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MARE-Marine ressurser,miljø og forv

Relationships between stochastic marine environment factors and production of sea run Arctic charr and brown trout

Awarded: NOK 1.4 mill.

Much of the observed varation in marine survival and growth of sea run Arctic charr and brown trout may be explained by oscillation in marine prey abundance and salmon lice infections both within and between years. This variation in growth and survival ma y also be indirectly correlated to stochastic abiotic environmental factors. There is a paucity of information in the literature regarding this subject. In this cross-institutional collaboration we aim to study marine growth, survival and length of sea re sidency of Arctic charr and brown trout in relation to: 1) the timing of smolt descent, migratory behaviour, marine prey availability and utilisation 2) infection on salmon lice 3) the subsequent life history of the fish Finally we (4) aim to produce a predictive model of marine growth in relation to environmental data. The study will be conducted at Talvik Research Station, the Hals watercourse and in the Alta fjord (northern Norway) by analysing 18 years of historical a nd new data on fish growth and life-history, and by sampling zooplankton and sea run fish in the fjord from 2002-2004. The project will contribute to a better understanding of reasons for the fluctuations in annual production of anadromous charr and trout . These species are good indicators of the variability in the productivity of the whole marine ecosystem, and have utility for assessing impacts related to environmental distrubances resulting from factors such as aquaculture, pollution and other distruba nces in the coastal marine area.

Funding scheme:

MARE-Marine ressurser,miljø og forv

Thematic Areas and Topics

No thematic area or topic related to the project