Size variability of juvenile Atlantic salmon: links to environmental conditions

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Swansburg, E., Chaput, G., Moore, D., Caissie, D., El‐Jabi, N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2002
• Subjects: Canada; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb00903.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2002.tb00903.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb00903.x

Climate change models predict a 2 to 6° C increase in air temperature within the next 100 years in the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada. Higher air temperatures are expected to contribute to increased water temperatures, alterations in stream flow conditions, and ultimately reductions in fish growth. Mean annual size‐at‐age of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar decreased in the Northwest Miramichi and Southwest Miramichi Rivers between 1971–1999. Lengths‐at‐age of juveniles were significantly correlated between the two rivers. For Atlantic salmon parr, stronger associations between inter‐cohort fork length ( L F ) than intra‐cohort L F were observed, suggesting that environmental conditions in the current year of growth have the more significant effects on size of age 2 year parr than conditions encountered the previous year by age 1 year parr of the same cohort. Fork lengths of parr were significantly and negatively associated with spring air and water temperatures. In the Miramichi River, increases in air and water temperature as predicted from climate change models may adversely affect growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon parr, reducing the overall productivity of the Atlantic salmon populations in this region.