The role of river flow in the migration of adult Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, through estuaries and rivers

Abstract An assumption of Atlantic salmon, S almo salar L ., management is that river flow influences their upstream migration; but the quantitative relationships between flow and movements are variable and inconsistent. A consensus has emerged that standard rules on salmon flow needs for water mana...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fisheries Management and Ecology
Main Authors: MILNER, N. J., SOLOMON, D. J., SMITH, G. W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fme.12011
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Ffme.12011
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/fme.12011
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Summary:Abstract An assumption of Atlantic salmon, S almo salar L ., management is that river flow influences their upstream migration; but the quantitative relationships between flow and movements are variable and inconsistent. A consensus has emerged that standard rules on salmon flow needs for water management across all rivers are unattainable. However, this does not preclude an underlying conceptual framework that should guide a consistent scientific basis to flow management for protecting salmon. This article examines the potential for a conceptual framework from a B ritish I sles perspective, assuming that upstream migration is an emergent property from selection to optimise lifetime fitness. The template for this adaptation is the diversity of river types and hydro‐morphology in British rivers coupled with life‐history and migration adaptations that may be influenced by flow‐related factors. Models of adult salmon migration through estuaries and rivers are outlined that may provide a basis for developing generic guidance.