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Importance of instream cover for young masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou , in autumn and winter
Author(s) -
MIYAKOSHI Y.,
HAYANO H.,
OMORI H.,
NAGATA M.,
IRVINE J. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2400.2002.00300.x
Subject(s) - oncorhynchus , habitat , abundance (ecology) , fishery , vegetation cover , juvenile , environmental science , ecology , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , grazing
Densities of wild masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou Brevoort, were investigated before (late‐September) and after (mid‐November) autumnal habitat shifts in a small river in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Abundance of instream cover habitat formed by coarse woody debris, submerged vegetation and undercut banks was quantified. Density of 1+ and older masu salmon was significantly correlated with cover abundance in autumn, although cover was not significant for density of 0+ fish, indicating that clear‐cut reaches were utilized by 0+ masu salmon in autumn. In early winter, densities of 0+ and 1+ and older masu salmon were both correlated with cover availability. These results suggest that the amount of cover habitat is an important regulator for densities of juvenile masu salmon during winter.