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Predicting migratory paths of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

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Abstract

Atlantic salmon is a highly migratory species that has experienced severe population declines. High mortality during the post-smolt period, when fish are migrating from rivers to their open-ocean wintering grounds, may be limiting population recovery, but little is known about this life stage. We used an individual-based model to evaluate the potential influences of ocean conditions (currents, temperature) on post-smolt salmon migration in the Gulf of Maine. A range of orientation behaviors were tested and results indicated that Atlantic salmon migration varied by year, natal river, and orientation behavior. The rate at which post-smolt salmon were able to make it across the Gulf of Maine was negatively correlated with coastal current strength. The response of migration rates to these factors varied among the potential orientation behaviors. For temperature-dependent orientation behaviors, migration was positively correlated with temperature. This modeling approach, based on field observations, is a useful technique for investigating variability in migration of endangered populations when in situ experiments are not possible.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by CINAR-NOAA Grant NA09OAR4320129. We are grateful to Steve Cousins for providing the GoMOOS nowcast/forecast predictions. John Kocik and Tim Sheehan provided helpful advice and information on many aspects of this research. Katherine Mills helped with statistical analysis. Nicholas Record provided advice on Matlab coding for model development. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute internship program provided P. Moriarty with the opportunity to work on this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME, 04101, USA

    P. E. Moriarty, C. J. Byron, A. J. Pershing & J. D. Stockwell

  2. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    P. E. Moriarty

  3. University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA

    C. J. Byron

  4. School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Aubert Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    A. J. Pershing & H. Xue

  5. Rubenstein School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Vermont, 3 College Street, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    J. D. Stockwell

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  1. P. E. Moriarty
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  2. C. J. Byron
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  3. A. J. Pershing
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  4. J. D. Stockwell
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  5. H. Xue
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Correspondence to C. J. Byron.

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Responsible Editor: E. Hunter.

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Moriarty, P.E., Byron, C.J., Pershing, A.J. et al. Predicting migratory paths of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Mar Biol 163, 74 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-2847-5

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