About Me
I am a PhD student in Jakob Brodersen's River Fish Ecology group. My research is focusing on ecological specialisation and migration patterns in Atlantic trout (Salmo trutta).
I am investigating the degree of specialisation (in terms of preferred prey, habitat, morphological adaptations, growth) among lake-migrating trout native to different lake tributaries. Due to the homing behaviour of lake-migrating trout (i.e. spawning migration back to the natal stream), distinct populations may form in the tributaries with specific adaptations to their natal environment. Furthermore, I am interested in ecological differences of trout inhabiting different lakes. This can help to understand the influence of the environmental variables in the migratory habitat on the ecology and adaptations of trout.
Another part of my work is focusing on partial migration in trout populations and on the timing of the migration. The migration to the lake habitat is a risky strategy for trout being born in streams. The benefit of such a migration lies in better feeding opportunities and enhanced growth in the migratory habitat. On the downside, the risk of being eaten by predators is higher in the migratory habitat. Since feeding opportunities are varying seasonally and predation pressure decreases with increasing size of the trout, the timing of the out- and back-migration is crucial to maximise growth and reproductive success while minimising the predation risk. In a long-term study, we are investigating how differences in timing of migration and individual condition at outmigration influence the probability of successful spawning migrations back to the natal habitat.
