Deciphering lifelong thermal niche using otolith δ18O thermometry within supplemented lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations

1. The selection of thermal habitat by fish is strongly regulated by physiology and behaviour. However, delineation of a species lifelong thermal niche remains technically challenging. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) survival and productivity are recognised as being tightly linked to a somewhat restricted thermal habitat. The factors guiding temperature selection during each life stage remain poorly understood.

2. In this study, we tested the significant factors controlling the realised thermal niche of lake trout from two southern Quebec small boreal lakes that experienced supplementation stocking during the last 20 years. We used oxygen stable isotope (δ18O) thermometry of otolith calcium carbonates (aragonite) using secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to estimate experienced lifelong temperatures. We investigated the thermal habitat of lake trout with known genotypes (local, hybrid and stocked).

3. Ontogeny and genetic origin influenced temperature selection in both studie...