Journal article
Marine migration and habitat use of anadromous brown trout Salmo trutta
Norwegian University of Science and Technology1
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research2
Dalhousie University3
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark4
Section for Freshwater Fisheries Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark5
University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway6
The biology and ecology of anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta) at sea is poorly understood. This study provided information on spatial and temporal distribution of sea trout in the ocean. The behaviour of 115 individuals (veteran migrants, 270–700 mm) was tracked by using acoustic telemetry in a fjord system during April–September in 2012–2013.
Overall, fish spent 68% of their marine residence time close to river mouths (<4 km). Most fish registrations (75%) were in nearshore habitats, but pelagic areas were also used. The maximum migration distance of tagged fish was categorized as short (<4 km from river mouth, 40% of fish), medium (4 – 13 km, 18% of fish), or long (>13 km, 42% of fish).
Long-distance migrants had poorer body condition in spring prior to migration, used pelagic areas more often, and returned earlier to fresh water than short- and medium-distance migrants. Marine residence time was 7–183 days and was positively correlated to body length and smolt age, but negatively correlated to the date of sea entry
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | NRC Research Press |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Pages: | 1366-1378 |
| ISSN: | 12057533 and 0706652x |
| Types: | Journal article |
| DOI: | 10.1139/cjfas-2014-0560 |
| ORCIDs: | Aarestrup, Kim |
