TIC Weekly - Week 2
TIC Weekly will feature PFBC’s Trout In the Office (TIO) updates as they raise Rainbow Trout from eyed eggs to fingerlings.
This week’s TIC weekly covers the following:
Water is essential to all life and is always moving below and above earth's surface. The movement of water, between Earth's land, atmosphere, and waterways, is called the water cycle.
Watersheds play a key roll in the water cycle. They represent the land area in which water moves across the earth's surface or underground, on its way to a given waterway.
Waterways come in all shapes and sizes. Biologists categorize waterways by Stream Order.
Observations
The TIO trout are currently in the sac fry stage. Also known as Alevin, you can clearly see the yolk sac. At this time they do not need to search for food, as their yolk sac provides the nutrition they need. While they can wiggle around by pulsing their tails, they don't move around much. If you look closely, you can clearly see the heart beating directly below the fish's gills!
As our Rainbow Trout continue to develop, the yolk sac will shrink daily. After about two weeks the yolk sac will be completely absorbed. When this occurs, we will enter into the "button up" or "swim up" stage in the Trout life cycle. This is when they begin learning to feed on their own!
PFBC’s Trout In the Office Eggs arrived on September 25, 2020!
Water Quality Parameters
Temp - 55F pH - 8.2 Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrites - 0ppm Nitrates - 20 ppm DO - 10.9 ppm
We currently have a well-established nitrifying bacterial community in our system. With the recent hatching of our Trout eggs, we would expect an ammonia spike. As the Trout hatch, the eggshell is left behind and therefore becomes decomposable biological material that can source ammonia to our system. Our bacteria converted this ammonia quickly to nitrite and ultimately to nitrate, helping to avoid mortality through this event
Life Stage Facts
Water quality plays a major role in healthy trout development and populations!
Even though these Trout are able to wiggle around, they are still immobile and remain vulnerable to environmental stressors like sedimentation. Trout are also extremely vulnerable to predation at this stage. Clean stream bottoms provide sufficient flow and well oxygenated water, as well as, open spaces for sac fry to avoid predators.
PFBC Resources For This Week's Theme
Videos
What is a watershed (3:29 mins)
Build a watershed (Activity)
What is a Stream Order (1:56 mins)
Visit PFBC's Activities and Education Portal to learn more about watersheds. – Aquatic Habitat, Watersheds and Pollution.
Printable Publications
The following publications are PA League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletters pertaining to this week's theme. They include facts, activities, and more.