Evidence of energy and nutrient transfer from invasive pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) spawners to juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in northern Norway
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Recent large influxes of non-native Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) to North European rivers have raised concern over their potential negative impacts on native salmonids and recipient ecosystems. The eggs and carcasses of semelparous pink salmon may provide a significant nutrient and energy subsidy to native biota, but this phenomenon has not been widely documented outside the species' native distribution. We analysed the stomach contents and stable isotope values (δ15N and δ13C) in muscle and liver tissues of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) to determine whether these native salmonids utilise marine-derived nutrients and energy provided by pink salmon eggs and carcasses in the subarctic river system Vesterelva, northern Norway. Although egg foraging and assimilation of marine-derived nutrients in fish body tissues were found to be minor at the population level, a few juvenile salmon and trout had recently eaten large quantities of pink salmon eggs. Some of these individuals also had high δ15N and δ13C values, indicating a long-term diet subsidised by marine-derived nutrients and energy from pink salmon eggs. Hence, our study provides novel evidence that the eggs of invasive pink salmon may provide an energetic, profitable food resource for juvenile native fish. More research is needed to understand the broader ecological implications for fishes and other biota in river ecosystems invaded by pink salmon.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Evidence of energy and nutrient transfer from invasive pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) spawners to juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in northern Norway |
| Series title | Ecology of Freshwater Fish |
| DOI | 10.1111/eff.12582 |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Seattle |
| Description | 15 p. |
| First page | 270 |
| Last page | 283 |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Troms and Finnmark County |
| Other Geospatial | River Vesterelva |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |