6th Annual Judith Ramaley Celebration of Research and Creative Scholarship
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Poster #12 Comparison of Brook Trout and Brown Trout Age Structures in Garvin Brook
Marc W Biedermann
Faculty Mentor: Neal Mundahl
The objective of this project was to identify and compare the age structures of brook trout and brown trout in Garvin Brook stream. In the late 1800s, brown trout were introduced into the coldwater streams of Minnesota and have since been competing for resources with the native brook trout populations. From the data collected, age structures, growth rates, and mortality rates are compared between the two game fish species. In Farmer’s Community Park, four, fifty-meter sections of Garvin Brook were electro-fished and sampled. The trout caught were measured, had scale samples removed for age identification, and then safely returned to the stream. In the first two sections sampled, there were little to no brook trout caught where an abundance of brown trout flourished. The fourth section located in the headwaters, resulted in a significant difference where over three quarters of the fish captured were brook trout. It was determined that brown trout have a faster growth rate and a lower mortality rate than the native brook trout in Garvin Brook. |
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