Examining the link between dietary specialization and foraging modes of stream-dwelling brown trout Salmo trutta.

The aim of this study was to explore differences in dietary specialization across two foraging modes (benthic v. surface-drift foraging) of stream-dwelling brown trout Salmo trutta. The degree of inter-individual niche variation within each foraging mode was high, but the dietary specialization was maintained between foraging modes. This study supports the view that if aquatic invertebrates are more abundant and accessible than surface prey, the individuals will not specialize on surface prey (surface-drift foraging).