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Natural variations could help determine rainbow trout strains that can survive, natural research suggests. The findings will be presented today at the conference on Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration of the American Physiological Society (APS) in New Orleans.
Increasing temperatures and decreasing levels of underwater oxygen resulting from climate change are likely to affect cold water fish habitats such as rainbow trout. The resilience of this species to changes in its environment will help to survive the major warming of its tributaries.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia studied three strains of rainbow trout, one from California and two from Canada. They found that California's young fish (called "fry") were more tolerant of high water temperatures and oxygen-poor environments than Canadian fry. There was no noticeable difference in tolerance levels as a whole in adult fish of the same strains. However, adult fish of all strains had variable heat and oxygen tolerance levels, some more resistant and others more vulnerable to climatic stressors. "These differences represent natural variations," said Nicholas Strowbridge, first author of the study. The more robust fish "are just a little more capable of handling high temperatures and low oxygen," Strowbridge explained.
Taking advantage of the natural variation in the individual constitution of rainbow trout can serve two beneficial purposes. Selecting the strongest fish in hatcheries can help conserve rainbow trout species and support the global recreational fishing industry as warming continues.
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