Importance of Movement–
Exploit Vacant Habitat

In dynamic environments like rivers and streams, the location and quality of habitats are ever-changing. For a time, fisheries biologists thought that fish like trout generally stayed put, except for specific periods of movement for breeding or to avoid unfavorable conditions. However, it now appears that a significant proportion of these fish make regular movements (ranging behavior) that allow individuals to locate and exploit favorable habitat within these ever-shifting mosaics (Gowan, et al. 1994. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51:2626-2637).