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Behaviour of adult Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the estuary of the River Ribble in relation to variations in dissolved oxygen and tidal flow
Author(s) -
Priede I. G.,
Solbé J. F. de L. G.,
Nott J. E.,
O'Grady K. T.,
CraggHine D.
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.tb05567.x
Subject(s) - estuary , salmo , fishery , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology
Twenty adult returning salmon were tracked in the estuary of the R. Ribble using acoustic oxygensensing transmitters during summer when a pronounced dissolved oxygen (DO) sag develops. Excluding two mortalities, 75% of these fish left the estuary to sea. Fish in the estuary moved to and fro with the tides over a 10 km amplitude experiencing cyclical changes in DO. Fish movement was inhibited below 40% of air saturation value (ASV) DO, and there was evidence of avoidance of DO below 55% ASV. The high rate of loss of fish to sea suggests that many of the fish in the estuary are non‐Ribble fish en route to other rivers. Adverse conditions in the Ribble therefore are likely to affect stocks in adjacent rivers.