Consumption of Atlantic salmon smolts and parr by goosanders: estimates from doubly‐labelled water measurements of captive birds released on two Scottish rivers

Abstract

The field metabolic rates (FMRs) of nine captive goosanders, Mergus merganser, released on two Scottish rivers were estimated using the doubly‐labelled water (DLW) technique. Mean (± S.E.) FMR was 2.322±0.239ml CO2 g−1 h−1 and daily energy expenditure (DEE) 1939 ± 184 kJ per day. This was significantly greater (x 1.5) than previous estimates which assumed DEE to be three times the basal metabolic rate (BMR) based on regression equations predicting BMR from body mass. FMR of captives and dietary data from previous studies were used to estimate daily consumption of salmon, Salmo salar, smolts and parr by natural populations of these ducks on the river North Esk, north‐east Scotland. Goosanders are likely to consume 480‐522 g fish per day of which two‐thirds are juvenile salmon; equivalent to a daily intake of 10‐11 smolts and 48‐52 parr. Annual predation of smolts by goosanders was estimated to be between 8000 and 15 000 or 3 and 16% of annual production.