Ecology of Lake Ontario Brown Trout

Abstract

The purpose of my study was to examine seasonal movements, behavior, and habitat preferences of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Lake Ontario. During fall 1980 and spring and fall 1981, the activities of 36 radiotagged brown trout were monitored near the southern shore of Lake Ontario between Port Bay and Point Breeze (Fig. 1). Underwater radio telemetry techniques were utilized to evaluate inshore and offshore periods of occupancy, range of movements, attraction to outflow areas, depth and temperature preferences, spawning success, and homing to original stocking sites. The use of internal (surgical) and external radio-tag attachment permitted a comparison of methods. In conjunction with telemetry, vertical gill netting was used to evaluate brown trout location, depth and temperature distributions, and food preference during the summers of 1981 and 1982.