Effect of climate change on brown trout

Spawning time and egg burial depth of spawning brown trout in several alpine streams in Switzerland are observed. This information will allow to make predictions about the influence of abiotic processes on the survival of the eggs and embryos deposited in the gravel. Additional parameters which influence survival of emerged fry will be studied. In a lab experiment the response of emerged fry to different abiotic parameters will be tested.

Finally habitat quality for the life stage between spawning and emergence will be determined for a degraded, a restored and a natural river section. In combination with the information on altered sediment transport and climate date the possible changes in habitat quality under different scenarios will be modeled. All these information together will allow to predict possible consequences of climate change on alpine river systems.

• Contact persons: Armin Peter