The Relative Growth of Dominant and Subordinate Juvenile Steelhead Trout (Salmo Gairdneri) Fed Equal Rations

Abstract

The hypothesis that behavioural dominants experience growth advantages relative to subordinates was tested in size-matched pairs of juvenile steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri). Even though access to food was equalized, dominants grew 12.3% faster on average than paired subordinates. As subordinates were less active than dominants this growth difference is attributed to the physiological costs of stress.