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The effect of visual isolation on territory size and population density of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

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The effect of visual isolation on territory size and population density of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Imre, István, Grant, James W.A. and Keeley, Ernest Robert (2002) The effect of visual isolation on territory size and population density of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 59 (2). pp. 303-309. ISSN 0706652X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f02-010

Abstract

Visibility is thought to affect the territory size of visually oriented animals but there have been few experimental tests of the hypothesis. We re-examined the relationship between visibility and territory size in juvenile salmonids to test the hypothesis that increasing habitat heterogeneity results in a reduction in territory size and consequently in higher population densities. Equal densities of young-of-the-year rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were stocked in two experimental treatments with low visibility and a control treatment with high visibility. Visibility was decreased by placing large stones or plywood dividers onto the substrate of experimental stream channels. As predicted, the size of individual territories decreased with decreasing visibility of the habitat. However, the treatments did not differ significantly in population density or growth rate of the fish. While this study confirms the inverse relationship between habitat visibility and territory size, the decrease in territory size did not produce an increase in population density of juvenile salmonids.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Biology
Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Authors:Imre, István and Grant, James W.A. and Keeley, Ernest Robert
Journal or Publication:Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Date:February 2002
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):10.1139/f02-010
ID Code:7545
Deposited By: Danielle Dennie
Deposited On:10 May 2011 20:39
Last Modified:18 Jan 2018 17:31
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