Focus on Fish Gallery Guide Focus on Fish Final | Page 34

Habitat and Diet:
Brown Trout
Native to Europe and Western Asia, the brown trout was
introduced to Michigan waters in 1883. Brown trout live in
deep, slow-moving streams, as well as lakes. Young brown
trout are found in shallow water, and adults are usually in the
deeper water. They prefer to have rocky, gravel-covered
bottoms of the rivers and lakes that they live in.
Adult brown trout eat insects, larvae, crustaceans, mollusks,
amphibians, and even small rodents.
Relationship to humans:
By studying brown trout, it is possible to see how polluted a
stream or river is, since brown trout do not reproduce in
polluted waters. If populations decrease, then researchers
know there may be a problem with the water. Brown trout are
also a popular fish to eat and for fishing.
Fun/Unusual fact:
Trout can rapidly change color, getting darker when being
aggressive, lighter when being submissive or in response to
changing background color.