Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Spinal Deformities and Survival in Brook Trout

 

At Dryden Middle School today, students were quick to point out a spinal deformity in one of the brook trouts living in their tank. Deformities like this are not unusual to find in fish that come from hatcheries, however it is less likely to find a fish like this in a wild stream. Survival of the fittest will typically win over in the wild, as survival rate of fish with deformities is low. In a hatchery, or more controlled environment, fish have a better chance of surviving to maturity with deformities like this. What will be interesting to observe as this particular brook trout develops, is the effect this spinal deformity has on swimming and agility in the water. Something exciting to keep an eye on in this classroom! Any other deformities noticed in your classroom tank?

Friday, November 25, 2022

Brook Trout as an Indicator of a Stream's Health

Have you ever wondered why we are raising trout, specifically brook trout in the classroom? Brook trout are native to New York State and are the official state fish. They can be found in brooks, lakes and streams and are dependent on water that is cool, clean and pure. While spawning, brook trout need cool gravel areas to create a nest and release their eggs. Their dependence on such high quality of water actually teaches us a lot about the waterways where they live.

Brook trout are very sensitive to warm water, low oxygen, pollution as well as changes in the ph/acidity level. Because of their sensitivity, their presence-or lack thereof- acts as an indicator of the health of the stream/brook/lake they exist in. Just as canaries fled the coal mines when toxic gas present throughout the 1900's, native brook trout are quick to leave streams that present any danger or failure to their survival. 


Brook trout teach us a lot about the health of a stream. As we make observations about the trout's life cycle and learn to care for them, we also learn about environmental state of the waterways where they live. For example, we learn about the diversity of insects a stream has available for trout to eat, the environmental conditions adult trout need for spawning, and the presence of trees surrounding the stream and offering shade to keep water cold for trout to exist.

As you continue to care for the trout in your classroom, imagine the day when you release them into the stream and they begin to swim around, looking for food. Think about the rocks, the moving water, the sunlight, the trees, the surrounding land. What if the rocks had been moved around? What if there was trash in the water? Or an oil leak that made its way into the stream? What if the surrounding land was barren and there were no trees to offer the stream shade? How would this effect your trout's ability to survive? 

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Observations of Brook Trout Egg Development at Northeast Elementary

 


Students at Northeast Elementary School had many observations yesterday as they looked closely at their newly-arrived Brook Trout eggs. Just last week, eggs were delivered to Northeast, as well as many other schools raising Brook Trout. In a short amount of time, orange-colored eggs developed into a more translucent color with more vivid signs of a trout forming inside. Students pointed out the two black specs that were noticeably two eye-balls. They also recognized a black line curled around the inside of the egg. Many asked if this was a tail, but we determined that since it's connected close to the eyes that it was the trout's spine forming. Other students were able to recognize traces of red lines which looked like red veins, this was confirmed when one student was able to notice a small heart beat inside the egg, as they observed them in the petri dish on their table. The eggs could hatch any day, it's amazing to see the subtle changes occurring as the eggs develop into their next stage of life cycle, the Alevin stage. 



Brook Trout Eggs Arrive, Brown Trout Develop into Alevins

Brown trout eggs were delivered to classrooms across the Cayuga and Seneca Lake watershed mid-October, marking the kickoff of DCL’s 2023 Trout in the Classroom Program. Throughout the school year, elementary school students will raise trout in tanks inside their classrooms, observing different phases of the trout’s life cycle through interactive experiments. By Spring, when trout develop into the Fingerling stage, students will release their trout into streams and creeks around Seneca and Cayuga Lake, where they will continue to grow and make their way into the lake where trout can live in the adult phase for 9-10 years.

Brown trout eggs were distributed to classrooms ranging from Watkins Glen to Union Springs and as far south as Newfield, NY. As the eyes were clearly visible in the trout eggs upon receiving them from the DEC Hatchery in Bath, NY, it was expected for the eggs to hatch any day. Classrooms reported within days of the eggs arrival, Alevins began appearing as trout started growing outside their yolk sack, still connected to their bellies. The Alevin stage lasts for 3-4 weeks, as trout take on more of a tadpole-like appearance with large heads connected to a tail. At this stage, they are still feeding from their yolk sack as they grow and develop their gills, fin and their digestive system. When the yolk sack is fully absorbed, trout move into the Fry stage where they start swimming to the surface to look for food. 


At the hatchery where the trout eggs were collected, the process of harvesting eggs simulates what is natural occurring outdoors. Female fish full of eggs are put under anesthesia before the eggs are stroked from their belly. Sperm is then taken from the male trout and combined with the eggs and finally water is added to activate the fertilization process. 

This mimics what is happening in nature, as male and female trout will make their way to a streams for the spawning process, where they build a nest, or a “redd” in shallow water with medium-sized rocks sufficient for moving around to protect the 500-1,000 eggs laid by the female. Males will then step in to fertilize the eggs during the process. 

Last week, DCL gathered brook trout eggs from the SUNY Morrisville Hatchery and delivered those eggs to the remainder of 25 schools hosting aquariums for the Trout in the Classroom Program. We will be working with about 1500 students and 60-plus classrooms this year. To find out more about schools involved with the program, read our latest Trout in the Classroom Blog post.



Eventually, trout will grow to the Fingerling stage, which, as you would guess, is about the size of a finger. This will be the size they reach by Spring time when its time to release the trout into streams, so they can continue to grow in the wild.

Learn more about Discover Cayuga Lake’s Educational Programs and our mission of educating kids and community members the importance of being a mindful citizen within a watershed ecosystem.

Monday, November 7, 2022

Trout in the Classroom is IN SESSION!

The Finger Lakes Trout in the Classroom program is up and running, with more partner schools than even before!

We've been pretty busy, and are just completing the last of 25 classroom aquarium setups right now.  (We will be working with about 1500 students and 60+ classes this year... whew!)

Brown trout eggs were collected from DEC's hatchery in Bath, NY, on October 14 & 17th by students from Enfield Elementary and South Seneca Elementary.  Over 1500 eggs were then distributed to schools throughout a region spanning from Watkins Glen to Union Springs, and south to Newfield, NY.  

Brook trout eggs will be arriving from SUNY Morrisville's hatchery on Wednesday this week for 9 schools.  AND, our brown trout have already hatched and are completing the "alevin" (or "sac fry") stage of their life cycles.  They are developing right before our eyes, and we will share more about that soon!

We're having a great time visiting classes and meeting everyone, and plan to bring classroom observations, activities and fun to this blog throughout the year!

~Bill, Astrid & Katie

Participating Schools, Fall 2022 to Spring 2023

Dryden Middle & High Schools
Groton Elementary School
Ithaca School District
Belle Sherman Elementary
Beverly J. Martin Elementary 
Caroline Elementary
Cayuga Heights Elementary
Enfield Elementary
Fall Creek Elementary
Northeast Elementary
South Hill Elementary 
Lehman Alternative Community School
Lansing Elementary
       Newfield Middle School
South Seneca Elementary
Trumansburg Middle School
TST BOCES Smith School
Union Springs Middle School                                      Elizabeth A Clune Montessori School  

Special Thanks to All Who Make This Program a Success! 

Trout Unlimited, Leon Chandler Chapter                    Federal Fish & Wildlife Service                                    NYS Dept. of Conservation                                        SUNY Morrisville Fish Hatchery                                  Fantastic Classroom Volunteers                                  Amazing & Creative Teachers!