A functional model for maximum growth of Atlantic Salmon parr, Salmo salar, from two populations in northwest England

Abstract

1. The chief objective was to develop a functional model for the growth of parr (0+, 1+) of Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar, from two populations (Rivers Leven and Lune in northwest England), using a model similar to that developed previously for Brown Trout, Salmo trutta. Parr bred from Leven parents were acclimatized to nine fairly constant temperatures (two 0+, two 1+ parr per temperature) in the range 3·8–21·7 °C (variation ± 0·3 at 3·8 °C to ± 1·0 at 21·7 °C). Each fish was kept in a separate tank and fed to satiation on shrimps. The mass and length of each fish was recorded at the start and finish of a growth period of 30 days. Parr (0+, 1+) bred from Lune parents were separated into slow and fast growers, and acclimatized to six very constant temperatures. There were three slow and three fast growers at each of 5·0, 10·0, 15·0 °C for 0+ parr and each of 5·0, 10·0, 13·0, 15·0, 18·0, 20·0 °C for 1+ parr. Procedures were the same as for Leven parr except that the growth period lasted 30 days for the 18 0+ parr and 42 days for the 36 1+ parr. 2. The growth model was an excellent fit (P < 0·001) with no significant differences between parr from the two rivers, fast‐growing parr of different ages (0+, 1+), or fast‐ and slow‐growing 1+ parr. The optimum temperature for the combined data (81 parr) was 15·9 °C with a range for growth of 6·0–22·5 °C. The model failed to fit the data for slow‐growing 0+ Lune parr in experiments from November to February. Growth was reduced in these fish, even though the temperatures were suitable for growth (10, 15°C). 3. The model described approximately the growth of three year‐classes of Atlantic Salmon parr in the River Eden in northwest England. Some of the discrepancies between actual masses and those predicted from the model were consistent and possible reasons for this are discussed.