Factors related to the distribution and abundance of brown and rainbow trout in New Zealand clear‐water rivers

Abstract

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations at 157 riverine sites throughout New Zealand were divided into groups based on species, size, and abundance. The groups were examined to determine significant differences in hydrological, water quality, water temperature, biological, in‐stream habitat, and catchment variables between groups. A discriminant model was developed with nine environmental factors which correctly classified 72% of a subset of 65 sites. Fish species distribution was related to climatic (water temperature), geographical, and hydrological factors, whereas fish abundance was determined by factors relating to flow variability, river gradient, in‐stream habitat, and the presence of lakes in the catchment.

Keywords:

• brown trout
• rainbow trout
• distribution
• abundance
• discriminant analysis
• classification
• in‐stream habitat
• water quality
• hydrology
• geography