Does size matter? A test of size‐specific mortality in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts tagged with acoustic transmitters. Issue 3 (28th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newton, M.; Barry, J.; Dodd, J. A.; Lucas, M. C.; Boylan, P.; Adams, C. E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 89:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 1641
• Page End: 1650
• Publication Date: 2016-06-28
• Subjects: biotelemetry -- migration -- tag burden -- transmitter effects; Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

Abstract : Mortality rates of wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts implanted with acoustic transmitters were assessed to determine if mortality was size dependent. The routinely accepted, but widely debated, '2% transmitter mass: body mass' rule in biotelemetry was tested by extending the transmitter burden up to 12·7% of body mass in small [mean fork length ( L F ) 138·3 mm, range 115–168 mm] downstream migrating S. salar smolts. Over the short timescale of emigration (range 11·9–44·5 days) through the lower river and estuary, mortality was not related to S. salar size, nor was a relationship found between mortality probability and transmitter mass: body mass or transmitter length: L F ratios. This study provides further evidence that smolt migration studies can deviate from the '2% rule' of thumb, to more appropriate study‐specific measures, which enables the use of fishes representative of the body size in natural populations without undue effects.