Abstract
Smolt migration through a shallow and turbid hydro‐reservoir in a major Danish river system was investigated using radiotelemetry. Hatchery‐reared 1+‐year‐old Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts of equal size from two different non‐native strains were radio‐tagged and followed during their downstream migration through the 12‐km‐long reservoir. A total of 50 salmon smolts, 25 of Swedish (Øtran River) and 25 of Irish (Burrishoole River) origin, were surgically implanted with miniature radiotransmitters. The tagged smolts were tracked daily over a 3‐week period in May 1996. The Øtran smolts initiated migration first (P < 0.001), moved faster (P < 0.01), were delayed less when passing a culvert (P < 0.001) and were more successful in moving through the reservoir than the Burrishoole smolts. The observed differences in migratory behaviour are interpreted as evidence of a genetic component influencing smolt migration.
Published Version
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