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Diurnal and seasonal variation in feeding patterns of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in sea cages
Author(s) -
Blyth P. J.,
Kadri S.,
Valdimarsson S. K.,
Mitchell D. F.,
Purser G. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2109.1999.00385.x
Subject(s) - salmo , biology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , seasonality , zoology , seawater , diurnal temperature variation , ecology , atmospheric sciences , geology
Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in sea cages exhibit feeding patterns that vary both diurnally and seasonally. Hitherto, there are no data reporting feed rate and its variation through a complete annual cycle. Here we present data from Scotland showing diurnal and interseasonal variation in feeding patterns and feeding rates of Atlantic salmon fed daily to satiation from shortly after transfer to seawater until harvest about 11 months later. A major feeding peak regularly occurred soon after dawn, and feeding rates remained high for approximately one hour. Over the remainder of the day, the fish fed at a lower but steady rate. Relative feed intake varied over the trial, being initially high in summer followed by a sharp decline in autumn, and then further declining until fish reached harvest size at the beginning of the following summer. Further investigations of the relationship between variation in circannual feeding patterns and environmental parameters should now be carried out to improve the understanding of the mechanism behind these patterns.