Migration behaviour of twaite shad Alosa fallax assessed by otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles. Issue 6 (15th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Magath, V.; Marohn, L.; Fietzke, J.; Frische, M.; Thiel, R.; Dierking, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 82:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: 1871
• Page End: 1887
• Publication Date: 2013-05-15
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Individual migration behaviour during the juvenile and adult life phase of the anadromous twaite shad <italic>Alosa fallax</italic> in the Elbe estuary was examined using otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles. Between hatching and the end of the first year of life, juveniles showed two migration patterns. Pattern one exhibited a single downstream migration from fresh water to the sea with no return into fresh water. In contrast, pattern two showed a first migration into the sea, then a return into fresh water and, finally, a second downstream migration into marine water. This first report of migration plasticity for <italic>A. fallax</italic> points to different exposure times to estuarine threats depending on the migration strategy. In adults, high Sr:Ca and low Ba:Ca in the majority of individuals confirmed prior reports of a primarily marine habitat use. Patterns reflecting spawning migrations were rarely observed on otoliths, possibly due to the short duration of visits to fresh water.</p> </abstract>