| Efforts to restore migratory, lake-dwelling coaster brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis), to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PRNL) began in 1997 when coaster strain brook trout were stocked in three Lake Superior tributaries. Subsequent stocking has occurred every year since 2000. Basic information on what drives migratory behavior in brook trout and seasonal movement patterns they display is sparse, mainly from anecdotes and limited information from the few surviving populations. Using stationary radio frequency identification systems (RFID) that detect passive integrated transponder (PIT tags), it was possible to effectively gather information on the of seasonal timing of wild (PRNL) brook trout and coaster strain brook trout (TBH) movements to and from Lake Superior in 2003 and 2004. Low numbers of fish moving were recorded at the antennas throughout the study, with peaks occurring during the spring and fall of 2003, and spring 2004. Photoperiod correlated with lake-run activity in both years (p ≤ 0.05), although water temperature may have played a minor role in Sevenmile Creek movements during 2004 (p ≤ 0.05). Differences were found in condition between the PRNL and TBH strains (p ≤ 0.05) as well as between lake-run and resident brook trout during the 2004 season (p ≤ 0.05) (spring and summer). |
