Latitudinal and altitudinal growth patterns of brown troutSalmo truttaat different spatial scales

Abstract

Spatial variation in growth of stream-dwelling brown trout Salmo trutta was explored in 13 populations using a long-term study (1993-2004) in the Bay of Biscay drainage, northern Spain. The high variability in fork length (L(F)) of S. trutta in the study area was similar to the body-size range found in the entire European distribution of the species. Mean L(F) at age varied: 0+ years, 57.4-100.7 mm; 1+ years, 111.6-176.0 mm; 2+ years, 155.6-248.4 mm and 3+ years, 194.3-290.9 mm. Average L(F) at age was higher in main courses and lower reaches compared with small tributaries and upper reaches. Annual specific growth rates (G(L)) were: 0+ to 1+ years, 0.634-0.825 mm mm(-1) year(-1); 1+ to 2+ years, 0.243-0.342 mm mm(-1) year(-1); 2+ to 3+ years, 0.166-0.222 mm mm(-1) year(-1), showing a great homogeneity. Regression models showed that water temperature and altitude were the major determinants of L(F) at age variability within the study area. A broader spatial analysis using available data from stream-dwelling S. trutta populations throughout Europe indicated a negative relationship between latitude and L(F) of individuals and a negative interaction between latitude and altitude. These findings support previous evidence of the pervasive role of water temperature on the L(F) of this species. Altitude appeared as the overall factor that includes the local variation of other variables, such as water temperature or food availability. At a larger scale, latitude was the factor that encompassed these environmental gradients and explained the differences in L(F) of S. trutta. In summary, L(F) at age in stream-dwelling S. trutta decreases with latitude in Europe, the converse of Bergmann's rule.

Brown trout growth in Minnesota streams as related to landscape and local factors

“…Growth declined with age as younger, smaller brown trout have a greater scope for growth and invest more energy in production of somatic tissue than older, larger individuals. In addition, growth increased with drainage area, as documented in previous studies (Jonsson et al 2001;Lobon-Cervia 2003Dieterman et al 2006;Parra et al 2009). The mechanism for this association may relate to spatial heterogeneity in brown trout age and size at maturity (L' Abee-Lund et al 1989;Olsen & Vollestad 2005).…”

“…Relative to smaller streams, those with larger drainage area have greater habitat volume (Jonsson et al 2001;Parra et al 2009) and secondary production (Arismendi et al 2012), conditions that may increase brown trout growth in southeast Minnesota streams. In addition, groundwater input decreases stream thermal sensitivity (i.e.…”

Distribution and growth of brown trout in pristine headwaters of Central Europe

“…The individual growth of brown trout in the studied populations was generally lower than in other populations located in streams with comparable latitudes [34,35]. This is most likely a result of environmental conditions correlated with the altitude (e.g., climate, nutrients, physical stream characteristics; [36]) as well as endogenous (e.g., density) [4] and genetic factors [37].…”

Estado de las poblaciones de trucha en los ríos de la Comunidad Valenciana y caracterización de sus hábitats

“…En el norte, Braña et al (1992) encontraron un 73 crecimiento lento en las poblaciones de truchas similar a los países del norte de Europa, con valores comprendidos entre los 82-107 mm en la edad 1+, 116-175 mm en la edad 2+ y 145-197 mm en la edad 3+. Por otro lado, Parra et al (2009) encontraron mucha variabilidad en la talla en los peces de ríos del norte de la Península Ibérica, en un estudio largo que abarcaba 13 ríos, con rangos de 57-101 mm en la edad 0+, 112-176 mm en la edad 1+, 156-248 mm en la edad 2+ y 194-291 mm en la edad 3+. En este estudio se observa una relación negativa entre la longitud furcal y la altitud, lo que podría relacionarse con cambios en los factores ambientales asociada a la altitud como la temperatura, la anchura y profundidad del río, la concentración de nutrientes o abundancia de alimento y la disponibilidad de hábitat para individuos grandes.…”

“…En estas regiones es donde hay más frecuentemente temperaturas óptimas para el crecimiento, entre 13-18 ºC según Elliott y Hurley (2000). Al igual que indican Parra et al (2009), las poblaciones de Salmo trutta ibéricas, no siguen la regla de Bergmann (Belk y Houston, 2002), la cual sostiene que para animales endotérmicos, el tamaño del cuerpo incrementa cuando incrementa la latitud (o cuando decrece la temperatura).…”