Modelling the factors influencing ontogenetic dietary shifts in stream-dwelling brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic variables shape ontogenetic trajectories of animals. This study modelled (i) the body length related timing of the ontogenetic switch from aquatic to surface prey and (ii) the impacts of habitat characteristics, prey availability, and fish densities on the relative contribution of surface prey to the overall diet of native brown trout (Salmo trutta). We used individual-based models of dietary data for 170 fish (length range 48–343 mm). There was a high degree of individual variation in the use of surface prey, but logistic regression suggested that the shift from aquatic to surface prey was established at a body length of 81 mm (range 36–127 mm). Results of linear mixed-effects models highlighted the importance of fish length, benthic invertebrates, brown trout density, and water current velocity to the switch to surface prey by riverine brown trout, with fish length being the most influential variable. Our study provides evidence of the importance of ontogeny (intrinsic features of individuals linked to fish length) and individual differences in feeding behaviour to understand water-column use for feeding by stream-dwelling salmonids.