The influence of temperature and life stage in shaping migratory patterns during the early marine phase of two Newfoundland (Canada) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations

• Main Authors: Bøe, Kristin, Power, Michael, Robertson, Martha J, Morris, Corey J, Dempson, J. Brian, Pennell, Curtis J., Fleming, Ian A
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: NRC Research Press (a division of Canadian Science Publishing) 2019
• Subjects: Canada; Atlantic salmon; Newfoundland; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/96667; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfas-2018-0320

Owing to the iteroparous nature of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a seaward migrating cohort may consist of juveniles and adults that differ in size, maturity, experience, and in the motivation and consequences of migratory movements. Few studies have investigated the role of ontogeny in shaping intrapopulation variability in movement patterns among Atlantic salmon monitored under the same environmental conditions. This study contrasted the movements of smolts and kelts in two Canadian (Newfoundland) populations from marine entry through coastal embayments and quantified the influence of local water temperatures on movement patterns. Significant differences in migration routes, migration speed, and diel movements between smolts and kelts were present. Kelts generally displayed faster, more directed, and less nocturnal movements compared with smolts. Temperature influenced seaward movement positively, as well as the degree of diurnal movement. Prolonged nearshore residency by smolts and kelts in the two embayments was accompanied by a considerable improvement in ocean thermal conditions, hypothesized to promote open ocean entry during conditions favorable to migration performance. The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author.