Does size matter? A test of size-specific mortality in Atlantic salmonSalmo salarsmolts tagged with acoustic transmitters

Newton, M., Barry, J., Dodd, J. A., Lucas, M.C., Boylan, P. and Adams, C. E. (2016) Does size matter? A test of size-specific mortality in Atlantic salmonSalmo salarsmolts tagged with acoustic transmitters. Journal of Fish Biology, 89(3), pp. 1641-1650. (doi: 10.1111/jfb.13066) (PMID:27352823)

Abstract

Mortality rates of wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts implanted with acoustic transmitters were assessed to determine if mortality was size dependent. The routinely accepted, but widely debated, ‘2% transmitter mass: body mass’ rule in biotelemetry was tested by extending the transmitter burden up to 12·7% of body mass in small [mean fork length (LF) 138·3 mm, range 115–168 mm] downstream migrating S. salar smolts. Over the short timescale of emigration (range 11·9–44·5 days) through the lower river and estuary, mortality was not related to S. salar size, nor was a relationship found between mortality probability and transmitter mass: body mass or transmitter length: LF ratios. This study provides further evidence that smolt migration studies can deviate from the ‘2% rule’ of thumb, to more appropriate study‐specific measures, which enables the use of fishes representative of the body size in natural populations without undue effects.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme (project 2859 ‘IBIS’) managed by the Special EU programmes Body.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barry, Dr James and Dodd, Dr Jennifer and Adams, Professor Colin and Newton, Dr Matthew
• Authors: Newton, M., Barry, J., Dodd, J. A., Lucas, M.C., Boylan, P., and Adams, C. E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Fish Biology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0022-1112
• ISSN (Online): 1095-8649
• Published Online: 28 June 2016
• First Published: First published in Journal of Fish Biology 89(3):1641-1650
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher