DDT in trout and its possible effect on reproductive potential

Summary Eggs of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) from five different lakes in North Island, New Zealand, were reared to discover whether they showed significant differences in survival which could be linked with DDT levels in the tissue. The muscle and gonads of pre‐breeding season fish and the parent females were assayed for DDT, as were the whole fry at the end of rearing. The highest DDT levels were found in fish from Lake Rerewhakaaitu, and eggs from these fish showed the least viability. Mortality was relatively low among eggs from fish out of the other lakes. Thus, DDT may possibly contribute to the high mortality found in eggs from Lake Rerewhakaaitu fish.