Predicting migratory paths of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Atlantic salmon is a highly migratory species that has experienced severe population declines. High mortality during the post-smolt period, when fish are migrating from rivers to their open-ocean wintering grounds, may be limiting population recovery, but little is known about this life stage. We us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology 2016-04, Vol.163 (4), p.1, Article 74
Main Authors: Moriarty, P. E., Byron, C. J., Pershing, A. J., Stockwell, J. D., Xue, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal populations
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Coastal currents
Endangered populations
Fish migration
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Life Sciences
Marine & Freshwater Sciences
Marine biology
Microbiology
Migratory species
Ocean currents
Ocean temperature
Oceanography
Original Paper
Population decline
Rivers
Salmon
Zoology
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Summary:Atlantic salmon is a highly migratory species that has experienced severe population declines. High mortality during the post-smolt period, when fish are migrating from rivers to their open-ocean wintering grounds, may be limiting population recovery, but little is known about this life stage. We used an individual-based model to evaluate the potential influences of ocean conditions (currents, temperature) on post-smolt salmon migration in the Gulf of Maine. A range of orientation behaviors were tested and results indicated that Atlantic salmon migration varied by year, natal river, and orientation behavior. The rate at which post-smolt salmon were able to make it across the Gulf of Maine was negatively correlated with coastal current strength. The response of migration rates to these factors varied among the potential orientation behaviors. For temperature-dependent orientation behaviors, migration was positively correlated with temperature. This modeling approach, based on field observations, is a useful technique for investigating variability in migration of endangered populations when in situ experiments are not possible.
ISSN:0025-3162
1432-1793
DOI:10.1007/s00227-016-2847-5