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Effect of mink, Mustela vison Schreber, predation on cohorts of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and brown trout, S. trutta L., in three small streams
Author(s) -
Heggenes J.,
Borgstrøm R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1988.tb05536.x
Subject(s) - mink , salmo , brown trout , biology , american mink , predation , juvenile , trout , fishery , streams , smoltification , salmonidae , ecology , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , computer network , computer science
Two cohorts of Atlantic salmon parr and one of brown trout were studied in periods with and without the presence of mink, Mustela vison . In all localities a marked increase in mortality rate was observed during periods when mink were present. Mink were observed catching salmon parr, and approximately 10% of the parr had bite marks, especially on the tail fins. In the smallest stream with brown trout, the mortality rate was 0.80 during a few days with mink present; remnants of trout were found along the stream. The present study suggests that mink predation may be a major cause of mortality of salmonids in small streams. The results indicate that predation efficiency may vary with characteristics of the habitat, especially stream width and discharge, and fish density.