1. Trout

2. Evolution
The evolution of trout can be traced back at least 100 million years ago to a fish found in the Salmonidae family.
The scientific name of this fish was Eosalmo driftwoodensis.

3. Classification of Trout
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: various
Species: various

4. Classification of Trout
Kingdom : Animalia
Organisms in this Kingdom are those who are multicellular (eukaryotic cells) are mobile and do not make their own food.

5. Classification of Trout
Phylum: Chordata
These organisms have a backbone.
They are known as “vertebrates”.

6. Classification of Trout
Class: Actinopterygii
These organisms are fishes which have rayed fins.
This means that there are bony ‘rays’ found within their fins.

7. Classification of Trout
Order: Salmoniformes
These are fish who have pelvic fins near the back of the fish.
They also have an adipose fin located near the back of the fish.

8. Family / Genus / Species
All trout and their relatives fall into the classification Family Salmonidae.
All trout fall into one of three genera: Salvelinus , Salmo , or Oncorhynchus.
The genus is determined by how closely the fish is related to others along the evolutionary tree.
Within each genera there are species.
Each species is determined by the ability to successfully reproduce.
Some members of a species have interbreed and created variations which look very different. However, the ability to successfully reproduce puts them into the same species. These variations are called subspecies.

9. Salmonidae Salmo Salvelinus Onchorynchus Genus -- Family --
-Atlantic Salmon (salar)
-Brown (trutta)
-Arctic Char (alpinus)
-Brook (fontinalis)
-Lake (namaycush)
-Dolly Varden (malma)
-Bull Trout (confluentus)
Species
-Rainbow (mykiss)
-Pacific Salmon (5 types)
-Cut throat (4 types)
-Apache (apache)
Gila (gilae)
-Golden (2 types)

10. Atlantic Salmon (salar)
Genus - Salmo
It is unclear which of the two species evolved from the other but, they are the only two species from this genus that are found in North America.
The Salmo genus contains only 2 of the 10 trout species.
Atlantic Salmon (salar)
Brown Trout (trutta)

11. Atlantic Salmon (salar)
Atlantic Salmon are found on the North American and European continents.
Once they reach maturity, Atlantic Salmon return to their ‘home’ stream to spawn but often return to the sea and repeat the process each year.
Atlantic Salmon are naturally anadromous but a few subspecies (Ouananiche, Sebagos) have made adaptations to live their entire lives in fresh water.

12. Brown Trout (trutta)
The Brown Trout is not native to North America. It was brought over from Europe in Since then, the species has thrived in North American waters and have become commonplace.
The Brown Trout is the only trout with red on its adipose fin. This coloring is not found on hatchery fish.

13. Genus - Oncorhynchus
Each member of this genus evolved from the Pacific Salmon.
They were not considered a separate genus until 1988 but are now listed separately because of their common ancestor
The Oncorhynchus genus has 7 of the 10 species of trout.
Rainbow Trout (mykiss)
Pacific Salmon (5 types)
Cutthroat Trout (clarki)

14. Rainbow Trout (mykiss)
Rainbow Trout originated in the western part of North America.
All western trout are closely related to the rainbow trout. There are several variations or subspecies or Rainbow Trout which include: California & Mexican Golden, Apache, and Gila Trout.
Rainbow Trout Prefer fast moving water and can be found in riffles rather than pools.
Rainbow Trout that have become anadromous are known as Steelhead Trout which tend to be much larger than landlocked species.

15. Pacific Salmon
There are 5 different species of Pacific Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Chum, Pink), each being anadromous.
Each of the 5 species returns to their ‘home stream’ to spawn.
Unlike the Atlantic Salmon, the Pacific Salmon dies after spawning.

16. Cutthroat Trout (clarki)
There are four recognized subspecies of Cutthroat Trout. These subspecies are determined by their native ranges which have produced slight color variations.
Their place of origin is Western North America.
Inland Cutthroats tend to have fewer spots than those found nearer the coast.
They get their name from the brilliant red found along the underside of their mouth and head.

17. Genus - Salvelinus
This species in this genus split long ago. The landlocked versions of this genus evolved into the Brooke & Lake Trout, while the oceanic versions evolved into the Arctic & Dolly Varden Char.
This genus includes 5 of the known 10 species of trout.
Arctic Char (alpinus)
Brook Trout (fontinalis)
Lake Trout (namaycush)
Dolly Varden Char (malma)
Bull Trout (confluentus)

18. Arctic Char (alpinus)
- Arctic Char is perhaps the most colorful of the trout.
- Some Arctic char are andromous (live part of their lives in fresh water and part in the ocean) while some spend their entire lives in fresh water.
- Landlocked Arctic Char found in the northeast parts of North America are often called by different names such as: blueback, Sunapee, Marsten’s or Red Trout.

19. Dolly Varden Char (malma)
Dolly Varden Char are found along rivers and streams on the west coast of North America.
These char are seldom found inland but more commonly found near coastal waters.
At one time, Bull Trout were thought to be a subspecies of Dolly Varden Char but after further study it was determined that the two were separate species.

20. Bull Trout (confluentus)
Bull Trout are native to the coastal waters of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
Bull Trout fill a similar niche as its cousin the Brook Trout and only reaches a length of about 8 inches at maturity.

21. Lake Trout (namaycush)
Lake Trout inhabit the deep waters of cold naturally occuring lakes. They are native only to North America.
The tail of the Lake Trout is deeply forked.
Lake Trout require cold and heavily oxygenated water.
Lake Trout mature slowly and do not produce many eggs.

22. Splake A splake is a cross bread of two different species.
When a female lake trout and a male brook trout cross bread a splake is formed.
This crossbreeding is very rare and only occurs in a few lakes found in Canada.

23. Brook Trout (fontinalis)
The Brook Trout is the state fish of Pennsylvania. It is closely related to Lake Trout and can sometimes crossbreed to form a splake.
Brook Trout are native to the east coast of North America and prefer small cold water streams.
They are very sensitive to water temperature and quality which has led to habitat loss.
Brook Trout prefer water temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees F but can survive in water as low as 32 degrees F.
Brook Trout can also tolerate high levels of water acidity.

24. What is a Brook Trout? A Salmonid
Related to brown, rainbow and other trout and salmon
Salvelinus fontinalis – actually char
Closely related to:
Lake trout
Arctic char
Bull trout
Description of the brook trout
species information
general characteristics

25. What is a Brook Trout? Unique external features
Light spots on dark background
Tiny scales
White piping on lower fins adjacent to narrow black striping
Wormlike markings on back and head
Description of the brook trout
species information
general characteristics

26. Native Trout Native and Wild =
Evolved over many thousands of years where it is still living and reproducing.
Native and Wild =
A wild trout is any trout bred and born in the stream
Brookies are Pennsylvania’s only native stream-dwelling salmonid and our state fish.

27. Why are Brook Trout Important?
Indicators of clean water and healthy aquatic systems
Affords higher level of water quality protection
Important part of the food web
Provides economic benefits
State Fish of Pennsylvania
And Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Georgia.
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful freshwater fish and great fun to fish for

28. Brook Trout History and Heritage
In eastern N. America prior to any human habitation
Described in Native American legends
Widespread in PA when the first Europeans arrived and represented first trout angling experiences
Thrived in immense numbers and reached sizes we can only imagine

29. The Decline What Happened?

30. Logging
Audubon commented about the destruction of the forest when he was traveling in the Pocono Mountain Region in 1829.
By the early 1900’s, loggers had denuded the massive hemlock and pine forests, followed by extensive fires.

31. Logging

32. The Decline - Logging
This lead to severe erosion and sedimentation, elevated water temperatures and predator vulnerability.
Brookies retreated upstream to escape and began to vanish from downstream reaches.

33. Coal In the early 1900s, major coal mining began
Many miles of brook trout waters were devastated by acid mine drainage

34. Acid Deposition
Our headwater streams, the last brookie refuges, are now being assaulted by acid deposition
acid rain
snow
Particulates
Results from combustion of fossil fuels

35. Other Poor Land Uses and Exotics
Poor agricultural practices
Nutrients
Sediment
Urbanization
Stormwater
Sewage
Roads
Exotic species
Wooly adelgid, gypsy moth, etc

36. Introduction of the Brown Trout
Introduced into PA streams in the 1880’s
Quickly took over in larger freestone and limestone waters
Brook trout were able to hold on in headwater streams where they are mostly found today

37. Stocking

38. Stocking Many streams with native trout populations are being stocked
Stocking attracts large numbers of anglers, encouraging over-harvest
Most of the legal-sized trout (native and stocked) are quickly removed
Hatchery trout compete with native trout for living space and food
Hatchery trout have the potential to introduce disease and parasites which spread among native trout

39. Stocking
Legal Size Brook Trout per Mile Before and After the Cessation of Stocking in Nine Predominately Brook Trout Streams
Source: PFBC data, Trout Summit, 2002

40. The Decline - Summary Logging Coal Acid Deposition Land Use
Brown Trout
Stocking

41. What’s it like today? Now, few brook trout exceed 8”
A 10” brookie is exceptional
Remote freestone streams still hold plenty of 8”- 10” brookies
A few limestone streams yield large brookies

42. 16-Inch Wild Brookie from A Limestone Stream In Eastern PA
Photo courtesy of Chaz Macdonald

43. Current Status of Brook Trout in PA
Historic range
1% still intact (>90% occupied)
9% reduced (50-90% occupied)
39% greatly reduced (<50% occupied)
34% extirpated
17% no data

44. Brook Trout Requirements What Do Brook Trout Need to Survive and Prosper?

45. Water Quantity
Streams must contain enough water year round to support trout and trout food
Causes of critically low flows:
Drought
Water withdrawals
Irrigation
Bottled water
Domestic water supplies
Gas Extraction (Fracking)
Impoundments
Collect water and reduce or eliminate downstream flows

46. Cold Water Trout need cold water
Brook trout prefer colder water than brown or rainbow trout
Cold water holds more 02 than warmer water
If water warms and holds less 02, brookies get stressed
They have to move to find cooler, more 02 rich water or suffocate

47. Cold Water Coldwater stream reaches have declined
Causes of Critical Warming:
Reductions or loss of forested riparian corridors
Impoundments
Surface Runoff
Global Warming

48. Water Quality pH Tolerance Ranges
Brook trout reproduction fails below pH of about 5
Causes of critically low pH (or high acidity)
Acid Deposition and poor soil buffering
Acid Mine Drainage
Rainbow Trout
5.5 – 9.5
Brown Trout
5.0 – 9.5
Brook Trout
4.5 – 9.5

49. Water Quality Suspended Solids
Excess suspended solids from poor land use practices negatively affect trout survival
Impair trout reproduction
Reduce benthic invertebrate habitat
Deposit sediment in critical pools

50. Habitat In PA, good habitat is promoted by Good habitat is reduced by:
Natural stream flow with a natural meander pattern and riffle-pool ratio
Forested, undisturbed riparian corridors
Good habitat is reduced by:
Stream channelization
Removal of riparian vegetation
Removal of woody debris
Stream encroachment

51. Habitat General Aspects 50/50 ratio of riffles and pools is optimum
Suitable cover = rocks, overhanging vegetation, undercut banks, woody debris
Suitable spawning substrate

52. Habitat Functional Roles Reproduction Foraging Resting Security Pools
Winter Refuge
Drought Refuge

53. Food
Sources
Autochthonous = Originating within the aquatic habitat i.e.: aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish
Allochthonous = originating outside the aquatic habitat i.e.: terrestrial invertebrates

54. Conditions for Reproduction and Life Stages
Brookies spawn in fall, triggered by decreasing daylight
They move upstream to seek suitable spawning sites influenced by temperature and flow
Prefer to construct redds in well oxygenated gravel bottoms
Seek to build redds on areas where groundwater can flow upward through redd

55. Conditions for Reproduction and Life Stages
Juvenile rearing from end of incubation until fingerlings move into bigger water
Incubation occurs over winter with hatching occurring in late winter or very early spring
Hatched fry remain in protection of redds until they absorb the yolk sac
Free swimming at approx. 1”
Move to stream edges, side channels or braids where vegetation and woody debris affords protection and food.

56. Conditions for Reproduction and Life Stages
Adults
As fingerlings get larger they move into bigger water with suitable habitat
Sexual maturity - most males by 2 years, all fish by 3 years of age.
May spawn more than one year

57. Mobility Trout move to meet their needs Impediments to mobility
Suitable water quantity
Good water quality: temperature and chemical composition
Expand forage base
Seek cover
Seek spawning habitat
Avoid overcrowding
Seek pools for winter refuge (anchor ice and ice floods)
Seek pools for refuge during summer drought
Impediments to mobility
culverts, dams, poor water quality, and competition with other species

58. Brook Trout Requirements - Summary
Water
Habitat
Food
Conditions for Reproduction and Life Stages
Mobility

59. Identification
For each of the following slides, try to identify the trout shown in the picture.
Hints:
Look at the coloration of the fish
Look at the size
Look at the surroundings
Read any ‘Fish Facts’

60. Fish Fact: I live in the Western streams of North America and I am a member of the Oncorhyncus Genus.

61. Fish Fact: Many people think I’m related to the rainbow trout but I’m actually more closely related to the arctic char. I am Pennsylvania’s state fish.

62. Fish Fact: I was brought from Europe to live in the waters of North America. My closest relative is the Atlantic Salmon.

63. Fish Fact: When I reach maturity I will return to the stream where I was born, spawn, and then die.

64. Fish Facts: I’m a member of the genus Oncorhynchus
Fish Facts: I’m a member of the genus Oncorhynchus. Originally, I lived in the western part of North America but people have brought me east where I now inhabit the streams.