Relationship between marine growth and sea survival of two anadromous salmonid fish species

This study found empirical evidence supporting the “growth–survival” paradigm in the marine phase of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). The paradigm postulates that larger or faster-growing individuals are more likely to survive than smaller or slower-growing conspecifi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2018-04, Vol.75 (4), p.621-628
Main Authors: Jensen, Arne Johan, Finstad, Bengt, Fiske, Peder, Forseth, Torbjørn, Rikardsen, Audun Håvard, Ugedal, Ola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anadromous species
Annual variations
Biological production
Biological sampling
Conspecifics
Correlation
Ecosystems
Energy intake
Environmental conditions
Feeding habits
Fish
Fjords
Freshwater
Freshwater environments
Freshwater fish
Growth
Growth rate
Marine
Migration
Migrations
Migratory species
Overwintering
Physiological aspects
Predation
Prey
Rivers
Salmo trutta
Salmonidae
Salvelinus alpinus
Spawning migrations
Survival
Trout
Water
Water temperature
Winter
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Summary:This study found empirical evidence supporting the “growth–survival” paradigm in the marine phase of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). The paradigm postulates that larger or faster-growing individuals are more likely to survive than smaller or slower-growing conspecifics. The study employed long-term (25 year) capture data from a trap in the River Halselva in Norway during annual migration between marine and freshwater environments. Similar results were found for both species. Growth during the sea sojourn and return rates were positively correlated, linking increased survival with growth. Specific growth rate, survival, and duration of the sea sojourn of first-time migrants were correlated, suggesting that common environmental conditions at sea influence annual fish productivity. Freshwater and sea temperatures affected migration timing, whereas annual variation in marine growth and survival did not correlate with temperatures. This suggests that other factors such as variation in energy intake were the main source of annual growth variations. Moreover, the marine growth rate of the two species may signal annual overall fjord ecosystem production, especially related to their main prey.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/cjfas-2016-0408