Patterns in apparent survival of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr in relation to variable ice conditions throughout winter

Abstract

Apparent within-site survival of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) parr, individually tagged with passive integrated transponders, was not constant throughout the winter period in a 3-year study (2003–2006) in Catamaran Brook, New Brunswick, Canada. Highest decline in apparent survival (19.4%–33.3% of the study population) occurred prior to any ice formation and coincided with early winter acclimatization period (dynamic temperature and discharge regime). Stream discharge and parr maturity were identified to be relevant factors explaining emigration prior to ice formation. Apparent survival was improved during the period affected by subsurface ice and considerably better when surface ice was prevailing, with a decline in population size between 0% and 15.4%. Overall, observed within-site winter mortality was low (4.4%), and the majority of the loss of tagged salmon parr occurred because of emigration. On average, the within-site population of tagged salmon parr declined by 31.7% over the whole winter (November–April). Our data suggest that anthropogenic impacts, like climate change or river regulation, are likely to affect the apparent survival rate and distribution of juvenile Atlantic salmon because of their effects on natural ice regime in streams.