The Effect Of Introduced Trout On Native, Non-Game Fish In The Watauga River, NC

Non-native trout are stocked around the world, including in the United States. The effect of these introductions on native fish populations is, however, understudied. Introduced trout have the potential to negatively affect native fish populations through consumption, competition or by causing behavioral avoidance resulting in changes in habitat use. I conducted a study in the Watauga River, NC to assess the impacts of delayed harvest trout stocking on the non-game fish community.