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

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.