General features of brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, spawning sites in lakes in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

Abstract

Features of habitat and water chemistry at 17 Brook Trout spawning sites are described. The general appearance of the redds supported the hypothesis that upwelling groundwater is in short supply in the lakes. Proximity to surficial inflow shows potential as a predictive tool for locating sites. Total alkalinity of intergravel water indicated that redds are buffered but that eggs may sit in a mix of lake water and groundwater. Spawning activity persisted after logging had occurred adjacent to 10 sites but levels were unknown relative to the pre-logging. -Author