Our new paper is online in the Canadian Journal of Zoology!
Since so many hatchery rainbow trout get eaten immediately after stocking, we tried to give them some experience right before they entered the real world. While they were in the truck on the way to the lake, we exposed them to chemical cues that signal them to increase antipredator behavior. Unfortunately, the quick and easy approach isn’t going to cut it. Exposed fish had the same mortality rates as unexposed fish over the 6 months post stocking. Looks like it’s back to the drawing board to try out more complicated predator training protocols. Big congrats to Chris Kopack and coauthors on the paper! Trout photo by Ari Koyama
Broder Lab 