Ecological Significance of Differences in Frequency of White Fin Margins Among Four Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) Populations

The frequency of distinct white fin margins was investigated in four brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations, living in the small stream Austadbekken (anadromous and stream resident) and in Lake Selura (lake and stream spawners). The frequency varied within and among populations. White margins were most common among parr and mature residents from Austadbekken. Sea trout had very low frequencies compared with parr and mature residents from the same population. Among stream spawners from Lake Selura (which stay the first 0–2 yr in the stream), white margins were less frequent than in Austadbekken; lake spawners (which spend their entire life in the lake) had even fewer. While a previous author stated that white fin margins were under genetic control, our observations indicate that the environment can affect the coloration. We hypothesize that white fin margins play a role in territorial behavior and are developed strongly where territorial behavior is pronounced, i.e. in stream- and river-dwelling trout. There may be a selective pressure, favoring easily seen signals showing that a territory is occupied so that energy-demanding fights can be avoided. In open sea and estuaries where predators are frequent, conspicuous fin margins may be a disadvantage due to greater predation risks.