Home » Science & Nature » Ecology » Part One of Population Biology of Rainbow Trout Series

Part One of Population Biology of Rainbow Trout Series

© Jeramie Tesky and Diana Tesky

August 1997

PART 1 covers the Introduction to Rainbow Trout

PART 2 will cover Survival Traits

PART 3 will cover Population Dynamics/Regulation

PART 4 will cover the Conclusion and Literature Cited

Introduction: The rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) is a native to North America, it’s native range extending from the Kuskokwim River, Alaska, to Rio Presidio, Durango (Scott et al. 1985). The rainbow also known by the common names of steelhead trout and kamloops trout (Scott et al. 1985). It is a favorite among many anglers as a game fish. Due to its popularity with sport fishermen, extensive stocking programs have been implemented in the U.S. to retain this fishing resource ( Sigler 1990 ). Rivers throughout the country, have been stocked with rainbows, with areas such as Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana as popular rainbow fishing areas.

As well as its importance here in the United States, the rainbow also serves as a valuable resource for a number of other countries. Many rainbow trout farms have arisen in Denmark, Norway, France, Austria, Germany and Scotland. (Mills 1971). Successful transportation into the countries of Australia, India, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa has also occurred (Mills 1971).

Regardless of where they are located, rainbows need cool water with plenty of food. The rainbow is especially limited by temperature, as it cannot survive in temperatures greater than 25 degrees Celsius (Matthews et al. 1997). High pH and oligotrophic waters seem most favorable to the rainbow (Mills 1971). The amount of nutrition a rainbow is able to get, and the temperature of the water effect its growth, which in turn determines, in females, the amount of eggs produced (Hines 1976), (Kaeding 1996).

In our population study, we will cover rainbow populations in the United States. Our focus won't be on one specific rainbow population, but rather on rainbow populations in general in the United States, with specific examples of populations that have been researched.

Our purpose is to explain several aspects of the population biology of the rainbow trout. Three main areas will be covered: population dynamics/regulation, genetic variation, and survival traits. In each of these areas, examples will be drawn from case studies of specific populations. We can then apply the information to see how any rainbow trout population might compare.

Check back next week for part 2 "Survival Traits" of this rainbow trout series!