Craig Goch Report No. 9 Mass mortalities of adult salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the R. Wye, 1976

The physical, biological and chemical conditions leading to a mass mortality of adult salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the lower reaches of the R. Wye are described. As a result of sunny and low flow conditions during late June, 1976, water temperatures increased to a maximum of 27.6oC and accelerated the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brooker, M. P., Morris, D. L., Hemsworth, R. J., Slater, Frederick Maurice
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: University of Wales Institute of Technology 1976
Subjects:
Online Access:https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/52454/
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/52454/1/Craig%20Goch%20Report%209.pdf
Description
Summary:The physical, biological and chemical conditions leading to a mass mortality of adult salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the lower reaches of the R. Wye are described. As a result of sunny and low flow conditions during late June, 1976, water temperatures increased to a maximum of 27.6oC and accelerated the decay of substantial plant stands, the growth of which had been enhanced by the prevailing conditions: this resulted in severe de-oxygenation of the water. It is concluded that the low oxygen concentration in the water at this time was the principal factor in causing mass mortalities of fish and was probably accentuated by high water temperatures.