Effects of Stream Habitat Improvements on Invertebrates, Trout Populations, and Mink Activity

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Abstract
Two years of data were studied to determine the effect of increasing the brook trout (S. fontinalis) biomass in a section of stream on mink (M. vison) activity in the area. The study area consisted of 2 homogeneous sections of stream, one of which served as a control. The other section was improved by physically altering stream habitat. Habitat improvement resulted in trout population and biomass increases of 208 and 179%, respectively, after 2 yr. Crayfish (Cambarus bartoni) biomass was 220% greater in the improved section. Mink activity, as determined by a modified sand-transect technique, averaged 52.5% higher in the area surrounding the improved section. Mink did not respond to the trout biomass increases, nor was mink activity correlated with the activity patterns of any terrestrial prey species. Analysis of mink scats revealed that trout was not an important prey species, whereas crayfish occurred in 20% of all scats found, and in 50% of those from the study area. Habitat improvement and the resulting increases in crayfish production resulted in greater use of that area by mink, but the trout biomass, which increased due to greater available space, mean section depth and available cover, did not appear to be exploited by the local mink population.

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