Ecology of the European River Lamprey ( Lampetra fluviatilis) in Northern Sweden

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Author: Sjöberg, K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1980
• Subjects: Burbot; Lota lota; Northern Sweden; lota
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f80-238; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f80-238

River lamprey is widely distributed along most of the Swedish coast and is the basis for a number of fisheries. The length of larval life in the river is uncertain. Metamorphosed lampreys (mean length: 105 mm) move downstream at night, mainly during March to May. The upstream spawning run of adults from the sea starts in August and continues for many months. During this migration large numbers of lampreys are caught in traps by fishermen. Spawning takes place in late May or early June when the water temperature reaches about 10°C. Adult lampreys have several predators in the river, especially certain birds (goosander, Mergus merganser) and fish (burbot, Lota lota).Key words: lamprey, Sweden, fishery, larvae, metamorphosis, age, length, spawning, predators, migration