Spatio-temporal trends in the importance of iteroparity across Atlantic salmon populations of the northwest Atlantic

Abstract

AbstractIteroparity is a bet-hedging strategy where individuals spread the risk of reproductive failure over time. The occurrence of iteroparity (i.e. proportion of repeat spawners in annual returns) varies among Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations, yet information on its ecological importance is limited. We compiled multi-decadal time series on the spawning history composition of Atlantic salmon annual returns across ten populations of the northwest Atlantic and West Greenland mixed-stock fishery landings to: (i) describe spatio-temporal patterns of iteroparity at the continental scale; (ii) quantify the reproductive contributions of repeat spawners; and (iii) test the hypothesis that iteroparity acts as a population safeguard during periods of low recruitment through repeat spawners’ contributions. Despite high variability in the representation of repeat spawners among populations and years (range: 0–24.7%; average: 5.0%), we identified broad-scale spatio-temporal shifts in iteroparity, with increases in mid-latitudinal and northern populations (from 3.1% to 7.6%) and declines in southern areas (from 4.1% to 2.7%), between the 1971–1992 and 1993–2017 periods. Our findings highlight the potential for increased prevalence of iteroparity when threats are mitigated (e.g. fishing pressure), with measurable benefits to population processes manifested by the high reproductive contributions of repeat spawners, especially in years of low maiden spawner abundance.