How many eggs does Brook Trout typically lay during spawning?

Brook trout typically lay a significant number of eggs during their spawning season, which can range from 1,000 to 9,000 eggs, depending on various factors such as the size and health of the fish. It's important to note that the spawning process involves the female laying eggs in a gravel nest known as a redd, where they can be fertilized by a male.

The range provided in the choices indicates various general estimates, but the actual number of eggs can often align closest with the upper ranges of around 5,000 to 10,000 for brook trout. Selecting an answer higher than this, such as over 20,000 eggs, does not accurately reflect the common reproductive capacity of brook trout.

To have a thorough understanding, it's essential to recognize that while some species of fish may lay thousands of eggs as a reproductive strategy to ensure that at least some survive, brook trout have a more moderated fecundity that reflects their specific life history and ecological roles.