Stream Habitats and Behavioral Interactions of Underyearling and Yearling Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar )

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Symons, P. E. K., Heland, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1978
• Subjects: General Medicine; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f78-029; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f78-029

From an examination of over 20 yr of data from the Northwest Miramichi River and some additional data from small tributaries to the Nashwaak River, highest densities of 100 underyearling and 80 yearling or older Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) per 100 m 2 were found at sites where water velocities averaged 50–65 cm/s. At sites with lower or higher water velocities maximum observed densities decreased. Experiments in laboratory streams demonstrated that underyearling Atlantic salmon < 7 cm (total length) occurred in shallow (10–15 cm) pebbly (1.6–6.4 cm diam) riffles of natural streams by choice. As they grew they began to prefer deeper (> 30 cm) riffles with boulders (> 25.6 cm diam). Yearlings > 10 cm reduced the numbers of underyearlings < 6 cm in these deeper habitats by chasing them, and occasionally by catching and eating them. Social interactions, such as displays used in territorial defence, did not occur between yearlings and underyearlings until the latter exceeded 6.5 cm, the size at which they began to move to deeper riffles. Planting densities for hatchery-reared salmon recommended in the literature were refined, taking the space and habitat requirements of different-sized juvenile salmon into account. Key words: spatial relations, rearing capacity, stocking density, stream ecology