid, high conductivity lakes (T), small vegetated lakes (SV) and larger lakes which were subdivided into either vegetated (LV) or unvegetated (LU). In general, macrophyte cover was the main classificatory variable, whereas conductivity, pH, surface, and depth contributed moderately. Large vegetated lakes were generally found to be important for waterbirds and provided critical habitat for the hooded grebe, whereas trout farmers largely favoured large unvegetated lakes. However, since some large vegetated lakes have already been stocked, there is some level of geographical overlap between waterbird habitat and trout farming.
• 4. The existence of some level of spatial segregation between production and critical waterbird habitat affords opportunities for designing a spatially‐based management system for trout aquaculture.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Rainbow trout effects on zooplankton in the reproductive area of the critically endangered hooded grebe

相似文献   

Need for speed: Preference for fast‐flowing water by the endangered semi‐aquatic Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) in two contrasting streams

相似文献   

Habitat suitability analysis for lacustrine brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Lake Walchensee,Germany: implications for the conservation of an endangered flagship species

• 1. The lacustrine brown trout (Salmo trutta) is endangered and of high conservation importance. In the only spawning habitat of the population in the Bavarian Lake Walchensee, the River Obernach, a substantial decrease in spawning runs has been reported. In this study, the present ecological state of the spawning stream was analysed with the objective of identifying life‐stage specific limitations to successful recruitment attributable to deficiencies in (i) spawning migration, (ii) spawning habitat quality, and (iii) habitat quality for juveniles.
• 2. Structural stream analysis showed that discharge and several migration barriers — particularly near the river outlet into the lake — prevent successful spawning migrations at normal water levels. Migration barriers are probably the main limiting factor for reproduction of lacustrine brown trout, whereas structural variability of the Obernach meets the habitat requirements of both spawners and juveniles.
• 3. Spawning site quality was suitable for trout, as indicated by stream substratum texture and high exchange rates between free‐flowing water and the interstitial zone in physico‐chemical parameters (redox potential, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and conductivity).
• 4. Analyses of fish community structure revealed dominance of lithophilic species, in particular of riverine brown trout (Salmo trutta). Its density and intact demographic population structure suggest that spawning and juvenile habitat quality for salmonids is not limiting. Recapture of stocked lacustrine trout juveniles also indicates habitat suitability for the juvenile stage.
• 5. In conclusion, the results show that the methodology used in this study is suitable for the identification of life‐stage specific habitat deficiencies in lacustrine brown trout and other fish species. Availability of habitat data throughout the species' distribution range is a first crucial step for the development of an effective recovery plan. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Effect of peracetic acid on levels of geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol,and their potential producers in a recirculating aquaculture system for rearing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)s, off-flavors and odors, mainly caused by geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), can accumulate in the flesh of fish from RAS water, reducing the profitability of production. In this study, peracetic acid (PAA) was applied in three application intervals to pump sumps of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in RAS. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the potential off-flavor producers were quantified using geoA and MIB synthase genes. Streptomyces was identified as the major GSM producer, and biofilters showed the highest number of potential off-flavor producers. Concentrations of GSM and MIB were analyzed in the circulating water and in the lateral part of the fish fillet. In water, concentrations up to 51 ng L⁻¹ (GSM) and 60.3 ng L⁻¹ (MIB) were found, while in the fillet, these were up to 9.8 ng g⁻¹ (GSM) and 10.2 ng g⁻¹ (MIB), decreasing with increasing number of PAA applications. PAA applications reduced the levels of off-flavor compounds, although this was insufficient to fully prevent the accumulation of GSM and MIB.     

Exploring the relative influence of biotic interactions and environmental conditions on the abundance and distribution of exotic brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a high mountain stream

Abstract – In the Logan River, UT, USA, exotic brown trout demonstrate a strong allopatric distribution and occur at high densities at low‐elevation sites and in tributaries, and in low densities at native trout dominated, high‐elevation sites. Summer temperatures and discharge do not appear limiting for growth; adult growth rates were high overall and were greatest when fish were held experimentally at high elevation where they do not occur naturally. Brown trout are superior competitors; competition for space or food was stronger with their own con‐specifics than with other species. Evidence of density dependence was not observed at the juvenile life stage; no consistent relationships were detected between brown trout density and age‐1 condition or lagged, age‐0 weight (g). In contrast, adult brown trout demonstrated density‐dependent effects on condition and growth when reared experimentally. Field estimates of adult growth rates (g·day^?1), although variable, declined subtly with increasing density, and annual survival was significantly greater in the mainstem sites (mean = 52%) relative to a high‐density tributary site (mean = 22%). Annual predicted age‐0 brown trout growth potential was four‐times greater at the lowermost site, compared with the highest elevation site, although fish lost weight over winter months at all sites. While adult density dependence may influence population abundance at some sites, extreme spring–winter conditions may ultimately limit the upper elevational extent of brown trout in this system. With changing climatic conditions and the potential for habitat degradation in the future, these results have important implications for native fish conservation.     

Diet of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Gradac,Serbia: Predation in a brown trout‐dominated stream

相似文献   

Effect of the data family structure,tank replication and the statistical model,on the estimation of genetic parameters for body weight at 28 days of age in the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei Boone, 1931)

Real and simulated data sets were analysed to estimate the effect of data structure (i.e. the number of dams mated to one sire and the number of tanks per dam) and the model used for analysis on the bias of genetic parameter estimates of the square root of 28‐day body weight (BW28) in Penaeus vannamei. Estimated parameters used were 0.13 for the heritability (h²); 0.16 for the proportion of the variance of the maternal and common environmental effects (c²); 0.15 for the proportion of the tank effect variance (t²) and 0.56 for the proportion of the environmental variance (e²). Total variance for the BW28 was 2.36 mg. Simulated data involved a total of 9000 sires and 1 444 000 offspring. Exclusion of maternal and common environmental effects inflated estimates of heritability both in real and simulated data. Exclusion of tank effects from the model inflated the estimates of heritability in real, but not in simulated data, indicating the presence of non‐random effects affecting individual tanks. We conclude that replication of dams per sire is necessary for obtaining unbiased estimates of heritability. Use of replicated tanks may help in reducing overestimation of heritability if tank and genetic effects are confounded.     

Isotopic turnover rate and trophic fractionation of nitrogen in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) by experimental mesocosms: implications for the estimation of the relative contribution of diets

The effect of size and diet on the relative contribution of growth and metabolic turnover to changes in isotopic composition of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was examined by mesocosm experiments. Trough testing different diet types (natural and commercial formulated foods and combinations) and feeding scenarios (satiation, limited‐fed and starvation), we determined the growth (k) and metabolic (m) turnover, rate of isotopic turnover (t₅₀) and isotopic fractionation of N (Δ¹⁵N) during different growth stages [from postlarvae (PL20's) to large juveniles], under controlled conditions. Results revealed that L. vannamei is a diet sensitive species with growth and metabolic processes controlled by the quantity (feeding rate) and quality (in terms of C:N) of food. Relative to the total isotopic change (k + m), the contribution of growth decreased with size shrimp from PL20's to largest juveniles. Metabolic turnover also decreased, but showed an elevated variability. Coefficient k in limited‐fed and starved specimens was lower than those on satiation; m showed the opposite trend. Δ¹⁵N values averaged from 0.30‰ to 3.5‰ (1.87 ± 0.87‰) in satiated L. vannamei, but increased to 2.59–3.09 and 3.28–4.81‰ in limited‐fed and starved specimens. Δ¹⁵N increased with a diet's C:N, indicating an effect of diet quality on isotopic discrimination and also increased with shrimp size, indicating the influence of the metabolic changes. Variations in Δ¹⁵N need to be considered in nutrition studies to estimate correctly the temporal relationship between an organism's isotope ratio and its diet and to analyse the variations of food availability or preferences along a culture cycle.