Production of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in Two Acidic Rivers of Nova Scotia

Abstract

Densities, growth, and production of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were estimated at sites in two acidic rivers of different pH, the Westfield and North rivers, in Nova Scotia, Canada, from 1982 to 1984. Annual production was significantly lower in the more acidic Westfield River (< 0.4 g∙m−2∙yr−1 at pH 4.7–5.4) than in the North River (1.4 g∙m−2∙yr−1 at pH 5.6–6.3). Low production rates in the more acidic river were attributable to the lower densities and poorer survival of juveniles at the lower pH levels. Low densities of parr in the more acidic river were a function of the high initial mortality of postemergent fry, and the mortality of parr during periods of pH minima such as over winter. Marking and recapture information and trapping at a weir for counting migrating fishes indicated that there was little emigration of parr other than in the spring when some movements occurred preceding and during smoltification. Average potential yield of 2-yr smolts was 0.8 smolt/100 m2 in the Westfield River and in the range of 2.7–6.6 smolts/100 m2 at higher pH levels in the North River. Growth was not limiting to production at the lower pH levels. After the first winter, 1-yr-old parr were much larger at the lower pH than they were at less acidic pH levels, the faster growth possibly resulting from the lower density of parr at the lowest pH. A temperature-related biphasic growth of 1-yr-old parr with periods of maximum growth in spring and autumn was recorded. Reduced production, a result of deleterious effects of low pH on survival and density in the Westfield River was probably sufficient to prevent the continued maintenance of a naturally produced salmon population in that river, whereas production at higher pH levels in the North River was comparable to that in near-neutral waters of other areas.