| Salmonids have long been considered drift foraging fishes in riverine and stream habitats. However, documenting departures and consistencies from this behavior in natural environments can be difficult given the variety of factors and variability in resources encountered by wild populations. The spatial and temporal extent to which Bull Trout are able to exploit prey in natural stream habitats is not fully understood. In this study, I investigated the foraging behavior of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) to better understand when, where, and what this species consumes in order to acquire sufficient energy for growth, reproduction, and survival. In this study, I identified patterns in diel food availability, measured foraging behavior, and quantified size-related changes in prey consumption. I measured the frequency of foraging attempts directed at different locations in the stream using instream videography. Bull Trout in this study predominantly foraged during daylight hours and preyed primarily on drifting invertebrates. |