Changes in the density of introduced bullhead, Cottus gobio L., and its impact on juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., densities in a sub‐Arctic salmon river in northern Finland

• Published in: Fisheries Management and Ecology
• Main Authors: PIHLAJA, O., JULKUNEN, M., NIEMELÄ, E., ERKINARO, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1998
• Subjects: Arctic; Teno; Atlantic salmon; Northern Finland; Salmo salar; Utsjoki
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1998.00083.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1046%2Fj.1365-2400.1998.00083.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1998.00083.x

A newly introduced species, the bullhead, Cottus gobio L., was observed for the first time in the River Utsjoki, a tributary of the River Teno, in 1979. The River Teno is one of the most important Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., rivers in Northern Europe and its tributary the River Utsjoki is an important salmon spawning and nursery area. The densities of bullhead were lowest in the areas to which the species has spread most recently and highest in the areas downstream of its introduction point. Densities were markedly lower upstream. Statistical analysis showed that the presence of the bullhead had not affected juvenile salmon densities in the River Utsjoki.