Effects of body size on sympatric shelter use in over-wintering juvenile salmonids

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Orpwood, James Edward, Griffiths, Sian Wyn, Armstrong, J. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: Q Science (General); Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/62621/; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.00206.x

The study tests two hypotheses: (1) the degree of shelter dominance in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brown trout Salmo trutta increases progressively with increasing size differential between heterospecific fish in a pair and (2) shelter dominance, standardized to size differential, correlates with aggression. The results support the first but not the second hypothesis, suggesting that the fitness consequences of high growth performance during the summer are likely to become evident during winter. At this time of year, when mortality is high among both Atlantic salmon and brown trout, shelter dominance may increase the chances of survival.