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River lamprey present an unusual predation threat to Atlantic salmon smolts in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland
Author(s) -
Kennedy Richard J.,
Campbell Warren,
Gallagher Kevin,
Evans Derek
Publication year - 2020
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/jfb.14477
Subject(s) - lamprey , lampetra , salmo , predation , fishery , biology , smoltification , fish <actinopterygii> , salmonidae , ecology
A new monitoring programme on the Lough Neagh catchment has documented a high incidence of river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis L., predation on Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L. In total 470 smolts were examined during the 2020 emigration period with 168 fish (36%) exhibiting lamprey scars of which 57 were lightly scarred and 111 were classed as heavily scarred. Lamprey predation was not size selective on Lough Neagh S. salar smolts.