Effect of density on competition between wild and hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon for shelter in winter

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Orpwood, J. E., Griffiths, S. W., Armstrong, J. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2004
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2004.00530.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.0022-1112.2004.00530.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2004.00530.x

The effect of varying the density of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar on the ability of single wild fish to occupy a shelter is assessed. Although there was strong density‐dependence on sheltering overall, the ability of wild Atlantic salmon parr to occupy a shelter was not affected by the presence of hatchery‐reared fish even when outnumbered by four to one. These findings illustrate a competitive asymmetry for shelter in favour of the wild fish at the densities tested.