Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., brown trout Salmo trutta L. and Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.): a review of aspects of their life histories

• Published in: Ecology of Freshwater Fish
• Main Authors: Klemetsen, A., Amundsen, P.‐A., Dempson, J. B., Jonsson, B., Jonsson, N., O'Connell, M. F., Mortensen, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: Ecology; Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic charr; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2003.00010.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1034%2Fj.1600-0633.2003.00010.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2003.00010.x

Abstract – Among the species in the family Salmonidae, those represented by the genera Salmo , Salvelinus , and Oncorhynchus (subfamily Salmoninae) are the most studied. Here, various aspects of phenotypic and life‐history variation of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., brown trout Salmo trutta L., and Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.) are reviewed. While many strategies and tactics are commonly used by these species, there are also differences in their ecology and population dynamics that result in a variety of interesting and diverse topics that are challenging for future research. Atlantic salmon display considerable phenotypic plasticity and variability in life‐history characters ranging from fully freshwater resident forms, where females can mature at approximately 10 cm in length, to anadromous populations characterised by 3–5 sea‐winter (5SW) salmon. Even within simple 1SW populations, 20 or more spawning life‐history types can be identified. Juveniles in freshwater can use both fluvial and lacustrine habitats for rearing, and while most smolts migrate to sea during the spring, fall migrations occur in some populations. At sea, some salmon undertake extensive oceanic migrations while other populations stay within the geographical confines of areas such as the Baltic Sea. At the other extreme are those that reside in estuaries and return to freshwater to spawn after spending only a few months at sea. The review of information on the diversity of life‐history forms is related to conservation aspects associated with Atlantic salmon populations and current trends in abundance and survival. Brown trout is indigenous to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, but was introduced into at least 24 countries outside Europe and now has a world‐wide distribution. It exploits both fresh and salt waters for feeding and spawning (brackish), and populations are often partially migratory. One part of the population leaves and feeds elsewhere, while another part stays as residents. In large, complex systems, the species is ...