Migration timing and marine space use of an anadromous Arctic fish (Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus) revealed by local spatial statistics and network analysis ...

• Main Authors: Smith, Rosie, Hitkolok, Eric, Loewen, Tracey, Dumond, Amanda, Swanson, Heidi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2024
• Subjects: Ecology; FOS Biological sciences; Arctic; Nunavut; Canada; Varden; Coronation Gulf; inuit; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7058409; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Migration_timing_and_marine_space_use_of_an_anadromous_Arctic_fish_Arctic_Char_Salvelinus_alpinus_revealed_by_local_spatial_statistics_and_network_analysis/7058409

Abstract Background The ice-free season (typically late-June to early-October) is crucial for anadromous species of fish in the Arctic, including Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus), which must acquire adequate resources for growth, reproduction, and survival during a brief period of feeding in the marine environment. Arctic Char is an important food fish for Inuit communities across the Arctic. Understanding drivers and patterns of migration in the marine environment is thus essential for conservation and management of the species. Methods We used passive acoustic telemetry to characterize migration patterns of 51 individual anadromous Arctic Char during the ice-free season in the marine environment of Coronation Gulf (Nunavut, Canada; 2019–2022). Based on recent genetic evidence, some tagged individuals were likely Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma), a closely related species to Arctic Char. Using local Getis G* and network analysis, we described movement patterns and identified high-use locations in the ...