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Dams facilitate predation during Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolt migration.

Authors :
Mensinger, Matthew A.
Hawkes, James P.
Goulette, Graham S.
Mortelliti, Alessio
Blomberg, Erik J.
Zydlewski, Joseph D.
Source :
Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences; Jan2024, Vol. 81 Issue 1, p38-51, 14p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Diadromous fish populations have incurred precipitous declines across the globe. Among many stressors, these species are threatened by anthropogenic barriers that impede movement, alter riverine habitat, and augment predator communities. In this study, we used acoustic transmitters (n = 220) with predation and temperature sensors to characterize Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolt predation risk in the Penobscot River, Maine, USA. Across two seasons, we documented 79 predation events through a 170 km migratory pathway, which included three hydropower projects and a large estuary. We detected tagged smolts that were predated by fish (n = 42), marine mammals (n = 28), and birds (n = 9). Using a multistate mark-recapture framework, we estimated that 46% of smolts were predated during downstream migration, which accounted for at least 55% of all mortality. Relative predation risk was greatest through impoundments and the lower estuary, where on average, predation rates were 4.8-fold and 9.0-fold greater than free-flowing reaches, respectively. These results suggest that predation pressure on Atlantic salmon smolts is exacerbated by hydropower projects and that predation in the lower estuary may be greater than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0706652X
Volume :
81
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
174565129
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2023-0175