Ecology of Atlantic Salmon and Brown Trout

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

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2. Habitats as Template for Life Histories

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 1-21

3. Species Diversity

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 23-66

4. Habitat Use

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 67-135

5. Development and Growth

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 137-209

6. Smolts and Smolting

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 211-245

7. Migrations

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 247-325

8. Maturation and Spawning

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 327-414

9. Recruitment, Mortality and Longevity

   • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

   Pages 415-471

10. Climatic Effects on Atlantic Salmon and Brown Trout

    • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

    Pages 473-515

11. Farmed Atlantic Salmon in Nature

    • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

    Pages 517-566

12. Population Enhancement and Population Restoration

    • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

    Pages 567-632

13. General Conclusions and Research Tasks

    • Bror Jonsson, Nina Jonsson

    Pages 633-655

14. Back Matter

    Pages 657-708

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Destruction of habitat is the major cause for loss of biodiversity including variation in life history and habitat ecology. Each species and population adapts to its environment, adaptations visible in morphology, ecology, behaviour, physiology and genetics. Here, the authors present the population ecology of Atlantic salmon and brown trout and how it is influenced by the environment in terms of growth, migration, spawning and recruitment. Salmonids appeared as freshwater fish some 50 million years ago. Atlantic salmon and brown trout evolved in the Atlantic basin, Atlantic salmon in North America and Europe, brown trout in Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. The species live in small streams as well as large rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal seas and oceans, with brown trout better adapted to small streams and less well adapted to feeding in the ocean than Atlantic salmon. Smolt and adult sizes and longevity are constrained by habitat conditions of populations spawning in small streams. Feeding, wintering and spawning opportunities influence migratory versus resident lifestyles, while the growth rate influences egg size and number, age at maturity, reproductive success and longevity. Further, early experiences influence later performance. For instance, juvenile behaviour influences adult homing, competition for spawning habitat, partner finding and predator avoidance.
 

The abundance of wild Atlantic salmon populations has declined in recent years; climate change and escaped farmed salmon are major threats. The climate influences through changes in temperature and flow, while escaped farmed salmon do so through ecological competition, interbreeding and the spreading of contagious diseases. The authors pinpoint essential problems and offer suggestions as to how they can be reduced. In this context, population enhancement, habitat restoration and management are also discussed. The text closes with a presentation of what the authors viewas major scientific challenges in ecological research on these species.

• Habitat ecology
• Population ecology
• Salmonidae
• Fish and Wildlife Biology

From the reviews:

“This book brings together a tremendous amount of material … on Atlantic salmon and brown trout in a well-organized manner, producing a book that is both thorough and accessible. … There is no doubt that this book has hit the mark with respect to graduate students and working scientists. … those obtaining it will find it full of information about past research and ideas for future work.” (Thomas P. Quinn, Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Vol. 22, 2012)

• Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway

  Bror Jonsson

• Norwegian Insitute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway

  Nina Jonsson

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