Relation longueur/écaille allométrique chez le saumon atlantique ( Salmo salar ) durant la phase marine

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Tremblay, Gilles, Giguère, Louis A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1992
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Jean River; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-005; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f92-005

The body/scale relationship of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was determined for the stock of the St. Jean River, near Gaspé, Québec. A covariance analysis shows that the isometric relationship generally admitted for the marine phase holds when we use adult scales only, but must be rejected when smolt scales are included in the analysis. These results suggest a curvature of the body/scale relationship during the first year at sea. A semi-logarithmic fit (Y = e 2.15+0.57X P < 0.01, R 2 = 0.988) allows correct backcalculation of length at smolting for adult salmon of the St. Jean River. The difference between observed and backcalculated distribution of smolt length suggests a length-related selective mortality for smolts at the beginning of their marine life.