Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Spawning migration of sea trout (Salmo trutta (L)) in a Danish river

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From September to November in 1995 a total of 49 mature sea trout were caught and radio tagged in the estuary (Randers fjord) or at the river mouth of the River Gudenå in Eastern Jutland. The tagged trout were between 2 and 6 yr old with total body length of 56–85 cm. Twenty-five of the tagged trout ascended the river. They were tracked every third day, for up to six months, until death or descent. Great variation was found in migration pattern and duration of river residence. Some fish spawned and left the river, some died after spawning, while others died unspent. The sea trout preferred to stay on the southern side of the main river, and Males spent significantly more time of the freshwater stay in spawning tributaries than females. Most of the trout ascended the main spawning tributary, the River Lilleå, where none passed a weir, 2 km upstream the confluence, despite the presence of a fish ladder.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baras, E. & J. P. Philippart (eds.), 1996. Underwater Biotelemetry, Proceedings of the first Conference and workshop on Fish telemetry in Europe, University of Liège, Belgium: 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, O. K. & M. Berg, 1989. The duration of sea and freshwater residence of the sea trout, Salmo trutta, from the Vardnes River in northern Norway. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, J. F. 1982. A note on growth and mortality of trout, Salmo trutta (L)., in afferent streams of Windermere. J. Fish. Biol. 20: 423–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dieperink, C. 1992. Opvandring af ørred og laks i Gudenåen. IFFReport Nr. 7. Danish Institute freshwater fisheries research (in Danish).

  • Fleming, I. A, B. Jonsson, M. R. Gross & A. Lamberg, 1996. An experimental study of the reproductive behaviour and success of farmed and wild salmon (Salmo salar). J. Appl. Ecol. 33: 893–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heggberget, T. G., 1989. The population structure and migration system of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). In the River Alta, North Norway. A summary of the studies 1981–86. Salmon migration and – distribution symposium (2: 1987: Proceedings of the salmonid migration and distribution). University of Washington, Seattle: 124–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heggberget, T. G., 1988. Timing of spawning in Norwegian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 45: 845–849.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heggberget, T. G., R. A. Lund, N. Ryman & G. Ståhl, 1986. Growth and genetic variation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from different sections of the River Alta, North Norway. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 43: 1828–1835.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hovey, S. J., D. P. F. King, D. Thompson & A. Scott, 1989. Mithochondrial DNA and allozyme analysis of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in England and Wales. J. Fish Biol. 35 (Suppl. A): 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koed, A. K., G. Rasmussen, G. Holdensgaard & C. Pedersen, 1996. Tangetrappen. DFUReport Nr. 8. Danish Fisheries Research (in Danish).

  • Mellas, E. J. & J. M. Haynes, 1985. Swimming performance and behaviour of Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and White Perch (Morone americana): Effects of attaching telemetry transmitters. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 488–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nall, G. H., 1930. The Life of the Sea Trout. Seeley, Service & Co. Ltd. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, E. M., 1935. Nye undersøgelser over Gudenåens lakseog havørredbestand. Beretning til Ministeriet for Landbrug og Fiskeri fra Den Danske Biologiske Station, nr.15. C. A. Reizel. København. 1935 (in Danish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Økland, F., T. G. Heggberget & B. Jonsson, 1994. Migratory behaviour of wild and farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during spawning. J. Fish Biol. 46: 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aarestrup, K., Jepsen, N. Spawning migration of sea trout (Salmo trutta (L)) in a Danish river. Hydrobiologia 371, 275–281 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017074011007

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017074011007