This animation is a plan view (down from above) of the full 184-m stream reach model. Habitat cells are shaded by water velocity- brighter cells have higher velocity. Flow is from right to left. The blue line segments are individual trout, and segment length represents trout size. Fish in each cell are displayed from top to bottom in order of decreasing length. A population of 870 age 0 through 2 trout is simulated.
A typical flood flow is simulated, with flows rising rapidly over three days then receding gradually. The animation automatically replays when finished.
In this MS simulation, trout respond
to increasing flow by moving to cells (typically along the stream margin) with
lower velocities. This response is to avoid the risk of mortality due to fatigue
in cells with velocities greater than the maximum sustainable swimming speed
of trout. The response is clearest in the riffle-pool sequence at the right
(upstream) end of the reach. The smallest trout prefer margin habitat at all
flows.