Temperature, salinity and prey availability shape the marine migration of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, in a macrotidal estuary

Aaron D. Spares; Michael J.W. Stokesbury; Ron K. O'Dor; Terry A. Dick

doi:10.1007/s00227-012-1949-y

Temperature, salinity and prey availability shape the marine migration of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, in a macrotidal estuary

Aaron D. Spares, Michael J.W. Stokesbury, Ron K. O'Dor, Terry A. Dick

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The influence of salinity, temperature and prey availability on the marine migration of anadromous fishes was determined by describing the movements, habitat use and feeding behaviours of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). The objectives were to determine whether char are restricted to the upper water column of the inter-/subtidal zones due to warmer temperatures. Twenty-seven char were tracked with acoustic temperature/pressure (depth) transmitters from June to September, 2008/2009, in inner Frobisher Bay, Canada. Most detections were in surface waters (0-3 m). Inter-/subtidal movements and consecutive repetitive dives (maximum 52.8 m) resulted in extreme body temperature shifts (-0.2-18.1 °C). Approximately half of intertidal and subtidal detections were between 9-13 °C and 1-3 °C, respectively. Stomach contents and deep diving suggested feeding in both inter-/subtidal zones. We suggest that char tolerate cold water at depth to capture prey in the subtidal zone, then seek warmer water to enhance feeding/digestion physiology.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1633-1646
Number of pages	14
Journal	Marine Biology
Volume	159
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1949-y
Publication status	Published - Aug 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
field assistants: Dyck M, K and L; Beaud M, Atkinson P, Flaherty A, Hardie D, Power J, Halfyard E, Hollis I, Cunningham L, Corneau E, Luszczek C and Biastoch R. ADS thanks Gray C in Ottawa, Vemco/ Amirix (King D and staff), Stokesbury Lab (Acadia U) and the Ocean Tracking Network (Dal U). Special thanks to Dadswell M for help identifying crustaceans and reviewing manuscript drafts. This research was largely funded with a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Northern Research Chair grant (TAD, U Man). Additional funds were secured by ADS from ArcticNet Training Fund, Canadian National Sportsmens Shows, Canadian Wildlife Federation Orville Erickson Memorial Scholarships, Northern Scientific Training Program, NSERC Northern Research Internship/Post-Graduate Scholarship and a Vemco/Amirix VR100 student discount (ADS & TAD).

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Aquatic Science
Ecology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s00227-012-1949-y

Cite this

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title = "Temperature, salinity and prey availability shape the marine migration of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, in a macrotidal estuary",

abstract = "The influence of salinity, temperature and prey availability on the marine migration of anadromous fishes was determined by describing the movements, habitat use and feeding behaviours of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). The objectives were to determine whether char are restricted to the upper water column of the inter-/subtidal zones due to warmer temperatures. Twenty-seven char were tracked with acoustic temperature/pressure (depth) transmitters from June to September, 2008/2009, in inner Frobisher Bay, Canada. Most detections were in surface waters (0-3 m). Inter-/subtidal movements and consecutive repetitive dives (maximum 52.8 m) resulted in extreme body temperature shifts (-0.2-18.1 °C). Approximately half of intertidal and subtidal detections were between 9-13 °C and 1-3 °C, respectively. Stomach contents and deep diving suggested feeding in both inter-/subtidal zones. We suggest that char tolerate cold water at depth to capture prey in the subtidal zone, then seek warmer water to enhance feeding/digestion physiology.",

author = "Spares, {Aaron D.} and Stokesbury, {Michael J.W.} and O'Dor, {Ron K.} and Dick, {Terry A.}",

note = "Funding Information: field assistants: Dyck M, K and L; Beaud M, Atkinson P, Flaherty A, Hardie D, Power J, Halfyard E, Hollis I, Cunningham L, Corneau E, Luszczek C and Biastoch R. ADS thanks Gray C in Ottawa, Vemco/ Amirix (King D and staff), Stokesbury Lab (Acadia U) and the Ocean Tracking Network (Dal U). Special thanks to Dadswell M for help identifying crustaceans and reviewing manuscript drafts. This research was largely funded with a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Northern Research Chair grant (TAD, U Man). Additional funds were secured by ADS from ArcticNet Training Fund, Canadian National Sportsmens Shows, Canadian Wildlife Federation Orville Erickson Memorial Scholarships, Northern Scientific Training Program, NSERC Northern Research Internship/Post-Graduate Scholarship and a Vemco/Amirix VR100 student discount (ADS & TAD).",

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N2 - The influence of salinity, temperature and prey availability on the marine migration of anadromous fishes was determined by describing the movements, habitat use and feeding behaviours of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). The objectives were to determine whether char are restricted to the upper water column of the inter-/subtidal zones due to warmer temperatures. Twenty-seven char were tracked with acoustic temperature/pressure (depth) transmitters from June to September, 2008/2009, in inner Frobisher Bay, Canada. Most detections were in surface waters (0-3 m). Inter-/subtidal movements and consecutive repetitive dives (maximum 52.8 m) resulted in extreme body temperature shifts (-0.2-18.1 °C). Approximately half of intertidal and subtidal detections were between 9-13 °C and 1-3 °C, respectively. Stomach contents and deep diving suggested feeding in both inter-/subtidal zones. We suggest that char tolerate cold water at depth to capture prey in the subtidal zone, then seek warmer water to enhance feeding/digestion physiology.

AB - The influence of salinity, temperature and prey availability on the marine migration of anadromous fishes was determined by describing the movements, habitat use and feeding behaviours of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). The objectives were to determine whether char are restricted to the upper water column of the inter-/subtidal zones due to warmer temperatures. Twenty-seven char were tracked with acoustic temperature/pressure (depth) transmitters from June to September, 2008/2009, in inner Frobisher Bay, Canada. Most detections were in surface waters (0-3 m). Inter-/subtidal movements and consecutive repetitive dives (maximum 52.8 m) resulted in extreme body temperature shifts (-0.2-18.1 °C). Approximately half of intertidal and subtidal detections were between 9-13 °C and 1-3 °C, respectively. Stomach contents and deep diving suggested feeding in both inter-/subtidal zones. We suggest that char tolerate cold water at depth to capture prey in the subtidal zone, then seek warmer water to enhance feeding/digestion physiology.

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Temperature, salinity and prey availability shape the marine migration of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, in a macrotidal estuary

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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