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Growth and diet of anadromous Arctic charr after their return to freshwater
Author(s) -
Rikardsen A. H.,
Amundsen P.A.,
Bodin P. J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
ecology of freshwater fish
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1600-0633
pISSN - 0906-6691
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0633.2003.00001.x
Subject(s) - salvelinus , fish migration , pelagic zone , bosmina , biology , predation , arctic , ecology , fishery , zooplankton , benthic zone , habitat , fish <actinopterygii> , cladocera , trout
– The post smolt of anadromous Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) from Lake Storvatn, northern Norway (70°39′48″), continued to feed and grow after their return to freshwater in late summer, but in late autumn (October) both their growth rate and feeding intensity ceased along with the drop in water temperature. In contrast, adult, sexually mature anadromous charr did not appear to feed during their freshwater residency. The stomach fullness of post smolts were similar to that of resident Arctic charr during early autumn, and their diets were similar, being dominated by pelagic prey such as surface insects, Holopedium sp., Bosmina sp. and chironomid pupae. Later in the autumn, the resident charr also included some more benthic prey, in particular gastropods, whereas the post smolts continued to feed predominantly on zooplankton and surface insects, but with a lower stomach fullness than the resident fish. This suggests that after arrival in freshwater, the post smolts continue their pelagic feeding behaviour displayed during the sea‐migration.